6/7/12

A wing and a prayer


Piggyback!  Feeling a little tired, why not hitch a ride on your nearest Eagle?  Well, we all feel a little tired at times, even at our peak in life we still become weary.  Which reminds me of one of the first sections of Scripture I remembered...


Isaiah, Chapter 40
  28 Haven’t you known?
Haven’t you heard?
The everlasting God, Yahweh,
The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint.
He isn’t weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.


  29 He gives power to the weak.
He increases the strength of him who has no might.


  30 Even the youths faint and get weary,
and the young men utterly fall;
  31 But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings like eagles.
They will run, and not be weary.
They will walk, and not faint.

God helps us in a variety of ways; spiritually, emotionally, and of course, physically.  How?  I really don't know the answer to that except to tell you that I can remember numerous times that I felt like I could not do even one more thing, yet somehow I did.  The skeptics out there would probably tell you its all in my mind, but I know better!! How? Experience is the only answer I can give you. God is full of surprises and his help is just one of them.  Unless you are in an airplane, you never will fly, but God is out there to help you in your daily life.  Try HIM and see.  If you take the time to rethink your life, you will see that HE has been there, helping.  And this is not just wishful thinking; or should I say "a wing and a prayer"... pun intended!!!

June 7 1 Samuel 7, 8


June 7
1 Samuel 7, 8

1Sa 7:1 The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.
1Sa 7:2 It happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
1Sa 7:3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
1Sa 7:4 Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
1Sa 7:5 Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh."
1Sa 7:6 They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, "We have sinned against Yahweh." Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
1Sa 7:7 When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
1Sa 7:8 The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
1Sa 7:9 Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him.
1Sa 7:10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
1Sa 7:11 The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.
1Sa 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto has Yahweh helped us.
1Sa 7:13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
1Sa 7:14 The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and its border did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
1Sa 7:15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
1Sa 7:16 He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.
1Sa 7:17 His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.
1Sa 8:1 It happened, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
1Sa 8:2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beersheba.
1Sa 8:3 His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah;
1Sa 8:5 and they said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons don't walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
1Sa 8:7 Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
1Sa 8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to you.
1Sa 8:9 Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
1Sa 8:10 Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who asked of him a king.
1Sa 8:11 He said, This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;
1Sa 8:12 and he will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and he will set some to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
1Sa 8:13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
1Sa 8:14 He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive groves, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
1Sa 8:15 He will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
1Sa 8:16 He will take your male servants, and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
1Sa 8:17 He will take the tenth of your flocks: and you shall be his servants.
1Sa 8:18 You shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.
1Sa 8:19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us,
1Sa 8:20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
1Sa 8:21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
1Sa 8:22 Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to their voice, and make them a king. Samuel said to the men of Israel, Every man go to his city.

Jun. 7, 8 John 12


Jun. 7, 8
John 12

Joh 12:1 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
Joh 12:2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
Joh 12:3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
Joh 12:5 "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"
Joh 12:6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
Joh 12:7 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
Joh 12:8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."
Joh 12:9 A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
Joh 12:10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,
Joh 12:11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
Joh 12:12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Joh 12:13 they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"
Joh 12:14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
Joh 12:15 "Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."
Joh 12:16 His disciples didn't understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
Joh 12:17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
Joh 12:18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
Joh 12:19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."
Joh 12:20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.
Joh 12:21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."
Joh 12:22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.
Joh 12:23 Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Joh 12:24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Joh 12:25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
Joh 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Joh 12:27 "Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time.
Joh 12:28 Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
Joh 12:29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
Joh 12:30 Jesus answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
Joh 12:33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
Joh 12:34 The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?"
Joh 12:35 Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn't overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn't know where he is going.
Joh 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn't believe in him,
Joh 12:38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
Joh 12:39 For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again,
Joh 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them."
Joh 12:41 Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
Joh 12:42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn't confess it, so that they wouldn't be put out of the synagogue,
Joh 12:43 for they loved men's praise more than God's praise.
Joh 12:44 Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
Joh 12:45 He who sees me sees him who sent me.
Joh 12:46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
Joh 12:47 If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.
Joh 12:49 For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."

"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Twenty-One by Mark Copeland 


                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                           Chapter Twenty-One

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To explore the warnings that Paul received as he journeyed to
   Jerusalem

2) To review the arrival of Paul in Jerusalem

3) To examine Paul's arrest in the temple

4) To observe Paul's request to address the violent mob as he entered
   the barracks

SUMMARY

Paul left the Ephesian elders at Miletus.  Paul, Luke and the other
traveling companions sailed from Miletus to Cos.  From Cos, they sailed
to Rhodes, and then on to Patara.  At Patara, they caught a ship to
Tyre of Phoenicia.  The ship passed to the south of the island of
Cyprus.  Upon arrival in Tyre, they found the disciples and remained
with them seven days.  The Spirit had indicated to the disciples what
awaited Paul in Jerusalem.  They told Paul to not go to Jerusalem.  Paul
continued, the disciples accompanied him outside the city, and they
knelt and prayed on the shore.  Paul and his companions boarded the ship
and departed.  They sailed from Tyre to Ptolemais.  They greeted the
brethren there and remained one day.  They then went to Caesarea.  Paul
and his companions went to Philip's house.  He was one of the seven (cf.
Acts 6).  Philip had four virgin daughters; they prophesied.  The
prophet Agabus came down from Judea.  He took Paul's belt and bound his
own hands and feet.  This was to indicate that Paul would be bound and
delivered to the Gentiles in Jerusalem, as the Holy Spirit revealed.
Both his traveling companions and those in Caesarea pleaded with Paul
not to go to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by
weeping and breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound but
also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  (Acts 21:13
NKJV)  They then ceased pleading with Paul and asked that the will of
the Lord be done. (1-14)

Paul and his companions proceeded to Jerusalem.  They were accompanied
by some of the disciples from Caesarea.  They were to lodge with Mnason
of Cyprus, who was an early disciple.  They then met with the Jerusalem
brethren, who met them gladly.  The next day, Paul and his companions
met with James and the elders to give a description of the "things which
God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry."  The brethren
glorified the Lord upon hearing these things.  James and the
elders then expounded to Paul the problem he faced.  Many myriads of
Jews had believed, and they were zealous for the law.  They had been
informed that Paul taught Jews, living among the Gentiles, to forsake
Moses - that is, not to circumcise their children, nor to keep the
customs.  They expected these Jewish believers to learn that Paul was in
Jerusalem.  James and the elders gave Paul a plan - he should
accompany the four men who had taken a vow; purify himself; pay their
expenses in an effort to show that Paul kept the law (customs) as a Jew.
They reiterated (cf. Acts 15) that the believing Gentiles were
not subject to the law. (15-25)

Paul followed the plan from James and the elders.  He took the men and
was purified with them.  They then entered the temple.  Jews from Asia
saw Paul in the temple.  They stirred up the crowd and seized Paul.
They cried out charges as James and the elders had expected.
Additionally, they charged that Paul had brought Greeks into the temple
and had defiled the place.  They had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with
Paul in the city and "supposed" that he had brought him into the temple.
The Jews seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple.  As they sought
to kill him, word came to the Roman commander about the uproar.  When
the Jews saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
The commander took Paul and bound him with chains.  He asked what he had
done, but he could not get an answer from the mob.  He then took him to
the barracks.  When they reached the stairs of the barracks, Paul had to
be carried due to the violence of the mob.  (26-36)

Paul asked to speak to the commander.  The commander asked him if he
could speak Greek.  The commander also asked if he was the Egyptian
leader of the assassins.  Paul replied that he was a Jew from Tarsus in
Cilicia, "a citizen of no mean city."  Paul then requested to speak to
the people.  The commander gave Paul permission to speak to the people.
Paul then began to speak to them in Hebrew.  (37-40)

OUTLINE

I. WARNINGS TO PAUL AS HE HEADED TO JERUSALEM (1-14)

   A. THEY SAILED FROM MILETUS TO TYRE (1-3)
      1. Paul left the Ephesian elders at Miletus
      2. Paul, Luke, and the other traveling companions sailed from
         Miletus to Cos to Rhodes and to Patara
      3. From Patara, they caught a ship to Tyre of Phoenicia
         a. As they sailed, they saw Cyprus on the "left" (passing south
            of the island)

   B. PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS ARRIVED IN TYRE (4-6)
      1. They found the disciples there and remained with them seven
         days
         a. The disciples understood through the Spirit what awaited
            Paul in Jerusalem
         b. They told Paul not to go to Jerusalem
      2. The disciples accompanied Paul and his companions outside the
         city
         a. They all knelt down and prayed on the shore
         b. Paul and his companions boarded the ship and departed

   C. MORE WARNINGS GIVEN TO PAUL BEFORE ARRIVING IN JERUSALEM (6-14)
      1. Paul and his companions sailed from Tyre to Ptolemais
         a. They greeted the brethren there and remained one day
         b. The next day, they went to Caesarea
      2. Paul and his companions went to Philip's house
         a. Philip was one of the seven (cf. Acts 6)
         b. Philip had four virgin daughters; they prophesied
         c. The prophet Agabus came down from Judea
         d. Agabus took Paul's belt and bound his own hands and feet;
            this was to indicate what would happen to Paul, as revealed
            by the Holy Spirit; he would be delivered to the Gentiles
         e. Both his traveling companions and those in Caesarea pleaded
            with Paul not to go to Jerusalem
         f. Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and
            breaking my heart?  For I am ready not only to be bound but
            also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
            (Acts 21:13 NKJV)
         g. They ceased pleading with Paul and asked that the will of
            the Lord be done

II. PAUL ARRIVED IN JERUSALEM (15-25)

   A. PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PROCEEDED TO JERUSALEM (15-16)
      1. They were accompanied by some of the disciples of Caesarea
      2. They were to lodge with Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple

   B. THEY MET WITH THE JERUSALEM BRETHREN (17-25)
      1. The Jerusalem brethren met them gladly
      2. Paul and his companions met with James and the elders to give a
         description of the "things which God had done among the
         Gentiles through his ministry"
      3. They glorified the Lord upon hearing these things
      4. James and the elders expounded to Paul the problem he faced
         a. Many myriads of Jews had believed
         b. These Jewish believers were zealous for the law
         c. They had been informed that Paul taught Jews living among
            the Gentiles to forsake Moses - not to circumcise their
            children, nor to keep the customs
         d. These Jewish believers would learn that Paul was in
            Jerusalem
         e. James and the elders gave Paul a plan - he was to accompany
            the four men who had taken a vow; purify himself; pay their
            expenses - this was an effort to show that Paul kept the law
            (customs) as a Jew
         f. They reiterated (cf. Acts 15) that the believing Gentiles
            were not subject to the law

III. PAUL ARRESTED IN THE TEMPLE (26-36)

   A. PAUL FOLLOWED THE PLAN FROM JAMES AND THE ELDERS (26)
      1. Paul took the men and was purified with them; they entered the
         temple

   B. JEWS FROM ASIA SAW PAUL IN THE TEMPLE (27-29)
      1. They stirred up the crowd and seized Paul
      2. They cried out charges as expected (see notes above)
      3. Additionally, they charged that Paul had brought Greeks into
         the temple and defiled the place
         a. They had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city
         b. They "supposed" that Paul had brought him into the temple

   C. PAUL WAS SEIZED AND THE JEWS SOUGHT TO KILL HIM (30-36)
      1. The people seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple
      2. As they sought to kill him, word came to the Roman commander of
         the uproar
      3. When the Jews saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped
         beating Paul
      4. The commander took Paul and bound him with chains; he asked
         what Paul had done
         a. When he could not get an answer, he took him to the barracks
         b. When they reached the stairs, Paul had to be carried due to
            the violence of the mob

IV. PAUL ASKED TO ADDRESS THE MOB (37-40)

   A. PAUL ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE COMMANDER (37-39)
      1. The commander asked if he could speak Greek
      2. The commander also asked if he was the Egyptian leader of the
         assassins
      3. Paul replied that he was a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, "a
         citizen of no mean city"
      4. Paul requested to speak to the people

   B. THE COMMANDER ALLOWED PAUL TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE (40)
      1. The commander gave Paul permission to speak to the people
      2. Paul began to speak to them in Hebrew

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Warnings to Paul as he headed to Jerusalem (1-14)
   - Paul arrived in Jerusalem (15-25)
   - Paul arrested in the temple (26-36)
   - Paul asked to address the mob (37-40)

2) Sailing from Miletus, list the cities passed through prior to Tyre?
   (1-2)
   - Miletus to Cos, to Rhodes, to Patara, to Tyre (1-2)

3) On which side of the ship did they pass Cyprus? What direction would
   that be? (3)
   - Left; ship passed to the south of Cyprus [see map] (3)

4) What was the common request made of Paul at Tyre and Caesarea? (4-12)
   - Not to go up to Jerusalem (3)

5) What two groups made this common request of Paul in Tyre and
   Caesarea?  (4-12)
   - The local disciples asked in Tyre (4)
   - The local disciples and Paul's traveling companions in Caesarea
     (12)

6) What was Paul ready to do in Jerusalem? (13)
   - Not only ready to be bound, but even to die for the Lord (13)

7) When Paul would not be persuaded, what did the brethren say? (14)
   - "The will of the Lord be done" (14)

8) What did Paul tell James and the elders? How did they react? (18-20)
   - Those things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry
     (19)
   - They glorified the Lord (20)

9) What had the Jewish believers been informed about Paul? (20-21)
   - He taught all the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses (21)
   - He told them not to circumcise their children (21)
   - He told them not to walk according to the customs (21)

10) What was the plan suggested to Paul? What was this to accomplish?
    (22-24)
   - Take the four men who have taken a vow; be purified with them; pay
     their expenses (23-24)
   - The things they had been informed of were "nothing," and that Paul
     walked orderly and kept the law (24)

11) Had James and the elders changed their position regarding the letter
    written to the Gentiles in Acts 15? (25)
   - No; they reiterated the points of the letter (25)

12) Where were the Jews from that saw Paul in the temple? How did they
    stir up the people? (27-28)
   - Jews from Asia (27)
   - They cried out that Paul taught men everywhere against people, the
     law, and the temple; they claimed he brought Greeks into the temple
     and defiled it (28)

13) Who did the Jews "suppose" Paul brought into the temple? (29)
   - Trophimus, the Ephesian (29)

14) What did the mob do to Paul? (30-32)
   - They seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple (30)
   - They sought to kill him (31)
   - They were beating him (32)

15) When the commander heard of the uproar, what did he do? (31-34)
   - He took soldiers and centurions and ran to them (32)
   - The commander took Paul and had him bound with chains (33)
   - He asked who he was and what he had done (33)
   - He commanded that he be taken to the barracks (34)

16) What did the soldiers have to do at the stairs? Why? (35)
   - The soldiers had to carry Paul (35)
   - Because of the violence of the mob (35)

17) When Paul asked to speak to the commander, what two questions did he
    ask Paul? How did Paul respond? (37-39)
   - Can you speak Greek? (37)
   - Are you not the Egyptian, the leader of the assassins? (38)
   - I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I
     implore you to permit me to speak to the people (39)

18) With the commander's permission, in what language did Paul speak to
    the people? (40)
   - Hebrew (40)
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