Satan Attacks 30 AD I. Attack from within II. Continued Growth III. Attack from without
1-11 The Big Lie. Consider today, how many tell lies and lose their church fellowship. 1 Ananias and Sapphira 2 They kept some of the money. Consider why this was wrong. 3 Satan was the cause of the lie, greed. 4-6 Results of the lie. 7-10 The wife continues the lie. 11 Great fear came upon ALL the Jewish church. 12-16 The church grew. Signs, wonders, healings and teaching the word cause growth. 17-18 High Priest (Jewish) and Sadducees had to do something to stop this. 19-21 God intervenes. Back to preaching in the Temple. 22-25 Discover the Jail cell empty. 26-28 Go get them, again. Listen STOP preaching. 29-32 Obey God not men. 33 We need to slay them. 34-39 Warning from one of their own, If this be of God, you cannot stop it. 40-42 Beat them command them to stop. Let them go. They left, rejoiced and ceased NOT to teach and preach.
ORGANIZATION 6:1-2 The Problem. People being neglected. 6:3-6 The Solution. Deuteronomy 1:13 More workers needed Honest Report, Full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. Chose 7 6:7 The Results. Word of God increased 6:8-14 Stephen stands out. He’s charged by false witnesses Blasphemy against Moses Blasphemy against God Blasphemy against the Law Blasphemy against the Temple Declaring that Jesus would destroy the Temple That Mosaic costumes would be changed 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
STEPHEN 34 AD 7:1-53 Stephen’s reply to the Charges: 2-8 Obedience God and Abraham 9-16 God’s care Joseph to Egypt 17-22 God’s care Birth of Moses 23-29 Rejection Flight of Moses 30-34 Deliverer Call of Moses 35-43 Rejection Israel’s Idolatry 44-50 Change Accepted – Temple built 51-53 Rejection Prophets persecuted
7:54-60 Stephen Killed 54 Jewish leaders really upset 55-56 Stephen replies to their anger 57-60 They kill him by stoning And Saul watched
Part of an article from Scott Morefield at Townhall.com Sept 2021
…Far more prevalent, and even encouraged by the media and powers-that-be, are Christian arguments from the left that focus on vaccines and mask use as something that ‘Jesus would have done.’ Most notably of late, Saddleback Church pastor and author Rick Warren: “The Bible says ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”, Warren said in March in a video that recently gained widespread attention on social media. “The most practical way right now you can love your neighbor as yourself, wear a mask. Okay? And to not wear one basically says, ‘I don’t care about you,’ or ‘I don’t even care about your fears.’”
So, according to Warren and others with that mindset, one must “wear a mask” in order to properly love our neighbor. Nevermind that there is a preponderance of perfectly valid scientific and data-based evidence that masking DOES NOT WORK to stop the spread of Covid-19 or any other highly contagious respiratory virus, you should just wear one anyway so your ‘neighbor’ knows you care about them. Nevermind that universal masking creates a false sense of security that everyone is ‘safe’ from contracting or spreading Covid and that this false sense of security quite likely made a lot of people unnecessarily sick over the past year and a half, the feelz dictates we mask up because our ‘neighbor’ might be a media-induced hypochondriac deceived into thinking that masks work and the risk of Covid is much higher than it actually is.
Obviously, you can see where this is going. It’s what happens when someone with influence over others interprets and applies a Biblical passage or concept unilaterally to a highly charged modern political issue while ignoring all nuance and dismissing other ways of interpretation. Sadly, such tactics have always been part of the toolboxes of religious demagogues hellbent on imposing ‘their way or the highway’ on their followers.
In truth, Jesus commanded us to love the Lord first with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, then to love our neighbors as ourselves. How then are we to love the Lord with our minds if we dismiss data and evidence on a topic that goes against our presuppositions or a prevailing narrative? How are we to ‘love’ our neighbors while at the same time bearing false witness to them? Is our duty to make them “feel better” or to tell them the truth? What would Jesus have done? In an age where masking has become a talisman, even an idol of sorts to people desperate to find something, anything that ‘controls’ something that is ultimately proving to be uncontrollable, would the Son of God have given people comfort by lying to them or by telling them the truth?
No, I don’t believe Jesus Christ would have put on a mask any more than I think he would have pretended a blood sacrifice to a graven image would have brought rain during a time of drought. And when at all possible, you shouldn’t either.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) – Unique (except to Twins) It belongs to just you! Twins come from the same fertilized egg and share the same genetic blueprint. DNA is like a genetic fingerprint: no one on earth has exactly the same DNA. Even the DNA of identical twins is not completely identical Although each organism’s DNA is unique, all DNA is composed of the same nitrogen-based molecules. Genomes contain all the vital genetic solutions discovered by our ancestors in response to all the environmental challenges that they had successfully overcome since creation. To a standard DNA test, twins are indistinguishable. But any forensics expert will tell you that there is at least one surefire way to tell them apart: identical twins do not have matching fingerprints.
Finger Prints – Unique! They belong to just you! Each person’s fingerprints are unique, which is why they have long been used as a way to identify individuals. Surprisingly little is known about the factors that influence a person’s fingerprint patterns. Like many other complex traits, studies suggest that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Your fingerprints also stay the same from the time you’re born until death. Their uniqueness and lasting quality make fingerprints one of the best ways to identify a person. Prints from palms, toes and feet are also unique; however, these are used less often for identification, so identification focuses on prints from the fingers and thumbs.
Another thing that makes a person unique is our Body, Soul and Spirit. Spirit – every human is born with a Body, Soul and Spirit. The Body we can see. The Soul is the life of that Body. The Spirit is DEAD (not in communication with God). It’s only when one is saved, born again, does the Spirit come alive (in communication with God) Ephesians 2:1.
Yes, God created YOU a unique person. The purpose is so you can dwell with Him for all eternity! 1 Corinthians 2:9.
53 AD Second Journey – Paul and Silas (and Luke) Through Syria and Cilicia 1-5 Back to Galatia Meet Timothy and he joins them Traveled through cities delivering the decrees Remember Acts 15:20,28 Churches established and increased in number 6-10 Guided by Holy Spirit where to go Go to Macedonia 11-15 Worshipper saved 16-18 Slave girl freed 19-24 Mistreated and jailed 25-33 Philippian Jailer and family gets saved 35-40 Freed and on their way
1 Certain me from Judaea came saying “ Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved”. 2-3 Paul and Barnabas disagree and are sent to Jerusalem. Passing through Phenice and Samaria sharing the conversion of Gentiles. 4-5 At Jerusalem they declare all the God has done upsetting a sect of Pharisees. 6 A council meeting with apostles and elders (all Jews) to consider the matter 7-11 Peter defends his trip 12 Barnabas and Paul report on their work with Gentiles 13-19 James answers and quotes Amos 9:10-11 20-26 Gives requirements for Gentiles and has letters written for Barnabas and Paul to carry. 27-29 Judas ad Silas also sent. Repeats Gentile requirements. 30-34 On to Antioch 35-36 Barnabas and Paul continue teaching and then determine to visit every city again. 37-39 Contention and a split, Barn and Mark sail to Cyprus 40-41 Paul and Silas depart.
45 AD 1st Journey 1 While in Iconium first to the synagogue of the Jews. Speaks to multitude of Jews and Greeks (Gentiles). 2-5 Stayed there a long time granting signs and wonders. Jews rulers tried to use them despitefully and stone them. 6-7 They flee to Lystra and Derbe, continuing to preach the gospel 8-10 Healing of a lame man 11-18 The people tried to make Paul and Barnabus gods. 19 Paul stoned to death (2 Corinthians 12:1-6) and dragged from city. 20-21 Returns to city 22-23 Sets up elders in all the churches and leaves 24-28 Passes through Pisidia on to Pamphylia, preaching in Perga and on to Attalia. Sailed tom Antioch. Sharing all God had done through them, opening the door to the Gentiles, they abode there a long time.
Perpetration to Serve 29 AD 1-3 Facts of the Gospel – Ministry of the Lord Jesus: He did things He taught things He commanded them He proved who he was 4-8 Power was to be given to them to spread the Gospel Commanded to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Ghost Still looking for the kingdom Commission to take the Gospel to all Jews, everywhere 9-11 Ascension – Promise to return As He ascends Two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6,19:15) 12-14 Back to Jerusalem Waiting for the promise Prayer and supplication 15-26 Need to replace Judas Need 12 Apostles to aide the Lord in the kingdom (5 steps of decision making) Prayer – they were praying Scripture – What does the Bible say Reason – in this case had to replace Judas Specific Prayer – know what prayer is for Action – do what needs to be done 20 Fulfilling Scripture Psalm 69:25,109:8 26 Matthias replaces Judas becoming the 12th Apostle
1-4 Pentecost – 50 days after Passover. Leviticus 23:16 The power of the Holy Ghost arrives to each Ability to Speak in other tongues 5-13 Jews from other countries could understand them Zechariah 2:11 All the countries (languages) are listed They heard the wonderful works of God Some were amazed and believed, others mocked 14-36 Peter preaches to the multitude of Jews 14-15 Harken to my words 16-21 Quotes from JOEL 2:28-32 22-36 Ministry of the Lord Approved of God Performed miracles, wonders, signs Crucified, Buried, Raised from the Dead 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Peter quotes David (Psalms 16, 110:1) Told the JEWS – YOU Crucified HIM 37-47 How they should respond Repent – Baptize – Receive Holy Ghost Many of the Jews gladly received his words (about 3000) Signs and wonders were done by the apostles Jewish Assemble that believed in Jesus was formed And continued Temple worship Sharing meals from house to house
