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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2019 17:17:17 GMT -6
Study Begins: June 02, 2019
Discussion Begins: June 09, 2019
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John R
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Post by John R on Jun 2, 2019 17:52:26 GMT -6
I have admitted in the forum that I find it difficult to attend church these days. I see many in churches content with sitting in pews and hearing a message and good worship music but I see very little power within the walls of the institutions. As a group we do very little to push back against abortion, homosexuality, gender (fill in the blank), divorce and the destruction of the family. I have only heard one message from a traditional church pulpit speaking out against the sin of homosexuality. Like a voice crying in the wilderness, the silence is most often deafening.
What has this to do with the study? Simple, if Paul were a pastor and was sentenced to prison for preaching the gospel today, would the church pray in earnest for his release? Highly doubtful. Likely he would be declared guilty, after all the government must have found him guilty and Romans 13 tells us we must submit to the government. We certainly as a body have fallen a long while from the early days for the United States when the Black Robed Regiment stood against the government of England courageously as we fought for our independence from the British crown.
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John R
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Post by John R on Jun 2, 2019 18:06:57 GMT -6
Now, that is answered prayer! Would the modern church pray more in earnest if we say such results? Or is what James said about prayer in play here, "You ask, and receive not, because you pray wrongly (evilly), your object being to waste what you get on some pleasure or another." (James 4:3). Have we become so self-centered that we have lost our ability to pray earnestly for another purely because he is a brother in Christ in need. There is power in prayer as described here, but without love of our brothers and sisters in Christ before ourselves, we will not see this kind of miracle unless God steps in.
Father forgive us please for our shortsighted-self-centeredness. Help us to have the kind of faith Peter and these early believers had. In Jesus name I pray.
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John R
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Post by John R on Jun 3, 2019 4:12:53 GMT -6
The soldiers obviously were shaken knowing they would be punished for Paul's escape......and they were! Herod, in his insecurities, threw a fit which the people tried to get under control by appealing to the king's representative. Another lesson which the Church should have the courage to do today to reign in our out of control government "leadership."
WOW!!!! "And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" And immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down. This reminds me of 2 KIngs and the stories of Elijah and fire coming down from God to show Israel who God was. I wonder what would happen if the Church realized that it had such power to call out to God and stop listening to man.
Come Lord Jesus, show yourself to your remnant and those who have lost their way.
Blessings!
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JB
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Post by JB on Jun 5, 2019 10:13:02 GMT -6
I'm breaking the rules. The following is not my study on Acts 2. I'll post that in the next day or two. But I'm offering an article I came across today on a topic that is very much related to the whole book of Acts as well as Acts 12 individually.
I'm not from a Charismatic church, but there is one Charismatic writer whom I read regularly. I like is writing style, his way of thinking, his mental balance, and I believe his heart to be right. His name is J. Lee Grady. Following is a large excerpt from his recent article and a link to the whole thing:
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elacey
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Post by elacey on Jun 9, 2019 9:12:23 GMT -6
The idea that miracles are common in the charismatic church is bologna.
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elacey
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Post by elacey on Jun 9, 2019 9:16:15 GMT -6
The most noteworthy piece in Acts 12 is that an Angel appeared to save Peter.
Why God chose to let James be killed but sent an angel to save Peter is unknown.
Angels are powerful servants of God created to send messages and sometimes perform miraculous deeds... usually protection of an important figure.
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elacey
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Post by elacey on Jun 9, 2019 9:19:28 GMT -6
The screaming that occurs in supposed deliverance of a demon that commonly occurs in the charismatic church is fake.
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Eric B
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Post by Eric B on Jun 9, 2019 16:38:45 GMT -6
John you stated, "As a group we do very little to push back against abortion, homosexuality, gender (fill in the blank), divorce and the destruction of the family. I have only heard one message from a traditional church pulpit speaking out against the sin of homosexuality. Like a voice crying in the wilderness, the silence is most often deafening."
I think you bring up a very good point. This seems to be rarely preached on. I asked a few pastors around here why they don't preach on these things. Their answers were similar, "We don't want to offend any." or "We don't want bad publicity or a lawsuit." Generally the answers reveal their fear of man. Fear that is not dealt with, will make us compromisers.
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Eric B
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Post by Eric B on Jun 9, 2019 17:39:21 GMT -6
Eric L., you brought up a good observation. "Why God chose to let James be killed but sent an angel to save Peter is unknown."
Although I neglected to prepare a study, I did find some of these verses interesting. Verses 2-3 & 11 "He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread." "When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
Verse 19, "And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there."
In Verses 2-3 & 11, one dies and one is delivered. In Verse 19, all were put to death.
I believe that every passage in the Word of God is for our instruction. I also believe we can draw a conclusion here. Those who are in the Lord's will, are there for His purposes. Romans 14:7-8 states, "For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." I think the key here is that although James died and Peter was delivered, they both belonged to the Lord.
Contrast this to the guards who were executed. They, presumably, did not know the Lord. One verse comes to mind, "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." Isaiah 57:21. They have no assurance of welfare from God.
So, why did God let James die, but save Peter? I can only say, that it was according to God's perfect purpose. And sometimes in our journey in life, we won't get all or any of the answers, but we can have faith in God's perfect plan, that He knows what He is doing. Because we belong to the Lord.
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Eric B
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Post by Eric B on Jun 9, 2019 17:56:14 GMT -6
Jb posted, "Christianity has a high cost. In most countries of the world there are negative consequences for anyone who follows Jesus."
This is a truer statement than we probably realize. About 28 years ago, I participated in a ministry at a local education institution that was primarily attended by immigrants. To hear the stories of what those Christians endured to worship Christ was convicting to me. I complain about my car breaking down and some of these walked miles in the dark, past wild animals, to go to a village where they can worship Christ.
We have a comfortable Christianity in the United States. We ought not to abuse this by conforming to a complacent life. Rather we ought to redeem the time that is given to us. Ephesians 5:15-17 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
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Post by Admin on Jun 9, 2019 20:35:31 GMT -6
The screaming that occurs in supposed deliverance of a demon that commonly occurs in the charismatic church is fake. Eric, my focus in quoting that article wasn't extolling charismatic churches. The issues the author bought up in the article are important. |
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elacey
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Post by elacey on Jun 9, 2019 21:20:49 GMT -6
JB... I understand. Good points were made in the article... certainly.
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Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2019 6:28:26 GMT -6
if Paul were a pastor and was sentenced to prison for preaching the gospel today, would the church pray in earnest for his release? Highly doubtful. Likely he would be declared guilty, after all the government must have found him guilty and Romans 13 tells us we must submit to the government. We certainly as a body have fallen a long while from the early days for the United States when the Black Robed Regiment stood against the government of England courageously as we fought for our independence from the British crown. As a very young adult, I lived in a mobile home in a wooded area. One day I noticed a spider on my ceiling. But it looked odd – big and round. That was a little creepy, so I got a fly swatter and smashed it. You probably know what happened. Turns out it was a pregnant spider, about to give birth. When I smashed it, a gazillion baby spiders spread out all around my living room.
That is the pattern throughout Acts. Satan attacks the church, the church scatters, the church expands. Satan has launched deadly attacks upon the church throughout the centuries. But with each attack, the church grows larger and stronger. Modern American Christians should ask forgiveness for elevating comfort over faithfulness. Some day the great tribulation will come and I'm afraid the church as it is could not hold up well through it. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2019 6:43:25 GMT -6
Jb posted, "Christianity has a high cost. In most countries of the world there are negative consequences for anyone who follows Jesus."
This is a truer statement than we probably realize. About 28 years ago, I participated in a ministry at a local education institution that was primarily attended by immigrants. To hear the stories of what those Christians endured to worship Christ was convicting to me. I complain about my car breaking down and some of these walked miles in the dark, past wild animals, to go to a village where they can worship Christ.
We have a comfortable Christianity in the United States. We ought not to abuse this by conforming to a complacent life. Rather we ought to redeem the time that is given to us. Ephesians 5:15-17 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Although I naturally seek comfort and stability as the rest of my species does, I pray a little less strongly that God would take that my comfort and stability away they are counter to of His purpose |
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