6/4/12

Apples in heaven?



I can only imagine all the things that are possible in heaven.  Honestly, I have a lot of doubts as to whether or not we will have wings, but I never thought of "apples" in heaven.  Who knows??  One thing is sure; they caused a lot of problems the first time around...


Genesis, Chapter 3
 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’”

  2 The woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat,  3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

  4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die,  5 for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

  6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.  7 The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  8 They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

  9 Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

  10 The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

  11 God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

  12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

  13 Yahweh God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

  14 Yahweh God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
you are cursed above all livestock,
and above every animal of the field.


On your belly you shall go,
and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.


  15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.


He will bruise your head,
and you will bruise his heel.”


  16 To the woman he said,

“I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth.
In pain you will bear children.


Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”


  17 To Adam he said,

“Because you have listened to your wife’s voice,
and have eaten of the tree,
of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground for your sake.


In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
  18 It will yield thorns and thistles to you;
and you will eat the herb of the field.


  19 By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken.


For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”

OK, THE APPLES were not the problem, sin was.  Why?  Because evil will have its way with the weak and gullible.  Think you can't be deceived; think again.  Look how much temptation you can be exposed to in one day of using your computer to surf the net.  Humm, I wonder, will there be computers in heaven.  If so, I hope they have "Apples"... I have always wanted one.

June 4 1 Samuel 1, 2


June 4
1 Samuel 1, 2

1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
1Sa 1:2 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
1Sa 1:3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
1Sa 1:4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
1Sa 1:5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:6 Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:7 as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1Sa 1:8 Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? and why don't you eat? and why is your heart grieved? am I not better to you than ten sons?
1Sa 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.
1Sa 1:10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11 She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
1Sa 1:12 It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.
1Sa 1:13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1Sa 1:14 Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.
1Sa 1:15 Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.
1Sa 1:16 Don't count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.
1Sa 1:18 She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.
1Sa 1:19 They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
1Sa 1:20 It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.
1Sa 1:21 The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1Sa 1:22 But Hannah didn't go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide forever.
1Sa 1:23 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
1Sa 1:24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1Sa 1:25 They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26 She said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him:
1Sa 1:28 therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh. He worshiped Yahweh there.
1Sa 2:1 Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
1Sa 2:2 There is no one as holy as Yahweh, For there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.
1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly. Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.
1Sa 2:6 Yahweh kills, and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
1Sa 2:7 Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.
1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory, for the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's. He has set the world on them.
1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.
1Sa 2:10 Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
1Sa 2:11 Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to Yahweh before Eli the priest.
1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were base men; they didn't know Yahweh.
1Sa 2:13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand;
1Sa 2:14 and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
1Sa 2:15 Yes, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.
1Sa 2:16 If the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would say, No, but you shall give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
1Sa 2:17 The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.
1Sa 2:18 But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
1Sa 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
1Sa 2:20 Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home.
1Sa 2:21 Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
1Sa 2:22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
1Sa 2:23 He said to them, Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.
1Sa 2:24 No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh's people disobey.
1Sa 2:25 If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.
1Sa 2:26 The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.
1Sa 2:27 There came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house?
1Sa 2:28 and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
1Sa 2:29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?
1Sa 2:30 Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever: but now Yahweh says, Be it far from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
1Sa 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
1Sa 2:32 You shall see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
1Sa 2:33 The man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from my altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
1Sa 2:34 This shall be the sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.
1Sa 2:35 I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever.
1Sa 2:36 It shall happen, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Eighteen by Mark Copeland


                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                            Chapter Eighteen

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) Examine the final travels of Paul's 2nd Journey, from Corinth back to
   Antioch of Syria

2) Review the work of Aquila and Priscilla, and Apollos

3) Observe the beginning of Paul's 3rd Journey

SUMMARY

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  He found Aquila and Priscilla.
He stayed with them, as they were of the same trade, tentmakers.  Aquila
and Priscilla had left Rome because of the command by Claudius.
During this time, Paul taught in the synagogue and "persuaded both Jews
and Greeks."  Silas and Timothy then joined Paul at Corinth, coming from
Macedonia.  Paul taught the Jews that "Jesus is the Christ."  They
opposed him.  Paul told them, "Your blood be on your own heads; I am
clean.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles."  Paul then went to
Justus' house, which was next to the synagogue.  Crispus, the ruler of
the synagogue, and his household believed.  Many Corinthians believed
and were baptized.  The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, encouraging him
to be bold and to continue to speak; for the Lord would be with him.
Paul continued teaching there another year and a half.  The Jews then
took Paul before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio, charging that he
"persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." Gallio refused to be
a "judge of such matters" and drove them away from the judgment seat. [I
and II Thessalonians may have been written.] (1-17)

Paul remained there a while longer.  Next, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla
set sail for Syria. As they were departing, Paul had his hair cut off at
Cenchrea as part of a vow.  Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in
Ephesus, as they were traveling.  Paul did not remain in Ephesus, as he
wanted to keep the feast in Jerusalem.  He sailed on to Caesarea,
greeted the church there, and went on to Antioch.  (18-22)

Paul departed from Antioch of Syria to begin the 3rd journey.  He
traveled through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples.
Apollos of Alexandria is then introduced as an "eloquent man and mighty
in the Scriptures."  Apollos traveled to Ephesus and spoke boldly in the
synagogue.  He taught the way of the Lord, but he only knew the baptism
of John.  When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him
aside and "explained to him the way of God more accurately."  Apollos
then traveled to Achaia and "greatly helped" the believers.  "He
vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that
Jesus is the Christ." (23-28)

OUTLINE

I. THE APOSTLE PAUL IN CORINTH (continuing the 2nd Journey) (1-17)

   A. PAUL TAUGHT IN CORINTH (1-17)
      1. Found Aquila and Priscilla
         a. Worked and stayed with Aquila and Priscilla
         b. They were tentmakers by trade
      2. Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath
         a. He persuaded by Jews and Greeks
      3. Paul preached that Jesus is the Christ
         a. Silas and Timothy join Paul, arriving from Macedonia
         b. Jews opposed Paul and blasphemed
         c. Paul decided to go to the Gentiles
      4. Paul went to Justus' house (by synagogue) and taught
         a. Crispus, ruler of the synagogue, believed (and his house)
         b. Many Corinthians believed and were baptized
         c. The Lord spoke to Paul, "Do not be afraid, but speak..."
         d. Paul continued teaching the Word of God there 18 months
      5. Jews brought Paul before Gallio, proconsul of Achaia
         a. Charged that Paul persuaded men to worship God "contrary to
            the law"
         b. Gallio refused to hear the case, as it was not a "matter of
            wrongdoing or wicked crimes"
         c. Gallio drove them from the judgment seat and ignored them

II. PAUL RETURNED TO ANTIOCH OF SYRIA (18-22)

   A. PAUL DEPARTED CORINTH, AND SAILED FOR SYRIA (18)
      1. After the encounter before Gallio, Paul remained a good while
      2. Paul, with Aquila and Priscilla, sailed for Syria
      3. Paul had taken a vow; at the end, he cut his hair at Cenchrea
         a. Cenchrea was a port that served Corinth (approx. 8-9 miles)
         b. Upon expiration of the vow, the hair was cut off

   B. PAUL ARRIVED AT EPHESUS, WITH AQUILA AND PRISCILLA (19-22)
      1. Paul leaves Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus
      2. Paul entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews
         a. The Jews asked him to stay longer
         b. Paul declined, as he wanted to keep the feast in Jerusalem
         c. Paul indicated he would return; thus he departed
      3. Paul landed at Caesarea, greeted the church, and went to
         Antioch
         a. Recall Cornelius and his household/friends' conversion
         b. Paul arrived in Antioch in completion of the 2nd journey

III. PAUL BEGAN THE 3rd JOURNEY (23-28)

   A. PAUL RETURNED TO THE REGIONS OF GALATIA AND PHRYGIA (23)
      1. Paul departs Antioch, beginning the 3rd journey
      2. He travels through Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the
         disciples

   B. APOLLOS IN EPHESUS AND ACHAIA (24-28)
      1. Apollos of Alexandria was "eloquent and mighty in the
         Scriptures"
      2. Apollos arrived in Ephesus and taught the "way of the Lord"
         a. He knew only the baptism of John
         b. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside
         c. They explained "more accurately" the way of God to Apollos
      3. Apollos desired to go to Achaia
         a. The brethren wrote a letter to those in Achaia to receive
            him
         b. Apollos helped the believers there
         c. He vigorously showed that "Jesus is the Christ" from the
            Scriptures and "refuted the Jews publicly"

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul teaches in Corinth (1-17)
   - Paul returns to Antioch of Syria (18-22)
   - Paul begins the 3rd journey (23)
   - Apollos taught more "accurately" by Aquila and Priscilla (24-28)

2) Why were Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth rather than Rome? (2)
   - Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart Rome (2)

3) What was the common occupation of Paul and Aquila and Priscilla? (3)
   - Tentmakers (3)

4) What did Paul do every Sabbath? (4)
   - Reasoned in the synagogue (4)
   - Persuaded both Jews and Greeks (4)

5) When Silas and Timothy joined Paul, what was he compelled to testify
   by the Spirit and to whom? (5)
   - That Jesus is the Christ; to the Jews (5)

6) What was the reaction of the Jews? (6)
   - They opposed him and blasphemed (6)

7) How did Paul respond and to whom was he going next? (6)
   - "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean." (6)
   - "From now on I will go to the Gentiles." (6)

8) Whose house did Paul enter and where was it located? (7)
   - Justus' house (he worshipped God) (7)
   - Next door to the synagogue (7)

9) What resulted with the people of Corinth? (8)
   - Crispus, ruler of the synagogue believed with his household (8)
   - Many Corinthians believed and were baptized (8)

10) After the vision from the Lord, how long did Paul remain there? (11)
   - A year and six months, teaching among them (11)

11) What was Gallio not willing to be a judge over? (15)
   - Question of words and names and your own [Jewish] law (15)

12) After a good while, Paul departed.  Who accompanied him and where
    did they go? (18-19)
   - Aquila and Priscilla accompanied Paul (18)
   - They sailed for Syria (18)
   - Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus (19)

13) Why did Paul not stay longer in Ephesus? (21)
   - He was intent on keeping the feast in Jerusalem (21)

14) After his arrival in Antioch of Syria, where did Paul go? What did
    he do? (23)
   - He went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia (23)
   - He strengthened all the disciples (23)

15) In Ephesus, when Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos speak, what did
    they do? (25-26)
   - They took him aside and explained to him more accurately the way of
     God (26)
   - He only knew the baptism of John (25)

16) What did Apollos do in Achaia? (27-28)
   - He greatly helped those who had believed (27)
   - He vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the
     Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (28)