We must fight. I repeat it, sir, we must fight. An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. Nor shall we fight our battles alone. That God who presides over the destinies of nations will raise up friends for us. – Patrick Henry
The New Year, 2011, is well under way by almost half a month and I am already behind. But am I? Did I have a New Year Resolution to ‘blog everyday’ or ‘at least more often than I have been’? No. Am I obligated by having a blog to blog everday, or at least every week? No. Am I driven to post blogs often? Well, take a look at time between previous posts and the answer is obvious.
First entry for May. May, a busy month? Naw. Can’t be. Let’s see. Both of our vans have or are going the way of all man made transport. Eunice had her 30th birthday at her place. Ricky and Karlyn had us all at his place for Mother’s Day (the next day). Andrea had us at the house she was house sitting the day after for my birthday. Then before Andrea’s birthday (a week after Eunice’s) Josh and Hannah preped and painted their new house to be moved into on Andrea’s birthday. Spring Celebration for Cherith and Jesse’s school was on Friday night which honored the first graduating class of which Cherith is a part. That was also the day before Andrea’s birthday. Oh, wait. I forgot Chad and Courtney from church got married Tuesday night. And then on the day of Andrea’s birthday and Josh and Hannah moving into their new house (after which they helped Luke Hummel move) was Leighton and Ryan’s wedding day of which Andrea and Lois helped. Hmm… and that was only the second full week of May. Not busy?
My last two posts, Intensity at Easter and Satisfaction at Easter, were taken from Acts 10 and 11. The time frame and the place of Acts 10 and 11 were definitely months after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and for the most part took place in Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean. Only the questioning of Peter by the apostles and brethren took place in Jerusalem. So why did I link these chapters and this story to ‘Easter’? My thoughts were not based on the passion week as it is called nor the bodily resurrecting by God the Father of Jesus from the dead. They were rather the results which made that day in Caesarea possible. The angel told Cornelius that Peter would tell them what he should do. Peter in relating what the angel told Cornelius said that ‘he will tell you words’ that they would be saved. Cornelius had no clue what ‘saved’ was, but as one who was devout, feared God with all his house, did many good deeds for the needs of the people, and prayed always he understood what it meant that ‘he will tell you what you should do’. That was sufficient. Peter looking back could speak in terms the apostles and brethren understood when he spoke of being saved. Even though the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins to pay the penalty for our sins that if we believe we would not have to, that we would have given unto us repentence unto life, even though that had been months ago the results of the resurrection were evident that day and as powerful as the day Christ arose. Cornelius, family, and near friends who simply looked forward to hearing what they needed to do heard the Word of God, believed, the Holy Ghost came upon them the same as on the Jewish believers at the beginning. These are the same results as we have today. As Peter said of Jesus, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. These are the same results of the resurrection today.
My previous post of yesterday spoke of the INTENSITY OF EASTER. I know from personal experience and observation in other peoples lives that intensity without satisfaction can lead to discouragement, despair, and defeat physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Because of this I sought out the satisfaction in each case of intensity of which I spoke. Cornelius intent on his fearing God with his house, doing many good works among the people, and praying always was satisfied when the angel of the Lord told him that his good works and prayers had came up as a memorial before God. He was also satisfied to have Peter come and preach the Word of God so he and his family and near friend could hear, believe, and receive repentence unto life and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter intent on maintaining the Jewish diet and was concerned about not mixing with Gentiles was satistfied in that the vision was not for him as a Jew to eat animals that were unclean, but that God had shown him that repentence unto life was not just for the Jew, but for Gentiles also and must be share with them. The apostles and brethren intent of finding out why Peter didn’t maintain his distance from Gentiles as a Jew were also satisfied in that God’s purpose for Peter to be with Gentiles was so that the Gentiles could also receive repentence unto life. God intent on making Peter understand that the Gentiles were not common or unclean in repentence to life was satisfied that Peter understood and went to them. The Holy Spirit intent on seeing that Peter accepted the vision and went with the men to Caesarea was also satisfied that he went to them and gave them the Word of God. The family and near friends gathered with Cornelius intent on hearing the Word of God were satisfied not only because they heard the Word of God, but they also believed and were given repentence unto life. Again the Holy Spirit intent on coming upon the family and near friends who believed was satisfied that they spoke in other languages and glorified God. Again at the end of Peter’s message we see that Christ intent on taking our own sins in His own body that we can have repentence unto life that through His name whether Jew or Gentile, whoever believes in him shall receive no enforcement of the penalty of sin satisfied God’s justice in that the payment had to be made and that Jesus Christ His Son made complete payment in His death on the cross. The also satisfied Jesus Christ because in that God the Father has made Him to be the Judge of all that Christ’s great love and sacrifice meant that whosever believes in Him as the prophets foretold would receive remission of sin, i.e. not penalized for their sin because that penalty was paid. No matter what we are satisfied in doing, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are satisfied in such a great way far above what we could ever imagine or understand. Where sin abounded grace did super abound!
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