When truth hurts

Sometimes its hard to hear the truth.  We see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear and do what we want to do, period!!!  But, when we are forced to realize that we wrong about something... well, its uncomfortable at the very least.  Then, what to do about it???  Do we continue in falsehood, knowing we are wrong, or change?  This is the choice the Corinthian brethren had when Paul wrote to them about the heinous sin they were committing.  Fortunately, they gave up the sin, but it did have consequences on many levels.  Here is Paul's response to their a repentance...

2 Corinthians, chapter 7

8 For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while.  9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.  10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.  11 For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.  12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. 

Change for the better is often a bitter pill to swallow, but one that is good.  Elimination of sin leads to spiritual wellness and that is a very good thing, indeed!!! Hopefully, the frog in you will be removed and your true spiritual self will be revealed!!!  If you realize you have a problem; do something about it.  You may be sorry for the pain you must endure to correct the situation, but your sorrow will turn into joy once you realize the blessings of a sin-free existence. 

May 27 Judges 11, 12

May 27

Judges 11, 12

Jdg 11:1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah.

Jdg 11:2 Gilead's wife bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman.

Jdg 11:3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

Jdg 11:4 It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

Jdg 11:5 It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob;

Jdg 11:6 and they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

Jdg 11:7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Didn't you hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why have you come to me now when you are in distress?

Jdg 11:8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Jdg 11:9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

Jdg 11:10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Yahweh shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do.

Jdg 11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.

Jdg 11:12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?

Jdg 11:13 The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

Jdg 11:14 Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon;

Jdg 11:15 and he said to him, Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn't take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,

Jdg 11:16 but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;

Jdg 11:17 then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Please let me pass through your land; but the king of Edom didn't listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

Jdg 11:18 Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn't come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.

Jdg 11:19 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, Let us pass, please, through your land to my place.

Jdg 11:20 But Sihon didn't trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

Jdg 11:21 Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

Jdg 11:22 They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.

Jdg 11:23 So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?

Jdg 11:24 Won't you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.

Jdg 11:25 Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

Jdg 11:26 While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn't you recover them within that time?

Jdg 11:27 I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me: Yahweh, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

Jdg 11:28 However the king of the children of Ammon didn't listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

Jdg 11:29 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.

Jdg 11:30 Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

Jdg 11:31 then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

Jdg 11:32 So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.

Jdg 11:33 He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Jdg 11:34 Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

Jdg 11:35 It happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can't go back.

Jdg 11:36 She said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.

Jdg 11:37 She said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.

Jdg 11:38 He said, Go. He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.

Jdg 11:39 It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel,

Jdg 11:40 that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Jdg 12:1 The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? we will burn your house around you with fire.

Jdg 12:2 Jephthah said to them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn't save me out of their hand.

Jdg 12:3 When I saw that you didn't save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand: why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?

Jdg 12:4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, and in the midst of Manasseh.

Jdg 12:5 The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. It was so, that when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, No;

Jdg 12:6 then said they to him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth; for he couldn't manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand.

Jdg 12:7 Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

Jdg 12:8 After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

Jdg 12:9 He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.

Jdg 12:10 Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.

Jdg 12:11 After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

Jdg 12:12 Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

Jdg 12:13 After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Jdg 12:14 He had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

Jdg 12:15 Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Ten by Mark Copeland

                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                              Chapter Ten

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To study the conversion of Cornelius and his household, the first
   Gentiles to obey the gospel

2) To note the need for religious and devout people to be saved, despite
   their good works

3) To ascertain the purpose of the Holy Spirit falling upon the
   Gentiles, based on the context

SUMMARY

Up to this time, the gospel had been preached only to Jews (also
Samaritans, who shared a Jewish ancestry).  With the conversion of
Cornelius and his household, Gentiles were now granted repentance that
leads to eternal life.  Because the Law of Moses for generations had
forbid socializing with Gentiles, it took a series of miraculous events
to help Jewish Christians realize that they should no longer consider
those of other nations as common or unclean.

We are told about Cornelius, a Roman soldier in Caesaria who was
extremely religious.  His fervent prayers and charity to the poor,
though not saving him, were noticed by God.  In a vision, an angel of
God instructed him to send men for Peter who would tell him what he
needed to do (1-8).

As Cornelius' men were on their way, Peter had a vision in which the
Lord told him to kill and eat unclean animals.  When he refused, Peter
was told what God has cleansed no one should call common or unclean.  As
Peter contemplated the vision, the Spirit told him that three men will
seek him with whom he should go without doubting.  The men arrived and
informed Peter about Cornelius. The next day, Peter and some brethren
from Joppa accompanied them back to Caesaria (9-23).

When he arrived, Peter found a waiting audience in home of Cornelius.
Cornelius fell down and worshipped at Peter's feet, but was kindly
rebuked for doing so.  Peter then explained how he has learned not to
call any man common or unclean, and Cornelius related his vision and
charge to send for Peter.  Now that Peter was there, Cornelius along
with his family and friends were ready to hear the things Peter had been
commanded by God to say (24-33).

Perceiving that God was no respecter of persons, but now accepts people
from every nation who fear Him and works righteousness, Peter proclaimed
the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He summarized the ministry of Jesus in
Judea, His crucifixion, and His resurrection from the dead, who was seen
by witnesses who ate and drank with Him.  These same witnesses were
commanded by God to preach that Jesus was ordained to be the Judge of
the living and the dead.  Also, the prophets bore witness that those who
believed in Him would receive remission of sins (34-43).

As Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon those who heard the
word.  The Jewish brethren who had accompanied Peter were astonished,
because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles
as evidenced by their speaking in tongues.  Peter saw the clear
implication of these events, that Gentiles could also be baptized (cf.
Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 8:12,35-38).  Thus he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord (44-48).

OUTLINE

I. CORNELIUS SENDS FOR PETER (1-33)

   A. CORNELIUS AND HIS VISION (1-8)
      1. Cornelius introduced
         a. A certain man in Caesarea, centurion of the Italian Regiment
         b. A devout man who feared God with all his family
         c. Who gave alms generously and prayed always
      2. Cornelius' vision
         a. About the ninth hour of the day he sees an angel of God
         b. Who tells him his prayers and alms have come up for a
            memorial before God
         c. He is told to send for Peter, who is lodging with Simon the
            tanner in Joppa
      3. Cornelius' action
         a. Calls for two of his servants and a devout soldier
         b. Tells them what happened and sends them to Joppa

   B. PETER AND HIS VISION (9-23)
      1. Peter has a vision
         a. The next day Peter goes to the housetop to pray, about the
            sixth hour
         b. Hungry, he falls into trance while food was being prepared
         c. He sees a great sheet bound at the four corners
            1) Descending down to the earth
            2) With all kinds of animals, wild beasts, creeping things,
               and birds
         d. He is told to kill and eat
            1) He protests that he is never eaten anything common or
               unclean
            2) He is told "What God has cleansed you must not call
               common"
         e. This was done three times, and then it was taken back into
            heaven
      2. Peter summoned to Caesarea
         a. As he wondered what the vision meant, the men from Cornelius
            arrive
         b. The Spirit tells Peter to go with them, doubting nothing
         c. Peter hears their story about Cornelius, and provides them
            lodging
         d. The next day Peter leaves with them, accompanied by some
            brethren

   C. PETER MEETS CORNELIUS (24-33)
      1. Cornelius welcomes Peter
         a. Waiting for Peter with family and close friends
         b. Falling down at Peter's feet, he is told to stand up
      2. Peter explains his presence
         a. It was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with those of
            another nation
         b. But God has shown him not to call any man common or unclean
         c. So he came without objection, and is ready to hear why they
            sent for him
      3. Cornelius recounts his vision
         a. Which occurred four days previously, while he fasted and
            prayed
         b. When he was visited by a man in bright clothing and told to
            send for Peter
         c. So they are all present to hear whatever God has commanded
            Peter to say

II. THE CONVERSION OF THE GENTILES (34-48)

   A. PETER'S SERMON (34-43)
      1. Introductory remarks
         a. He sees that God shows no partiality
         b. In every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is
            accepted by Him
      2. The ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus
         a. God sent Jesus, Lord of all, to the children of Israel,
            preaching peace (as they know)
            1) Beginning from Galilee after the baptism of John
            2) Proclaiming throughout all Judea
         b. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power
            1) Who went about doing good
            2) Healing all who were oppressed by the devil
            3) Witnessed by Peter and those who came with him
         c. God raised Jesus from the dead
            1) Who was killed by hanging on the tree
            2) Raised the third day, and shown openly to witnesses
               chosen before by God
            3) Who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead
      3. Concluding remarks
         a. Peter and others were commanded to testify that Jesus was
            ordained to the Judge of the iving and the dead
         b. All the prophets witness to Jesus, that through His name
            whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins

   B. THE HOLY SPIRIT FALLS ON THE GENTILES (44-48)
      1. The Holy Spirit's action
         a. He fell upon all those who heard the word
         b. Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished
            because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on
            the Gentiles also
         c. They heard them speak with tongues and magnify God
      2. Peter's reaction
         a. Questions whether anyone can forbid water baptism for those
            who received the Spirit just like they have
         b. Commands them to be baptized in the name of the Lord
         c. Invited to stay a few days

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Cornelius sends for Peter (1-33)
   - The conversion of the Gentiles (34-48)

2) What position did Cornelius hold? (1)
   - Centurion of the Italian Regiment

3) List the qualities that characterized Cornelius (2)
   - A devout man who feared God with all his household
   - Who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always

4) What did the angel of God say to him about his prayers and alms?
   (3-4)
   - They have come up for a memorial before God

5) Why was he told to send for Peter? (5-6)
   - Peter would tell him what he must do (KJV) (i.e., to be saved, cf.
     Ac 11:14)

6) What happened the next day as Peter was praying? (10)
   - He fell into a trance

7) What did he see? (11-12)
   - Heaven opening and a great sheet descending, filled with all kinds
     of animals, insects and birds

8) What did a voice tell Peter to do?  How did Peter respond? (13-14)
   - "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
   - "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."

9) What was Peter then told? (15)
   - "What God has cleansed you must not call common."

10) How many times was this repeated? (16)
   - Three times

11) When the men from Cornelius arrived, what did the Spirit say to
    Peter? (19-20)
   - "Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I
     have sent them."

12) What did the messengers tell Peter regarding Cornelius? (22)
   - He was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon Peter and hear
     words from him

13) When Peter went with the messengers from Cornelius, who accompanied
    him? (23)
   - Some brethren

14) When Peter arrived, who did Cornelius have waiting for him? (24)
   - His relatives and close friends

15) When Cornelius met Peter, what did he do?  How did Peter respond?
    (25-26)
   - Cornelius fell down at Peter's feet and worshiped
   - Peter lifted him up, telling him that he also was a man

16) What did Peter say had been unlawful for a Jewish man? (28)
   - To keep company with or go to one of another nation

17) What did Peter say God had shown him? (28)
   - Not to call any man common or unclean

18) After recounting his vision to Peter, what did Cornelius tell him?
    (30-33)
   - "We are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded
     you by God."

19) What two things did these circumstances lead Peter to conclude?
    (34-35)
   - That God shows no partiality
   - In every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is
     accepted by Him

20) What does Peter say about the preaching of Jesus? (36-37)
   - That God sent Him from Galilee to proclaim peace throughout all
     Judea

21) What does Peter say about the miracles of Jesus? (38)
   - That God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power to do good

22) What does Peter claim for himself and others to be in regards to
    such things? (39)
   - Witnesses of all that Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in
     Jerusalem

23) What did the Jews do to Jesus? (40)
   - They killed Him by hanging Him on a tree

24) What did God do? (41)
   - Raised Jesus on the third day

25) To whom did Jesus appear after His resurrection? (41)
   - To witnesses chosen before God
   - To those who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead

26) What did Jesus command His witnesses? (42)
   - To preach and testify that Jesus was ordained by God to be Judge of
     the living and the dead

27) What did the prophets bear witness to regarding Jesus? (43)
   - That through His name, whoever believes in Jesus will receive
     remission of sins

28) While Peter was still speaking, what happened? (44)
   - The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word

29) Who was astonished by this?  Why? (45)
   - Those of the circumcision who believed, who had accompanied Peter
   - Because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the
     Gentiles also

30) How was the outpouring of the Spirit manifested? (46)
   - They spoke with tongues and magnified God

31) What was Peter's conclusion from this sequence of events? (47)
   - "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who
     have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

32) What did Peter command the Gentiles? (48)
 - To be baptized in the name of the Lord