20th Dec 2010

I will not be blogging my devotionals over Christmas and New Years.


Instead I will be:

• Concentrating on family
• Writing my second book
• The creative process with my friends Kevin and Ann Pimblott as they plant a church in St Louis.
• I would really appreciate your prayers!

16th Dec 2010

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – A Time for Everything

• “The Gift of Time”
• The teacher of Ecclesiastes shares the polarization of life’s experiences.
• Life changes and time is an agent of change. Nothing stays the same except God and even our understanding of Him changes over time.
• Change is good; change is God.
• If our life’s aim is a moment in time then we will be very disappointed and ultimately ruined. If our life’s aim however is to grasp time as God’s gift then we may see much fruit in our lives.
• Time allows our minds to change and develop.
• Winston Churchill said “if you are young and not a liberal you have no heart; if you are old and not a conservative you have no brain”
• Time allows us to have second chances.
• Time allows us to invest our lives in different ways. I heard someone once say that when we are young our wisdom is like bullets but if we allow time to mature us then when we are old our wisdom can be like missiles. Bullets are spat out quickly and multiple times; missiles are launched far less often but have a much bigger effect when they reach their point of impact.
• It has also been said that some people live the first half of their lives better than the second and visa versa.
• David and Solomon had good first half’s and yet poor second halves; Moses and Matthew did better in the second half of their lives. Caleb did well in b oth – study him.
• Time it seems is an opportunity.
• I pray that my life is not wasted trying to get to a particular moment in time and holding onto it. I pray instead it will be a pursuing of the gift of time. A recognition of the goodness of change and the understanding that it brings.
• Bring on change!

12th Dec 2010

I really enjoyed teaching on 'Paradise' last night in Colorado

The teaching on the four levels of understanding is so important. 

The Bible transforms us, a shallow understanding transforms to a shallow level but a deeper understanding tranforms us much more deeply.

If you have not heard it - check out:

http://www.paisproject.com/index.cfm?i=2998&mid=1000&id=200504

10th Dec 2010

An excerpt from the 1st draft of my new book - The Cloud and the Line


knights

Where have all the Knights gone?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.[i]

A long time ago, I read a magazine that said its greatest feedback had come from an article entitled; why are Christian men such wimps?

That bothered me.

I did not want to grow into a wimp. I did not want to be someone who would flake out and give up too easily. I wanted, and still want, to be strong. I wanted to live up to the motto of The Gibbs Family.

The Gibbs family has Scottish origins. The name Gibbs means “bright hostage.” In later medieval times, the family crest was created and to this day displays three battleaxes. When I was a little boy, my father told me that these battleaxes represented my mother and two grandmothers.  

It turns out that was not true.

The motto of the Gibbs’ knights was “firm of purpose.”

I don’t want to be a wimp: I want to be firm of purpose. But what is my purpose? What is the purpose of a Christian? Is it to wage war on those with a different opinion? Is it to extend the boundaries of our faith through bloodshed and crusades? Is it to demand that others agree to the rules of our religion?

Or may our purpose be found not on the battlefield but in the sky?

-----

[i] Ephesians 6:10-18

9th Dec 2010

Acts 28:17-31 – Paul Preaches at Rome under Guard

• “I’ve Started and so I’ll Finish””
• There’s a lovely sense of continuity as Acts [the longest book in the New Testament] closes.
• The book starts with Jesus commission of the Disciples and His inferred command to continue in the principles of mission that they were instructed when He was with them; namely Spread, Spot , Stay, Send.
• The disciples are seen on various occasions implementing this divine method of outreach.
• Then Paul after his conversion does the same, first to the Jews and then to the gentiles in places such as Philippi. He uses the exact same principle passed onto him by the disciples.
• Then in this very last section of the book Spread, Spot, Stay, Send appears again;
• Spread; there were an estimated 10,000 Jews in Rome at the time [after their return for a previous purge] and for various possibly reasons [most likely fear of persecution] the Messianic Christians had not reached out to them. But Paul does. In fact the first thing he does, even under house arrest is try to spread his word to as many leaders as possible. Spread is about strategically reaching as many potential converts as possible. So many youth workers for instance skip this step – it is too hard, they would rather immediately hone in on a small handful of people they are comfortable with. The scariness of Spread is that who knows who you will get to follow you.
• Spot; Paul is looking for those who will lean forward. He does this with the usual methods. Firstly; he connects with them using their terminology and a point of reference that they commonly know to be true and agree on. In this case ‘The Kingdom of God’ in the mishna we learn that Jews had to first accept the yoke of the Kingdom before they could accept the yoke of the mitzvah. So the Kingdom of God/Heaven was an understood concept. Secondly; he gave an option for those leaning forward to find out more; the emphasis being on their responsibility. In this case his door was open for them to return. So again after he strategically spreads, he then spots the people of peace.
• Stay; this was especially easy for him. Jesus told His disciples to go from town to town [spread], spot the people of peace and stay with them. He told them to invest in those whom took on the responsibility of feeding them and warned them not to move from house to house looking for a better offer or position. Paul of course fulfills this and keeps his door open for two years in the same place. He also incidentally is likely to have written several other books of the Bible whislt under house arrest in Rome.
• Send; the fourth and final part to this circle is Send. The disciples would find, disciple and then send their disciples out into the rest of the community who did not at first lean forward. We know from this passage that that is what happened here. Not only did Paul’s converts return they brought many others with them. They were the ones who outreached.
• The book of Acts is the story of the explosion of God’s Kingdom and at its end its message is I’ve started and so I will finish. The plces and people change but the principles at its heart do not.
• Maybe that is a key for our lives? Places, possibilities and people will always be changing but if our Godly principles stay the same them we will see success over a period of time.
• Some peoples hope is that they will see success depending on the places that they can get to or the people that they can get to know or the possibilities that open up to them but in reality success comes to those who stick with the right principles and it is these principles that shape everything else.
• Praying today that I will stay true to the truth.

Acts 28:11-16

Paul’s arrival at Rome

• “Once were were not but now we are””
• Paul eventually gets to Rome and for once something really nice happens to him.
• There are Jews who follow Jesus living there.
• Somehow they heard he was arriving and they showed up to greet and befriend him.
• Now Paul would not have known these people as he had never gone to Rome and the church there [according to external historical evidence] had started somewhere around 40AD.
• I love this! And can totally relate to it.
• I travel a lot and it never ceases to amaze me that I can meet complete strangers from a different background, race, ethnicity, colour, sex, class etc and yet almost immediately connect with them… why?
• Jesus.
• We share the same feelings and experiences. We can chat about things and know exactly what each other means because God has somehow mysteriously bonded us around Himself. As we known Him we know each other.
• “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God” 1 Peter 2:10
• God calls mixtures!
• Like us!
• It is a tough job because people naturally elevate to those like themselves.
• The choice of Greek words here is interesting; Laos is used not  Demos
• Demos means public - a group of people bound together socially
• Laos - a people - a group of people bound together by nothing but the spirit of God
• The unique thing about the body of God is that we are bound together by someone and something bigger than ourselves. Without that we will natural often separate from each other to find those more like us.
• This is why marriages succeed best when they are built around someone bigger than themselves. Sadly sometimes that is children and they shoulder incredible pressures.
• Thanking God today that I was once not but know I am part of His people.

7th Dec 2010

Acts 28:1-10 – Paul ashore on Malta

• “God sees the heart… thank goodness”
• Paul and his fellow travelers land on shore and whilst making a fire – he is bitten by a viper.
• At first the locals expect him to die and assume that he must be a murderer if he escaped the ship but then the gods caught up with him on their island.
• But he does not die.
• So quickly they go to the other extreme and now presume instead that he is a god.
• “People  look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7
• Firstly I think we would all be glad that God looks at our heart but I must also be careful not to be fooled by outward appearances.
• The Phoenicians who lived on this island at the time had a primitive understanding of gods and yet don’t we often judge others in the same way?
• Does our fickle understanding of people based on their circumstances influence our opinion of them?
• And does that reflect to us something about our understanding of God Himself?
• We must be careful because in the same way that we judge other so God will judge us and in the same way that we measure others so he will measure us.
• Praying for an insight into God’s heart that will give me insight into people’s hearts.

6th Dec 2010

Acts 27:27-44 – The Shipwreck

• “Character versus Charisma”
• Paul the prisoner bizarrely continues to lead the captain and the centurion or at least influence them.
• As in the last passage and this one; he advises them and begins to make bigger and bigger decisions.
• He tells those in authority that the sailors are not allowed to leave in the lifeboat.
• He tells them when to eat.
• And eventually the Centenarian decided to overthrew the idea of killing the prisoners in order to save Paul – in Roman law the guards life would be taken if the prisoners they were responsible escaped.
• For Paul’s sake the Centurion takes that risk… why?
• I believe Paul was providing hope.
• But how?

• Not only so, but we[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

• When Charisma walks into a room everyone notices. When charisma walks into the room everyone immediately follows. But if only charisma walks into the room eventually those followers drop away.
• When character walks into a room no-one notices and no-one follows. But after a while character brings hope and people begin to follow for a very long time.
• Character makes a difference to any kind of leader; a parent, a spouse or a CEO.
• Paul had character and character brings hope. Character brings hope because it is hard-working, trust-worthy, always fulfills what it says it will. The list goes on.
• And character is indirectly a fruit of the Spirit.
• Paul was a leader with character.
• Praying today for both character and charisma.

3rd Dec 2010

Acts 27:13-26 – The Storm

• “What Leaders do in a Crisis”
• The inevitable storm hits.
• After days of trying everything they can and every sailing technique of the time to rescue their ship they finally give up hope.
• At that point, Paul the Spiritual leader not the captain the ship’s leader, gets up and gives some direction.
• Paul’s actions here remind me of things I teach that leaders do in a crisis;
1. They Stand up and are seen.
2. They adopt juxtaposition: they paint the bad realistic picture but then offer hope.
3. They stick to the facts and don’t guess why.
4. They relate what is happening to the bigger story.
• "This is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the end, though it is perhaps the end of the beginning." Winston Churchill
5. They link the ordinary to the extraordinary
6. They make the target the development of those involved.
7. They never hide their conviction.
• These seven traits that I have learnt over the years have served me well. I may not be the best leader in the world but I have seen many a crisis. And I have survived and grown through every one.
• I hope those travelling with me have done the same.
• Plus…last time I travelled through a huge storm someone gave me $50,000.

2nd Dec 2010

Acts 27:1-12 – Paul sails for Rome

• “Some men are chosen to do...”
• Paul is shipped off to Rome.
• He is about to face trial in Rome in a time that was not kind to Christians.
• Even the journey there was turning out to be very difficult.
• They were fast approaching the autumn/fall and winter was right around the corner. The seas were becoming treacherous for the kinds of ships that existed 2000 years ago.
• The writer tells us that they were attempting to sail after the fast – this is key to understanding the travel problems they were facing.

• The fast was Sept/October
• The Jews believed it was only safe to sail between Pentecost and Tabernacles [May-June to 5 days after the fast so]
• The Romans believed that sailing after September 15^th was doubtful and after November 11^th was suicidal!

• Last night I watched the film “to kill a mockingbird” – it is a famous American classic about a white lawyer defending a black innocent young man accused falsely of a rape charge.
• He is threatened and his children are bullied.
• Eventually his children are attacked.
• In the film – when he loses the case and his children are crestfallen, his neighbor approached his son.
• She attempts to help him make sense of his towns terrible decision and his father’s courage.
• She says these words;
• “Some men are chosen to do the unpleasant things to help the rest of us”
• That is leadership and Paul understood it.
• I have to do the unpleasant things as a leader. Sometimes even those you love can’t understand. Sometimes your enemies won’t understand.
• But leaders have to do the unpleasant things to save their communities from something much worse than the unpleasant.
• Praying; yet again, for courage.

1st Dec 2010

Acts 25:23-26:32 – Paul before Agrippa

• “You cannot ignore the problem but…”
• So Paul’s 4^th trial [2^nd informal one] begins.
• With pomp and ceremony Agrippa and Bernice enter the room and Paul is asked yet again to defend himself.
• Over time it seems Paul has learnt how to do this and ironically it seems he has learnt that the best way he can defend himself is by being less and less defensive.
• We see a man who used to purposely annoy and even lash out a little in his arguments, now wise up a little.
• He had the same old problem, the same old accusations, the same old enemy and the same old issues presented to him.
• But he had learnt that…
• You cannot ignore the problem but you can choose how you address it!
• Paul chooses to share his story with the hopes of converting his audience.
• They see him on trial, yet he sees himself on testimony.
• He is positive rather than negative. He paints the bigger picture.
• There are many problems I face in my life and here are some of the things I am learning through Paul’s various trials:
1. No matter whom you are, frustration only gets you into deeper problems.
2. The devil’s plans will backfire if you defend yourself in a Godly Spirit.
3. You can choose how you address your problems.
4. Aim high! [Paul has suddenly turned this from escaping death to the firsts steps in converting a King].
• Margaret Thatcher was once asked to describe Christianity in one word.
• She said… “choice’.
• She may not be my idea model of a Christian but I think her answer was brilliant.
• I love Jesus because I love choice.

30th Nov 2010

Acts 25:13-22 – Paul’s Trial before Festus

• “A Simple Thought on Gaining Wisdom”
• King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
• Festus then asks Agrippa to help him in this perplexing if not pressing problem of Paul.
• I would not have.
• Getting advice is a worthy thing but I would always get advice from people who have experience or been successful in a particular area.
• Festus was messing with things he did not understand and Agrippa and Bernice were not exactly highly regarded in matters of religion and moral duty. They were having an incestuous relationship and had turned their back on their Jewish faith.
• For me wisdom starts with the wise decision of the right wise people to approach.
• I have certain people to advise me on certain specific areas. No-one knows everything about everything! No-one has all the answers. Wisdom comes in community.
• And sometimes it is those we don't get on with so well that have the best wisdom in a certain area.
• There are some I would ask for advice on Bible study but not on fatherhood [and visa versa]
• There are some I would ask for advice on financial issues but not pastoral insight [and visa versa].
• I look for a proven track record in that area.
• What possible led Festus into asking Agrippa’s advice was the opportunity to suck up to the King.
• Asking advice is serious business I should choose who I ask for the correct reasons not immoral or self-prorogating ones.

29th Nov 2010

Acts 25:1-12 – Paul’s Trial before Festus

• “Satan’s biggest problem”
• First lets summaries the situation. Paul is attacked by a mob, he speaks to them and is rescued by the Roman soldiers. Then he is taken before Felix to be tried on the way he escapes ambush. Felix keeps him for two years hoping to be offered a bribe, then is recalled to Rome. A new governor; Festus arrives on the scene.
• In this passage things are now happening fast. According to Josephus the Jewish/Roman historian, just before Felix departs and Festus arrives, he usurps extra authority and has Jesus’ brother and other Christian leaders executed. [antiquities 20.9.1]
• The Jews again approach Festus asking for Paul to be sent back to Jerusalem to be tried so that they can ambush him along the way.
• Paul however appeals to Caesar, he has every right to do this as a Roman citizen. His dream is about to come true – he will go to Rome, something he has always wanted.
• Satan’s plans always seem to backfire; Felix is recalled to Rome and subsequently banished due to his mis-government. Paul is called to Rome to give account and therefore his testimony. So God’s enemy Felix is removed from the centre of power and Paul bizarrely is drawn much closer.
• The reason Pais started is because of a similar incident. In the late 80’s Satan used a ‘white witch’ in Manchester to try to stop all Christian ministers from going into the schools. Instead it had the opposite affect. The  ministers realized the importance of school visits and got behind myself [Pais] and Andy Hawthorne [WWMT]. Soon schools work multiplied at a crazy rate!
• So why does Satan do it? Why does he attack when he knows it’s going to backfire? He even knows his final destiny!
• Because he is the greatest slave to sin of all.
• He cannot it seems help himself, he is consumed. What started as a decision has now bound him completely.
• It is a warning to us all.
• Things that start as ‘bad choices’ can leader to habits and patterns that lead to strongholds in our lives where we cannot help ourselves.
• Be essentially we can be encouraged; whatever my enemy tried I know God can use it and turn it back on him.
• Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

29th Nov 2010

Acts 25:1-12 – Paul’s Trial before Festus

• “Satan’s biggest problem”
• First lets summaries the situation. Paul is attacked by a mob, he speaks to them and is rescued by the Roman soldiers. Then he is taken before Felix to be tried on the way he escapes ambush. Felix keeps him for two years hoping to be offered a bribe, then is recalled to Rome. A new governor; Festus arrives on the scene.
• In this passage things are now happening fast. According to Josephus the Jewish/Roman historian, just before Felix departs and Festus arrives, he usurps extra authority and has Jesus’ brother and other Christian leaders executed. [antiquities 20.9.1]
• The Jews again approach Festus asking for Paul to be sent back to Jerusalem to be tried so that they can ambush him along the way.
• Paul however appeals to Caesar, he has every right to do this as a Roman citizen. His dream is about to come true – he will go to Rome, something he has always wanted.
• Satan’s plans always seem to backfire; Felix is recalled to Rome and subsequently banished due to his mis-government. Paul is called to Rome to give account and therefore his testimony. So God’s enemy Felix is removed from the centre of power and Paul bizarrely is drawn much closer.
• The reason Pais started is because of a similar incident. In the late 80’s Satan used a ‘white witch’ in Manchester to try to stop all Christian ministers from going into the schools. Instead it had the opposite affect. The  ministers realized the importance of school visits and got behind myself [Pais] and Andy Hawthorne [WWMT]. Soon schools work multiplied at a crazy rate!
• So why does Satan do it? Why does he attack when he knows it’s going to backfire? He even knows his final destiny!
• Because he is the greatest slave to sin of all.
• He cannot it seems help himself, he is consumed. What started as a decision has now bound him completely.
• It is a warning to us all.
• Things that start as ‘bad choices’ can leader to habits and patterns that lead to strongholds in our lives where we cannot help ourselves.
• Be essentially we can be encouraged; whatever my enemy tried I know God can use it and turn it back on him.
• Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

25th Nov 2010

Acts 24:1-27 – Paul’s Trial before Felix

• “Faith is in the Waiting”
• I hate being in limbo. I wonder how Paul felt about it?
• Eventually the High Priest and a lawyer turn up to accuser him.
• His judge is Felix who has about three reasonable good marks as a leader [putting down rebellion, bands of robbers and some assassins] but many poor ones. Later he was returned to Rome because of misrule.
• Tertullas the lawyer presents his case using the popular form of rhetoric debate and Paul systematically diffuses each clam with confidence. The jews fail to get him executed [3^rd time]
• Then he has to wait… for two whole years.
• Faith is not in the stepping out, faith is in the waiting.
• When we step out in faith we are usually motivated, energized, pumped. Paul would have been when Jesus appeared to him and spoke to him in dreams. But now here he is in a negative environment with only a few friends to look after him.
• What a waste of time!
• Or was it?
• Faith may be in the waiting but it does not mean we have to wait for faith.
• Paul did not wait to get pumped again or for the promise [to speak in Jerusalem] to come true.
• Firstly he witnessed to Felix and his family who ultimately rejected his message due to Paul’s forthrightness and description of judgment. Felix’s wife was a Jew and their child eventually died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
• It seems Paul learnt the value of still doing Gods’ work whilst in the waiting and Paul wrote the Books of Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians during his later imprisonment in Rome.
• That makes me think… some of the work he did whilst in waiting was not something that just kept him busy but it affected the entire world.
• When I am in the waiting period I can still do a lot of good if only I understand that Faith may be in the waiting but it does not mean I have to wait for faith.
• Praying for the kind of faith that does not wait.

24th Nov 2010

Acts 23:23-35 – Paul Transferred to Caesarea

• “Pillar to Post”
• Paul escapes the violence of his enemies a second time and is transferred from the temple barracks to Caesarea.
• I wonder what he must have been feeling going from pillar to post without any idea of what was going to happen.
• Away from friends, probably feeling frustrated that there were so many other things he could be doing, unsure of exactly what would happen next etc
• Yet it seems what helped him was a simple word from God:

• “Take Courage, as you have testified about me in Jerusalem so you will testify about me in Rome”
• His immediate future was unsure but his long term future he knew was certain.
• I think that helps; not always worrying about the short term but instead focusing on the certainty of the long-term.
• I gives courage, stability and the focus required to stay committed.
• I need to worry less about the short-term and learn to think big picture.
• We all can; as long as we know what God has said to us that is.

23rd Nov 2010

Acts 23:12-22 – The Plot to Kill Paul

• “When an oath is a step too far”
• After his ingenious splitting of the Sanhedrin, Paul effectively escapes death.
• His enemies however, will not give up. They are enraged by his freedom from their clutches and so they make an oath together.
• Oaths were not looked on favorably during those times.
• At least not oaths whereby swearing or some form of personal curse was involved.
1. Firstly because swearing to by God’s name was likely to break the third commandment.
2. Secondly because essentially you were forcing yourself to do something that should be done anyway. Forcing yourself by the threat of a personal curse if you did not fulfill it, showed that you did not have the courage, integrity or commitment to fulfill what was right.
• These men made a fundamentally flawed oath. Probably knowing that what they were committing to was wrong, they made an oath so as to force everyone else to go through with it even if they had a change of mind brought on by their conscience.
• These men were flawed men and committing each other in this way was a sign of that.
• Oaths were so frowned upon that the Rabbis had created a system by which you could be released from your oath;

• The Sages have allowed four kinds of vows to be nullified: vows of urging, vows of exaggeration, vows made in error and vows made under duress.” Mishna N’darim
• For me this is a challenge. How secure am I in my integrity – that I will do the right thing because it is the right thing?
• How much do I need to force myself?
• Do I ever create a situation that manipulates others into committing to something we know is wrong by creating circumstances that they cannot back out of?
• Some commitments we make together are a good thing; but not when they are fear based.
• Praying that I won’t need to resort to this kind of thing but my integrity alone will help me do the right thing.

Break

There has been a break in my devotional blogs due to travel.

Normal service will resume tomorrow.

15th Nov 2010

Acts 22:30-23:11 – Paul before the Sanhedrin

• “How to play to your enemies weakness ”
• When you are being opposed it always helpful to know that ultimately your enemy will fail.
• It’s even better to know why he will fail because then you can play to your enemy’s weakness.
• Paul is dragged before the Sanhedrin the Jewish Court.
• As he looks around, he no doubt see the faces of people he knows, especially if some historians are correct when they suggest that at one time he was one of them.
• Paul knew that his real enemy was not the men of the Sanhedrin because he once advised a church that;

• “…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. Ephesians 6:12
• He also knew that Jesus had told His disciples one of the key reasons their enemy would fail;

• “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” Mathew 12:25-16
• Have you realized that?
• Your enemy will ultimately fail because they are not united.
• Evil is always self-centered and looks for personal gain.
• It is not bound together by love but instead separated by selfishness.
• In the spiritual realms at least; there is no honor amongst thieves.
• The High Priest in this situation was Ananias who was known for cruelty and violence, when the revolt broke out in Rome, he was killed.. by his own people.
• Paul understands all this and what comes next is pure genius.

1. In the Sanhedrin there were both Sadducees and Pharisees.
• The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
• The Pharisees certainly did.
2. He knows that if he can play to his enemy’s weakness; then he can divert attention from himself.
3. So he purposely leads off with the fact that he is a Pharisee citing that the basis of the reason he stands on trial is because of the resurrection of the dead – immediately creating a split between his enemies.
4. The Sanhedrin can no longer agree and he avoids death as the Romans had given the Sanhedrin authority in these matters to grant the death penalty.
• The reason we will win is that we are united by Jesus.
• I must stay united and I must remember that ultimately my enemy will fail.
• Knowing the principles of the spiritual realm will enable me to advance the Kingdom in their worldly realm.
• Praying for spiritual insight today.

12th Nov 2010

Acts 22:22-29 – Paul the Roman Citizen

• “God has Equipped those He calls”
• There an old saying: God equips those he calls but I have found it to be true that He has also been playing around in our past well before he called us as well.
• He not only will equip us but he equipped us before we were born, as here in Paul’s case.
• There were three ways someone could gain Roman Citizenship;
• As a reward for doing a great deed for Rome
• By purchasing it [not sure how much but Permanent residency in the USA costs around $10,000 inc lawyers fees]
• Or by being born into it as in Paul’s case.
• We don’t know how he was born into it but he was. Possibly his ancestors gained it during the reign of Pompey when a contingent of Jews received their citizenship.
• All I know is this; God messes with our past and it can give us great confirmation of our calling when those things suddenly appear to help us in our present.
• I’m writing a book at the moment and rather than it being about pioneers as my last one was; this one is about knights.
• I found out writing it that I have ancestral links to the knights that fought in the battle I mention in the first story I write about. A real surprise!
• The Kingdom Principles my biggest teaching series is based around knights and a while ago my wife pointed out that one of her family name’s [mothers side] is Lancelot – funny little things like that encourage me.
• Things like this encourage me I am on the right track.
• Are there things in your family or history that you think God may have put in place that help confirm your current mission?

11th Nov 2010

Acts 21:37-22:21 – Paul Speaks to the Crowd

• “A word for mentors - Never give up giving out”
• I read a cool tweet yesterday, one of the few I retweet;
• Failure without a mentor is disaster. Failure with a mentor is development
• I could not agree more; neither I might suggest, could Paul the Apostle.
• As Paul is being carted off to prison for his own protection, he tells the crowd the story of how he came to follow Jesus.
• [Sometimes I think he did this just to wind them up – but I’m sure he didn’t]
• It’s a story we know well – ‘Paul on the Road to Damascus’
• But in it he mentions a fact that has much more significance that we might think.
• Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our Fathers.
• Let me give you some facts on Gamaliel.
• He was the grandson of Hillel – a man whose teaching and teaching style greatly influence Jesus.
• He defended Peter and the disciples many years previously by saying that “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men.”
• He was wise and highly respected – the first Rabbi to be called Rabban “Our Rabbi” rather than just my Rabbi.
• He was a tolerant man.
• Practical in his application of scripture
• He urged that the Sabbath laws be relaxed a little
• He defended women’s rights in divorce [note he got this from his granddad]
• He proposed kindness towards the gentles.
• Initially very few of these traits would be seen in Paul’s life.
• Eventually all of them were!
• Giving yourself to others only pays off in the long term!
• Even short term blessings pale into significance compared to the long term ones.
• Never give up giving out!
• Praying for stubborn persistence today.

10th Nov 2010

Acts 21:27-37 – Paul Arrested

• “A Question about Spiritual Mathematics”
• What if God does not come through for you?
• Most Christian live under the teaching of promises; if you do this then this will happen.
• We are taught spiritual mathematics; we are encouraged to invest knowing that the odds are for us.
• If we give we will receive many times over.
• If we forgive and give God our bitterness then things will go much better for us.
• But what if they don’t?
• Paul as we read yesterday lived above the line.
• He decided to take advice and at great cost to himself in both time and money sponsored four men to go through their purification rites.
• He did not need to but he did it for the sake of the Kingdom.
• Today we read that it did not make any difference.
• Five lies were told about him:
• He did not teach against the people
• He did not teach against the Torah
• He did not teach against the Temple
• He did not bring some Goyim into the Temple
• He did not defile the holy place
• He had done none of those things and yet he may as well have because a group of people who were threatened by him stirred up the people and no-one stopped to ask questions.
• The ancient lynch mob dragged him off.
• The Romans were very sensitive about the trouble someone could cause in and around the temple – they did not want trouble and even allowed the execution of Roman Citizens to prevent this.
• Fortunately at the temple was a resident police station; the Antonia Fortress it was connected at the north end by two flights of stairs. The Romans had this elevated barracks so that they could keep watch over the temple.
• It did not take long therefore for Claudius Lysias to stop the murder of Paul.
• Yet Paul was still arrested, had been beaten and was now put in chains.
• So here’s the question;
• Will i/you do the right thing, just because it is the right thing?
• Even if it appears that God does not come through the way we hope he will?
• Will I serve just because God wants me to no matter the reward?
• Last night on ABC two silhouetted Pastors confessed [anonymously] that they were leading their churches but no longer believed in God.
• Their biggest question: why should I go on doing good when I no longer believe that I will be rewarded or punished for my actions?
• Think about that; is that our motivation?
• Praying today that it is not, I was never good at math anyway.

9th Nov 2010

Acts 21:17-26 – Paul’s arrival at Jerusalem

• “What to do when you are misunderstood.”
• Every leader will be misunderstood.
• Every leader will suffer from false rumors
• It is going to happen, it can’t be avoided but what you do next is important.
• In Paul’s case he arrives home to announce the amazing news of gentiles turning to Jesus and after a short amount of rejoicing he is immediately told of a problem; it is being said that he is turning these new converts away from Moses and their Jewish roots.
• Its not true.
• But that is not the point – it still has to be dealt with.
• Here are his options:
• ignore the accusations.
• attack his attackers in a similar fashion
• get others to fight on his behalf
• follow Jesus’ example
• Jesus had a very special technique in dealing with those who attacked him. I write about it in The Line and the Dot pg 105-107.

• In Paul’s case he responds by not entering into an argument but out of love for his attackers demonstrates through sacrifice to himself the truth.
• The suggestion is made that he sponsors four presumably poor men in their purifications rights.
• He does not need to do this – he does it because winning his attackers over is more important to him than being right.
• It would have cost him one: at the very least one lamb/ram per person – so at least five in all – depending on the nature of the purification rights.
• It would have cost him time as he had to join in, he could not just pay money. It was a seven day process.
• It would have cost him convenience. He has just arrived home after a very long time away. He would have wanted to do so many other things and catch up with so many people.
• Remember: he did not have to do this but he chose to do it.
• Praying for that kind of love for my attackers.

8th Nov 2010

Acts 21:1-16 – On to Jerusalem

• “The Holy Ventriloquist doll.”
• It is amazing how much Paul had learnt from Jesus even though he was never one of His talmidim.
• Paul knew something that I was taught very early in my Christian life. In fact it was the second spiritual lesson I was ever given.
• The Holy Spirit will never contradict the word of God or Himself.
• The Jews had their own version of this, when referring to Bible study they would say that
• ‘no passage ever loses its p’shat”
• In other words; when interpreting the Bible or when asking the Holy Spirit to reveal something to you – if it contradicts the facts then it is not correct.
• Paul’s friends are spoken to by The Holy Spirit – they receive a word of prophecy. They know via the Holy Spirit what is going to happen. Later a prophet clarifies exactly what will happen – Paul will be bound up. This was a ‘word of knowledge’.
• But then the flesh enters; because they know what is about to happen – they try to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
• It is clear from the Word of God that Paul must do everything to advance the Kingdom; plus Paul had already been told by the Spirit that He was to go to Jerusalem.
• It is a problem we see all the time.
• God speaks and then we keep speaking.
• This has happened to me. People have given me a word from God via the Holy Spirit but have then carried on talking and pour out their own interpretation of what must be done.
• Stable people must learn to discern between these two things.
• Stable people must learn that we are all prone to use the Holy Spirit as a ventriloquist doll.
• I must learn not to do that.
• I must learn when others are doing that.
• Stable people must learn to stop prophesying the second the Spirit dries up and stop listening the moment that happens as well – no matter how pleasant what follows may sound.
• I must avoid becoming an unstable person.
• Someone who learns over time learnt over time to cut and paste what the Holy Spirit says.
• When I see a person who is busy doing but not building it is because they have took the things that have been said and rather than arrange them according to spirit and flesh they have arranged them according to “I want to do’s” and “I don’t want to do’s”
• Paul had learnt from Jesus, He also had people dissuading him from going to Jerusalem but He also was determined to do what had to be done.
• He also could have hid behind the Holy Spirit or ‘godly advice’ but He did not.
• What must be done must be done.
• Praying for discernment today for when I speak and when I hear.

4th Nov 2010

Acts 20:13-38 – Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

• “To Sin or not to Sin that is the question”
• Nothing is simple in life; especially following Jesus.
• This passage is very sad.
• Paul has to leave friends whom he has given his life to for years. They were obviously very close and yet he is leaving them, knowing he will never ever see them again.
• He is aware that when he goes he cannot protect them in the same way.
• I have only ever tasted a very fraction of that.
• He also has obviously delayed his leaving as long as he could but can do so not longer.
• We get more insight into his heart and mind when we cross reference this passage with 1 Corinthians 16:1-9.
• Paul makes an important decision – he should leave to be in Jerusalem for Passover – it is party of the promise he made as a Pharisee before God.
• Instead he says:
• But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
• Paul was in effect making a Halakhic [religious law] decision here:
• The word "halakha" is usually translated as "Jewish Law," although a more literal (and more appropriate) translation might be "the path that one walks."
• The word is derived from the Hebrew root Hei-Lamed-Kaf, meaning to go, to walk or to travel.
• The choice were two mitvah’s – commandments – bar-mitzvah = son of commandment. bat- mitzvah – daughter of commandments 
• First – to be in Jerusalem for Passover [pesach] 7 weeks before Pentecost [the feast of weeks]
• Second – to propagate the Gospel.
• Point 1 - He could have used the second command to justify his desire to leave a place with much opposition. How often to we hide our personal desires behind the rules of God, behind bible commands, rather than the heart of god?
• Point 2 - How do we measure success - Paul made a brave decision - one mitvah in his mind was more important to God. What did he base that on?
• Paul realized that human beings are most important to God than rituals.
• These are decisions we have to make all the time.
• We have to weigh up various important commands and sometimes they can conflict – it even happened to Jesus.
• It is in our choosing of which command trumps another that we see what we really value and how we really see God.
• What do you halakhic decisions teach you about how you see Him?