"....but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." (Acts 25:19)
This was Festus rehearsing to Agrippa the case brought against Paul by the Jews. It is one of my favorite Biblical passages.
Here we have a "pagan" Roman authority attempting to relate from his "natural" observance and reasoning the battle of the natural and the spiritual. The Amplified Bible says, " Instead they had some points of controversy with him about their own religion or superstition and concerning one Jesus, Who had died but Whom Paul kept asserting [over and over] to be alive." This is Christianity "101." This is our Life.
Our text is near the end of the Book of Acts, possibility not far from the end of Paul's sojourn on this planet. Yet over the years of Paul's witness to Jesus Christ, the Cross of Jesus and Resurrection of Jesus were foundational. Now, here before Romans officials, people who were not sympathetic to Judaism nor, "the faith of Jesus," were still "getting" what Paul called, "my gospel." Of all Paul spoke, of all Paul wrote and testified to, it is hear, in a Roman court that Paul receives perhaps one of his best affirmations of his faithfulness to Jesus, His Kingdom, His Church, ".... They had some points of controversy with him about...one Jesus, Who had died but Whom Paul kept asserting [over and over] to be alive." Whatever else others may hear from the Church, if this is not what they walk away with, we have failed------
period.
Right here right now, right there right now is our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is alive, you and I need fear nothing or no one. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord Jesus is round about His People from this time forth and forever." No sweat, "no fear," no panic. Our victory in this life and when this life is over will be determined by whether or not we believed and determined our life by our trust that, "Jesus, who had died but Whom (you and I) kept asserting [over and over] to be alive."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I assert "over and over " that You are alive." Amen.
************************
Fall, 2014 Mission: Washington, DC
This was Festus rehearsing to Agrippa the case brought against Paul by the Jews. It is one of my favorite Biblical passages.
Here we have a "pagan" Roman authority attempting to relate from his "natural" observance and reasoning the battle of the natural and the spiritual. The Amplified Bible says, " Instead they had some points of controversy with him about their own religion or superstition and concerning one Jesus, Who had died but Whom Paul kept asserting [over and over] to be alive." This is Christianity "101." This is our Life.
Our text is near the end of the Book of Acts, possibility not far from the end of Paul's sojourn on this planet. Yet over the years of Paul's witness to Jesus Christ, the Cross of Jesus and Resurrection of Jesus were foundational. Now, here before Romans officials, people who were not sympathetic to Judaism nor, "the faith of Jesus," were still "getting" what Paul called, "my gospel." Of all Paul spoke, of all Paul wrote and testified to, it is hear, in a Roman court that Paul receives perhaps one of his best affirmations of his faithfulness to Jesus, His Kingdom, His Church, ".... They had some points of controversy with him about...one Jesus, Who had died but Whom Paul kept asserting [over and over] to be alive." Whatever else others may hear from the Church, if this is not what they walk away with, we have failed------
period.
Right here right now, right there right now is our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Since Jesus is alive, you and I need fear nothing or no one. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord Jesus is round about His People from this time forth and forever." No sweat, "no fear," no panic. Our victory in this life and when this life is over will be determined by whether or not we believed and determined our life by our trust that, "Jesus, who had died but Whom (you and I) kept asserting [over and over] to be alive."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I assert "over and over " that You are alive." Amen.
************************
Fall, 2014 Mission: Washington, DC
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
