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?

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?

3rd Nov 2010

Acts 20:7-12 – Eutychus Raised from the Dead at Troas

• “Miss it; Miss out”
• My first thought reading this story was; anyone who falls asleep during one of my sermons and I’m going to make sure they stay dead!
• However on reflection, I guess I need to examine the story a little more J
• It is Saturday night. The Jews have been enjoying the Sabbath and when it finishes [when the first three starts are seen in the sky] the gentiles would often join them for teaching and fellowship.
• Eutychus may have therefore joined the Jews after their Sabbath rest but not his.
• He may have been working hard at a manual job all day.
• Remember there are no FYI’s in the word of God and the mention of many lamps being lit is there for a reason, it helps us understand the situation…
• Many lamps indicates four things:
• Lots of heat.
• Lots of smoke
• Lots of stuffiness
• Little oxygen
• It is very likely that Eutychus was sitting on the window sill in order to get a little fresh air. He was probably very tired but doing everything he could to stay awake.
• It didn’t work.
• He fell to His death and Paul was used by God to bring him back to life.
• Miss it and miss out.
• I’ve often heard the phrase ‘Do it Scared’ – a piece of advice I agree with. Yesterday my whole family went for our immigration shots. For Lynn and Levi jabs are a breeze, but for Joel and I they are traumatic. Joel was terrified and I was not much help to him. Yet after initially telling us he would not go through with it; he volunteered to go first.
• What shows most courage? Not being afraid or being afraid but doing it?
• What shows most commitment? Not being tired or being tired and committing to see something through anyway?
• Sabbath is partly in place so that we will not get too worn out but sometimes things still get on top of us.
• God honored Eutychus’ commitment. He was tired but he was obviously desperate to hear God’s word and therefore he got to be raised from the dead. What an experience. In his commitment to see something out, he got to experience something very special indeed.
• God honors our commitment. He sees it and when we are totally exhausted either physically, emotionally, spiritually or mentality… He will revive us.
• Today I will pray for a commitment to see things through and if I do, who knows what I will get to see.

2nd Nov 2010

Mark 1:21-28 - "How Much authority?"

§ Jesus drives out demons in Capernaum

§ Jesus had S’mikhah in four areas– a certain type of authority that was distinctive.

1.    To bring new interpretations

§  There were 480 synagogues in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day - pg 1783 Archeological Bible

2.    To make legal judgments – halakhic decisions

3.    To give orders to demons

§  Jesus probably said ‘be quiet’ because the occult belief was that to say a person’s name and title fully and correctly gave you power over them.

§  p1572 of archeological Bible gives distinct beliefs of Jews on Demons compared to the rest of the world plus how Jesus brought ion a new understanding compared to the O.T.

4.    To forgive sins

§ Question: Jesus gives authority to his Disciples – to us? So which parts of His authority does He give?

o   All or just some of His authority?

1st Nov 2010

Acts 20:1-7 – Through Macedonia and Greece

• “How the promise works”
• Ok so a devotional blog only very very loosely tied to the passage, not often I do that but here’s what came to me.
• It’s my birthday today.
• And so I’ve been reflecting on a wonderful life so far and when I read the word ‘Greece’ it immediately sent me back quite a few years to a great week in my life but I tried to focus back to the passage and away from my memories.
• When I read ‘sail’ I got took straight back again and this time I stayed in my memories. But for good reason.
• Jesus made me a promise.
• Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything you need will be given to you – Matthew 6:33
• I’ve tried my best.
• I’ve found out that He was only speaking in half-truths.
• I have not just been given my needs but many of my desires as well.
• Paul is sailing around Greece.
• I can totally picture it!
• Why?
• Because it was one of my dreams and a few years ago I got a call from a minister who had been given a 60ft schooner. It was given to him to use as a training/retreat centre and he had it sailed and registered in Athens. He then decided that rather than advertise it in magazines, he would instead invite 20 ‘well connected’ people to try it out. I was one of them.
• He paid for my flight, food and one weeks sailing around Greece!
• I loved it! Lynn and I were on a very low income but here I was feeling like a millionaire.
• As I think of how the promise has been fulfilled what comes to me is this:
• God does not often give us the money to buy stuff but He gives us the stuff people need money to buy.
• I’m about to write a new chapter in my next book ‘The Cloud and the Line’, it is the chapter on Seek First – His Promise. I will be listing all the ways this has happened.
• It’s a promise for all of us. God may not make me rich but He will give me the security rich people hope to buy. He may not give me the fast car but he’ll give me the thrills that people buy fast cars for. He may not give me the ability to buy things that impress others but he’ll give me great friends that are genuine.
• etc.
• That’s how the promise works.
• Praying today that I seek first the Kingdom of God for another… 21 years J