August 10, 2020, Acts cont...
Acts 11 cont...
The Church in Antioch
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke with Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenica, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word among the Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
the first Gentile church was founded in Antioch, Acts 11:20-21, where it is recorded that the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians . It was from Antioch that St. Paul started on his missionary journeys.
"It is interesting to note the early community prayed in the Temple, the Jewish place of worship/prayer. It took time for the early church to distinguish itself from the Jewish religion and Jewish practices. They were not called Christians until the church had spread to Antioch. They were first called "the way of the Lord" by some."
- God used persecution and the death of Stephen to spread the gospel further.
- How true is the saying what devil means for evil God uses for Good.
- Life is filled with negative things and sometimes negative people but those things somehow works out for our good.
- I had a very wicked man do a lot of bad things to me and this person saw it working for my good. He never apologize he felt like well it made you a better person. I wanted him to know, you meant it for my hurt; But God just used it for my good. His actions is still wicked but God wants us to know that he has all power and nothing will hurt you.
- It is ironic how God does that but if you see things from a human perspective you going to be angry or think God doesn't deliver you or you cannot make it out the negative situation. But the reality is God is still using it for your good or the good of others and sometimes he will use it to expose people. There are a lot of wolves in sheep clothing and those are the worst type of people who want to kill your spirit.
- But the apostles were not in bondage they were in God's will. God uses wicked men to spread his gospel. It is a mystery but its true.
News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
A lot of people say where in the bible is the label christian.
I meet another guy who voice to me that the word Christian was just made up.
It was a clever label; and it was a term given because the gospel had moved beyond the Jews. They were not Jewish followers and they needed a name.
"It just makes sense to me"
If the name or label is odd to anyone, I would wonder why...... they were Gentiles and they were Christ followers or like Christ.
Christ means anointed
Christian means like Christ
or the way of Jesus Christ
Or you can say disciples or believers. Its all the same thing. They believed in Christ. they were disciples or learning the way of the Lord.
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, name Agabus, stood up and through the spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Something to ponder:
Today is there a gap between Jewish and non-Jewish believers. What do you think?
THE BOOK OF PSALMS:
- It is completed.
- It contains the history of the Jewish people
- the mighty acts of God
- praise to god
- Prayers to god
- Lastly and most importantly it is filled with facts about God through his servants..
- It also contrasted the wicked and the righteous.
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
wisdom is personified in the book of proverbs
It is not an idea it is facts, a stove is hot, or the wise man sees red and avoids getting burned.
A foolish man walks blindly bumping to everything.
(concrete and stable there is not reasoning or negotiating it is black and white)
It also gives warnings and instructions to the youth. It is a great book for teenagers. As we grow old life teaches us things we never wanted to learn. When you are young its better to learn than to let life teach you the truth. But If a young person can avoid certain pits they will move like a wise man on the earth and have peace in life.
The wise man
having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent:
a wise decision.
possessed of or characterized by scholarly knowledge or learning; learned; erudite:
wise in the law.
having knowledge or information as to facts, circumstances
1. It nice to know that anyone can be wise. It does not favor the poor or the rich.
2. it is facts
and the foolish man
a stupid person; a person who lacks judgment or sense.
What does it mean to be a fool? It can also be someone who is able to be tricked into something. If you lack good judgement or sense you are a fool. More modern today is the saying, He played the fool or she played the fool another modern day example is, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Don't continue to be stupid. No one wants to be stupid or the fool. The word has a derogatory connation to it; I think it is meant to make a person feel bad; and it makes you want to learn the opposite. Who wants to be fool?
what is wisdom?
where does it come from?
How do we get it?
Who is the fool?
How do you avoid being a fool?
Wisdom in character, in our words, and in our relationships.
"A book like proverbs would have been given to scribes and copied over and over" It is not so much theological (it is free from theories but it is about life and choices we make in our relationships, friendships, and life)
NIV STUDY BIBLE
The collection of Solomon's proverbs consist of individual couplets, many of which express a contrast.
topics like:
generosity
adultery
friendship
receiving instructions
Have a great day.
Comments
Post a Comment