Day 315 - Regrouping

My initial thoughts, as I read through Stephen's chronology of Israel's history from Moses forward, were about how oft the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament.

Here are a few sites if you want to explore OT quoted by NT or this one shows the NT vs the Septuagint vs the Masoretic Chart.

"And delivered him (Joseph) out of all his afflictions..." (Acts 7:10) - my thought was rest.  Father gave him rest from all his travails.

Gill's commentary:  From the evil designs of his mistress, and from all the miseries of a prison. (Mistress = the woman of the house - not an illicit lover - though she wanted to be.)

This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38)

church - G1577 - From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both).

Gill's commentary: Which must be understood of the children of Israel, who were the then church of God, whom he had chosen and separated from the rest of the world, to be a peculiar people to himself, to whom were given the word and ordinances, the service of God, and the promises; and God always had, and will have a church, though that is sometimes in the wilderness; which has been the case under the Gospel dispensation, as well as before; Rev_12:6 and it was a peculiar honour to Moses, that he was in this church, though it was in the wilderness; even a greater honour than to be in Pharaoh's court.

The word church used in connection with the people of Israel coupled with Gill's commentary were enlightening.

Stephen's parting words:  "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."  A slight echo of Jesus' words from the cross.  How oft I fail to ask Father to forgive those that have sinned against me.  I, who have been forgiven much, must also learn to be as forgiving.

Saul enters...consenting to Stephen's death...going about haling men and women into prison...persecuting the church.  Persecution = dross removal, and in this case, the scattering of the 'seed' of the Word of God abroad.  I wonder when Father allows persecution of the church in America, will we withstand as well as our brethren of the early church?

But they believed...and were baptized, both men and women.  (Acts 8:12) - Still working on that paedo/credo issue - and Father keeps reaffirming to me that those who were baptized, believed first.

Simon, the sorcerer, believed (then baptized), yet was found to be in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.

gall - G5521 - Feminine of an equivalent perhaps akin to the same as G5514 (from the greenish hue); “gall” or bile, that is, (by analogy) poison or an anodyne (wormwood, poppy, etc.).

bitterness - G4088 - From G4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively.

bond - G4886 -From G4862 and G1199; a joint tie, that is, ligament, (figuratively) uniting principle, control.

iniquity - G93 - From G94; (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of character, life or act).

I browsed Gill, Henry and Poole's commentaries - very interesting - that Simon may have been giving an outward profession, but inwardly was still unregenerate.  Even more that they perceive that by his not praying to the Lord, but asking for their intercession, may have been mocking.  That his concern was for the temporal afflictions he might receive.

The eunuch believes and is baptized - Acts 8:37-38.  I like 'the Spirit caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more...'

caught away - G726 - From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

Interesting commentary by Matthew Henry - compares Philips baptizing of Simon Magus to the eunuch - well worth the effort to read.  Thought it fascinating that the unregenerate (Simon) is mentioned by name, while the true convert (eunuch) is not.

Day 315

XVII The Ministries of Paul and Peter ~ cont.

A. First records the early church at Jerusalem ~ cont.

3. Power and persecution of early church ~ cont.

g. Stephen's life and death - Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-60; 8:1-4
h. Ministry of Philip - Acts 8:5-40


Stephen - ahhh, as I have a son named Stephen (specifically because of this passage) this is another favorite portion of Scripture for me.  :-)


He was full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  The wisdom and spirit in which he spoke could not be resisted.


Men of the synagogue who were Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians and those of Cilicia and Asia disputed with him.  Suborned (to throw in stealthily, that is, introduce by collusion) men which said that Stephen had blashphemed against Moses and God; the holy place and the law; that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered.


As they looked upon his face, as it had been the face of an angel as he spoke.  I wonder if this how the Israelites perceived Moses when he'd been the presence of God and had to veil his face?


Stephen recounts the history from Abraham to Jesus - reminding them of how they served the false gods of Moloch and Remphan.


And this is where I got stuck...I should know by now that a simple look it up will not suffice.  :-)


What does Moloch and Remphan mean?  A quick google search - grab an overview of those pagan gods and zip right along.  Right?  Wrong.  I got completely blown out of the water.  Frankly, I was so discombobulated by what I initially read, I was ill.


The first page I came to made me dig deeper.  Surely, thought I, the information is wrong - this is just one person's perspective.


I have had reservations about the 6 sided 'star of David,' nothing severe, just a inner 'its not right' - 6 is the number for man.  Now I know why 'it' did not set right within me.  At this juncture, I have been all over trying to verify the initial information or disprove it.  Disprove it I can not.


According to what I have found thus far - the 'star of David' came into being not with David, but with Solomon.  Specifically when the foreign wives turned his heart away. 1Kings 11:4-11 states that he went after Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chemosh, Molech.


All I could think about after reading and researching was, I wonder if this is how someone feels when they find out that all of the 'Christian' holidays are pagan in origin.


The symbol used by the Nation of Israel is a hexagram - now I knew it was 6 pointed - that was obvious.  I knew that the occult symbol was 6 pointed.  I NEVER equated them as being the same.


It has taken me days to work my way through what I have read and researched, to absorb and be able to complete this post.  Tickling my mind over and over again was the thought, Father never told Israel to have a national flag.  Standards were raised for each tribe according to their father's house when they came out of Egypt - and Father is pretty explicit on how to build a tabernacle, where everyone is supposed to be, the type of materials to use, how to make them, where to place, etc.  Had HE a national flag for Israel, He would have made it known.


I think the majority of my perplexity comes in complete wonderment at having blindly accepted something as 'true' when there is nothing Scriptural about it.  This will make me think long and hard about other areas of the Christian life, and about Israel that I currently take at face value, or have just 'accepted' as being true.  Anything we know or do should be based upon the Bible - not what someone thinks, or that is how it has always been done, or we've always done it this way, my (fill in the blank) always did it this way.  What harm does it do?  What's wrong with it?


The real question we ought to ask ourselves is what is RIGHT with it?  How does anything we are thinking, feeling, acting, etc. measure up to the plumb line of the Word?


One of the websites I visited had this:


When believers 'don't care' about the origin and occultic practices that they participate in (i.e. Sunday, Easter and Christmas, etc.), or the wearing of occultic objects (the cross, the fish, and the Star of David), it tells me that their flesh is overruling the Spirit. IEUEsho said, 'But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the Truth...' (John 16:13).


I haven't researched the comment about the cross and fish being lifted from the occult - yet.

For the inquiring mind - this is the first site I came across Star of David? as I searched for the word Moloch.  I launched further, finding this site Star of David Pagan?, and this about the Six Pointed Star, and this site 666 - Star of David (which I found interesting as the author states he set out to PROVE that the star was legit).

I found one site which put a positive spin on it Origin of the Star of David, which came across pretty lamely in defending the position for the 6 sided star (my opinion).

I have not vetted these sites, it is the readers responsibility to review, analyze, research and discern.  God forbid that we should allow the traditions of man to rule.

I will leave you with:

Isa 55:8-9  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Day 314

XVII The Ministries of Paul and Peter ~ cont.

A. First records the early church at Jerusalem ~ cont.

3. Power and persecution of early church ~ cont.

b. Peter and John in prison - Acts 4:1-31
c. Growth of Church - Acts 4:32-37
d. Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11
e. Second imprisonment - Acts 5:12-42
f. Apostles chosen - Acts 6:1-7


Acts 4:2 - Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.


grieved - G1278 - From G1223 and a derivative of G4192; to toil through, that is, (passively) be worried.


preached - G2605 - From G2596 and the base of G32; to proclaim, promulgate.  (Promulgate?  - Dictionary.com - to set forth or teach publicly (a creed, doctrine, etc.).


resurrection - G386 - From G450; a standing up again, that is, (literally) a resurrection from death (individual, general or by implication (its author)), or (figuratively) a (moral) recovery (of spiritual truth).


dead - G3498 - From an apparently primary word νέκυς nekus (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun).


A future hope - a hope of eternity with the Messiah, the first fruit of those who will be raised and given glorified bodies.  Much swirls through my mind as I ponder that glorious occasion.


This passage of Scripture came to mind:

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 
1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

When all is said and done - when we stand before Him, what will our sojourn on this side of glory reveal?

I received the following in an email today, based upon the title, I almost skipped it (still not enthralled with the word usage {lovers}) - but thought it appropriate based upon the dwelling of my mind.

YOU have 4 lovers in your life:

Your 4th lover is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your 3rd lover is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.
 
Your 2nd lover is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the Grave.
 
And your 1st lover is your Soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.
 
However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
 
The only thing we are going to take with us when we depart this earthly sphere is on the inside - nothing on the outside - so what treasures are you laying up this day Bride?  A desire to conform to the world?  To act, think and talk like the world?  Bride, how different do you REALLY look?  Can you be distinguished from the world, readily and easily?  How much of an Ambassador of your true HOME are you?  Are you redeeming the time?

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.