All night prayer? If prayer were simply petition we would wonder what the Son of God would have needing so much petition but, if it were to worship and commune and be in the presence of the Father and Spirit then to someone who was accustomed to praying forty days in a wilderness this would seem quiet brief. Prayer very well could be more important than even sleep.
Why then has this befallen us? Because we did evil in the sight of the Lord. Because we did not obey His voice. Because within even his fathers household and local community they were worshiping Baal. Because God put these things in place to prove Israel whether they would obey His voice. Next question!
If I understand the illustration enough, debts are being settled with God which is good. Debts up till now have not been settled because of the mis-deeds of the steward. Now that the matter has been called out by the master, the steward feels more urgently that it is in his best future interest with others to settle all the accounts given him. The accounts were of course valued much higher, higher than anyone could pay, but, they were settled none the less. When concerning mens debts to God that is a very good thing even if done for the stewards selfish reasons. Who then have you been set to steward over? Have those peoples account with God been settled? What would be wise for you to do right away?
Let's take this unjust steward up a level further. What makes the unjust steward unjust? I would suggest un-forgiveness. The Lord has forgiven him his debt and yet he holds others accountable for what they owe him in full. Why does the Lord's cutting him off make him feel that he must suddenly settle with the others? He is put back down on their level to fend for himself. Therefore he is shrewd in meeting the others halfway or more (all the way if need be). Why doesn't the Lord take offense to this exchange? Because it is closer to what He has called for all along. Does the Lord actually cut off the suddenly not so unjust steward off? You be the judge.
What on earth would properly persuade men of Heaven? Isn't their mind already made up? The question then is: what is it that has made their mind up? We would like to think that we have with reason and deduction concluded the answer from the facts. While they blame believers of being lead by our hearts, the critic's case is no different than ours. Intellect follows the heart. Reasoning and deduction are being employed by both of us to substantiate and justify it's desire. Not even the dead returned to warn us could sway either of us, for there is always enough other evidence to keep us where we are most comfortable desirously/logically.
It is much easier to do what is right In a purely academic setting where nothing has to be acted on. Once put into motion however with every decision comes opportunity for right and wrong, obedience. Or disobedience.
It is much easier to do what is right In a purely academic setting where nothing has to be acted on. Once put into motion however with every decision comes opportunity for right and wrong, obedience. Or disobedience.
Two miracles here. One commonly known. The other hidden. The disciples throughout the evening for all of their effort against the wind only traveled thirty furlongs at most from shore. Once Jesus got on board they were instantaneously were transported to their destination.
He perceived that they wanted to make Him king. He did not intend to be a king in they way and for the reason that they intended. Some today would think you'd take what you could get and work your way up from there; at least it is a start. He departed.
We have seen a flurry of descriptions now in these chapters regarding the Holy Spirit perhaps like in no other gospel. And yet for us the Spirit largely remains a mystery. Careful study of these verses should be done by each and everyone of us to reveal the importance of the Spirit's doings in our walks of faith.
I find it interesting that in all the things he could have lifted his heart to do that he lifted his heart to do that which only the high priest could do, enter the holiest to burn incense. He was seeking to worship, I suppose, in a way that he was not permitted, assuming a role that was not his. We do not know other than his pride what prompted him to do this nor for whom he was doing this for.
This is an interesting perspective of sin that we often would not otherwise consider. We would think of sin as being angry, or cussing at these enemies, seeking to have them killed. Here Nehemiah considers it sin to follow the counsel of a deceitful confidant; to move towards ones own protection at the expense of those who have courageously stood and sacrificed for the cause under your leadership.
More enemies within: several Hebrew leaders and rulers. The odds were certainly stacked against Nehemiah from all directions. Remember back when the king initially granted him this request? Did the king know what Nehemiah was getting into? Most likely. Yet he granted it to him on the basis of some quality that he saw in his cup bearer.
Perhaps one should not fixate merely on the prosperity. There is prosperity in other ways. Jesus said to sell it all and follow Him, to worry not about the morrow. Paul said that he learned to live prosperous in his poverty and lean in his times of prosperity. There is wealth in so much more such as in the relationships made just in doing God's word, there is a joy in His path, and fulfillment in His peace. And if bountiful material possession then more material possession to share. Prosperity is a state of being not a tally of possessions.
The book of Acts is really about the acts of the Holy Spirit as much as the acts of the Apostles. Here we see the Spirit closing one door and opening another; men doing as they were led. The organization by the Spirit has given them decrees to declare, the men by the Spirit are being directed where to declare. There is both order and authority.
One spiritual event causes a series of other events. Paul and Silas remained focused on the Spirit through it all and the Spirit moved greatly through them.
If the preparations of the heart are the Lord's kjv@Proverbs:16:1, if his goings forth are from the Lord and his way cannot be understood outside of the Lord kjv@Proverbs:20:24 and if it is only the counsel of the Lord that will stand kjv@Proverbs:19:21, what do we have other than to choose which of His steps to take? In light of kjv@Romans:1:18-24 God prepared hearts to follow after Him, He gave them a choice, as much as He prepared they still chose contrary, their steps now are directed (that choice leads to these steps) yet His counsel must stand - they are condemned for transgressing the preparation laid into their hearts.
Peter received correction. Had he been the first Pope and had the Pope been given immutable divine interpretation as supposed by Roman Catholic doctrine, he would not have needed correction. Paul would have shamefully exceeded his lesser authority. Their doctrine follows from a possible misinterpretation on the proclamation Jesus made that on 'this Rock' He would build His church. Rock more likely meaning the divinely revealed faith and not just Cephas 'the rock' personally kjv@Matthew:16:17-20 (literally - You are 'piece of rock' and upon this 'massive Rock' (which flesh and blood have not revealed) I build my church).
There are those it has been reported who believe that cross was a symbolism added to the faith later by Constantine. Paul is not explaining a symbolism here, he is describing his key life principal. Whether he wore or prayed to a cross is of secondary consequence.
I have heard theories that Paul may have been crippled or have a deformity in arm or hand. We have already summized that he could well have problems with his eye sight. We also know that he was beaten and stoned near to death on several occasions and therefore be severely damaged. The Galatians here would have been deeply moved by whatever this sentence points to; he does bear the marks of Christ.
It is too bad that the whole verse isn't quoted the many times others quote this. The further context gives the quote much greater definition. We should get in a habit of this as well.
The purging of the conscience from dead works is one of the more interesting phrases in this passage. kjv@Hebrews:6:1 was the other mention of these dead works and in the context of that seems to center on the obedient works of Christ having their work on us by means of our obedience.
This is not the first time the Lord has described Himself as such. It should be taken literally that to these people at least He will be believed and perceived to be a thief stealing away all that they have left and hold dear. Coming suddenly from nowhere and without warning as some interpret it cannot be scripturally supported when it has taken this many years to develop, judgment has so precisely and frequently measured out, and men know that it is such but will not repent. No their decision was made and their fate sealed when they took the mark of the beast to begin with. This is a matter of their utter shame and His absolute Glory.
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