Acts 17 — AGAIN!

-Acts 17:16-32.  AGAIN, God has had me in Acts 17.  This time, with a different twist.  Read it from God’s point of view, as if instead of Paul, it’s God in the story.  See if you read it the way the Lord described it to me.  My (His) comments are in bold.

Acts 17:16-32

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁶ Now while Paul (God) was awaiting them at Athens (substitute AMERICA), his (His) spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he (He) saw that the city was full of idols. (American Idol!)

¹⁷ So he (He) reasoned and argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those who worshiped there, and in the marketplace [where assemblies are held] day after day with any who chanced to be there.

(Notice who He is reasoning and arguing with…the JEWS.  That is You and Me.  He is trying to get through to us.  Day after Day.  Every day.  And still….)

¹⁸ And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him and began to engage in discussion. And some said, What is this babbler with his scrap-heap learning trying to say? Others said, He seems to be an announcer of foreign deities—because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.  (The Epicureans and the Stoics both had a philosophy of “self-love” through pleasure, although they differed in the method of getting there.  Sounds like us, America.) 

¹⁹ And they took hold of him and brought him to the ^[a]Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], saying, May we know what this novel (unheard of and unprecedented) teaching is which you are openly declaring?

²⁰ For you set forth some startling things, foreign and strange to our ears; we wish to know therefore just what these things mean—

²¹ For the Athenians (Americans), all of them (and by extension, all of us), and the foreign residents (strangers in a strange land, in this world but not OF it) and visitors among them spent all their leisure time in nothing except telling or hearing something newer than the last— (TV.  Movies.  Video Games.  Tabloids.  Gossip.  Adultery.  Fornication.  Etc.  In a quick vision I saw people gossiping standing in church.  Hello!  This is US!)

²² So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens (America), I perceive in every way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or very reverent to demons. (DEMONS!  Idol worship is satanic.)

²³ For as I passed along and carefully observed YOUR objects of worship (God KNOWS what Our idols are, what we worship instead of Him), I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. (I AM UNKNOWN to this people.)  Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you.

(God goes on to describe Himself! This is truly awesome!)

²⁴ The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines.

²⁵ Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people].  (He doesn’t NEED us.  We NEED Him.)

²⁶ And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes),

²⁷ So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.

²⁸ For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

²⁹ Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not to suppose that Deity (the Godhead) is like gold or silver or stone, [of the nature of] a representation by human art and imagination, or anything constructed or invented.

(This is where it gets heavy!)

³⁰ Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but now (NOW!) He charges all people everywhere to repent (^[b]to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins), (This is where we still are, for the moment, but we are headed into the next paragraph QUICKLY!)

³¹ Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the dead.  (God talking about Himself!!)

³² Now when they had heard [that there had been] a resurrection from the dead, some scoffed (like always); but others said, We will hear you again about this matter (and joined with us, sided with us and joined our team).

Thank you Lord for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word.   Thank you Lord for opening our eyes and our ears.  We long to be closer to you, draw near to

Amen!

Distractions Cometh!

Distractions come.  Once you have made up your mind to do something, they come.  In fact, it appears that making up your mind to do something seems to be a magnet for them.  I don’t understand it, but isn’t that what usually happens?

This week has been amazing.  News came that drove me to finish some projects that I had started and never finished.  The Lord spoke and said it’s time to finish the house (that we bought and started remodeling back in June 2011).  That was DAYS ago!  I am trying to be obedient and do things in the order that the Lord said.  It’s IMPERATIVE that we be obedient now.

Nonetheless, distractions cometh.  So what’s a girl to do?

Press through.  The Jewish new year is upon us, 5774. It is the Year of the Door (Doors, Gates and Portals!)  God is closing doors as well as opening them.  That means that we are finishing up projects, and giving things up so that He may give us NEW things in this NEW YEAR!   He wants to open doors and portals for us, to pass through the gates and enter His courts (Psalm 100:4).   But we have to do what He says.  He is giving us all (ALL) a LIST of things that He wants us to either A) do or B) give up.

In my case, it’s both.  In addition to “finishing up the house”, He has me fasting NUTS from now through Yom Kippur.  I LOVE NUTS.  Everyone who knows me knows that I love nuts!  God knows I love nuts….He made me that way!  However, evidently the word for NUTS in Hebrew is the same word for SIN!!!   So, God is speaking on two levels to me (that I know of!)   Get rid of the SIN, get rid of the FAT.  I have become increasingly dependent on Almonds and Walnuts as a source of protein during the day.  Unfortunately, with the protein comes the FAT.  So, I’m guessing that the Lord would have me give ALL the FAT to Him!  (Leviticus 3:16)

So, what’s on your list?  Has God spoken to you?  Are you LISTENING???  Just like Mary said to the waterboys at the wedding at Cana, “Whatever He says to you, do it!”  (John 2:5)  Listen to Mary.  She knew what she was talking about.  Mothers always do.

This mother says:   Press through the distractions.  Don’t buy into things that the enemy is saying to you.  You know the Word.  Weigh every single thought against the Word, because we know that Jesus said, in the end, if possible, even the elect will be deceived.  (Matthew 24:24)  The enemy is working overtime, because his time is just about over.   Don’t let his distractions take you down and keep you from completing your assignments.  Don’t get caught up in strife.  Remember to love everybody, even if you don’t like them.  Just love them, with the Love of the Father.  Do what He tells you to do.  Be obedient.  Submit to authority, (including your spouse, ladies).

On a side note, I was told recently to submit to my husband for God’s best, because he is my covering.  Women of God, you MUST KNOW that God will get the message to your mate.  And if your mate refuses to listen, he will be held accountable for it.  God is a righteous God.   So, just do what you know to do, and KNOW that God is in control.

Most importantly, you can handle it.  No matter what happens, no matter what it looks like, no matter WHAT is going on around you….you can handle it.  God put you here on the earth, out of ALL the possible times in history, for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).   You MUST know, even if you doubt it, you MUST KNOW IN YOUR HEART that He is with you.  He will deliver you in times of trouble.  You reside under the shadow of the wing of the Almighty.  He will give you strength and let you rise up with wings like eagles.   He has Trained  you up, Lifted you up, Set you up, and now you Look Up!  So, look to HIM, and not man.  Man will let you down, but God will NEVER let you down.

Whatever distractions the enemy throws your way, maintain FOCUS on JESUS.  Your assignment on this earth, from this day forward, is the same as it was in Matthew 28… “¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Don’t forget, he who makes it to the very end wins.  (Matthew 24:13)

My prayer for you today is you are encouraged.  I bless you in the Name of the Lord.  Be strong, and very courageous.  Hang in there until the end.  And know that God is with you.

Amen.