ACTS OF THE APOSTLES QUIZ

1 On whom did the lot fall when the 11 Apostles were choosing a replacement? On whom did it not fall?

2 Name the couple that conspired to sell their land, and then hold back some of the money from the Church?

3 In what city was Paul stoned (to death or near death), then dragged outside the city, then, surrounded by the disciples did he rose up and entered once again into that city?

4 How many days did Jesus show Himself alive after His passion and resurrection with many infallible proofs?

5 Who was the centurion of the band called the Italian Band who was devout, feared God with all his house, which gave alms to the people and prayed?

6 When the new disciples who had practiced curious arts brought their books together to be burned before all men, what was the value of those books?

7 Who joined himself to the Ethiopian eunuch’s chariot and expounded the Gospel to him from Isaiah the Prophet?

 8 At what hour did Peter and John go up into the temple to pray when they crossed paths with a lame man at the gate called Beautiful?

9 As Peter traveled to Cornelius’s house in Caesarea from Joppa he went upon an housetop to pray about which hour?

10 Paul argued daily for the space of two years in what school, so that all that were in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Word of the Lord?

11 Name the seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit, full of wisdom, who were appointed by the Apostles to serve the widows?

12 Name the Jewish false prophet/sorcerer of Paphos who withstood Paul and Barnabas as they taught the Word of God to Sergius Paulus, a deputy of Paphos Territory?

13 Name the disciple with whom Paul lodged in Damascus, and who baptized Paul and prayed for Paul to receive his eyesight again?

14 Paul shaved his head in what city because he had a vow?

15 Name the chief ruler of the Corinthian synagogue who believed on the Lord with his entire house?

16 As Paul preached long into the night one vespers, a young man sat in a window of the third loft, sinking into a deep sleep he fell to his death, but Paul went to him and prayed and the young man was made alive. Name the young man?

17 At what spot in Athens Greece did Paul declare the “Unknown God”?

18 Name the Ephesian Silversmith who made much money making silver shrines to the goddess Diana, and who conspired with others of his craft to cause an uprising against Paul?

19 Which of the seven deacons became the first martyr of the early church?

20 Stephen in his final sermon declared to the Jews that they had taken up the tabernacle of whom, and the star of their god whom, figures they made to worship?

21 When the people of Lystra saw that Paul had healed a man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his birth, they lifted their voices saying “the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men”. They called Barnabas by the name of what god? And they called Paul by the name of what god?

22 About how many disciples were in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost?

23 Philip the Evangelist had how many virgin daughters that prophesied?

24 What woman of Thyatira was known as a seller of purple whose household was saved through Paul’s preaching?

25 Name the sorcerer who bewitched the people of Samaria until Philip arrived with the Gospel?

26 At the close of the Council of Jerusalem, two men chief among the brethren, were selected to travel with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch with letters explaining the decisions of the Council. Name these two men?

27 What eloquent Jew, born in Alexandria Egypt, was “mighty in the scriptures”, and “mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ”?

28 Paul was born in what city?

29 When Herod the king killed James, the brother of John with the sword, he saw that it pleased the Jews so he had Peter imprisoned. At whose home was a prayer meeting held for Peter? And name the woman who answered the door when Peter arrived?

30 What two items were taken from the body of Paul that possessed miracle working power that when they were laid upon sick people they were healed and delivered?

31 Name the couple that taught Apollos the way of God more perfectly, seeing that he only knew the baptism of John?

32 Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at what time when they were in prison in Philippi?

33 Who was queen of the Ethiopians?

34 When the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica rejected Paul’s teaching about Jesus, they incited rage throughout the city and assaulted the house of whom, looking for Paul and Silas?

35 Paul was brought up in what city? And at whose feet was he taught according to the perfect manner of the law?

36 Who was the wife of Felix, the governor of Judea?

37 Name the lady disciple (with two names) at Joppa who was full of good works and almsdeeds, who became sick and died, but then Peter came and prayed for her, and she was raised from the dead?

38 Who was let down in a basket over the walls of Damascus by the disciples so that he could escape the plots of the Jews to kill him?

39 The Jews of which five synagogues set up false witnesses against Stephen, and stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, who captured him and brought him before the council?

40 From what Old Testament Prophet did Peter preach on the Day of Pentecost saying, “This is that…”?

41 The disciples were first called Christians in what city?

42 Name the Prophet who bound himself with Paul’s girdle and prophesied that Paul would be bound by the Jews at Jerusalem?

43 There were more than how many Jews that made a conspiracy to kill Paul, binding themselves to a curse, and saying that they would eat or drink nothing until they killed Paul?

44 What was the name of the wind storm that caused the shipwreck as Paul sailed to Rome?

45 What was the name of the street in Damascus that Jesus said Ananias would find “one called Saul of Tarsus” praying in the house of Judas?

46 Two converts were named as having believed Paul’s preaching of the Gospel on Mars’ Hill in Athens. Name them?

47 When Paul shipwrecked onto the Island of Melita he prayed for the chief man of the islands father and he was healed of a bloody flux. Name the chief man of Melita?

48 Who said to Paul, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”?

49 What relative of Paul had overheard the Jews plot to kill him and reported it to the chief captain who then helped Paul escape under protection of a small army?

50 Name the old disciple of Cyprus?

ANSWERS

1 a. Matthias b. Joseph aka Barsabas Justus – ACTS 1:15-26

2 Ananias and Sapphira – ACTS 5:1-11

3 Lystra – ACTS 14:8-21

4 Forty – ACTS 1:3

5 Cornelius – ACTS 10:1, 2

6 50,000 Pieces of Silver – ACTS 19:18-20

7 Philip – ACTS 8:26-40

8 Ninth Hour – ACTS 3:1-16

9 Sixth Hour – ACTS 10:9

10 School of Tyrannus – ACTS 19:8-10

11 Simon, Stephen, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas – ACTS 6:5

12 Bar-jesus/Elymas – ACTS 13:4-12

13 Ananias – ACTS 9:10-18

14 Cenchrea – ACTS 18:18

15 Crispus – ACTS 18:8

16 Eutychus – ACTS 20:7-12

17 Mars Hill/Aeropagus – ACTS 17:16-28

18 Demetrius – ACTS 19:23-41

19 Stephen – ACTS 7:51-60

20 a. Moloch b. Remphan  - ACTS 7:43

21 a. Jupiter b. Mercury – ACTS 14:12

22 120 – ACTS 1:15

23 Four – ACTS 21:8

24 Lydia – ACTS 16:14, 15

25 Simon – ACTS 8:9-25

26 Judas aka Barsabas Silas – ACTS 15:22-31

27 Apollos – ACTS 18:24-28

28 Tarsus – ACTS 22:3

29 a. Mary the mother of John Mark b. Rhoda

30 Handkerchiefs and Aprons – ACTS 19:11, 12

31 Aquila and Priscilla – ACTS 18:26

32 Midnight – ACTS 16:25

33 Candace – ACTS 8:27

34 Jason – ACTS 17:5-9

35 a, Jerusalem b. Gamaliel – ACTS 22:3

36 Drusilla – ACTS 24:24

37 Tabitha aka Dorcas – ACTS 9:36-43

38 Paul – ACTS 9:23-25

39 Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicia, Asia – ACTS 6:9-15

40 Joel – ACTS 2:16

41 Antioch – ACTS 11:26

42 Agabus – ACTS 21:10-14

43 More Than Forty – ACTS 23:12-15

44 Euroclydon – ACTS 27:14

45 Straight – ACTS 9:10-12

46 Dionysius the Areopagite and Damaris – ACTS 17:34

47 Publius – ACTS 28:1-10

48 King Agrippa – ACTS 26:28

49 Paul’s Sister’s Son – ACTS 23:16-30

50 Mnason – ACTS 21:16

 

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10:25-37

In many passages of scripture we can usually grasp the basic meaning of the passage. The 3 most obvious points of this parable are clear and are important in themselves.
1) Christ exalts compassion - We are called to love.
2) Your enemy is your neighbor when he is compassionate. (The Samaritans were the bitter enemies of the Jews).
3) We are called to imitate the Good Samaritan and love our enemies.

These three points are good and true, and should be understood at face value and followed as the commandments of Jesus. But there is another way of reading scripture that was often practiced by the early Church Fathers, and that is allegory. Allegory was virtually universal throughout early Christianity. Allegory is used to draw our attention, in many well-known passages, to the universal condition of mankind and the all-encompassing love of God. The early Church Fathers are those recognized by the Church as true interpreters of Holy Scripture. One such father was St John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople(modern day Istanbul) in the 4th century.

The parable of the "Good Samaritan" becomes a word-picture of the entire mystery of salvation!!! The allegorical interpretation of the following meditation is from the teaching of St John Chrysostom with the addition of some of my thoughts.

Verse 30: we read, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho...". The trek from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be a very dangerous journey, on a very narrow path, where robbers would lie in wait for unsuspecting travelers. In fact, "the valley of the shadow of death" is an actual location on this road. St John Chrysostom says that this is a picture of Adam, who choosing to trust himself rather than God, decided to descend from Paradise to the world. It is interesting to note that Jericho is the lowest city on earth at 853 feet below sea level. Jerusalem, at it's highest point is 2756 feet above sea level. The descent is 3609 feet in 15 miles. So Adam was going from the heights of Paradise to the lowest place that the world can offer.
Then we read, "...and fell among thieves..". So here we see Adam attacked by demons who, as Jesus taught elsewhere, "come to steal, and to kill, and to destroy"(John 10:7-10).
Then we read, "...which stripped him of his raiment,". This shows that Adam(mankind) was stripped of his "robe of immortality". Often in scripture we see that clothing is a picture of spiritual qualities; righteousness, humility, truth. Before the fall, mankind was created immortal, he was clothed with immortality, to live eternally in the Paradise of God. Adam, in his disobedience, was stripped naked. (Read Gen. 3:7-12; Isaiah 25:7,8; 1 Cor. 15:52-57; 2 Cor. 5:1-4)
Then we read, "...and wounded him,". Adam(mankind), in the fall, was wounded by sin, and is wounded by the sins of others, as well as self-inflicted wounds. Mankind was/is afflicted with diseases of the soul, his mind became darkened(Eph. 4:17,18), he became sleepy, ensnared by demons, his will weakened. All these conditions, we can be saved from, healed of, by Jesus.(1 Peter 2:24)
Then we read, "...they departed, leaving him half dead". Adam(mankind) was reduced to the half-life of this earth, subject to sin and death. Adam remained physically alive, but spiritually experienced a death, a separation from God. This does not mean that mankind is spiritually unconscious, as a physically dead person becomes upon death. Adam(mankind) remained spiritually aware, but separated from God, dead to the things of God.

Verse 31 & 32: It happened that a priest...then a Levite, came by that way, and passed by on the other side. This reveals that Israel, who was given the great privilege and responsibility to bring the knowledge of God to the nations, kept to themselves, and did not aid mankind.

Verse 33: Then we read, "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, had compassion on him,". Jesus is the Samaritan. He journeyed, not from this world, but from heaven above. He had even been accused of being a demon possessed Samaritan by the Jews(John 8:48). Jesus sees all who are wounded by the thieves(demons), and upon all He has compassion.

Verse 34: Then we read, "And went to him,...". Jesus comes to all who are wounded by the thieves, to all who are left half-dead along the road from Paradise to the lowest place in the world.
Then we read, "and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,...". Jesus is seen doctoring mankind's wounds with His teachings(bandages); pouring oil and wine into the wounds. The oil is the Holy Spirit and the Wine is the Holy Eucharist(1 Cor. 10:16,17).
Then we read, "and set him on his own beast, and brought him to the inn, and took care of him". Christ, in becoming incarnate, joins mankind to His divine nature(Hebrews 10:19-22; Rom. 5:12-6:23; 2 Peter 1:2-4); then He brings mankind to the hospital of His Church and continues to minister to him as the divine physician.

Verse 35: We read, "And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him..." Jesus departed the earth in His Holy Ascension(Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 4:8-11; sending the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and giving ministry gifts to men, turning the disciples into apostles and prophets, etc), and he entrusted the care of mankind to the Apostolic Synod personified by its great apostle to the gentiles, St Paul(Col. 1:23-28; Eph. 3:1-6; Gal 1:11-24), and through Paul to the bishops and teachers and ministers of each church(Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). "Take care of the gentiles which I have given you in the church. Since men are sick, wounded by sin, heal them, putting on them a stone plaster, that is, the prophetic sayings and the gospel teachings, making them whole through the admonitions and exhortations of the old and new testaments."(Chrysostom)
Then we read, "when I come again, I will repay you". At my second coming I will reward you.

We are to see "the Church", through this imagery, as a hospital for the sick and wounded. Jesus, in his teachings, makes reference to this reality(Mt. 9:12; Mk. 2:17; Lk. 5:31). In the Church we are divided into the sick, those undergoing treatment, and those - the saints - who have already been healed...the Church Fathers do not categorize people as moral and immoral, or good and bad, on the basis of moral laws. This division is superficial. At depth, humanity is differentiated into the sick in soul, those being healed, and those healed.
In 1 Peter 2:24 we see that Jesus took upon Himself our sins in order that we be healed of our spiritual sicknesses. Once healed(saved) of our sicknesses we will be able to live righteously. For example; once healed of bitterness, we can show compassion to those who have injured us; once healed of pride, we can with humility and lowliness of mind serve all people regardless of their station in life; once healed of anger we can be at peace with every person we encounter throughout the day.

THE GREAT INTERCESSION

INTERCESSION FOR THE WORLD

In peace let us pray to the Lord. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For the peace of the whole world, and the salvation of all mankind. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the children of the world, gather them all to your heart, and make known Your love to them. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the fatherless, single parents, widows, and all the forgotten, grant them life, peace, mercy, grace, salvation, and visitation. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For the sick and the suffering, and all those oppressed with despair, grant peace and healing. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the Christians suffering persecution throughout the world, grant them peace and deliverance, visit them with your divine presence, and inspire love in them for their enemies. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all those taken captive against their will, save them, have mercy upon them, and deliver them. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the refugees of war, grant comfort, provision, and safe passage. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all those in prison, help them to be like the thief on the cross, and remember them when you come into your kingdom. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the people trapped in the darkness of false religions, illumine their hearts with the true lights of creation, conscience, and Christ. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all kings and presidents, and all civil authorities, turn their hearts as you turn the watercourses according to your will. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For favorable weather, for abundance of the fruits of the earth, fresh air, pure water, healthy food, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all of creation that now groans in expectation of the manifestation of the children of God: watch over every aspect of your created order: every herb bearing seed, all the green herbs, every tree bearing fruit, the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, all the land animals, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the people living in Greensburg and the surrounding countryside, pour out the rain of your Holy Spirit upon each one, and may they be convinced of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, and may Christ Jesus dwell in their hearts by faith. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For our families and friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ here present, knit our hearts together in the love of Christ, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For divine appointments to preach your gospel, and divine opportunities to show your love, and for boldness to speak your word. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the faithful disciples of Jesus throughout the world, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with them all. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For the well-being and protection of all the holy churches of God throughout the world. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

For all the true Shepherds of your Holy Church, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and help them to rightly divide the word of Thy truth. > Lord, Show Us Your Steadfast Love.

THE SONS OF GOD AND THE DAUGHTERS OF MEN

In Genesis 6 we are instructed that "God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth..."(6:5,6). And God grieved in His heart and repented that He had made man on the earth. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"(6:8). What we have here is insight into a battle for a pure blood line to be preserved through which the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 would be born and thereby crush the serpent, destroying the power of sin, the curse, and the power of death. This "Seed of the woman" is the promised Messiah, who will be born of a pure virgin(Mary).

We see here in Genesis 6:1-4 "Satan's Plan To Corrupt All Flesh". If Satan can corrupt all the bloodlines through a mixture of fallen angels(the sons of God) and the daughters of man he can thwart the plan of God to destroy Satan and the power of sin, the curse, and death. Thankfully there was a man(Noah) and his family that was kept from this corruption. The reason for the worldwide flood and the destruction of all living flesh on the earth was to destroy all the unnatural offspring of the marriage of fallen angels with the daughters of men. Note that until this time mankind lived for hundreds of years, Methusaleh living the longest at 969 years. In verse 3 we are told that God would no longer tolerate man to live so long that they could generate such corruption again, so he decides to limit man's lifespan to a maximum of 120 years.

We are further instructed that this marriage of fallen angels with women also took place after the flood(verse 4). The hybrid offspring of the fallen angels are here called giants, and later are called nephilim and rephaim. These are the giants that were in the land of Canaan that Israel was commanded to destroy, every last one of them, because they were not humans, but hybrid offspring of the fallen angels.

Angels have the capacity to change dimensions, to leave their habitation as it were and transfer over to our dimension. Good angels can do this with God's permission as in the story of Lot in Genesis 18 where two angels are sent to Lot to destroy the sinful cities. We are told in Hebrews 13:2 that "we are not to forget to entertain strangers, because some have entertained angels unaware". Thus angels appear as humans when they cross over into our realm.

Note that the so-called "spiritual world" is not an unreal world, but another very real world, or maybe it is better to say, the same world but a different dimension. The invisible world(which God created just as much as the visible world - Col 1:16-18) is by definition simply "the unseen world". Invisible means "beyond eyesight". It does not mean "an unreal world".

The fallen angels that sinned with the daughters of men at the time of Noah were cast into tartarus(Hades) and are chained until the day of judgment(2 Peter 2:4,5). Jude reveals to us in His epistle, verses 6-8, that these fallen angels did not maintain their principality, but left their own habitation and committed fornication, going after strange(other) flesh. Church Father Justin Martyr(110-165 A.D.) is quoted, "But the angels transgressed...were captivated by love of women, and begat children".(Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 1, P. 190); and Church Father Methodius(260-312 A.D.) is quoted, "The devil was insolent...as also those angels who were enamored of fleshly charms, and had illicit intercourse with the daughters of men."(Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 6, p. 370). The fallen angels that did not sin in this fashion are still loose.

We know, from the Scriptures, more about the offspring(giants) of the fallen angels after the flood of Noah's day, than the the offspring(giants) that were on earth before the flood. Though it appears that there is evidence of civilizations all over the earth built by super strong and intelligent creatures that may pre-date the flood of Noah. Stonehenge, Easter Island, The Pyramids, etc.(More listed here soon).

We are instructed in Genesis 9:20 - 10:20 that it was through some perverse sin that Ham, the father of Canaan, committed against Noah that Satan gains entry into the bloodlines once again. For we see that Ham, who was cursed by Noah, has offspring that produces a "mighty one", Nimrod, who begins a kingdom that creates all the people groups that are later identified as giants and nephilim and rephaim. These are the descendants that Joshua and Caleb find occupying Canaan when Israel is sent to possess the promised land. The reason Isreal is told to kill "all" the people was because they were hybrids, giants, fallen ones(nephilim), and not just fellow humans.

In Numbers 13 we are instructed concerning the reality of "giants". The Lord tells Moses to send twelve men "to spy out the land of Canaan"(13:17). Upon their return they give their report, the land "surely flows with milk and honey...nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land...moreover we saw the children of the Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell, in the mountains: and the Canaanites by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan"(27-33). Caleb speaks up and says, "we are well able to overcome it". But the men who went with Joshua and Caleb say, "We are not able...". They said, "it is a land that eats up its inhabitants, and all the people are men of great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants".

We read more of Israel's dealings with the giants: The Emims...a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims: which were also accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims...the Horims(v. 12)...the children of Ammon...(That also was accounted a land of giants; giants dwell therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims, A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them...he destroyed the Horims...and the Avims...were destroyed by the Caphtorims(Cretans)(19-23).

We continue to learn of the giants: "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold his bedstead was...of iron...13 1/2 feet long and 6 feet wide. And this land...which was called the land of giants"(Deut. 3:11-13). In Deut. 7:1-5 we read of God's command to destroy all the inhabitants of the land He was sending them into to possess it; and to destroy their altars, break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.(verse 5) All these things were used in Satanic worship and human sacrifices. Read more of the Anakims in Deut. 9:1-6.

In Joshua we read of "the remnant of the giants(Josh. 12:4; 13:12) and, of "the valley of the giants"(Josh. 15:8; 18:16), which interpreted is "the valley of the Rephaim"(2 Sam. 5:18,22; 1 Chron. 11:15; 14:9).

We learn of David slaying the giant Goliath, whose armour weighed 196 pounds and who was 9' 9" tall. (1 Sam. 17)

In 2 Samuel 21(1 Chron. 20:1-8/parallel) we learn of further wars that David and his mighty men had with the Philistines(giants) and in particular with the four sons of "The giant/Rapha"(verses 15-22). One giant son had a spear that the spearhead weighed 11 pounds. Another son of Rapha, had a staff like a weaver's beam. And yet another had 6 fingers on each hand, and 6 toes on each foot. These four sons were the brothers of Goliath of Gath.

In Judges 1:21-36; 2:1-5; 3:1-8 we read of Israel's disobedience in following God's command to kill all the inhabitants. Instead they chose to make money off the inhabitants with taxation(a tribute)(verse 28). But Judah obeyed the Lord, and the Lord was with Judah. And Caleb expelled the three sons of Anak(giants)(16-20). But Israel, once Joshua died(2:8-10), would serve Baalim and the groves(2:11; 3:7).

Why should we want to know about these events, and about the giants, and how they were introduced into the earth. For one, it is important to know our history as humans, and secondly, it is important to know our future, for Jesus said, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be."(Matthew 24:37-39) Is it possible that the same kind of evil perpetrated by fallen angels in the days of Noah's flood will be repeated in the days shortly before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

THE PRAYERS OF SAINT PAUL - SPIRIT INSPIRED INTERCESSION

St Paul's letters to the churches are not only filled with the teaching of sound doctrine, challenging exhortations, and stern reproof, but they reveal St Paul at prayer. As St Paul teaches the inspired Word of God, he will break into prayer for those he is teaching. These prayers are Inspired by the Holy Spirit the same as the doctrines, exhortations, and reproofs are. And just like we follow St Paul's doctrine, we can follow St Paul in prayer.

Ephesians 1:15-23 > In verses 3-14 of Ephesians chapter 1 St Paul lays out God's amazing plan for us with all kinds of mystical complexities and divine revelation > Then he prays for those who believe, that "God...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (verses 3-14): the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his (Christ) calling...." And on it goes. > This is Paul's inspired intercessory prayer that we too can and should pray for our fellow believers.

Ephesians 3:14-21 > Again we see St Paul's Holy Spirit-inspired prayers for the Ephesian believers > "That you may be strengthened with all might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you would be rooted and grounded in love...that you might be filled with all the fullness of God"

NOTE: Have you ever wanted to know how to pray? Ever wanted to know what to pray? When to pray? I hope to share with you truth from the Bible about prayer, and truth from the ancient Church about prayer, and truth taught by the Church fathers on prayer from over the centuries. The important thing is that it is Truth, truth about prayer.

Colossians 1:9-11 > You can mirror St Paul's prayers or tailor them for your prayers that you pray for yourself and your brothers and sisters in Christ or anyone on your prayer list. > Paul does not cease to pray for the Colossians these prayers. He prays them repetitiously, daily, morning, noon, and night; sometimes all night. Not vain repetitions, but faith repetitions!!! > "that you might be filled with knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of the Lord...being fruitful in every good work...strengthened with all might..." >

NOTE: The Psalms are the "Song Book" or "Prayer book" of the Church. Each and every Psalm applies to some part of our life's experience, even to different parts of each and every day. Learn the Psalms, memorize the Psalms, learn to pray the Psalms.

Philippians 1:9-11 > St Paul prays "that your love may abound yet more and more...that you may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness." >

***Here's a prayer that I wrote based on these inspired prayers of St Paul that I tailored for my own "prayer rule". To pray all of St Paul's prayers each and every time you "stand to pray" or "someone comes to your mind" would not be practical. So I created a prayer that I can say that is succinct and powerful and true. I mention each person by name (first name will do) and I pray "Father, that you would grant to each one the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus the Messiah, that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened to know what is the hope of Christ's calling; That you would direct their hearts into the love of God, strengthening them with all might by your Spirit in the inner man, filling them with fruits of righteousness, and filling them with the exact knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; establish their hearts in grace and truth, and may Christ Jesus dwell in their hearts by faith".

1 Thessalonians 3:8-13 > Pray for abounding love. Pray for established hearts in holiness. Pray for believers to be ready for the Second Coming of Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11,12; 3:1-5 > Pray for believers to be worthy of their calling. Pray that God's power will work through faith in  those you pray for. Pray that Jesus Christ be glorified. Pray that God will direct their hearts into the love of God. Pray that the Word of God have free course. Pray that Preachers and believers have open doors of utterance. Pray that we be delivered from absurd and wicked men. Pray that we be kept from evil. > Romans 15:30-33

WHO JESUS IS

                               QUESTION #1
Matthew 16:13-17 >
"Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?"

Son of Man > Jesus is the Son Man. Interestingly, Jesus is the only one who called himself the "Son of Man". 81 times in the 4 Gospels Jesus is the "Son of Man". And only once does another person make a reference to Jesus calling himself  the "Son of Man". It is a title that Jesus claimed for Himself because of its amazingly rich prophetic meaning.

From Genesis 3:15 we receive the idea of Jesus becoming the Son of Man when God promises that the "Seed of the Woman" will crush the head of the serpent, Satan. "Having received this promise, the human race awaited the seed of the woman, the Son of the woman; that is, the "Son of Man". It is therefore understood that the term was meant to indicate that the future Savior, the One who would crush the head of the serpent, would be the son of the woman who conceived without a male; that is, the son of one human being. This is saying that a "Man", or more to the point, "The Man" will come sometime in the future born of a Woman without the seed of a man, born of a virgin.This promise, prophecy, of a Man, or rather, "The Son Of Man" coming as a Savior and a Redeemer, became known as the "Expectation of the Nations". The Son of Man would be the Messiah of the whole world. Jesus, took this title, "Son of Man" and made it His primary identity. He was the "Expectation of the Nations". He was the One that God was speaking of that would be born of "The Virgin". Daniel the Prophet speaks of the Son of Man coming with clouds of heaven to the Ancient of days(Father God) and being given an eternal kingdom(7:13,14). And Daniel reveals that the fourth "man" in the fire with the "three Hebrew Boys" had the form like the "Son of God"(3:25). St John in the book of Revelation reveals that the "Alpha and the Omega", Jesus, is the "Son of Man"(Rev. 1:12-18).Each time Jesus called Himself the "Son of man" he was saying "I am the man you've been looking for". Psalm 80:17 says, "Let Thy right hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the Son of Man...".

Christ > Jesus is the Christ. Christ is from the Greek and means the Anointed One. Messiah is from the Hebrew and means the same thing, "The Anointed One". Christ and Messiah both refer to Jesus and to the fact that He is the promised "Anointed One" that the Old Testament Law and Prophets foretold would come into the world, born of "The Virgin".

Son of God > Peter then reveals in his confession of faith that Jesus is not only the Christ, but that He, Jesus, is the "Son of the living God". Jesus is the Son of God. Peter reveals that the promised Messiah was to be divine. In Matthew 3:13-17(Christ's Baptism) and Matthew 17:1-8(Christ's Transfiguration) we see Jesus called by God from heaven, "My beloved Son". Note that in these two events that the "Trinity" is revealed, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was given His Name by God through the angel Gabriel, Matthew 1:21-25. Jesus means Savior. And Matthew also says that this Virgin-born child shall be called Emmanuel which means "God with us".

                                QUESTION #2
Matthew 22:41-46 >
"What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?"

Son of David > The term, "Son of David" was a title for the Messiah (Mark 12:35-37; Matthew 12:22,23). Jesus is called the "Son of David" 14 times in the New Testament. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that Jesus, among many things, would be given "the throne of David...and of His kingdom there shall be no end"(Luke 1:31-33; Psalm 132:11). And since Jesus is the "Son of David" he is also the "King of the Jews"(Matthew 2:2; 27:11).

Lord > Jesus asks the Pharisees, "What do you think of Christ, whose son is he?" They answer, The son of David. Jesus then asks them, How can David call the son of David(the Messiah) Lord? And Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool." Jesus then asks, If David calls him(the Son of David) Lord, how is He his son?" Jesus is telling them that the "Son of David"(the Messiah) is the Lord(God). Jesus is not only David's descendant, but He is also his pre-existing Lord. Jesus is also revealing that within God there is a plurality of persons; "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit at my right hand..." Take note, God is One, but God is not a monad, a single unit. In Genesis we read, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth(Genesis 1:1). Then in verse 26 we read, "And God said "Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness." So we see that God(Elohim) speaks of himself in the plural. Also in Deuteronomy 6:4 we read, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord..." The oneness spoken of here is speaking of a compound unity(Achad-Hebrew). The Lord is not "one" in number(what would be the point in that assertion), but the Lord is "one" in unity. God is One Essence existing in three persons; Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The fact that Messiah should be both "God" and yet "sent by God" (as the Old Testament testifies) is a mystery unraveled in the revelation of the "Trinity". God is "One" existing in three persons.

I AM > Jesus identifies Himself as the "I AM". "I AM" is the name of God given to Moses by God Himself when Moses asked him, "Who should I say sent me?" (Exodus 3:14). To the Jews Jesus revealed that He knew Abraham and then said to them, "Before Abraham was, I AM"(John 8:58). Jesus made many "I AM" statements. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life"; "I AM the Good Shepherd"; "I AM the Light of the world"; "I AM the Door"; "I AM the True Vine"; "I AM the Resurrection and the Life"; "I AM the Alpha and the Omega".

THE MINISTRY OF JESUS AS THE RISEN AND GLORIFIED CHRIST SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER

***Who Christ Is Now, Today, This Moment, To The Believer***

Jesus Our Mediator > 1 Timothy 2:5 > The Umpire/Daysman (King James) Job 9:33 > Job Laments His Condition > Jesus Is The Way > John 14:6 > Believers Became Known As "The Way" Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:2,3; Acts 24:14,22 >

Jesus Is Our Shepherd > Hebrews 13:20,21 > Jesus Is Our Good Shepherd Who Is The Door > He Lies Down Across The Doorway Of The Sheepfold To Protect Us > John 10:7-18 > Jesus Seeks Out The Lost Sinner , He Is Our Savior > Luke 19:9,10 > Jesus Is Our Healer, He Seeks Out The Sick > Jesus Is Our Great Physician, Soul And Body.

Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd > 1 Peter 5:1-4 > Jesus Leads Us, Feeds Us, And Protects Us > Psalm 23 >

Jesus Is Our Bishop > 1 Peter 2:21-25 > Bishop Is Our Overseer > Jesus Cares For Our Souls And Bodies > As Bishop He Is Our Ruling Teacher > Our Archbishop Who Teaches Us Truth > He Is Not Like The False Shepherds - Ezekiel 34:1-6 >

Jesus Is Our High Priest > Hebrews 2:14-3:1 > Jesus Is Our Apostle - The Sent One - The Holy One Sent For Us > Jesus Will Complete, Perfect, That Good Work He Has Begun In Us > Philippians 1:6 - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 > In Jesus The Offices Of Prophet And Priest - Of Moses And Aaron - Are Combined > Jesus Offered Himself Once And For All > Hebrews 9:12-14,26,28 > Jesus Is Our Great High Priest Who Was Tempted As We Are > Hebrews 4:14-16 He Feels What We Feel > He Provides Mercy And Grace In Time Of Need

Jesus Is Our Advocate > 1 John 1:9-2:2 > Jesus Pleads Our Case Every Time We Sin And Break Fellowship With The Father > When We Repent - Confess Our Sins - Jesus Is The Reason Our Sins Are Forgiven And Our Unrighteousness Is Cleansed And Healed.

Jesus Is Our Intercessor > Hebrews 7:22-25 > Romans 8:31-39 (note v. 34) > Jesus Is Our Surety - The Guarantee Of The New Testament > Nothing Can Seperate Us From The Love Of God Which Is In Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Jesus Is Our Minister - Our Liturgist - Who Leads Us Into The Heavenly Things Of The New Covenant (Testament) > Hebrews 8:1-6 >Jesus Is The Captain Of Our Salvation Who Led The Way To God Through Sufferings > Hebrews 2:9-18.

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE (PART 1) - THE CROSS

                                                 THE GOSPEL 
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 It is paramount for the Christian to know and understand what is the Gospel. For we have warnings that there will be those who "pervert the gospel of Christ"(Gal 1:7) and that teachers will come along to corrupt our minds with a different kind of gospel(2 Cor. 11:3,4).

                                           THE CRUCIFIXION
Philippians 2:5-8 Our salvation in Christ begins with His incarnation. God manifests Himself to us in soul, body, and divinity, so that, as God, He could deliver us, soul and body, from death. He partakes of our nature and becomes man, in order to deliver us from the power of sin and death, creating the path for us to have His image restored in us, and also, to make the flesh immortal.

Hebrews 2:9,14,15 Jesus took on the human  nature, yet without sin, so that He could deliver us from a slavery of anxiety and distress over the possibility of dying and being deprived of the present life and then being subject to the sufferings of condemnation after death. Salvation is not only a forgiveness of  the sinner; it is not only a reconciliation of God with him. Salvation is the very removal, abolition and disappearance of sin; it is the deliverance of man from sin and death. Salvation was fulfilled upon the Cross, by the blood of the Cross(Col. 1:20; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7). Not only with the Passion(Suffering) on the Cross, but with the death upon the Cross. This is how death was abolished, and defeated comlpetely. Death destroyed by death!!!

2 Corinthians 5:21 The death of Christ makes possible a new creation(2 Cor. 5:17); His death reconciles us, canceling out our sins, making it possible for us to live free of sin's power and to no longer live for ourselves, but instead, be motivated by the love of Christ(2 Cor. 5:14,15). A great transaction is possible! The distorted image in us can be healed and restored. A miraculous transformation is possible! We can become righteous with divine virtues - in Him!!!

Galatians 3:13,14 From the moment of Adam's sin God joined Himself to man's plight, promising that the seed "of the woman" would crush Satan's head. This is the Virgin-born Messiah who was later called Abraham's seed.

John 3:1-14 Nicodemus had questions. Jesus had mystical  answers. How does one see the kingdom of God? Be born from above! How does one enter the kingdom of God? Be born of water and the Spirit! How can these things be? The Son of Man comes down to earth from heaven to be lifted up on a Cross even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.





1 Peter 2:24 Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53 in His life, and in His death on the Cross. In His life he healed the diseases of many, which was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53(Matthew 8:16,17). In His death upon the Cross He bore our sins, and by His stripes we were healed(Isaiah 53:4,5).

WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE CROSS TO THE THRONE (PART 2) - CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES

                  CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HADES
Luke 16:19-31 At death the soul and the body separate > The body sleeps in the grave, the soul is awake in its place  - Here we see the reality of the departed, one in Paradise, the other in torment.  > Christ slept the sleep of death!!! > Christ's promise to the thief on the cross!

Matthew 12:38-40 Jesus Himself foretold of His descent into Hades. Jonah was a type of Christ, foreshadowing the sojourn of Jesus into Hades. Jesus descended as a Conquerer through the Cross, not as a victim!!! (Jonah 1:17-2:10)

Ephesians 4:9,10 St Paul reveals the mystery of what was happening with Christ between "the Cross and the Throne". There was 40 days between the Resurrection of Christ, where he raised up the Old Testament Saints from the graves(Matthew 27:52,53), and the Ascension of Christ where he ascended on high taking the saints with Him. Acts 1:2,3

                   Sts. Peter and Paul Proclaim the Gospel
Acts 2:22-32 St Peter's sermon on Pentecost Sunday reveals that Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic prophecies. Jesus divine body did not, could not, see corruption(Acts 13:37). And Jesus soul could not, was not, left in Hades(Psalm 16:10) The Lord's body would undo the laws of corruption and would prove death powerless.

1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:5,6 Upon His death on the Cross the soul of Christ went immediately to the souls held in prison in Hades, and He preached to them the gospel of salvation.



Easter Hymn > "Lord, you descended into the lower parts of the earth, into the grave, to preach there your salutary gospel. There, as a powerful and omnipotent king, you crushed and broke the bonds of death and Hades that had kept in bondage for ages the souls of those who were dead. But after three days you rose from the grave, just as Jonah had come out of the belly of the whale in three days".

TEN PONDERABLES

                               TEN PONDERABLES

#1 Are The Bones Of Saints Imbued With The Power And Presence Of God? > 2 Kings 13:20,21 > The bones of Elisha when contacted by a dead man caused the dead man to revive and stand upon his feet. > Are the bones of Saints To Be kept by the Church as Relics? Who is a saint? We are all called to be saints. We are all expected to be saints. But some believers acquire the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in this life. While some do not, or at least to varying degrees. > Saint in Greek is "Hagios" meaning "holy" or "holy one". Christ alone is perfect in holiness and we, the believers, are to be being "perfected in holiness" (2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:13).  >  2 Peter 1:4 says we are to become partakers of His divine nature. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we are to be changed into the image of Christ's glory, from glory to glory, by the Holy Spirit. Joseph the Patriarch's bones were carried out of Eygpt by The children of Israel. > Joshua 24:29-32

#2 How was it that from the Apostle Paul's body were taken handkerchiefs and aprons that when laid upon sick people they were healed? Is the power and presence of God a tangible/mystical
 substance that can be stored in physical items and transmit that power and presence to those who come in contact with them? Acts 19:11,12

#3 What was it about Peter's shadow that people were healed? > Acts 5:12-16 > Or was it that if someone was in close proximity to Peter that the power and presence would come in contact with the sick and heal them? Remember when the woman with the issue of blood was healed by Jesus (Mark 5:25-34)? The crowd of people were pressing upon Jesus and He asked the Apostles, "Who touched me?". Of course they couldn't say because the crowd was pressing upon them. But Jesus had been touched with the hand of faith because He percieved that virtue/power had gone out of him when the woman had touched the hem of his garment. > Acts 10:38

#4 Are there two aspects to "speaking in unknown tongues"? Are these two aspects two sides of the same coin? One side being the "public" "gift of divers tongues" which requires the complementary "public" "gift of the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor. 14:23-28). The other side of the coin is private or personal-devotional tongues (1 Cor. 14:1-6) which does not need another person to interpret. But the interpretation of your personal praying in tongues is given to you directly in revelations, in knowledge, in prophecies, in doctrines (1 Cor. 14:5). If you speak in your personal-devotional tongues in public you profit no one, but if you speak either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine (all of which are the interpretation of your praying in tongues privately) then you will edify the church. When you speak by revelation or by knowledge or by prophecy or by doctrine in a known tongue it is music to their ears (1 Cor. 14:7-9).

#5 Did you know that Philip the Evangelist (Acts 21:8) experienced a "quantum leap" the moment he came out of the water after baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)? "The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more...but Philip was found at Azotus". "A quantum leap is a leap from point A to point B, without passing through any of the points between A and B". From the desert of Gaza to Azotus was about 20 miles!!! Philip was transported supernaturally.

#6 When did God run? And does He still run today? When the prodigal son decided to return to his Father in repentance, "while he was still a great distance away, the Father saw him, had compassion on him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him". This is what the Almighty Father God does when you turn towards home in repentance. The Father still runs toward all who walk toward him. > Luke 15:11-32

#7 Every generation is to call Mary "blessed" (Luke 1:48). We are not to worship her, or elevate her to a status of being equal to her Son Jesus. She is not a co-redemptrix as the Roman Church teaches. But neither should we ignore "calling her blessed" as most protestants do. Mary, inspired by the Holy Spirit sings a prayer-song, now known as "the Magnificat". It is Luke 1:46-55. Worship is reserved for the Holy Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Veneration is for the saints, of whom Mary is the foremost (Luke 1:26-38). Mary's purity, unconditional obedience, and wholehearted devotion are to be emulated. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, in a loud voice proclaimed "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me?". Mary is the mother of God (Greek = Theotokos = God-bearer). Our Salvation hinges on the Incarnation, ie, the coming of our God in the flesh. It is through the Virgin Mary that God became man. By ackowledging Mary's place in salvation history we proclaim that Jesus is God come in the flesh. The Angel Gabriel initiated the honor of calling Mary blessed, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed art thou among women". God himself chose to call Mary blessed.

#8 You will be given a new name by God in the age to come that no man knows except you, and God (Revelation 2:17). The inner meaning of your unique personhood will continue to be an eternal secret between God and you. The kingdom will be one, yet in the one kingdom each person finds his/her own special place and his/her own special work. Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you". > John 14:1-6

#9 Imagine this - The moment that Jesus died upon the cross, "crying with a loud voice, the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom; the earth did quake, and the rocks split; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves, and after his resurrection they went into the holy city, and appeared to many". > Matthew 27:45-55 > Then imagine this - after Jesus' resurrection, (Luke records what Jesus did and taught for the 40 days between His Resurrection and His Ascension - Acts 1:1-11), "He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them for forty days, and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" > Then imagine some more - Paul records the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8), Christ dies for our sins according to the scriptures; he then is buried, and then He arose on the third day, according to the scriptures: THEN He was seen of Cephas(Peter), then of the twelve, THEN HE WAS SEEN BY MORE THAN 500 Brethren AT ONCE, and most were still alive when Paul wrote his epistle to the Corinthians in 55 A.D., more than 20 years after the Resurrection of Jesus!!! And He was seen of James, then by all the apostles, and finally to Paul himself. The Beginnings of the Church were not done in secret. The Faith of Christ, what we call the Christian Faith, has its foundation in actual history, in the testimony of more than 500 eyewitnesses to His resurrection!!! Glory to God!!!

#10 An age is a time period in which God has in mind a plan to accomplish His will > God has an infinite number of ages planned out for His creation, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all the ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph 3:21) > In each age God reveals to us more of His eternal mysteries > There will be an endless unfolding revelation of "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:7) - One 10,000 year age will be followed by a 50,000 year age, followed by...Forever and ever, Amen > The Mystery of Christ, The unsearchable riches of Christ, once hidden in God, who created all things by Christ, can now be seen by us, and we can enter into the fellowship of this mystery > And it is by the Church that the manifold wisdom of God is revealed to the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Eph 3:1-11) > The Angels are awestruck by what they see (1 Peter 1:12) > We are called The Family, the Family in heaven and earth (Eph 3:14) > And this Family, which is "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:14) waits patiently for the redemption (Romans 8:16-25) of the purchased possesssion, which is the church, the body of Christ (Eph 1:19-21), which will become one flesh at the Second Coming of Christ for his bride (Eph 5:30-32). We will share in His resurrected and glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Philippians 3:20,21) - "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church".

THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST

God's plan from eternity was that in Christ Jesus he would "make in himself of twain(Jews and Gentiles) one new man...that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, slaying the hostility that was between them"(Eph. 2:13-18) and thus build the household of God(Eph. 2:19-22), the Church, which is His Body, which is the fulness of Him that fills all in all(Eph. 1:23), "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord"(NIV, Eph. 3:10,11). It was God's plan to save us(Eph 2:8,9) so that we would be a part of His eternal plan of grace which He will reveal to us throughout the ages to come(Eph. 2:7); This Mystery, has been revealed to us(Eph. 3:1-6), St Paul preached, "among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. We have redemption, forgiveness of sins(Eph. 1:7); we have an inheritance(Eph. 1:11); we are sealed by the Holy Spirit(Eph. 1:13); we have promise of future bodily redemption(Eph. 1:14); we have been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ(Eph.1:3); "There is one body!!!, and one Spirit!!!...one hope!!!...One Lord!!!, one faith!!!, one baptism!!!, One God and Father of all!!!"(Eph 4:1-6). God gave gifts to the Church "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ(Eph. 4:8-14). God chose a committed and Godly marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His body, the Church(Eph.5:22-33); the Church is the very flesh of Christ, "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones"(Eph. 5:30); "THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY: but I speak concerning CHRIST AND THE CHURCH(Eph.5:32).

NOTE: Had the princes of this world known what the Mystery was they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory(1 Corinthians 2:6-8). "But we see Jesus, made a little lower than the angels by the suffering of death...bringing many sons unto glory"(Hebrews 2:9,10). St Paul was "made a minister, to fulfil the Word of God; even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you the hope of glory"(Colossians 1:25-27). "Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."(Romans 16:25-27)

THE CHURCH - WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE CHURCH >
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 > The body is one yet has many members(verse 12), so it is with the "body of Christ", and we are members in particular(verse 27), and yet, we are also members of one another. We are members in particular, not rugged individualists. We are members of the church, the body of Christ.  We maintain a unique identity known to only the Lord, yet we have a communal identity simultaneously.  "We being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread"(1 Cor. 10:17). Holy Communion expresses our oneness, both with Christ, and with one another(1 Cor. 10:16,17; 1 Cor. 11:17-34)

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER >
Christ's Household is governed by His commands > His ultimate  command is to "love one another as I have loved you"(John 13:34,35) > St Peter says, "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently"(1 Peter 1:22) - there is to be no fakery or pretend love, only sincere love > Hebrews 10:24,25 - "consider one another"  ..."exhorting one another", never forsaking the gathering together for the express purposes of 1)the Apostles Doctrine, 2)fellowship(koinonia-Greek), 3)breaking of "the" bread(Greek), 4)"the" Prayers(Greek)(Acts 2:42) > Help and healing comes through our relationships with one another > Galatians 6:1-5 - "bear one anothers burdens" and so fulfil the law of Christ"(verse 2) - Are you obeying the law? The law of Christ? > Are you restoring your brother or sister who is overtaken in a fault? And if so, are you restoring them without judging them in a spirit of meekness >
Colossians 3:12-14 - "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" - Put on "bowels of mercy" - have a heart of compassion, feel, from deep in your guts, an empathy for the suffering - Put on kindness - Put on Humbleness of mind - Put on meekness - Put on longsuffering - "And above all these virtues, put on charity/love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"(NIV) > Ephesians 4:29-32 - "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you" - Note that the emphasis on "one another" is to communicate our "oneness" with each other, that we
are the "the church, the body of Christ" - always minister grace, always speak words that edify your brother and sister, lay aside all the dark feelings of anger, and bitterness, and evil speaking, and malice > Philippians 2:1-8 - We are to imitate Christ's humility - we are to share the encouragement that we experience in Christ with others - the comfort of his love we experience, and the sweet fellowship of the Spirit that we experience, and the tenderness and compassion we experience in the Lord - these are the things we can share with others + "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain deceit" - "Always consider others better than yourselves", "Always be looking out for the interests of others as well as your own" >

NOTE: Philippians 2:5-11 is a hymn that was sung in the early church - St Paul here is quoting from the hymns of the church - Ephesians 5:14 is an early baptismal hymn - 1 Timothy 3:16 is an ancient Christian creed or hymn, as is 2 Timothy 2:11-13;             1 Timothy 6:15,16; Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 1:15-20 >

Romans 14:1,10-13 - "Let us not judge one another".

Romans 15:1-7 - "be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus" - "receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God" - "bear the infirmities of the weak" - "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification" > Luke 22:31,32 - Note how Jesus prayed for St Peter and then what St Peter wrote years later - 1 Peter 5:8-10.

James 2:1,14-18 - Meet one anothers needs > John 3:16-18 - Lay down your lives for one another starting with the basic necessities

James 5:13-20 - "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed..." (verse 16) - Convert the erring brother - "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep, Be of the same mind one toward another" (Romans 12:15,16).

THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS BY KING HEROD

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not”. (Mt. 2:16-18)

There are Bible critics who make the claim that Herod could not have massacred the baby boys of Bethlehem because the Jewish Historian Josephus failed to make reference to King Herod committing this particular evil. But Josephus is not the only first century historian, or source of what happened in first century Judah. Matthew, the author of the gospel by his name, gives us a historical account of the slaughter of the innocents by King Herod. The Holy Spirit inspired Evangelist Matthew is much more trustworthy than a Jewish historian writing 100 years after the said event. There was, by the way, a Roman historian, Macrobius (c.a. 400 A.D.), that writes about Herod’s slaughter of the Innocents.

THE SCOPE OF THE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENTS

Some historians, even Christian historians, say that only a few children were slain by King Herod because Bethlehem probably only had a population of about 1000 people, and therefore would have only had 10 to 30 two year old and under children that could have been slain. But the scope of the slaughter appears from the text of Matthew that it was not just the children in the little town of Bethlehem that were in danger of King Herod’s edict. The text states that the slaughter was not limited to the “little town of Bethlehem”, because it bluntly reads that Herod “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, AND in all the coasts thereof” (KJV, 1599 Geneva, Wycliffe). In other translations we read, “and the borders” (Young’s, Douay-Rheims, ASV, Aramaic Bible in Plain English, Jubilee 2000, Darby, Webster’s); “and in the environs” (NASB, NAS 1977, ); “and in the region” (RSV, ISV ); “and in the vicinity” (NIV); “and in all the districts” (NKJV, Phillips). We can see from these translations that the massacre was not limited to the town of Bethlehem, but included a far greater territory, as far as the coasts and/or borders of Judah.

“There appears to be a hint in verse 18 as to what is being spoken of when we read, “AND in all the coasts thereof”, or “AND in all the borders thereof”. Ramah, the city of Jeremiah’s prophecy is located 5 miles north of Jerusalem (10 Miles north of Bethlehem). Ramah is the city where Rachel lamented from. She was buried in Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19). Ramah is a border town situated on the northern border of the kingdom of Judah, and the southern border of the kingdom of Israel. Judah’s borders ran from the east along the shores of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea to the west at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, some 30 miles; in the south in the desert, and borders in the north, Samaria, some 55 miles. We also have a hint from the prophecy of Micah as to the scope of Herod’s slaughter; “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah…” (Micah 5:2). Let us take note that the prophecy that Herod was made aware of by the chief priests (Mt. 2:4-8) references Judah as the greater territory in which the Messiah-King would be born. Micah, of course, names the very birthplace of the Messiah, the little town of Bethlehem, and its 1000’s of villages (hyperbolic or not). So it appears from the textual evidence that the slaughter was not limited to “the little town of Bethlehem”, but spread all the way north to Ramah on the border with the kingdom of Israel and quite possibly to the remaining borders; west, south, and east.

An interesting note is that Ramah was the city where Jewish captives were gathered for deportation to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1). Rachel, the wife of Jacob-Israel, was the mother of Benjamin, whose tribe became part of the southern kingdom, Judah. The city of Ramah was given to Benjamin by lots. So Rachel’s descendants, her beloved children, after much suffering as captives, are now suffering the slaughtering of Herod’s soldiers. Rachel weeps for her children.

So, exactly how many children were slaughtered? According to the Tradition of the Ancient Church, 14,000 children were slain. They are commemorated every year on December 29. For me, this number is far more likely than the 6 or 10 children as the modern scholars seem to prefer.

MARRIAGE AND VIRGINITY

As Taught By the Gnostic Sects of the First Four Centuries

Of The Church and the Answer of the Holy Scriptures
 

    Among the Gnostic heretics and sects of the first four centuries, after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, was a wide range of false teachings about ‘Marriage and Virginity’. These teachings were completely non-Christian, and contrary to the revealed truth of God about these topics as recorded in Holy Scripture. The one extreme, ‘excessive asceticism’, was championed by Tatian, Marcion, and Saturnius. These heretics actually called marriage ‘fornication’. No Marcionite was permitted to marry because to marry and procreate was to participate in the evil work of the demiurge (the heavenly beings responsible for the created world). The other extreme was to be ‘openly licentious’. Two sects that taught this view of ‘Marriage and Virginity’ were the Carpocratians and Borborites. Their views were rooted in popular Gnostic cosmology which taught that the created world was born out of the spiritual copulation between heavenly beings. Between the two extremes of ‘excessive Asceticism’ and ‘open licentiousness’ were the Gnostic heretics, Basilides, Valentius, and Isidore (Basilide’s son). These men taught that marriage was not sinful, but should be avoided by the fully mature believer. Monogamous marriage was acceptable, but the asceticism of the virginal life was belittled. Then, overlapping all these heretical sects were the Manichaean’s , a wildly successful sect that became a world religion. The founder, Mani, of Babylonia, was portrayed by the Manichaean missionaries as the ‘Apostle of Jesus Christ’ to the Roman Empire; to India and Central Asia he was touted as the Buddha; and to China he was presented as the reincarnation of Lao Tzu. Concerning Marriage and Virginity, Mani taught that there were two types of Manichaean disciples: the elect, and the hearers. ‘The elect’ were forbidden to marry and to participate in sexual intercourse, because both the body and procreation were evil. ‘The hearers’ were permitted to marry, or have mistresses, and could have intercourse as long as they avoided procreation.

  

  As you can see, the religious world swirling around the Church was speaking to mankind’s basic instincts, and redefining marriage from the age-old norm of marriage that Jesus validated when he said, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:4-6). Then Jesus spoke to the disciples about the one alternative to married life when they asked him if "it is not good to marry". Jesus said, "All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs ,which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.He that is able to receive it, let him receive it" (Matthew 19:10-12). Here Jesus gives us three classes of men who abstain from marriage: First, those men who were born without the inclination, or ability to be married; second, those men who were made eunuchs against their will, and therefore are incapable of having a marriage relationship; and thirdly, those men who choose to live celibate by the grace of God. St. Paul carries forward Jesus’s teaching on this “twofold grace” of ‘marriage and virginity’. The entire 7^th chapter of First Corinthians is dedicated to the two callings of ‘marriage and virginity’. The answer to all the false teachings of heretical sects, then and now, as well as detailed instruction concerning how Christians are to live either a married life in Christ, or the life of a virgin fully devoted to Christ are found here in the Scriptures. So read carefully Paul’s instruction that he was inspired to write in response to the Corinthian’s questions. In verse one Paul advocates for living a virginal life, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman”. But for those who cannot resist sexual impulses he says in verse two, “Let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband”. The remaining thirty eight verses expound on these two particular callings that a Christian must discern between or choose between. Once committed to marriage or virginity, “Let every man abide in the calling wherein he was called (verse 20).
    Finally, let us realize that the heresies that early Christians battled concerning 'marriage and virginity' are the same heresies that Christians must battle in the 21st century. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry..." (1 Timothy 4:1-3). We live in a time when marriage is defined according to doctrines of devils, and where living a virginal life is mocked as unnatural. Let us choose God's truth on the matter. Amen.