"for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship
I even found an altar with this inscription
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD
ACTS 17 - 23
ACTS 24
"God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands." That would surely be unemployment for those who have bled the poor and lived off the vulnerable throughout the centuries.
In my study bible it states the word "babbler" is Athenian slang for amongst other things pseudo-intellectuals who insist on spouting off. The super-intellectuals considered Paul a babbler failing to see in Paul all the necessary ingredients for being a truth bringer.
During my lifetime I have travelled the length and breadth of the U.K. and in the latter years have found countless churches almost empty, cold and dead. But that doesn't matter if you listen to the teachings of Paul. He actually earned his living tent making. He didn't feed of the hapless sheep. His burden was his health but he considered it kept him humble and although he was one of two followers of Christ (the other being Luke - the physician) that hadn't known Christ in the flesh - he certainly knew him after his Damascus Road experience and all his crimes against christians were forgiven and he was sent to the Gentiles until his beheading in Rome.*
God often uses those with colourful backgrounds to reach the lost. Men saved by the grace of God.
Perhaps a simple explanation. God created man - sometimes he needs re-programming and a bolt of lighting and temporary loss of sight was the way to reach Paul. Then having encountered Christ he was changed mightily.
Back to empty, dead cold churches. There is often a log jam. Traditionalists not wanting to exchange the ritual for spirit filled worship. John 4 - 21-24 Often they work politely to exclude it but the church remains dead and one sure sign is the lack of young people.
Many years ago a group of youngsters were using the church frontage as their skate board park. A few young men at the back of the church went out to invite the kids in. The worship team at that particular church was excellent. All talented musicians and singers. Their curiosity had been aroused not by the traditional (but often excellent hymns) but by the simple words and enthusiasm. These children had not even heard about Jesus and decided to take their skate boards and run.
In that church when an old hymn (found in an ancient English hymn book by the vicar) was sung the vaults of heaven opened. It was a very simple hymn, just two lines but the teenagers in that church were worshipping with all their hearts.
"TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND UNTO THE LAMB,
BE BLESSING AND GLORY AND HONOUR AND POWER FOREVER.
That is an experience I will never forget and the power of God fell in that place. No one wanted to go home and the service would last four hours. The vicar had succeeded in leading the young people to Christ but the traditionalists wanted none of that. They colluded, conspired and finally succeeded in achieving his resignation. This scenario was prophesied by a visiting evangelist from Canada. He was warned to watch his back. Perhaps he considered he was under divine protection, but no matter the devil goes to church.
So its back to Paul. Luke was his physician and he travelled with him and treated "the thorn in his side" as best he could. That is one of the unanswered questions in the bible "what was the thorn in his side"???
One thing any genuine christian can be assured of is suffering and maybe even martydom.
Matthew 20 - 21-22 Can you can just picture the scene. The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus asking that her sons be given a place of privilege on either side of Jesus in His Kingdom. Jesus warned her what that would mean and still the sons said "we are able" So Jesus settled the issue "but to sit at my Right hand or on my Left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." End of.
It's rather like the lovely description in "The Great Divorce" of a beautiful woman followed by a crowd of children laughing, singing and dancing. The dreamer asks his spirit guide "is that!!!! considering it must someone very special. The hint "is it - is it" (I take that hint to mean Miriam the mother of Yeshua)
"Not at all" says his spirit guide. "It's someone ye'll have never heard of. Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green."
The dreamer says "She seems to be.......well a person of particular importance?
"Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things." said the spirit guide.
"The young men and women on either side were her sons and daughters."
"She must have a very large family Sir" the dreamer suggests to his spirit guide.
The guide replied "every young man or boy that met her became her son-even if it was only the boy who bought meat to her back door. Every girl that met her was her daughter."
"Every beast or bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them."
This wonderful book "The Great Divorce" was written by C.S. Lewis and once again points out that those who consider themselves precious in this world could well be on the last rung of the ladder in the next.
Consolation for those who have been martyred or suffer rejection and humiliation in this world. I doubt the mother of the two young men in Matthew 20 - 21-22 realised what she was asking or perhaps things never change, there will always be some pushy parent wanting the spotlight and fame for their kids regardless of the price they will pay.
* D.V.D. Paul Apostle of Christ - excellent video although I doubt many watching knew Christians were burnt alive on posts in the streets of Rome to provide illumination.
Luke played by Jim Caviezel - is the man who played Christ in the Passion of Christ and was profoundly affected by the experience gives his personal testimony on You-tube. Well worth watching.
Matthew 20 - 21-22 Can you can just picture the scene. The mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus asking that her sons be given a place of privilege on either side of Jesus in His Kingdom. Jesus warned her what that would mean and still the sons said "we are able" So Jesus settled the issue "but to sit at my Right hand or on my Left is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." End of.
It's rather like the lovely description in "The Great Divorce" of a beautiful woman followed by a crowd of children laughing, singing and dancing. The dreamer asks his spirit guide "is that!!!! considering it must someone very special. The hint "is it - is it" (I take that hint to mean Miriam the mother of Yeshua)
"Not at all" says his spirit guide. "It's someone ye'll have never heard of. Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green."
The dreamer says "She seems to be.......well a person of particular importance?
"Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things." said the spirit guide.
"The young men and women on either side were her sons and daughters."
"She must have a very large family Sir" the dreamer suggests to his spirit guide.
The guide replied "every young man or boy that met her became her son-even if it was only the boy who bought meat to her back door. Every girl that met her was her daughter."
"Every beast or bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them."
This wonderful book "The Great Divorce" was written by C.S. Lewis and once again points out that those who consider themselves precious in this world could well be on the last rung of the ladder in the next.
Consolation for those who have been martyred or suffer rejection and humiliation in this world. I doubt the mother of the two young men in Matthew 20 - 21-22 realised what she was asking or perhaps things never change, there will always be some pushy parent wanting the spotlight and fame for their kids regardless of the price they will pay.
SHALOM
* D.V.D. Paul Apostle of Christ - excellent video although I doubt many watching knew Christians were burnt alive on posts in the streets of Rome to provide illumination.
Luke played by Jim Caviezel - is the man who played Christ in the Passion of Christ and was profoundly affected by the experience gives his personal testimony on You-tube. Well worth watching.
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