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Acts 9:1-31 — Saul’s Best-Laid Plans 

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

When we left at the end of Acts 8, Phillip evangelized along the coast of the Mediterranean all the way to Caesarea. In Acts 9, the Holy Spirit picks back up with the story of the persecutor of the church, Saul of Tarsus. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Acts 9:1-31
AND Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Saul has a plan. He is a man on a mission. He believes he is doing God’s work. (John 16:2)

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [cattle prods]. 

God has a different plan. (Pr 16:9)

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This was Paul’s first lesson in waiting on the Holy Spirit. Oftentimes, we have to wait on the Lord when we go through trials. Little by little, we come to see as we go through life that we can always trust Him as we await further instructions. Just as Philip had to wait to see why he was sent to the desert in Chapter 8, when Saul asked what he should do, the answer was ‘Wait and I will tell you later. For now, just continue to Damascus’.

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

More waiting. Saul is getting a lesson in patience, and he is fasting out of contrition. (A wise move.)

10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Ananias shares his reservations about his new mission with the Lord, as if He didn’t already know. Have you ever done that? I know I have, and he was patient with me the same way He is with Ananias:

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

We tend to think of Saul as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he was, but he was not limited to the Gentiles. Dr Halley points out that while Paul was Jewish, he was a freeborn Roman citizen; furthermore, he was from a leading Hellenistic city, Tarsus. Therefore, Paul was Roman, Greek, and Jewish. This made him an ideal evangelist, perfectly positioned to be all things to all men. (1 Cor 9:19-22) It’s always good to try to relate to your target when evangelizing him or her.

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

The ‘scales’ that fell from Saul’s eyes were like the scales of a fish, blinding him to the truth of the gospel, but now he sees. (Cf John 9:39-41) The Bible speaks of a veil or “vail” (KJV) over the eyes of the Jews even today (II Cor 3:15), but soon the vail will be removed, the same as it was for Saul. (Rom 11:26)

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Like Philip, the visible sign of the Holy Spirit for Saul was his evangelism (not tongues).

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

According to Wiersbe, had Dr Luke included Saul’s trip to Arabia (Gal 1:18), it would have appeared here between verses 21 and 22. 

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 ¶ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

Saul’s plan was to enter Damascus as a special agent on the authority of the Temple, but so far in this chapter he has been struck blind, knocked down, hunted, and forced to sneak out a window like a criminal. It has been said that God has a way of making each of us humble, and He is teaching Saul humility. It has also been said that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans. It therefore behooves us to seek God’s plan for our lives. Saul is learning that lesson.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

Another lesson in humility. Saul is rejected by the church.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

In Acts 4:36, Dr Luke told us that it was the apostles who surnamed Joses “Barnabas,” and translated the name for his Greek readers (in English, The son of consolation). We are beginning to see why now. While the others are passing judgment and unwilling to forgive, Barnabas is following the leading of the Holy Spirit and sticking his neck out to help Saul. 

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians [of which, Paul was one]: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
Acts 9:1-31

We are seeing a pattern here which will continue into the narrative around Peter in our next post: Our fellow believers in the Book of Acts keep questioning the leading of the Holy Spirit. Saul was flat-out fighting against the Holy Spirit. Ananias’ response to the leading of the Holy Spirit was, ‘Pray for Saul? That does not sound right’. When the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go non-kosher he will say, “Not so, Lord.” (Acts 10:14)

I met Jesus when I was four years old. As I look back on my life, I can recall several times I heard God speaking to my heart and said, Not so, Lord. This study in Acts is making me painfully aware of this. I recall once hearing a story about a man who went to heaven. After he listened to Jesus review his life before the Bema seat, he received rewards and was welcomed into the joy of the Lord. But he was given a box that Jesus told him he might not want to open. When curiosity got the best of him, and he looked inside, he started weeping, because inside the box he could see all the things that Jesus wanted to give him, but couldn’t because he refused to listen and obey. 

Father, help us to be obedient Spirit-filled Christians who do not question your will for our lives. Help us to be flexible, pliable, and willing to follow wherever You may lead. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prophecy Update: During the Biden era, the alternative press was buzzing with stories about plans for CBDCs in countries around the globe. This piqued the curiosity of students of prophecy, as it looked like another step towards the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18).

According to a recent white paper from JP Morgan, these plans have not been tabled but are moving forward. Now, the BRICS+ countries are preparing to launch the UNIT, a decentralized digital currency that will be backed by gold and BRICS+ currencies, and utilize blockchain technology. The UNIT is a wildcard that is competing with CBDCs for the evolution of digital money and cross-border transactions. 

It may appear that the new world order is in disarray as nations fight over who will ultimately control it, but they are still, nevertheless, moving forward. We know where this story goes, and how it ends.

Acts 8:25-40 — Revival in Samaria (and a Special Mission)!

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

As we continue in Chapter 8, the Holy Spirit is directing Peter and John to preach in the villages of Samaria as they make their way back to Jerusalem. The Spirit has different plans for Philip, however.

Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us understanding as we read your word. Direct our paths, the same way you did for your people in the early church. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 8:25-40
25 And they [Peter and John], when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

With the revival that was taking place in Samaria, was Philip having a hard time believing God wanted him to go out to the desert? Could this be why it says the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, and not simply the Holy Spirit? I don’t know, but oftentimes the leading of the Holy Spirit is contrary to our own understanding. (Pr 3:5f)

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

According to Wiersbe, this was not exactly what we know as Ethiopia, but Nubia, which was just south of Egypt. Being in charge of the queen’s treasure, the Ethiopian was obviously an important man, a high official.

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

The recurring theme in Acts is being led of the Spirit, something I am endeavoring to do more and more, the further into this study I get. (1)

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

The section of Scripture that the Ethiopian has his scroll rolled open to is what we know as Isaiah 53, one of the clearest pictures in the Tanakh of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross; yet he could not understand it without Philip’s help. As Spirit-filled believers, we can make the Scriptures understood to people who need our help too.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Just as Isaiah 53 has been removed in some Hebrew Bibles sold in Jewish bookstores, Acts 8:37 has been removed in some modern Bibles. Verse 37 is important. Not only does it show that he needed to believe before he could be baptized, verse 37 shows what he needed to believe. (2)

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing [cf v 8].
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:25-40

Earlier in Chapter 8, we saw that there is visual evidence of the Holy Spirit (v 18). One of the ways this can be seen is by the joy the Holy Spirit brings (v 8). In some churches, they teach that speaking in tongues is required to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, but this teaching is not biblical. For the Ethiopian eunuch, the visible change was joy. He was rejoicing after being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Isaiah points out that eunuchs could be saved under the Old Covenant (Isa 56:3-5), but the law was limited in what it could offer the Ethiopian. As a eunuch, he could be saved as a ‘witness at the gate’, but he would not be entered into the Temple registry. (Deut 23:1) Under grace, however, everyone is welcome (Luke 14:21), and we are all equals. Someone said the ground is all level at the foot of the cross, and it’s true. (Gal 3:28) Not only that, but in Christ, we are each a new creation. (II Cor 5:17) No wonder he was rejoicing. That is something to rejoice about! The seeds of the gospel are spreading to the uttermost part of the earth as he heads back to Ethiopia. There has been an active church in that region since the first century. As we continue through Acts, we will continue to see how the Holy Spirit leads one step at a time. First, Philip was told to go out into the desert. Then when he saw the chariot, he was told to approach it. Then there was a church in Ethiopia. I’m sure the Ethiopian eunuch was well-positioned to spread the gospel, the same as the Roman official, Theophilus.

Now that Philip’s work in the desert is done, he makes his way back up the coast, preaching in all the cities along the way to Caesarea. For Philip, the visual change was his evangelism. You know you are filled with the Spirit when you cannot stop telling people about Jesus.

In Caesarea, Philip will meet a nice girl and settle down. We will find Philip still in Caesarea when we get to Acts 21.

Father please fill us each with your Holy Spirit and direct our paths day by day, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Researchers have long known that the heart has its own ‘mini brain’ connected to the central nervous system. I recently read about research that shows the gut has its own ‘mini brain’ as well. The Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and it seems to me that these features may be conduits that link the consciousness to the spiritual dimension. Researchers found that these ‘mini brains’ react to stimuli before they are detected by the five senses. This agrees with Watchman Nee’s use of the term ‘intuition’ to describe the leading of the Holy Spirit.

One of the things to consider about being led of the Holy Spirit is that the little ‘coincidences’ that happen as we go through our day are not coincidental. The Holy Spirit is orchestrating things. For example, the other day, a young man from Afghanistan started talking to me in broken English at the Airport. I ‘happened’ to have an Urdu gospel tract handy and before long, he and his family were reading it. The next day, I was walking through St Peter’s Basilica in Rome with my coat folded over my arm when a grip of Chick tracts ‘happened’ to fall out of the pocket and splatter on the floor as everyone looked. (Catholics know that Chick tracts command them to repent.) I left ‘He Never Told Us’ on a ledge as someone stared at me. Two days later, a Muslim street vendor started chatting me up. I just ‘happened’ to have a good tract for Muslims. I then remembered how the Spirit nudged me to take my tracts with me when I prayed before leaving my flat that morning.

2 Acts 8:37 is included in Uncial E, and at least 27 cursives. It is in 7 different Old Latin MSS (which predate the Vulgate). It’s in the Syriac (Harclean), the Middle Egyptian Coptic (!), and the Armenian. It was cited by Irenaeus (178), Tertullian (220), and Cyprian (258). As cited in Moorman, Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, p 113. As for Isaiah 53, it is in the oldest manuscript there is, on display for all to see in the Dome of the Scroll in Jerusalem.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Acts 8:12-24 — Simon the Sorcerer Part II

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In Part I, Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel. Among those whom Philip encountered was a sorcerer named Simon. 

As we continue, the Samaritans are receiving the gospel and getting baptized. Simon the sorcerer will get baptized as well. It seems he has people fooled, in much the same way that Judas had people fooled, but things get interesting when Peter and John arrive. Let’s see what happens.

Father, we are living in the age of deceit. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us wisdom and discernment as we read your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 8:12-24
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

The sorcerer, Simon, ‘believed’ but so does Satan. Belief is not enough. Repentance — a change of mind — is necessary to become a true disciple and Simon did not repent. What we have here is a tare among the wheat. (Matt 13:24-30)

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

If Peter was the first pope, why was he sent by the other apostles? A pope would have been the one to do the sending.

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon [Gk ep] none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

In the notes on Acts 1:1-14, I mentioned the view that there can be a separate experience after conversion when believers receive an additional filling of the Holy Spirit. The above verses agree with this view. There was certain Greek scholar who pointed to the preposition “epi” in verse 16 to make this point. Oftentimes in the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes upon an individual to empower him for service. (If you want to serve God, this is an absolute necessity.)

I have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand in my own life, as well as in the lives of many others. Sometimes someone says the prayer, believes, and starts reading the Bible and going to church — yet there is no visible sign that anything happened. Other times, immediately after someone says the prayer, there is a visible change. Sometimes they cannot stop smiling. Sometimes they are bewildered, wondering what just happened to them. Sometimes they immediately sober up and pour out their drink. In the early church, one of the visible signs was speaking in tongues. I believe this can still happen today, but I myself have never seen someone speak in tongues after receiving Christ.

In some churches, people are told that speaking in tongues is ‘proof’ of the Holy Spirit. So what happens is people force themselves to speak gibberish. In other words, if it doesn’t come naturally (ie supernaturally), don’t bother.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

This is where we get the term, ‘simony’, the practice of buying a religious title or office, named so after Simon the sorcerer, who tried to buy the power to dispense the Holy Spirit.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Was Peter too harsh? Telling Simon the sorcerer his money was going to burn along with him? Of course not. Jesus preached this way to the Pharisees in Matthew 23, and it worked. Some of them became believers. (Jude 23) 

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Peter does not pull any punches. He sees Simon for what he is and Peter protects the flock by publicly rebuking the sorcerer (cf II Tim 2:17f). He also tells Simon the key to escaping the judgment he is heading for: He needs to repent.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Acts 8:12-24

Simon sounds convincing with his pious request for prayer, but what we do not see is repentance. We see a religious racketeer who wants the power the apostles have for his own personal gain or aggrandizement. Yet he is very smooth and subtle. (II Cor 11:3ff)

It is believed by some that Simon the sorcerer assumed the identity of Simon Peter and went to Rome as an imposter. There are compelling arguments for this view. For example, Peter in his first Epistle said he was writing from Babylon. It could be that this was a code word for Rome, as John used it this way in Revelation 17; or was Peter in fact in Babylon? If so, maybe the ‘Peter’ who we are told was crucified upside down in Rome was not really Peter. If this is the case, it explains a lot, like where the idea that Peter was the first pope came from. (In Part I, we saw Simon’s MO of pretending to be some great one.) Then there is the characteristic of legalism which often accompanies false brethren. (Gal 2:4) This would explain the legalism that permeated the Church throughout history, not to mention the practice of simony — paying to receive an office — which was common in the Church as well. An organization tends to follow the way of its leader, so like I said, if the ‘Peter’ who went to Rome was Simon the Sorcerer, it would indeed explain a lot.

I was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church before committing my life to Christ in 1995, so I know something about Catholicism from the inside. What I saw there comports with what the Bible says about Simon the sorcerer. I believe I knew fellow Catholics who were saved at that time in my life but I certainly do not believe they were saved by being Catholic. I believe they were saved despite being Catholic. 

For decades now, the Church in Rome has been leading the creation of the one-world Church of the new world order. Representatives from different religions, from African witch doctors to Zen Buddhists, are regularly invited to Rome for inter-faith meetings. At these meetings, the pope says they are all praying to the same god and I would agree with that — but it is certainly not the God of the Bible. 

This is what the Bible says about Rome and the one-world Church Rome is creating:

     And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 
     For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬, 5

Prophecy Update: The first time I heard the proverb, The truth sometimes sleeps but it never dies, it was attributed to an American Indian tribe; I don’t recall which one, maybe Iroquois. Whoever it was that first said this, it’s true. Solomon put it this way: The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (‭‭Pr 12‬:‭19‬)

Case in point: The CDC recently retracted their tired claim that vaccines do not cause autism. Far from telling the whole truth, it’s a step in the right direction, one that almost certainly would have not been taken if not for HHS Secretary RFK Jr. More here.

Persecution Update: Father, please deliver those who were recently abducted from the Catholic boarding school in Nigeria, especially the children. Please give them courage and strength to hold to their faith in your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Romans 12:1 — Our Reasonable Service

~ mikethemissionary

     I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭

In Acts 7:59, they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Whether or not we are ever called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice like Stephen, we are all called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. I love Romans 12 because it tells me how to be a Christian. Not always easy, because the problem with a living sacrifice is it keeps crawling off the altar. Paul described his own struggle in this regard in Romans 7. He continued to struggle until he realized he could only find victory in Christ and the new covenant of grace. Paul wrote:

     There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭

As we continue through Acts, remember to ask to be filled with the Spirit each day, to have some Scripture time with prayer each day, to sing some Psalms or hymns or spiritual songs in your heart each day, and to always trust in the grace of God. (I John 1:9) Walking in the Spirit is the key to victory. The law (the flesh) will only condemn us.

Father, thank You for remembering our sin no more, for removing it as far as the East is from the West. Thank You most of all for your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS: Endofdays.press will expire in January. Notes on Acts will continue to be posted at: MichaelJamesHarvey.substack.com

Acts 5:15 — Mustard Seed

~ mikethemissionary

     Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, let’s take a closer look at the way people were healed when Peter’s shadow touched them. Jesus endowed the apostles with immense power to lead the early church. (Matt 18:18 et al) The people were witnessing mighty miracles at their hands. (Acts 3:7 et al) The witness of the Holy Spirit was strong in the hearts of the people. (Acts 5:32)

Jesus said that if we have only a mustard-seed-sized faith, we can move mountains. That statement shows how lacking our faith is. We murmur and complain. We faint in the day of adversity. We are prone to disobey Jesus’ commandments and quick to forget God’s promises.

Sometimes, people decide in their heart that if such and such happens, then they will have faith. For a certain woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, it was touching the hem of Jesus’ garment. Her faith was only strong enough to believe she would be healed if she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. When she was healed, Jesus told her that her faith had made her whole (not his garment). 

The kind of faith that is the most pleasing to Jesus is the faith that does not need to see to believe (John 20:29), the kind of faith that believes without pretense (Luke 7:8f). Yet, Jesus also honors the faith of those who need a little something extra to believe. I have met people who would pray over a glass of water, then drink the water believing it would heal them, and it did. They offered me some of the water and I politely declined, because it did not add anything to my faith, but it did to theirs. I believe such was the case with Peter’s shadow.

When people believed ‘If only we can get Hannah close enough to touch Peter’s shadow, God will heal her’, it was good enough for Jesus. Jesus wanted them to believe the gospel Peter was preaching, and the miracles helped them to believe. Jesus always meets us where we are. At first, our faith is weak and our understanding is shallow. Then over time, our faith increases as we see Him answer our prayers and guide us through our trials. It helps when we spend time in the word each day (Rom 10:17), and always remember to pray before we read our Bible. This process is key to our walk with Jesus. (Rom 1:17; II Cor 5:7)

In closing, sometimes God’s answer is no, regardless of how strong our faith is. True faith continues to believe even when God does not heal. (II Cor 12:8f)

Father, increase our faith. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Direct our paths. Use our lights to shine in the darkness and light the way for others to believe on your Son, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 5:12 — Testudo Formation

~ mikethemissionary

    And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, let’s take a closer look at the fellowship they enjoyed in the early church. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which means much more to a Christian than the dictionary definitions like ‘partnership’ or ‘community’. When Christians fellowship, they share a spiritual connection with one another through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Matt 18:20) 

I am always amazed at how I can meet a brother from another mother (same Father) 8000 miles or more away from home, who I have nothing in common with except our faith in Christ, and immediately I feel closer to him than I do to my brother from my same mother. (No offense Todd, but you need Jesus.)

In the verse above, we see how strong their fellowship was in the early church. If you do not have Christian friends you need to make some (I John 1:7), which means you are going to have to be friendly. Solomon wrote A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: (‭‭Pr‬ ‭18‬:‭24a‬) The best place to start looking is at church. (Heb 10:25) 

When the fiery darts come, and they will (II Tim 3:12), you do not want to be standing alone. When Roman soldiers saw a barrage of missiles coming, they formed a canopy shell with their shields called the testudo (lit tortoise) formation. Likewise, our shields of faith (Eph 6:16) are more effective when we join them together with the shields of other believers. The way the Christians were all in one accord in Acts 5 is the ideal. This is what Jesus wants to see in his church (Ps 133), but the sad reality is that we have drifted a long way from Acts 5:12. (Matt 24:12; Rev 3:14-22) If you are having trouble finding like-minded believers to fellowship with, remember that all of the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 walked alone. Not by choice, but sometimes that is what happens. (Sparrows travel in flocks but eagles don’t.) We should never give up, but when all else fails, remember there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Pr 18:24b) Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. Jesus is with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Father, we pray for unity in the body of Christ. We pray for your church to be in one accord, as they were in Acts 5. If anyone reading this needs help connecting with other Christians, direct her or his path as needed. Fill each of us with your Holy Spirit, that we may follow the more excellent way of I Corinthians 13, that we may obey your commandment to love one another, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 4:32-5:11 — Great Power and Great Grace

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, we will get a closer look at the moving of the Holy Spirit in the early church. The Spirit-filled believers in Acts 4 were of one accord because they were led of the Holy Spirit and they all followed the same Spirit-filled apostles. There was no one to sow division or preach false doctrine. When everyone submits to spiritual authority there is peace and harmony. This is the theme of a book I am reading by Watchman Nee, Spiritual Authority (Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc, 1972). It will be so in heaven. When we finally make it to the New Jerusalem, we will all be on the same page with Jesus, his Father, the Holy Spirit, and one another. There will be no more backbiting, no squabbling over doctrine, just perfect unity. 

Father, give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 4:32-5:11
32    And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33    And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

The Holy Spirit gave great power (Gk dynamei; where we get our English word, dynamite) to the early church as the apostles continued to give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. That same great power and great grace is still available to us today. I need that grace. I want that power. 

34    Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35    And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36    And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Here is the first mention of Barnabas, a man who lived up to his name. Barnabas will become an important figure in the Book of Acts. 

37    Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

With the great power and great grace came great giving to every man as he had need, but Ananias and Sapphira will be less than honest about their giving. Later in the New Testament, we see there were also those (and still are) who took advantage of the generosity of Christians. (Eg, II Thess 3:10f) We must therefore exercise discernment and ask to be led of the Spirit in our giving. 

BUT a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2    And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3    But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4    Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

There are a few key points here: First, Peter asks Ananias why he lied to the Holy Spirit; then Peter tells Ananias he lied to God. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God. (Or, more specifically, the third Person in the Godhead, God the Holy Spirit.)

Second, Peter reminds Ananias that his possession was his own before he sold it, and afterward the money was still his to do with as he pleased. He was not obligated to give it to the church. Yet Ananias lied and said he gave it all, when in reality he kept back some for himself. In The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee talks about how important motive is when we do things for God. In other words, doing the right thing is not always the right thing if we do it for the wrong reason, like to get a reward of some sort, and not simply out of love for Jesus. Barnabas gave out of love for God and love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. Ananias and Sapphira, on the other hand, not only gave with the wrong motive, they lied about it. Under New Covenant grace, our giving is not bound by the letter of the law. II Corinthians 9:7 says I am to give as I purpose in my heart (not a fixed amount). To me, that means I am to give as I am led by the Spirit. 

Third, although great grace was upon them all (4:33), the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable. (Jam 3:17) Grace requires repentance. (Luke 13:5 et al) Ananias and Sappira were engaging in hypocrisy, which literally means ‘acting’. They had not truly repented.

Fourth, Peter asks Ananias why Satan filled his heart. The Greek word for filled is the same word used for being filled with the Holy Sprit. It is often preached that a Christian cannot be demon possessed, and if a Christian is repentant and Spirit-filled, I would agree with that. (I John 4:4) But when a Christian grieves the Holy Spirit by engaging in sinful behavior like Ananias and Sapphira did, I think the Bible is pretty clear that it gives Satan legal ground to enter. That is why we must stay in the word and keep short accounts with God when we sin. I do not wait until I pray before I go to bed. If I sin, I immediately confess it and ask to be forgiven. (I John 1:9) If a Christian is involved in egregious sins like heavy drinking or drug use, homosexuality, etc either before or after he gets saved, I would highly recommend he seek biblical counseling and make a point of confessing and repenting of each and every aspect of his sinful behavior. Furthermore, he must purge his home and his life of all such materials (pornography, drugs, witchcraft books, etc). Not doing so leaves a door open for the enemy to possess or oppress him. Remember Matthew 17:21 (KJV).

5    And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6    And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7    And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8    And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9    Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10    Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11    And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
Acts 4:15-5:11

This matter of Ananias and Sapphira lying about their giving was so crucial that the Holy Spirit simply killed them rather than letting their sin hinder the progress of the church. Watchman Nee would have pointed out that they were rebelling against spiritual authority. Saul, for example, rebelled against spiritual authority by sparing the best of the sheep and the cattle to sacrifice to the LORD. Because he refused to destroy all the Amalekites along with their sheep and cattle, Saul (the first king of Israel) was killed by an Amalekite. This purged the throne of Saul’s rebelliousness, and his crown was given to the line of David.

In I Corinthians 11:30, Paul said that many in Corinth had become sick and even died because they were taking the cup and the bread of holy communion “unworthily.” These along with Ananias and Sapphira are examples of a sin unto death (I John 5:16f). 

Jesus said if we do our alms only to be seen, we have no reward (Matt 6:1). By going a step further and lying about it, Ananias and Sapphira were allowing Satan to get a foothold in the church. They may have even became influential people in the church. Wiersbe points out how God takes particular care to judge impurities when He is starting a new work. (Lev 10; Josh 7) If Ananias and Sapphira had not been judged for their sin, the power the church enjoyed would have soured and the unity would have given way to division.

Ananias and Sapphira were judged by God, but Church discipline is a different matter. Paul exhorted Timothy to rebuke those who sin before all, that others may fear. (I Tim 5:20) That is what happened when Ananias and Sapphira were killed. Great fear came upon all who heard these things. (5:5, 11) In other words, it had a purifying effect and the work of the Spirit proceeded unhindered. First there was great power and great grace. (4:33) Then, God used great fear to purify the body. Let’s pray about how we can purify our thoughts and actions, that the Spirit may feel more at home in our hearts. Let’s pray about how we can do better at submitting to spiritual authority, so the Holy Spirit can guide us and fill us with his power. 

In closing, please pray for a family I know in South Africa. The mom, like Sapphira, has fallen prey to the deception of the enemy. Traditional African healers posing as ‘Christian’ prophets have been telling her to keep away from family members who believe only in the Bible. She has had serious health problems since she started listening to these ‘prophets’. Pray she will have the discernment and courage to repent, trust God, and to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Prophecy Update: It cannot be denied that the structure whereby financial transactions take place is being reengineered into something never dreamt of, except by John the Revelator (Rev 13:16-18). The EU is moving forward with plans for a digital euro. The UK has joined the growing list of nations to require digital ID. The latest ‘improvements’ in transactions are being implemented via the integration of autonomous AI ‘agents’ to assist in the process. To me, these are all warning signs, like the little red light that tells you that you are almost out of gas.

In this post we saw how sin grieves the Holy Spirit. It ought to grieve us as well. In the Book of Ezekiel, an angel with an ink horn is commanded to go through Jerusalem and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. In ancient Hebrew, each of the characters were pictographs with symbolic meanings. The word for mark is spelled תו. The ancient character for ‘tau’ was a simple cross (+). The symbol for ‘vau’ was a tent peg, or nail. The text literally said to set a cross and a nail on the foreheads of those who were grieved with the sin of the city:

  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark [ו+] upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:4

Then other angels with slaughter weapons in their hands were commanded to kill all those who did not have the mark of a cross and a nail on their foreheads:

    Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Ezekiel 9:6

    Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
Ezekiel 9:9

I believe this was not necessarily something that Ezekiel meant for the people of his day, or if so, not exclusively. I believe Ezekiel was seeing into the future, after the third Temple is built in Jerusalem just before the great tribulation period (which technically is the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s seventieth ‘week’). The Bible says that shortly after the Temple is built, the Antichrist is going to set up the abomination of desolation in that Temple. (Matt 24:15; II Thess 2:4) The iniquity of that event will be exceeding great, but what about the rest of us? Whether one considers what is happening in Israel, America, or just about anyplace else in the world today, the iniquity is exceeding great and should cause all of us to sigh and cry.

Finally, I have a book that was printed in 1973 that said there were 200 priests in Israel who were being trained to perform temple sacrifices. Ever since I committed my life to Christ in 1995, I have been hearing about how they have already built the Temple in Jerusalem, and how it is ready to be assembled at a moment’s notice. We have been warned for a long time now. The Temple is going to be built eventually, just as the Bible says. We are living in the last generation. When judgment comes, only those who are mindful that Jesus was nailed to a cross for us (ו+) will escape. 

Acts 4:15-31 — The Power of the Holy Spirit

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, Peter and John used their arrest as an opportunity to preach the gospel to the Sanhedrin. In this post, we will see how the Sanhedrin responded to the witness of the Holy Spirit (v 8), and how the church in turn responded afterwards. Give us understanding, Father, as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Acts 4:15-31
15    But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16    Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17    But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. [Jesus]
18    And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19    But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20    For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21    So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22    For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

These scholarly religious leaders continue to resist the voice of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because they were in the flesh, as we saw in our last post. (So they that are in the flesh cannot please God. –Rom 8:8) On the other hand, the common people whom Peter and John reported back to are being led of the Spirit:

23    And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24    And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25    Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26    The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. [Ps 2:1f]
27    For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28    For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29    And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30    By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

There is power in the name of God’s Son. The church understood this just as Peter and John did when they were threatened by the council. I believe almost everybody understands this at some level. If they did not, they would not use Jesus’ name to curse.

31    And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:15-31

When Peter and John are threatened, they turn it around and ask their persecutors to judge what is right — to obey them or to obey God. (Luke 21:15)

When the church heard about what happened, they accepted it as God’s will (v 28) and glorified God. When they prayed, they did not ask for the persecution to stop, but rather that they would be given boldness to preach the word, and also that they could see more healings (vv 29f). God must have been pleased with these prayers as the place where they were assembled was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (v 31). Their prayers were answered and they spake the word of God with boldness. That is some powerful prayer. I want that power. 

Father, help us to be bold like they were in the early church. Help us to be led of the Spirit as they were. Help us to be faithful unto death that we may receive a crown of life, the same as them. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Prophecy Update: When Peter and John reported back to their friends after their arrest in the passage above, the situation was urgent. Peter and John being arrested and threatened by the high priest would be sort of like if your pastor was thrown in a federal jail in DC, then threatened by the president. They therefore had a prayer meeting. In their prayer, they viewed Psalm 2 as a prophecy that spoke to their situation. The kings of the earth … and rulers — ie the Jewish leaders, the Roman leadership such as Pilate, and Rome’s vassal, Herod — had set themselves, and taken counsel together against the LORD and his Anointed. When I read Psalm 2, I see the world leaders of our day, nearly all of whom are rebelling against the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as the rebellious leaders in Acts 4 were unable to stop God’s program in the first century, the rebellious leaders of today are powerless to stop his program in the twenty-first century. Psalm 2 goes on to say that God is laughing at these rulers and He is going to break them with a rod of iron. Yet the psalmist says they can still repent: Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Jesus said And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

The situation is urgent for us too. The gospel has been preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, which means that the end is coming. The chaotic nature of current events can seem at times bewildering, but what seems clear is how the chaos is being used to steer us in a certain direction. Current events, together with information online and elsewhere, are whipping up passions and nudging people towards a race war, if not a civil war. I believe this is by design. I believe there is an evil spirit behind it. I believe it has been going on for a very long time. Over 55 years ago, the Manson cult committed murders for the expressed purpose of starting a race war. They tried to make it look like black people did it. Think about that, and remember that God hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. Remember God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God knows what He is doing. We need to trust Him, not the latest narrative on Rumble. We are living in the age of deceit and the biggest hoax of all is ready to be rolled out as soon as God removes his people from the earth — the aliens did it.

Would to God that we could have power like they had in the early church — prayer meetings that make the place where we are assembled together shake and fill us with the Holy Spirit, that we may speak the word of God with boldness. 

Let’s start with the assumption that such a move of the Holy Spirit is possible. (Mark 9:23; Phil 4:13) First, to have powerful prayer meetings, prayer needs to be inspired by the word of God, like in our passage above. (John 15:7) Second, our prayers must be according to God’s will and in harmony with the mind of Christ. (I John 5:14f) Third, powerful prayer is often prayer that is accompanied by fasting. (Neh 1:4; Ps 35:13; Dan 9:3; Matt 17:21; Mark 9:29; Luke 2:37; 5:33; Acts 10:30; 13:3; 14:23; I Cor 7:5) Each of these verses calls for both prayer and fasting. (KJV) The Christians in our passage practiced Hebrews 4:16 before Paul even wrote it; we can pray this way too. When Christians pray out loud, pray often, pray together, when they pray in accordance with God’s will, when they strengthen their prayers with fasting, and when they pray like lives depend on it, miracles happen.

Acts 4:1-14 The Witness of the Holy Spirit

~ mikethemissionary

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In this post, we continue with the scene that erupted after Peter healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. While Jesus got in trouble for deliberately healing on the Sabbath, Peter and John are going to get it for healing in Jesus’ name and preaching through Jesus the resurrection of the dead — both of which are central themes in the Book of Acts. 

The Sadducees, who will confront Peter and John, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. You might say they were the liberal theologians of their day. Yet while the doctrine of the resurrection was offensive to them, the name of Jesus was especially egregious. 

Father, give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Acts 4:1-14
AND as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple [a priest who had the Levitical guard under him(1)], and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2    Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3    And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4    Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

First a man who was lame from birth was healed; then 5000 are saved through Peter’s preaching. Which then was the greater miracle? 

They say no good deed goes unpunished and I have found that to more or less be true. Anyone who preaches the gospel can tell you that the attacks and false accusations come out of nowhere, even in a ‘free’ country. John and Peter get to spend the night in jail for healing a lame man and preaching the gospel.

5    And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6    And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John [possibly Johanan ben Zaccai], and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7    And when they had set them [Peter and John] in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath the religious leaders could not have cared less that a blind man was given sight. They were driven to madness because Jesus did not follow their misinterpretation of the law. Once again, these ‘rulers’ (ie the Sanhedrin; cf v 15), Annas, Caiaphas, along with the elders, scribes, and others — the very ones who condemned Jesus to death — do not care that the lame man was healed. They are irate that Peter healed him by the power and name of Jesus.

8    Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9    If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10    Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 

There Peter goes again, preaching on the resurrection — just like Jesus. (John 12:24 et al). And Paul: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Col 3:1)

11    This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [Ps 118:22]
12    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13    Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14    And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Acts 4:1-14

The Sadducees are resisting the witness of the Holy Spirit (v 8), which has been telling them to repent for years now. When God first spoke to his people after 400 years of silence, his very first word to them (through John the Baptist) was ‘Repent’. (Matt 3:2) Then when Jesus began his ministry, the first thing He preached was repentance. (Matt 4:17) Likewise, Peter preached repentance on Pentecost (Acts 2:38), and again in his second sermon as well. (Acts 3:19) Repentance is a theme that continues throughout the Book of Acts. (5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 13:24; 17:30; 19:4; 20:21; 26:20) Everyone needs to repent, which, of course, simply means to change your mind. Why were the religious leaders unmoved and oblivious to the witness of the Holy Spirit? Answer: Because they were in the flesh. 

One day as I was reading Notes on the Pentateuch by C H MacKintosh, I realized that trying to keep the law (Old Covenant) is not merely a theological error, it is in fact a matter of being in the flesh. 

MacKintosh explained how Romans 9 is not only about predestination. Predestination is there, but Romans 9 is also about following the law (in the flesh) versus salvation by grace through faith. Paul uses the examples of Esau and Pharaoh and compares them to Israel after the flesh (I Cor 10:18). Paul said the Jews, who continued to seek righteousness through the law, hath not attained to the law of righteousness (Rom 9:31) because they stumbled at the stumblingstone — Jesus. (Rom 9:33) Yet the Gentiles received the righteousness which is by faith (Rom 9:30), ie faith in Christ. Whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, trying to keep the law is trying to attain righteousness by one’s own merit, or what Paul called ‘dead works’. (Heb 6:1) Therefore, not only is the law powerless to save (Gal 2:16), but legalism is of the flesh. (Rom 7:5f) Contrariwise, those who are led of the Spirit are not under the law. (Gal 5:18) The Sadducees’ flesh would not suffer them to listen to a ‘nobody’ like John the Baptist who lived out in the desert, a Carpenter like Jesus, or the fishermen He chose to be his disciples. Although they marveled that these fishermen could preach boldly and quote the Scriptures, their flesh (pride) blinded them. Yet they seemed to understand that the power Peter and John possessed came from their connection to Jesus (v 13).

The flesh may look good when we are young — and even then, usually only after ample washing, primping, and perfuming — but sooner or later, the true nature of the flesh is revealed. The flesh is ugly, stinking, rotting, and dying. 

Peter and John were not in the flesh; they were filled with the Holy Spirit (v 8; Mark 13:11; John 14:26). Although they were unlearned and ignorant men (v 13), the power of their message was validated not only by the word of God (v 11), but also by the healing of the lame man, which the Sadducees had no answer for (v 14). These miraculous healings were common in the early church, but the real proof of a gospel message is in the word of God, especially now that the canon of Scripture is complete. (Rev 22:18) Satan can perform miracles too. (Mark 13:22; II Thess 2:9) Therefore, the Bible is the final authority. (John 17:17; II Tim 3:16; et al)

The learned Sadducees knew the Bible. However, despite their vast knowledge of the Scriptures, they were kept back by their flesh from seeing the plain truth. One thing I hope we can all get out of this study in Acts is the importance of walking in the Spirit. The law cannot save us. Our flesh will only lead us astray. The Spirit is the key. When we are perfected, we will be raised in a spiritual body. (I Cor 15:44) One of the great witnesses of the rapture will be the missing corpses which will be raised first, before those of us who are alive and remain are translated. First the morgues will start emptying of Christians. (I Thess 4:16) Then the living saints will be caught up. (I Thess 4:17) If anyone thinks to exhume the body of a Christian from the grave they will find her or him missing. Maybe that is one of the reasons the enemy hates the preaching of the resurrection so much (v 2).    

To be led of the Spirit is to believe in the resurrection. To be led of the Spirit is to emphasize salvation by grace through faith — and love. (Eph 2:1-9; I Cor 12:31-13:13; I Pet 4:8) To be led of the Spirit is to [t]rust in the LORD with all thine heart [not head]; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

In the early days of the colonies in America, Quakers were considered radicals because they believed in being led by the “Inward Light” of the Holy Spirit (not just by ordained ministers). Quakerism has been described as proto-evangelical. The tree is known by its fruit, and the Quakers were pioneers in the abolition movement; they were eventually even strong supporters of the Revolution in some cases, but in the early days of the colonies they were horribly persecuted by their legalistic Puritan peers in Massachusetts. Four Quakers were even hanged in Boston between 1659 and 1661.(2) Those who are in the flesh persecute those who are led of the Spirit. It has always been so. (Gal 4:29)

Father, help us to be Spirit-filled Christians who follow You with pure hearts. Help each of us to crucify our flesh, that we may live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Prophecy Update: Tragedy was a worldwide theme this week. In Kathmandu, Parliament, the Supreme Court, the homes of several prominent politicians, and other high-profile buildings were burned down as politicians fled the capital in helicopters. This was ostensibly over a ban on social media. In the end, the government backed down and rescinded the ban. Protests in Paris and cities across France continued, in an attempt to ‘Block Everything’. Israeli Bombing in Doha, which targeted five Hamas leaders, drew ridicule from Israel’s staunchest allies. (Qatar was only one of five countries attacked by Israel this week, in addition to Gaza.) Populist Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, was sentenced to 27 years for an ‘attempted coup’. There was yet another school shooting near Denver.

Husband, father, rising star in conservative circles, and follower of Jesus Christ, Charlie Kirk, was shot dead at a Prove Me Wrong event on the campus of Utah Valley University. The reaction from some of the haters on social media (and even some in government) to Charlie’s murder seemed to me almost an eerie foreshadowing of the way people will react following the murder of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, in the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel. (Rev 11:10)

Some might say it has always been this way, but I don’t think so. In her State of the Union Address on Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said, “Battle lines for a New World Order, based on power, are being drawn right now. So yes, Europe must fight for its place in the world in which many major powers are either ambivalent or openly hostile to Europe. A world of imperial ambitions and imperial wars. A world in which dependencies are ruthlessly weaponized, and it is for all these reasons that a new Europe must emerge.” She went on to say, “We will put our bilateral support to Israel on hold. … We will propose sanctions on the extremist ministers and on violent settlers. And we will also propose a partial suspension of the Association Agreement on trade-related matters.” The Bible says Jerusalem will become a cup of trembling in the last days (Zech 12:2), and that seems to be happening. 

1 Pulpit Commentary, s.v. Acts 4:1.
2 Ahlstrom, A Religious History of the American People, pp 177-181

Thank You for Charlie, Father. Watch over his family until they meet him again in your kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 3:12-26 — The Power of Jesus’ Name

~ mikethemissionary

Dear friends,

Greetings in Christ!

In our last post, the Holy Spirit healed a lame man who was begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (probably the East Gate of the temple complex). This caused quite a stir and people came running (v 11). We pick back up now with the crowd looking at Peter and John in amazement. Give us understanding, Father, as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 3:12-26
12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Peter begins by correcting their misconception that he or John had any power of their own to heal the lame man. This is a common problem that often occurs when someone is healed miraculously by God.

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

At the heart of the New Covenant is the resurrection of Christ. This was emphasized in Peter‘s first message (Acts 2), as it is here and Peter‘s second message (v 15). It will continue to be emphasized throughout the Book of Acts because that is the message of the gospel. (I Cor 15:1-4) Peter went on to write concerning baptism that we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Pet 3:21), as Baptism is an object lesson pointing to the resurrection. Immersion in the water is symbolic of being buried with Christ in his death. (Rom 6:4) Coming up out of the water is symbolic of being raised with Christ in newness of life. (Col 2:12) Peter wrote about how the old world died under the waters of the flood, then brought forth new life after the waters abated; this points to the resurrection along with the like figure of baptism. (I Pet 3:20f) In other words, the flood and baptism are both figurative of the resurrection.

Aaron’s authority was confirmed by the dead rod that budded with new life. (Num 17:8) Likewise, our spiritual power as Christians comes from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:10f) Sarah and Elizabeth both gave birth in their old age, bringing new life out of dead wombs. Sarah, to continue the bloodline of Messiah through Isaac; Elizabeth, to bring forth the forerunner to prepare the way for Messiah in John the Baptist. Both these miraculous births point to the resurrection. Just as Sarah and Elizabeth were powerless to conceive, we likewise can do nothing of ourselves. (John 15:5) Our ability to carry out our commission hinges on the resurrection of Christ and the new life we receive when we are born again. (Matt 28:18ff; Acts 1:3-8; cf l Pet 2:4-9)

Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Luke 8. Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead in Luke 7. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Jesus raised a great many more from the dead in Matthew 27. New life out of death is what the gospel is all about: And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:1-7)

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed [ie, Jesus; Gen 22:18 KJV (new versions omit); cf Gal 3:16] shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 3:12-26

Peter’s sermon is packed with powerful doctrine and fulfilled prophecy, but let’s drill down into the last verse of Chapter 3, verse 26. Nearly all modern versions remove ‘Jesus’, but his name used to always be there. For example, the Spanish Bible that is widely used today omits Jesus’ name here, but I checked the Reina Valera version of 1602 and sure enough, ‘Jesus’ is there. Why would they remove Jesus’ name when it was Jesus’ name and faith in Jesus’ name which healed the lame man (vv 6, 16)?

(Furthermore, why would new versions change the reference in Genesis 22:18 (v 25) from ‘seed’ to the plural word ‘descendants’ or ‘offspring’ when Galatians 3:16 makes it clear the singular word ‘seed’ is a reference to Jesus?)

Before the advent of textual criticism, Christians trusted the leading of the Holy Spirit and chose to include Jesus’ name in Acts 3:26. For example, Jesus’ name was included here in the majority of cursive manuscripts from the 9th to the 16th century.(1) At that time, and until the late 19th century, Christians rejected the minority texts of Egypt (Jer 42:18; Hos 11:1; Matt 2:15; Acts 7:39; Rev 11:8), as their odd variances revealed a Gnostic leaning. Besides rejecting the deity of Jesus, the Gnostics believed that Jesus was only a spirit and did not come in the flesh. Their altered manuscripts are out of agreement with manuscripts from virtually all other geographical locations:

I Corinthians 15:47
Majority Text
the second man is the Lord from heaven
Alexandrian Text
the second man is the spirit from heaven(2)

Ephesians 5:30
Majority Text
members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones
Alexandrian Text
members of his body(3)

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
I John 4:3

So, by removing Jesus’ name from Acts 3:26, the Gnostics were altering God’s word to be more in agreement with their antichrist beliefs, namely, that Jesus is not the Son of God. (I John 2:22) Someone may protest and say, My new version has it in verse 13, so what does it matter if they took it out in verse 26? God designed his word with safeguards to keep his message intact. Chuck Missler used the analogy of how a communications officer would increase the frequency of a signal to keep his transmission from getting jammed, but God nevertheless commands us to keep every word, because every word is important. (Deut 4:2; Jer 26:2; Matt 5:18; Rev 22:19) Besides, new versions translate paída as ‘servant’ in verse 13 instead of Son, which agrees more with the Gnostic view. Even the old Catholic Douay-Rheims version translated paída as ‘Son’.

Jesus’ name is removed in scores of places in new versions (eg, around 73 times in the NASB) to water them down. Also often removed are his title, Lord, and his identity as Christ (Messiah). I was saved before I started using the KJV, so I’m not saying that new versions cannot be used by God, but they have definitely been weakened. The enemy must be pleased that Christians are walking around with armor that is weak. Here are a few more examples of how the new versions have been weakened:

Galatians 4:7
KJV an heir of God through Christ
NIV God has made you also an heir (How? By works?)

Ephesians 3:9
KJV God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
NIV God, who created all things (How? By aeons?)

Ephesians 3:14
KJV I bow my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
NIV I kneel before the Father (Which Father? Baba Ram Dass?)

I once mentioned this to a ‘Greek scholar’ who flipped out and said the most extant manuscripts confirm the new readings, which of course is nonsense. The Majority Text is the ‘most extant’, which is why it is called the Majority Text. The so-called ‘best manuscripts’ only represent about 5% -1% of the manuscript evidence, depending on who you ask. Furthermore, not only do the minority text manuscripts not agree with the Majority Text in many places, but they do not even agree with each other in many of these same places. Taken as a whole, they agree with the Majority Text in disputed passages almost as often as they disagree.(4) Most of the older manuscripts that contained Majority Text readings were burned in the persecutions that plagued the early church, but sometimes faith is all we have. For example, if you look up I John 2:23 in the KJV, you will find half the verse is in italics. The translators included it because they thought it belonged there. Yet if you look at I John 2:23 in a NASB, it is no longer in italics because they found the manuscript evidence.

In closing, consider this: When I was a kid the KJV was still being printed with the Epistle Dedicatory included before the TOC. Why would they remove it? There is a line in that document that the new world order hates with a passion. It says that the KJV “has given such a blow to that man of sin as will not be healed.” That may not sound very significant, but if you can find an old enough Bible printed around the mid-1800s or earlier, you will find ‘Man of Sin’ was originally capitalized, because it was a proper noun, referring to the pope. I used to have an old Bible that was printed with Man of Sin capitalized. So what did they do? First they got Man of Sin switched to lowercase. Second, they had the Epistle Dedicatory removed altogether. Moreover, the Vatican has poured millions of dollars into countless new versions based on their own corrupt Vaticanus manuscript. Then, they convinced Christians that these new versions are ‘better’ than the old ones.

Finally, one of the things that makes people resist using the KJV is that they do not want to appear odd in any way to their fellow Christians. Consider that Noah may have looked like a right-wing fanatic in his day, but after the flood, he looked pretty mainstream. Likewise, using a KJV may look a little odd in these last days, but after the rapture, the KJV will look mainstream to our fellow saints in heaven, most of whom used this same text type throughout history.

1 Hodges Farstad, Majority Text Edition. Jesus’ name is also included here in P74, Psi, 049, 056, 0142, 0165. As cited in Jack Moorman, A Close Look Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, p 112.
2 P46, as cited in Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, p 6.
3 P46 et al, as cited in Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, p 130.
4 Early Manuscripts and the Authorized Version, pp 20, 21