Monday, April 17, 2017

POST-EASTER INTENTIONS

“…intending after Easter…”
The KJV contains the only mention of the word EASTER.  
Acts 12:1-4 — Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
The KJV translates the word pascha’ as “Passover”, 28 times, and as “Easter”, one time. Obviously, the Jewish feast of the Passover, was meant. The feast of the Passover, extended from the 14th to the 20th day of the month Nisan. The phrase "after the Passover" meant after the whole festival was over.

The behavior of so many on “Easter” Sunday reflects as much as anything what the bible describes as “zeal without knowledge” (Rom. 10:1-3).
Not only is the increase in attendance on this one Sunday noticeable, we find such increase of attendance nothing more than ‘out-of-character’ behavior by those who, in general, will seldom (if ever) darken the doors of a church for another fifty-one weeks. From these ‘once-a-year’ attendees, we also find an attitude of “money-is-no-object” when it comes to the purchasing of new clothes for this lone visit/attendance, while ‘casual’ dress will suffice for the any of the other 51 weeks. While they will spare no expense on this one Sunday, any appeal to their ‘giving’ on the other 51 weeks, is like squeezing “blood out of a turnip”.
Another out-of-character behavior in regard to attendance on this “magical” day of Easter Sunday, is seen by the ‘on-time’ presence at the crack of dawn, when, if they attend any of the other 51 Sundays, [also at a later scheduled time], are habitually late.
Such behavior is similar to the “all-out” efforts to remember the “reason for the season” on December 25th, and the many other pious outward signs that only cover-up inward whited sepulchres, when a mere 7 days later, the same people engage drunken revellings to ‘ring in’ a new year.

In our text, Herod had “post-Easter” intentions.  He had already had James the brother of John killed, and, seeing that it pleased the Jews, intended to do the same with Peter. Herod met with death later in this chapter, a fate with which he had intended for Peter (vss. 23-24).

What will your “post-Easter” intentions be next Sunday? Does the resurrection of Jesus from the dead have any real significance for your life? The significance of the resurrection of Christ is seen from 1 Cor. 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

It was meant to be more than a guilt trip to a local church once a year.


Col. 3:1-4 — “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

copyright 2017
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Sunday, April 2, 2017

HOW READEST THOU? THY SPEECH BETRAYETH THEE…

The word BODY has a variety of meanings in scripture. In Eph. 4:4, we find that there is ONE ‘body’. Obviously, this is not referring to a human body, for there are several of these. What is THIS ‘body’ in Eph. 4:4?

Oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) reveal:

~ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Rom. 12:4-5
~ For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. – 1 Cor. 10:17
~ For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. – 1 Cor. 12:12
~ And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. – Eph. 1:22-23
~ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: - Eph. 2:16
~ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: - Eph. 3:6
~ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. – Eph. 5:23
~ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. – Col. 1:18

WHAT WOULD YOU CONCLUDE FROM THESE PASSAGES ABOUT THE ‘BODY’?

WHAT DO THE ORACLES (WORDS) OF GOD DECLARE? (1 Peter 4:11)

HOW READEST THOU? DOES THY SPEECH BETRAYETH THEE?

People read God’s oracles, (the passages above), and then say:
“We went to body today…”
“We had body today…”
“We provide a body bus ministry…”
“After body, we had a meal…”
“Our body is really growing…”
“We had Sunday school, and then had body…”
“Are you going to body today?”
“Haven’t seen you in body for some time…”

What is the ‘body’ of Eph. 4:4? 
Why, just ask anyone who so uses the term ‘body’ as listed above, and they will reply: “the body is the people”!

How readest they? Their speech betrayeth them...!

What about you?

“If any man speak; let him speak as the oracles of God...” ~ 1 Peter 4:11

copyright 2017
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