Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

God has been talking about Jesus in the Old Testament for a long time.  It is not His first day, and God made PROMISES that are now FULFILLED in Jesus.  Just don't say that I never told you so.

Paul is making a big speech to Pisidia Antioch people. He cites three Old Testament passages that point to JESUS.  Yes the Old Testament is about Jesus.  How could it not be.  Specifically, Jesus did not see corruption.  That is, He was and is raised from the grave; raised from the dead.  What this means is that when you meet Him in heaven, He will not be all DECAYED.  The Old Testament said so.  The New Testament tells us how.

The Old Testament is like watching Monday Night Football.  There are more cameras.  There are lots of isolation shots.  Slow motion is regularly utilized.  Things come at you just a little bit more slowly.  Here we have a replay of a couple of OT passages that Paul confirms are about Jesus.  He's reminding us that God has been making promises about Jesus all along.  Don't be surprised.  It is not His first day.

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Metaphorically, we are all running a course that has some unique and universal obstacles.  We  bring to it some particular strengths and weaknesses. For some of us, today will be the earthly course finish.  

We would do well to consider the races that others have done.  This is the purpose of funerals.  We look at that person's race, their particular challenges and the way they brought their gifts to bear upon it.  We "lay it to heart."

Today, JOHN the baptist, aka John the REPENTER, is remembered as a good example.  Though he was great, he bows and worships Jesus as greater.  We'd do well to do the same.

Join me for 7 minutes to lay a few things to heart before we 'finish our course.' Share with the person you think is heading to their finish line the fastest.  Subscribe on Deezer or Spotify.  Find us on Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. YouTube.

Oh the humanity!  There is a lot of it in Paul's 450 year summary of the Jews.  God had to "put up with you."  The Jews had not exactly been faithful in response to the Lord being faithful with them.  David is highlighted.  He was a very imperfect person.  A sinner.  Here is what God repeatedly states about David's attractiveness:  "He is a man after my own heart.  I have been SEEKING someone like that.  I have been SEEKING someone who is SEEKING Me." For the imperfect people reading this, be of good cheer.  David wasn't perfect. Just ask Bathsheba. 

But you don't have to go back 450 years to find problems in the church.  Paul and Barnabas have a helper with them who decides to stop helping.  His name is John/Mark and he returns to Jerusalem.  That is bad enough.  But worse, this now will cause a rift between Paul and Barnabas  that will fester for a number of years, eventually causing this A-team of missionaries to break up.  It all ends happily and John/Mark is restored, but not without a few scars. The point is: Oh the humanity! And, what a God that puts up with us.  The least we can do is SEEK Him, Pursue Him, go after His heart, like David.  

Subscribe on any Podcast directory and you'll get this every day.  Or, at bewithme.us, or write at [email protected].  Share with your most humanly friend.

There is a battle for a guy's SOUL today.  In fact, it is the battle for TWO guys' souls.  One is a straightforward story about the gospel, some opposition, and then a miracle that leads him to BELIEF.  This part is hard to miss.

The second is also a demonstration of "the hand of the Lord being upon you." Usually we say that as some sort of a blessing, and here it is too, but involves the PRESENCE of the Lord in His word and in His people.  It also involves a MIRACLE.  Unfortunately, (really this whole thing is FORTUNATE.  He'll never forget this day) he is instantly blinded.  The miracle is in opposition, and in demonstration of his SIGHT.

It struck me that this SECOND battle is also for Elymas' SOUL.  Sometimes when the presence of God shows up; when His hand is upon you, it isn't a pleasant.  Sometimes rebuke and repentance and hopefully belief is ahead. Share this with someone who has the hand of the Lord upon them.  Subscribe if you write [email protected]

"Paul's First Missionary Journey". 
Actually it was Saul
Actually it was Saul and BARNABAS
It was their 4th and 6th journeys in the service of the Lord, respectively
They were sent from ANTIOCH and not Jerusalem
This was 14 YEARS after Jesus' death and resurrection
The founding church and Peter were a little slow on the uptake of the idea of GENTILES in the church.  It only took 7 visions and 2 congressional investigations to get them to agree with God
Actually it was the HOLY SPIRIT that called them to this work.

God continually amazes me in all of this.  Please subscribe to help make this a habit and a practice in your mornings at bewithme.us or apple, Spotify, google, Deezer, or Podcast Addict podcast directories.  

It is easy to root against Herod. It is easy to cheer him getting eaten by worms.  It is easy to think that I would have done a much better job with the agency, authority and the attitudes if I was in his position.  The sobering realization is that I too have agency, authority, and attitudes that I will be accountable for.  

His culminating sin is not giving God glory when he was referred to as a god.  Be careful here.  Who of us doesn't like hearing we are slightly terrific?

What will I do with my 
Authority: my reach, my work, my job, my role, and the powers on my plate today?
Agency: my free-will, my choice, my influence and my abilities to act?
Attitude: my choice in the spirit with which I will proceed?

Why should I be concerned?  Because, like nasty Herod, I will account for all of those before God. Worms vs. "well-done, good and faithful servant."  Commit with me for this next year to faithfully walk and use this podcast as a part of my day...

The good Lord strikes (makes) and angel to strike (poke) Peter.  

This angel is given power to alter sound waves, light waves, physical stuff like locks, as well as the consciousness of people.  You'd agree that these connections to our current reality are quite important to us.  

This whole scenario points to the fleetingness of what we hold so permanent.  It also points to the power of the God who makes such an amazing creature.

While we are on this escape with an angel story, we meet John-Mark and James the brother of Jesus.  Both will continue to be at the center of Christian activity through the New Testament.

Let's enjoy this fun and funny story from Acts  (the four soldiers that get killed at the end probably saw no humor or  joy in it). Please subscribe at bewithme.us or Apple podcasts.  The story continues tomorrow.

At first blush, being "at the top of someone's prayer list" sounds like a great honor.  But think about it. Of all the people that person knows...Of all the problems in the lives of all those people...Of ALL those, YOU ARE THE WORST; the most URGENT; the most at RISK.  You are in the most trouble.  It means that You are in the worst situation in that person's whole world.

Peter finds himself at the top of the Jerusalem Church's prayer list because of his arrest by a nasty guy.  How nasty?  Well he killed one of the top-12 Christians in the world with a sword.  It was the disciple JAMES, brother of the disciple John; son of Zebedee; son of Thunder.  Peter likely is next.  No wonder they are praying.

For what might you be praying EARNESTLY, strongly, passionately,  and with ongoing intensity?  Who is at the top-of-your-prayer-list?  Let's remember them to the Lord today.  Please email this to whomever is at the top of your prayer list.  Don't tell them they are in the biggest trouble of all you know. Subscribe for a daily download at bewithme.us or write me at [email protected]

God wants to do something IN Saul so that God can do something WITH Saul.  As a surprise to me, it takes a while.  Reading chronologically with an eye to the years passing is an ENCOURAGEMENT to me.  Sometimes it takes a while for the God doing something IN period of time.  
For Saul, it was 14 years.  Some was in Damascus and Arabia (3 years), some was in Jerusalem (15 days) and a lot was in his home town of Tarsus (10 years.) THEN, all the excitement of Acts 11 happens.  Barnabas fetches him from Tarsus.  They teach in Antioch for a year. Then they are sent to Jerusalem with some famine-cash to help the believers there.

My prayer for you is that God may be doing something IN you so that He may be doing something WITH you.  In the meantime, serve, develop habits and let the IN power and fuel the OUT.  Maybe use this podcast while it lasts as a part of it.  Subscribe, its' free at bewithme.us

Perhaps it is a small point, but giving $ NEVER is an option in our relationship with the Lord.  EVERYBODY is supposed to give in gratefulness and in support of the Body.  Everybody.  Everybody.  Everybody is ABLE.  Never does scripture question whether you ARE able.  It does offer the discernment of HOW you are able.  I'm not sure how the "if you are able" concept got started.  It's not in the Bible.

So Saul has been In Damascus, in Arabia, briefly in Jerusalem, and in his home town.  He's been in Tarsus for years.  Sum total, he's NOT been the famous missionary for 14 years.  The Lord must have been seasoning him well for the wonder filled, and difficult job he was to do from here on out.  Our dear friend Joe, aka Barnabas goes and fetches Saul from Tarsus and takes him back to Christianity-Central: Antioch. 

Antioch is where Christians were first called Christians. This is a big deal.  You get to enjoy the fruit of all this early activity in Antioch.  I hope you call yourself and identify as a Christian.  If not, you are most welcome here to consider the claims of Christ and the early Church.  We will see you tomorrow. Please like, share, re-post, and subscribe at Stitcher, Spotify, Google, or Apple Podcasts.