When we think of Father God pouring out a blessing -
Do you think of Niagara Falls as in the Old Testament -
God's Love Flows and Flows.
We know, certainly, we want to avoid Limbo!!!
How far can we take all of this back - Seeing The New Testament and Old Testament as new?
God's Living Word!
Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and
every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
When would God speak tenderly to His People?
When would Father God comfort His people?
In the Vast Love our God of Hope, God of Love, God of Encouragement - we find out. Days would come. We read the news.
When everything is in question. So many changes. To destabilize the world - nothing is comfortable. When we are all uncomfortable - then we are easily scattered. Fake News? Less likely to work for our families and pull for all their future. Hezekiah became so concerned with how huge Assyria and the future was - he just gave up and shrugged when it came time for his children's futures. And Hezekiah was Quite a Saint. Hezekiah was raised to give up Judea to the Assyrians - to become a puppet king to the powers that be. Instead, Hezekiah fought bravely. But we can't give up on our children as easily as Hezekiah did.
We will Give the Comfort of God.
We will Seek the Comfort of God - for our Families and the people He has given us.
We Will. In Jesus Christ.
Days would come.
God spoke so tenderly to His Beloved People - after Jesus died. Brings tears to my eyes. Jesus said not to weep for Him, weep for us.
Father God knew the vast changes coming. In 16 years religious persecution was really upping the ante. At 70 A.D. For 325 years. Father God knew the sheep would come forward looking for our Jesus. They were like sheep going astray, but now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Can you fathom it - His Son was Killed. God our Father would comfort us.
To Father God, a day is like thousands of years.
Comfort, Comfort My People
This is what the probable, 2 million people, flooding the 36 acres in the Temple right- after the First Easter - Saw:
Colonnade left from King Solomon's Portico. Could be from the First Temple used in the Second Temple. John 10:23. A portion of the Temple, according to Josephus History of the Jews. 5:5, section 1; Ant. 20:9, section 7, remained from Solomon's time. It rose from a great depth, occupying part of the valley, and supported by a wall 400 cubits high, formed of immense stones, some 20 cubits long. The Chaldeans spared it, for the strength and beauty. This is where the Remnant left from the Babylonian Exile worshiped.
Jesus the Lord walked in the Colonnade left from King Solomon's Portico.
God's Plan is so far back - as the people gathered to find Jesus - this comfort of Solomon, of David holding the material, of Jesus - The Portico was there for the multitudes after Jesus died.
Acts 2:6
And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
Acts 5:12 -15
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
A very active time after Jesus was crucified.
We can see this today. Our Grandparents wouldn't have. But Technology has allowed your eyes to see part of Solomon's Portico.
In Crisis. People prayed.
Acts 1:14
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Unified in God's Care.
And Antioch. This is where the Church went to be planned and develop.
Acts 13:1-5
Now there were in
the Church at Antioch
prophets and teachers,
Barnabas,
Simeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
Archaeology.
Something you sift through to find meaningful analysis. Like Historical evidence. And God's Word.
God Word, 1 John 4, tells us never be afraid to examine what we know for truth.
Dang. Don't you wish the Disciples had been literate?
Dang. Wouldn't it be great if the Bible had been written before 400 A.D. and we hadn't had to deal with these dirty, illiterate, yutzes that "God" mistakenly chose? SO WRONG >!!!
SO WRONG >!!! SO WRONG >!!!
When God said the creation was good, how many times?
11 times.
God rarely repeats Himself - maybe God was supporting 11 Disciples.
Saying these 11 men were wonderful. Chosen, special, loved.
Reading this - we discover how wonderful and united these very diverse men - loved - those in need.
Reading this - we discover how wonderful and united these very diverse men - loved - those in need.
Let's explode for all time some pop culture and look at Archaeology.
God has built Archaeology to be a clue for the faithful.
A tool of seeing with wonder what God has done.
It will be rare when something of Archaeology brings Salvation.
And yet, why would we ignore what others have found?
And so we leave Jerusalem, where 16 years after the death of Jesus, 340 years of Roman Emperor terror about Jesus Christ. History of Emperor fears. And 340 years later was still being investigated about 'that' Jesus as God.
Syria. Unlike little Judea, which came to be known as Jesus' area. We leave and head to Syria - which was considered a Post worth having as a Roman Official.
And we look at
ANTIOCH
You have your little Judea, your better Syria, but ahhhhhhhh Antioch. You've arrived. This is the Place. Beautiful Antioch. Twenty-one times the New Testament says 'Antiahhhhhhoch'.
Who was here?
1. Barnabas, Cousin to John Mark, Mark's gospel, with Peter to the end. Barnabas took some of the oldest Scripture to India.
2. Simeon who was called Niger, This is the Gospel. This is the first Civil Rights Movement. This man took the Gospel to Alexandria.
3. Lucius of Cyrene, Simeon probably traveled with Mr. Libya. They are taking the Gospel to the Next Continent.
4. Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch You are "Absolutely" in trouble for running around with Christian infidels if you are a pal of Herod. This Herod is Herod is Herod Antipas. A lesser-known Herod? Oh noooo. This Herod is put on the throne by Census taking Emperor Augustus. Nephew of Caesar. King since 4 B.C. Married to his sister-in-law Herodias, this Herod is rather Touchy. One is in Danger traveling with the Christ Disciples
Giving a whole new meaning to - "Men the Roman Empire is upset who is running around Proclaiming Jesus as God."
5. Saul. Believe me, they were not grubbing around in Antioch. Paul was one of the best educated at the Temple by Gamaliel - himself. Paul had the best credentials.
Later...
6. John - This is the first man adopted by the incredible Sacrifice of Jesus. He is now the son of Mary, Mother of God. Plenty of courage. John stayed to the last breath of Jesus Christ.
These tile Mosaics - are they found in Judea - yes, thanks for thinking of this - yes, they are found in Caiaphas - High Priest Home. "Worship no 'Image'".
Antioch tells us - Living was not just hand- to- mouth.
Not desperate times and desperate measures to worship "Something". Telling us just like Paul's superior education. Peter's superior style of living and gracious house. Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch - not just the men who could squeak under the prosecution wire. Not just the outsiders. The Light of Jesus Christ was reaching across Impossible Borders and Boundaries. Not just Susanna, wife to Herod's Steward.
Antioch, northern Syria near the Turkish border. 300 B.C., Antioch was a very important political and cultural center of the Hellenistic East and one of the great metropolises of the Roman Empire.
Howard Crosby Butler, Princeton professor of Art and Archaeology and the founder of the School of Architecture, led a series of archaeological expeditions to Syria (1899-1900, 1904-5, and 1909). The collective aim was to record the remains of ancient buildings and settlements. The results of those expeditions were published in several volumes that remain standard research tools for the study of late antique architecture in Syria. Some of the buildings are from 200 A.D. He discovered a city blended from 200 A.D. to 500 A.D.
Although Antioch was mentioned in many literary sources, very little was known about the physical city until 1932, when a consortium of institutions led by Princeton University conducted the first of seven seasons of excavations that would eventually uncover a remarkable wealth of finds, expanding our knowledge of the metropolis and its culture. Despite the challenges posed by the fact that much of the ancient city had been buried by up to 10 meters of soil washed down from the slopes of Mount Silpios, which towers above the town at the east, the excavations there and in the surrounding area were able to uncover the remains of more than:
including two theaters,
six public baths,
a hippodrome,
and two major churches.
In addition to these public buildings, some of the portico-ed streets for which Antioch was famous in antiquity, were unearthed, along with numerous residential structures.
Butler deemed this suburban residence a villa of a well-to-do family from nearby Bostra. The huge residence, measuring ca. 80 x 60 meters in the plan, was later transformed into a village. Symmetrically organized around a central courtyard, the entire complex, including the residential wing, was enclosed by a high stone wall. The focus of the residential wing was a large (10 x 10 meters) two-story room, internally divided by a large arch resting on massive engaged piers. Probably introduced for structural reasons, internal transversal arches of this type became ubiquitous features of residential buildings in Syria.
These houses still had walls, 1700 years later. You can bet in Antioch, these visitors were not taken in lightly.
Now
Let's be real and frank. This is the statue of Minerva. Found as decoration for one of the Baths. 200 A.D. Just as archaeology does not create believers, not all people adored Jesus and flocked to Christ. What's the point in bringing this up? This relates to today.
We see the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles have amazing, spectacular miracles. And many people think - well, God has gone to sleep. No matter the time, no matter the season, no matter the Disciple, Prophet, Preacher or Teacher - Jesus God told us, we will always have difficulties in this life. Jesus told us to expect some are wheat - some are weeds.
We see the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles have amazing, spectacular miracles. And many people think - well, God has gone to sleep. No matter the time, no matter the season, no matter the Disciple, Prophet, Preacher or Teacher - Jesus God told us, we will always have difficulties in this life. Jesus told us to expect some are wheat - some are weeds.
And with Love - bring forth the God of Love. The God of Encouragement. Our Father God Lives. Abba is working, Jesus, too, and His Word is the power upholding the universe, the galaxy, this planet and our very lives.
Our Abba,
Luke 1:37
For nothing will be impossible with God.
For nothing will be impossible with God.
2 Chronicles 15:7
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Prayer is the force changing hearts in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Abba, Your Great Love and Tender Mercy.
God of Love and Encouragement,
we tenderly place our cares for our loved ones,
the people You have given us,
our own concerns, our hearts and souls,
the things we think are dire today and maybe not in a year.
We give a moment of thought of Thanks for Your answers we have experienced.
Gratitude for answers we will come to know.
Your Love around our workplaces, Schools, Churches, Cities, States, this Nation and cover the Creation with Your Love.
Knowing Your Tender Love for Edward, Steve, Wayne, Mother, ears.
We Entrust All this to Your Loving, Capable and Willing Hands
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction
With the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
We will rest today and tonight. See Your Mercies Renew Tomorrow.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Our Father God, searches hearts - knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And we will come to know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His Purpose.
Jesus covers us all. Blessed Gift of God. Jesus is Love. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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