Showing posts with label Saul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saul. Show all posts

Saturday, March 19, 2022

As Far as You can Go

 


I desire to know the places where I went as far as I could in the Lord and when He directed my path in another direction. We can see it with Philip and with the apostle Paul.

In Acts 8:5 Philip went to Samaria as evangelist. He preached: Acts 8:6, and in Acts 8:26 Philip heard the angel of the Lord:”go south to desert and he would meet a man. And he did: a eunuch under Candace queen of the Ethiopians. Acts 8:39 that after Philip ministered to the eunuch, Philip was translated away. He would be found in Acts 8:40 reaching Azotus then coming to Caesarea.

 

He was one of those who were "scattered abroad" by the persecution that arose on the death of Stephen. Going first to Samaria, he labored as an evangelist. He had much success found recorded in Acts 8:5-13. While he was living and working in the area, he received a divine command to proceed toward the south, along the road leading from Jerusalem to Gaza. These towns were connected by two roads. The one Philip was directed to take was that which led through Hebron. Traveling through a district little inhabited, only known by the locals, and hence called "desert." Holy Spirit told Philip :”Go near and overtake this chariot”. Acts 8:29

So traveling in this “desert” area, Philip was met by a chariot in which sat a man of Ethiopia, the eunuch or chief officer of Queen Candace. He was at that moment reading a portion of the prophecies found in the Septuagint.  It is Philip who entered into conversation with him, and expounded these verses, preaching to him the glad tidings of the Savior. (Acts 8:30 “Do you understand what you are reading?”)

The eunuch heard the message of the Gospel, believed and was baptized in a short amount of time. The eunuch went his way when Philip was carried away by the Holy Spirit when the eunuch had been baptized in water!

 He was next found at Azotus, whence he went forth in his evangelistic work till he came to Caesarea. Not mentioned again for about twenty years, Philip was still found at Caesarea (Acts 21:8) when Paul and his companions were on the way to Jerusalem. Disappearing  from the page of history, the last know was of him residing in Caesarea..

 

Saul became Paul when he followed Jesus. Thrown from a horse in Acts 9, Saul hears Jesus speak to him. He calls Him Lord! Traveling by foot into the city of Damascus, a hard blow to one who had been breathing hardship and violence to those who believed in Jesus, the Way, Saul was led as the blind man all the way! Paul stayed in that condition until a godly man came to lay hands on him. The scales came off and Saul could see and knew where he would go. He would be led by the Holy Spirit. 

Paul’s message included the fact that conversion for any person is that from darkness to light revealing that from the power of Satan to God, always involves forgiveness from sins, and leads to sanctification found in Acts 26:18. The plan of God was that people must “repent and turn to God” and to prove their repentance by their deeds seen in Acts 26:20. It is also the message that is in line with the prophets and of Moses in Acts 26:22. The unrelenting point: the crux or the objective truth that Christ suffered and rose from the dead spoken of in Acts 26:23!

Paul desired to reach the Jews, but God sent him to the Gentiles and he finally reached that obedience in Acts 11. But what certainly proved to be a God thing is when Paul had heard this call from Macedonia. Found in Acts 16:6-10 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come  over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately, we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.

The Holy Spirit was leading them westward not eastward.  The Gospel would be preached and spread all over Europe entering Italy and Spain, ever westward to the North American and South American continents. Meeting destiny, Paul would lead and others would continue to move to other lands giving the word of God, so that any one woman, man or child of any other continent reaching the Americas would hear the word of God. No matter if they came as the free or those who worked as in slavery to pay their way to the new world, every man, woman or child, any color or ethnicity would encounter God and the word of life. Whether they received it or not, is another story. But those who received it, embraced and lived it reached others for the kingdom of God, whose King is Jesus and whose life is peace and joy. Yes, many came to the new world: they came by the Mayflower, they came by Christopher Columbus and many by slave traffickers. But they would encounter truth when the godly would speak God's truth to them. The man or young woman, who traveled with no money but was giving pay being a slave to a boat owner or other, they came and they came expecting to find the Gospel.

Holy Spirit leads us! Or we find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time with doing the wrong thing. But God, rich in mercy, longsuffering provides His plan to us if we are willing and obedient to it. Thankful today for those who left their own life to reach others for the kingdom of God. I am so thankful to My Father who loved me and you so much He gave us the best gift ever. He gave us life and He found us ever moving forward in the life that invades us with His good and leads all on to our victory. In Jesus, we are the found. Amen!




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Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Armor, Shields, Slingshot and Backbone

 1 Samuel 17:1-11 NKJV Now the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together and they encamped in the Valley of Elah and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his speak was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighted six hundred shekels and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, they you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

 

In this we see conflict! In the age of kings and his men, we see Saul and his army scared to face Goliath. The mighty do not seem so mighty against Goliath the giant. They are gathered listening to the critical complaints of a bully! Speaking among themselves and watching the giant parade before them in all his arrogant pride!

Even today, we have such bashing's against those men of war, a bashing and complaints to those men and women who police the community for safety and then continue to see an all out brutality with knives to those who respond to help either by first-aid or that ride to the hospital in an emergency. But the culture has dictated to belittle the man, the leader, the source who should lead. Alas, man is being bashed and pushed aside like Adam in the Garden of Eden. The voice of them should be heard today where chaos is running a muck. And some are choosing to speak up while others pack up and leave. But man should be on the “alert”. Man should take his place and lead others by his influence held by the Holy Spirit of God.

We see David being sent to his brothers on the front-line!

 1 Samuel 17:19-54…………… 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.  20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.

          *  David rose early to do the father’s bidding

          *  David left his sheep in the hands of the keeper

          *  David took the food and went as Jesse commanded him

          * David had order in his life; disciplined to obey the commands

 

22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, & give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”

 David was rehearsing what the men of Israel spoke in regard to the three things done for the man who slew Goliath! He, David would see wealth, he would be given the king’s daughter and his father’s house would have exemption from taxes!

 

1 Samuel 17: 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against ( his anger was one of arrogance when he spoke of David’s pride and insolence.)David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 

 David was anointed. We read it in 1 Samuel 16:13….how Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers and the Holy Spirit came on him in power) 29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

 

1 Samuel 17:31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."   This battle was not David’s battle!

34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

 

Conflict: how people hate the word conflict ….that confrontation; the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear… is viewed in the natural as a conflict of interest. It is a place of violence spoken of you and about you. It involves you and will be the up close and personal, a rolling in the dust. It will attack your character and your voice in what you give regard to as to God, YOUR Lord and to His Word!

        WILL have an outcome of something or someone coming against your person, will be about shutting you down and if you are ruled by emotions, then a most probable defeat. Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. When our faith is little, it is not trusting in God. We have no confidence that He will do what He has spoken in His word. Destructive power can appear on land as well as the sea. And it can be loud and boast great things, but anything that kills, steals or destroys is not of God, but of the enemy. And we as believers are to stand against that which has come to kill, steal from us and destroy our lives.

        OUR faith is that which resides in God  WHO is our righteousness, & we  know without doubt that His truth prevails in our lives, & we stand firm in the faith voicing freely God and His love to others.

         

 Saul said to David, "Go, & the LORD be with you!" 38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, & he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor, & he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. & David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.   

·         Saul decided to cloth David in his own armor, but David had no freedom in that which he was dressed

·         David refused those things and removed them.

·         To do what God has for us is to be dressed in Him: dressed in salvation ( white garment) and to be dressed in the robe of righteousness

1 Samuel 17:40 Then he took his staff in his hand( remember the promises of God); & he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, & put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, & his sling was in his hand. & he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, & the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy & good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 & the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, & I will give your flesh to the birds of the air & and the beasts of the field!"   

·         From verse 41….and the man who bore the shield went before him

·         Can you imagine a giant some 9-11 feet tall requiring an armor bearer, a man who bore a shield who would go before Goliath?

·         I have read it  and re-read it and I am always in awe how a big guy had an armor bearer. What kind of shielding can this short guy do for a 9 plus-footer?

·         All I know is that this armor bearer of Goliath's had a real job before him!

1 Samuel 17:45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, & with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, & I will strike you & take your head from you.  And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, & He will give you into our hands."

 

1 Samuel 17:48 So it was, when the Philistine arose & came and drew near to meet David, that….  David hastened & ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel & Judah arose & shouted, & pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley & to the gates of Ekron. & the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath & Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, & they plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine & brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. NKJV       

·         Now my question: where did the armor bearer go when Goliath went down

·         I thought the armor bearer was to be available always, especially in events, in activity the armor bearer should be on the spot, in the scene, but I find no place where he is mentioned when Goliath goes down and ……then dies by the sword.

 

 In Facing a Philistine!  Philistine is a word meaning  “unclean spirit”. Unclean spirits can manifest in different ways but one main quick attack is through trying to “silent mouths” that is to shut a mouth so that it will not speak for God.  The open door was the encounter with Goliath and it was through Eliab’s anger he testified and confirmed his hate when he told David that David had insolence and pride. In Goliath, we see one wanting to shut their mouths & scare the nation of Israel away!

        We have demonic spirit doing the same thing today through people just like David saw back in his day! You have those of an unclean spirit targeting your testimony of victory and God’s goodness in your life.

        Those who follow truth and operate in it are being harassed by those who love lies and live in them. We cannot watch our weather man any more as a T.V. station who promotes lies now none of their reports even come close to truth including their weather report! We are relying on God for our own weather report these days!

Another  manifested form of an unclean spirit that pertains to and is of a performing nature, is like that of Goliath parading around on the merit of  his size… and his big mouth.  Some 9'-11' feet in height must have helped Goliath accomplish something…Remember in Canaan that the very giants Joshua and Caleb saw were evident indeed? But maybe it was just his big mouth that was the chaos and fire-starter for hate that rallied people that day!

Have you seen people who are there just to perform and not minister anything? No life, and no good word comes out of them, but they speak of me, myself and I …. Just saw a woman make voice to the vaccine mandate. She gave her opinion of it while  holding her 2 year grand-daughter in her lap. This “grandmother” hissed out venom that she was getting the vaccine and then get to all the people to infect them to make them sick. (Remember now that the vaccine gives a spiking protein throughout the body of the person who has taken it. They can shed that protein for six weeks infecting others!)  She wanted freedom and she said she was going to get it by infection. Yikes! She said it was enough and it was time this “thing” was  all over. Well, most certainly it is over. But it is over and done in and through those who trust the Lord and His leading by His grace and His love.

IN Scripture unclean means "to be the defiled, to be the polluted, unwholesome," … readily refers to foods that are unfit, defilement can be of a religious character, and moral or spiritual impurity.  In the New Testament we find a spiritual application: in it is listed as uncleanness or moral defilement with fornication plus other sins as "works of the flesh in reading from Galatians 5:19-21.

                                                                                                  

Are we behaving as we gather together with other believer’s?  Behaving in an environment focused on God and praise to Him that can cause some people to shrink back into that which many seek to find as a place of comfort and the hidden. But our love for others should be seen.  And our voice should give heed to that which is of God for life and not of the enemy for death!

Are we waving at God as we pass by on our journey of this life, or do we really stop, visit, and have some time of serious talk, some laughter and always a few tears with our Father God. Behaving is about allowing the Holy Spirit to have His way in us either in the home, in the prayer closet, in public as to shopping and greeting others and even within a church service. As the righteous we are committed to truth and no lies. We are committed to God’s word and no changing His word. And as a child of God, we follow no one but the Lord. And when He tells us to go, we GO and if we are not take anything deadly into our bodies, even then we are to obey always by His truth and His will in our lives being done. If not, then we are all lost without our Lord and going to hell. I have seen it on earth so far and not fond of where most will find their home. Hold on for this ride is going to be good indeed and some will enjoy God's peace on it and others will only smell smoke and feel the heat of the flames of fire!

 

Romans 13:11-14…..the hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality& debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, & do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  NIV

David spoke in verse 47. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

And in verse 51….David runs over, takes the sword from the sheath of Goliath and uses it against him.

        David’s faith was in God: He went in His Name, the God of the armies of Israel

        David was speaking against that whom defied God

        David affirmed that the LORD would deliver the enemy into his hand

        David also included the entire camp of Philistines for destruction to be food for the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth

        David understood, that the “battle is the Lord’s.”        

Every time he took up his shepherd’s staff, David could read the promise God had for him from it. Marked with every good thing God had done for him like a journal, even his own staff marked good things done by God. David walked with the promise in his heart. David walked forward and his path included a giant.  Deuteronomy 31:6 in the Amplified Bible, “ be strong, courageous and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.”  

The courageous do not have to pretend. They have this undaunted courage. They have no fear, they have no discouragement. They are armed with the Presence of God!

In this hour, all men stand in faith of God, all believers stand in readiness to speak by faith a confidence that God is with them and from the willing heart they are disciplined in prayer and of the spoken Word! God our Father  has given us His Holy Spirit to not fear.  He has given us power, love, and a sound mind to prevail in all situations. Holding fast the pattern of sound words & always cultivating a relationship with His Holy Spirit that propels us into the power of God for signs and wonders.

        John 4:23-24........ 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."    NKJV

The more infusion of His Spirit into our lives, the greater of God’s love flowing through us. The true believer is one who manifests the love of God and moves in that love toward others. It is always residing and abiding in His truth, not moving from that truth, using the weapons He has provided for us in worship to Him that is a love revealed. Is our love showing to reveal God on earth? Are we positioned to take our land of freedom that is of the Lord and not of any enemy? 

Where will you stand when the smoke settles and the dust clears for our battle is not ours but the Lord who is true and prevails, for He is the power and He is the might!

                                                                                                                                      

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Monday, June 14, 2021

Out of Alignment


Many have heard of the Apostle Paul. Many have read of his exploits for the Lord if they have read the book of Acts and the letters to Corinth, Thessalonia,  Philippi, and yes Galatia!

Of the passage found in Acts 9:10-13 Ananias has been told to go to the specific street called Straight and to inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold he is praying.

Of the word given by the Lord through Ananias to Saul, in verse 15 speaks this: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.”

But Saul called Paul in Acts 13:9 did not get into alignment with the Lord till we read of him in Acts 18. Reading in Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. Yes a lot of activity occurred for Paul. A eureka moment happened when Paul would meet up with this couple to form a team for God’s purposes! These three have shown up in Corinth. It was the place where the lowest of the low would live.  This Corinth was totally destroyed by the Romans by their really rebellious behavior. The men who inhabited here were submitted to the lusts of the flesh and violence!

Corinth was home to the most rebellious, those who destroyed whatever they came into contact with including other people’s lives. So leveled by Rome, it is some years later that rebuilding is going on by Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Of course being a wilderness area now, it was Caesar who organized groups of men go in to live there for a “gift”  or even for “a reward” just set up a base port to live from that area for those involved in regard to shipping and the such for port activity. So it was many sailors and military that sought that extra incentive to go to Corinth. Do you know any heading to Corinth right now? Let’s say: that incentive for a lottery, free ice cream or that free beer? And I am not here talking about any military people but only those who submit to fleshly things.

 As with any new establishment, the roughest of the rough men came to call Corinth home. Again, on its trajectory with sinful lusts, this community would have its brothels to accommodate all those men. Their drinking abilities would be mentioned on foreign ports. One such greeting or testifying statement was that if any man showed up drunk, he was not called a “drunk” but a Corinthian! Now, that is gaining the wrong kind of notoriety!

So here you have Paul appearing to meet up with Aquila and his wife Priscilla. A team has been formed. But did not God tell that word to Paul that he was to go before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel….and in that order!

But Paul had tried time and again to go to the Jews first! He encountered the Jew Bar-Jesus in Paphos, a false prophet( Acts 13). In Acts 13: we are told that John Mark has left the team of Barnabas and Saul. In verse 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.

After John Mark deserted the work and returned to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas proceeded about 100 miles inland, passing through Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia. The towns mentioned in this tour are the Pisidian Antioch, where Paul delivered his first address of which we have any record  that is found in Acts13:16-51.  Returning by the same route to see and encourage the converts they had made, they ordained elders in every city to watch over the churches which had been gathered and then they sailed from Perga directly for Antioch, from which they had set out.

 

In Acts 14:1 he and Barnabas went to the synagogue of the Jews and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: Part sided with the Jews, and part with the Apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

 

In Acts 15 there is the division over John Mark. Verse 36: then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where w have preached the word of the Lord and we can see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.

Here we see that Paul and Barnabas are separated, and never again will meet! But we do know that Paul, however, afterwards speaks with honor of Barnabas, and sends for Mark to come to him at Rome found in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11! .

 

Paul took with him Silas, instead of Barnabas, and began his second missionary journey about  51 A.D. This time he went by land, revisiting the churches he had already founded in Asia. But he longed to enter into "regions beyond," and still went forward through Phrygia and Galatia (16:6). Contrary to his intention, he was constrained to linger in Galatia, on account of some bodily affliction we see in Galatians 4:13-14. From those verses: You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Taken from that “thorn in the flesh” we see in 2 Corinthians 12:7. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelation , a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of satan to buffet me; lest I be exalted above measure.

That “thorn in the flesh” is a person!  Yes, there are those who have taught that it was some kind of sickness. But they are wrong! Check the Scriptures for yourself!

 In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 gives the terminology of glorifying in infirmities. This does not been mean sickness. Reading 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

If you will now take a look at 2 Corinthians 11:30, Paul uses the exact terminology of “glorying in infirmities” that is used just a few verses later in speaking about this thorn. In his writing of this letter to the church in Corinth, we find in the eleventh chapter he had just finished listing what those infirmities were. And those Paul listed in verses 23-29: as imprisonment, stripes, shipwrecks, & being stoned; & not one of these even speaks of sickness.

Verse 27 mentions weakness and painfulness, which some have tried to make mean sickness, but it is just as possible he could have been weary and suffered painfulness from such things as being stoned and left for dead as one can see by reading Acts 14:19.

Because Acts 11:26-27 mentions, in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness---

All these things listed in 2 Corinthians 11 refer to persecutions as infirmities. So, in context, Paul’s thorn was a demonic angel or put another way, a messenger sent by Satan which continually stirred up persecution against him. The Thorn is a person!

 

We can see this also from the Old Testament. In reference you will see it in Numbers 33:55: but if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell., Joshua 23:13 …13 know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. and Judges 2:3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you. It is people spoken of as being “ thorns in your sides and thorns in your eyes.

For it is people who have their false ‘gods’ they worship! From this Judges 2 and verse 3: God’s continual driving them out was on the condition that His people obeyed His voice and were the obedient!


So in Paul’s asking, he asked the Lord to remove persecution from him, not sickness, and the Lord told him His grace was sufficient. We are not the redeemed from persecution. Jesus said it He did not come to bring peace on the earth but division. And it is seen daily from His walk here on earth to this very day.
Persecution is evident when you have someone trying to push their agenda on you when there is no place for it. Many a wealthy person has used their wealth as a tool to harass others. And our Father God knows those who are the oppressed today!


Again it was Paul who later stated that when he said in 2 Timothy 3:12, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Most gladly, therefore, he gloried in persecutions, reproaches, necessities, and distresses that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2 Cor. 12:9).


Here this word “glory” is an old English word. It has the meaning of having dominion over or to command others. It is used in Exodus 8:9 where Moses told Pharaoh to glory over him, or command him, when to destroy the frogs. So when Paul spoke of glorying in these infirmities or persecutions, he was speaking of victory even in the midst of that continual harassment. And you remember what Pharaoh said to Moses, right? And you know that Pharaoh asked Moses to take away the frogs, right? Here in Exodus 8: 8 then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.” 9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people. To destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.” 10 So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word,  that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.


Yes, did you catch that: Pharaoh wanted the “frogs” gone tomorrow!


Jesus came to set captives free. He relieves the oppressed: the widow and the orphan. Jesus came to make whole those who were the oppressed of the devil. We have been given power over the enemy: Satan. Healing was the children’s bread, but they refused Jesus. And in turn they saw their great city come to one great ruin!


In Paul’s life before his true obedience to the Father, he was stoned and left for dead in Acts 14:19. But yes, God raised him up and the next day the man walked at least some twenty miles to start preaching again. The persecution did not end.
In teachings we have seen Paul stoned to death and the next morning move to preach some more. But what about those who stoned him? What was their thought of the whole situation? Did they try to explain why he was still living when he had rocks that hit him the size of a watermelon or some such object that they might compare it to! Most certainly, the bruises would still be seen. Those places opened by sharp rocks to the skin would appear to yell for that a need of help and some type or medicine. Yes, the natural was seen by the stoning done, but also that supernatural strength would appear….that of God flowing through him: For when I am weak, then am I strong (verse 10)


Be cautious of what you submit to, to what you bow down to for Scripture tells us to SUBMIT TO GOD… …RESIST the devil and he will flee from you.(James 4:7) We are to resist actively, and resist the enemy while we are being submitted to God. It is His truth that guides us.
If you submit to fast speeds and there are speed bumps in the road, then understand and be no fool, you will do something to your vehicle. Or if you still try to go outside that which is lawful, you could still run sixty m.p.h. around that speed bump and hit a pedestrian which could cause you much money and  much jail time. If you choose to take something to get people off your back, understand that you are submitting to thorns.


Obedience is what is required to following the Lord. He will allow us to go and to do, but it is for His purpose and to His glory we are sent to see His power come in our lives! Our boasting is in Him… where forgiveness to others is a part of our lifestyle and that we overcome by His blood and the word of our testimony!
Persecution is evident when you have someone trying to push their agenda on you when there is no place for it. Many a wealthy person has used their wealth as a tool to harass others.  Persecution comes from those with thorns. And sometimes you might seem to be in a brier patch with some stinging going on, but in the reality you are encountering those who are without God!
 
For God will never send you to badger another. In the genuine people, you will see those who want to worship God, to glorify Him and understand that He is the Sustainer with His wisdom and power to help us walk through His plan for us on earth!


Paul was experiencing the “gutter” when he entered Corinth. He encountered those to whom he was sent. To us who live in America, we would see it as the young man going out west where the new land was going to be settled in the 1800’s – 1900’s. And most of the time, the corrupt men had already put down some roots in the wild, wild west!


Yes, Paul was told to go to the Gentiles and Paul was not comfortable with them. He was only comfortable with his peeps the Jews! But he ended up in a world of hurt. Certainly the word of God went out and people were added but many wounds were had by Paul and those with him. For a man or woman, that alignment is costly when not set right with God!


Out of alignment proves to us much like when you see your vehicle is out of alignment. Many cars and trucks have hit a small rock or several in the roadway that have that average size of a small cantaloupe to a really large watermelon that has wiggled its way from a high, secure place to only to fall the length of the cliffs to the roadway down below at Cape Horn! 

Many a driver, has either had their windshield knocked out suddenly or else they find the debris in the road could not be maneuvered around! When there is debris in the roadway, one can find their tires no longer in balance or else they are shredded and their vehicle’s suspension once aligned is now running at an angle on the roadway which is not good for the tires nor for the suspension to do for a long period of time.

 (Yes, have you been behind a truck or SUV that seems to going past you by passing to move into the right lane in front of you, but their vehicle appears to moving at angle to the roadway? If so, than at some time on their road trip, the driver of the SUV evidently  hit something going sixty miles or faster to cause that alignment to shift!  


Yes, for Paul, of the word given by the Lord through Ananias to Saul, in verse 15 speaks this: “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.”
We are to obey the Lord in the instructions He gives us! What is listed first is the first thing to be done: Gentiles.  And there are no “ifs”, “ands” nor “buts” about it!



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  Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV   10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God t...