One God and Father of all

Sunday 27Feb2022

Today I am reminded from Ephesians chapter 4 that we have One God and Father of all. Our God and Father is over all. He is through all. And He is in all.

Ephesians 4:5 - 6  BBE  Bible in Basic English
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

My New Testament reading also brought me back to verses 7 and 8 of Ephesians chapter 4, which tells us that the Anointed One "gave gifts" to us when he ascended to heaven. This statement in Ephesians 4 is a reference to Psalm 68:18. However, in that verse, the psalmist wrote that the Anointed One "received gifts" instead. This contradicts what the apostle wrote in Ephesians 4:7,8.

Ephesians 4:7 - 8  KJV  King James Version
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Psalm 68:18  KJV  King James Version
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast *received gifts* for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

For many years, I found no answer to resolve this contradiction. Even a search of Psalm 68:18 in the Septuagint, from which many New Testament verses are quoted, failed to find the words "gave gifts".

Until one day, when I came across Psalm 68:18 in the Peshitta. There right before me stood the verse that says, "You have ascended on high and you have captured captivity and you have *given gifts* to the children of men and rebels will not dwell before God."

In in June 2020, I wrote a short post about my discovery, link below:

• Did the Anointed give or receive gifts?

Garment of hair, Belt of leather

Thursday 24Feb2022

Today I read in 2nd Kings chapter 1 that King Ahaziah ben Ahab, the eighth king of Israel, having injured himself badly from a fall through the lattice in his upper chamber, sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron about his chances of recovery. Along the way, the messengers were intercepted by Elijah the prophet of the LORD and were told to return to the king and to tell him that he would surely die.

Whereupon, King Ahaziah asked the messengers in verse 7:

2 Kings 1:7 ESV English Standard Version
7He said to them, “What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?” 8They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

In the New Testament, a similar attire, garment of hair with a belt of leather was worn by John the Baptist. It is written in Matthew chapter 3 that,

Matthew 3:4 WEB World English Bible
Now John himself had clothing made of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

This similarity in the attire worn by John the Baptist with that worn by Elijah the prophet brings to mind a saying uttered by our Lord in Matthew chapter 11:

Matthew 11:13 - 14 WEB
13 . . . all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

Later, as they were descending from the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples asked the Lord a question about Elijah:

Matthew 17:10 - 13 WEB
10 His disciples asked him, saying, 'Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?
11 Jesus answered them, 'Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,
12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so will the Son of Man also suffer by them.'
13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.

The conversation in the passage above is related to a prophecy written in the last two verses of the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi 4:5,6 as shown below:

Malachi 4:5 - 6 ESV English Standard Version
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

The above passage from Malachi is quoted by the Angel who appeared to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, at the altar of incense in the Holy Place, as written in Luke chapter1:

Luke 1:17 King James Version
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Today, we learn that John the Baptist wore a garment of hair and a belt of leather just as Elijah the prophet did. John was a fulfilment of the prophecy by Malachi that Elijah would come to Israel again to "restore all things". Sadly, the religious leaders of Israel did not recognize him and he was eventually imprisoned and beheaded by Herod Antipas the ruler of Galilee.

The God who raised our Lord Iesus from the dead will also raise us

Tuesday 22Feb2022

Today is the 21st day of Adar (12th month) of the Biblical year. It is also the Third Day of the Biblical Week.

I am reminded from 2 Corinthians chapter 4 that the same God who raised our Lord Iesus from the dead will also raise each of us one day to be with our Lord Iesus. On that day, all of us will stand in His presence.

2 Corinthians 4:14  WNT  Weymouth New Testament

For we know that He who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will raise us also to be with Jesus,

and will cause both us and you to stand in His own presence.

Many gifts, services, workings - One common good

Monday 21Feb2022

From my New Testament reading today, I am reminded fro 1 Corinthians chapter 12 that there are various forms ("manifestations") of the working of the Holy Spirit among believers in the assembly and that all these different forms are given to us for our common good.

The Bible in Basic English tells us in verses 4 to 7 that the same Spirit of God gives us different qualities, different servants, and different operations. Each of us is given some form of the Spirit's working - for the common good of all believers in the assembly.

1 Corinthians 12:4 - 7  BBE  Bible in Basic English

4 Now there are different qualities given to men, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are different sorts of servants, but the same Lord.

6 And there are different operations, but the same God, who is working all things in all.

7 But to every man some form of the Spirit's working is given for the common good.

The Revised Standard Version renders the words qualities, servants, and operations in verses 4 to 6 as gifts, service, and working respectively. In verse 7, it says that each member in the assembly is given a "manifestation" of the Holy Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4 - 7  RSV  Revised Standard Version

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

6 and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one.

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

This common good is elaborated upon by the apostle in his Epistle to the Ephesians, in chapter 6, as follows:

Ephesians 6:12 - 13  BBE  Bible in Basic English

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us exercise the gift, service or working given to each of us by the Holy Spirit for the common good of all brethren in our assembly.

The form of God and The form of Man

Wednesday 26Jan2022

Philippians 2:5 - 7  JND  J.N.Darby's Translation
5 let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus;
6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God;
7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men;

Philippians 2:5 - 7  ASV  American Standard Version
5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

Luke 20:34 - 36  JND  J.N.Darby's Translation
34 And Jesus said to them, The sons of this world marry and are given in marriage,
35 but they who are counted worthy to have part in that world, and the resurrection from among [the] dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36 for neither can they die any more, for they are equal to angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:47 - 49  BBE  Bible in Basic English
47 The first man is from the earth, and of the earth: the second man is from heaven.
48 Those who are of the earth are like the man who was from the earth: and those who are of heaven are like the one from heaven.
49 And in the same way as we have taken on us the image of the man from the earth, so we will take on us the image of the one from heaven.

That I may by all means save some

Sunday 20Feb2022

1 Corinthians chapter 9 from today's New Testament reading contains the Apostle Paul's explanation of how he gave up his right of receiving payment for his ministry of preaching the gospel, but instead worked for a living (tent-making?), to make the gospel "without charge" to all who listened, believed, and became part of the assembly.

In verses 18 to 23, the apostle further explains that besides preaching the gospel freely without charge, he also made himself under bondage to all to whom he preached, so that he might "gain the more".

In what way did Paul put himself under bondage to all his listeners? verses 20 to 22 tells us in the passage below:

1 Corinthians 9:18 - 23  ASV  American Standard Version
18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.
19 For though I was free from all [men,] I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23 And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

From the passage above, we see the Apostle living like a servant "under bondage" to various groups of people to whom he preached in his ministry. When preaching the gospel to the Jews, he became as a Jew to gain the Jews. When preaching to the Gentiles who were not under the Law, he became as one without the Law (all the while living under the Law of the Anointed One) to gain them who were not under the Law. To those who were weak, he became weak like them to gain them who were weak.

Throughout his ministry, he gave up his right to be free, to live freely in his own way. Instead, he became "all things to all men", so that by all means he might save some of them.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us emulate the example set for us by the apostle to "become all things to all men" that we might by all means save some who are around us.

Let us glorify the Father of our Lord Iesus

Saturday 19Feb2022

Shabbat Shalom.

Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical week. Let us rest from all our work and keep the Fourth Commandment.

Today I am reminded by Romans chapter 15 verses 5 and 6 to pray for all believers in the assembly of God's people, that they may be likeminded, to glorify God - the Father of our Lord Iesus the Anointed One - with "one mind and one mouth".

Romans 15:5 - 6  KJV  King James Version

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans chapter 15 also refers to God the Father of our Lord Iesus as:

• the God of Patience 15:5,
• the God of Hope 15:13, and
• the God of Peace 15:33.

About two years ago, I wrote a short devotion on this passage, link below:

• God of Patience, God of Hope, God of Peace (Aug2020)

Until the fulness of the Gentiles come in

Friday 18Feb2022

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. Let us finish all our tasks for the week, tie up all loose ends, and prepare for the Seventh Day Sabbath rest which will begin at sunset this evening.

In my New Testament reading today, I observed from Romans chapter 11 a series of "If ... , How much more then ...?" questions posed by the Apostle in his discourse on the unsearchable wisdom and knowledge of God in showing His mercy to all people.

The Apostle Paul begins his discourse by asking the question, "Has God cast away His people (the Israelites)?"

Romans 11:1  KJV  King James Version

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

He then goes on to pose four "If ... How much more" questions from verses 11 to 33.

---

Question One: if the fall of Israel brings riches to the Gentiles, how much more will the fulness of their salvation bring?

Romans 11:11 - 12  KJV 

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

---

Question Two:if the casting away of Israel brings about the reconciling of the world, how much more will the receiving of Israel mean if not life from the dead?

Romans 11:15  KJV 

15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

---

Then in verses 16 to 18, Paul presents an analogy of root and branches to illustrate the relationship between the people of Israel and the Gentiles, likening the receiving of Gentile nations into the kingdom of God to wild olive branches being grafted into the olive tree after some of the natural branches were broken off.

Romans 11:16 - 18  KJV 

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

---

Question Three:if the wild olive branches (Gentiles) have been grafted "against nature" into a good olive tree, how much more will the natural branches (Israel) be grafted back into their own olive tree?

Romans 11:23 - 24  KJV 

23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

---

Question Four:This is actually not a question, but a statement: just as you have obtained God's mercy through the unbelief of Israel, even so, through the mercy shown to you, Israel may also obtain the mercy of God.

Romans 11:30 - 32  KJV 

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.v 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

---

In the course of presenting his four questions, the Apostle, quoting Isaiah 59:20, made an affirmation of God's plan of salvation for the world. In verses 25 and 26, he affirms that Israel is suffering "blindness in part" for the time being, until all the fulness of the Gentiles have come into the kingdom of God. Then, after that, all Israel will also be saved.

Romans 11:25 - 26  KJV 

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Isa 59:20

At the end of this chapter, the Apostle praises God for His unsearchable wisdom, knowledge, and judgments.

Romans 11:33  KJV 

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Law of God, Law of Sin, Law of the Spirit, revisited

Thursday 17Feb2022

This afternoon in my New Testament reading, I am reminded of the teaching of Three Spiritual Laws in chapters 7 and 8 of the Epistle to the Romans.

They are:

• The Law of God,
• The Law of Sin, and
• The Law of the Spirit

The following verses taken from Romans 7 and 8 mentions the three laws that govern our lives with respect to sin and righteousness.

Romans 7:22  KJV  King James Version
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Romans 7:22  KJV  Romans 7:23 KJV
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 8:1 - 2  KJV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:3b - 4  KJV
3 . . . God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

About nineteen years ago, back in March 2003, and again in April 2005, I preached sermons in my church on my observations of the Three Spiritual Laws above. Last August I posted my sermon notes, with some additional elaborations, on my devotional blog, link below:

• The Three Spiritual Laws (Mar2003, Apr2005, Aug2021)

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, let us walk not after the desires of the flesh. Let us instead walk after the Spirit, the powerful Presence of God which is poured out on us by our Lord. This is the Law of the Spirit. In this way, we are no longer bound by the Law of Sin, and we can fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law of God.

When Gentiles do by nature the things required in the Torah

Wednesday 16Feb2022

Today from my New Testament reading, I am reminded from Romans chapter 2 that there are Gentiles who have not heard the Torah but yet obey the commands of the Torah. These are the Gentiles who, despite not having been taught the commandments in the Torah, "do by nature the things required by the Torah" (Romans 2:14). It shows that the requirements of the Torah are written in their hearts.

The apostle used this observation to explain his assertion in verse 12 that all who sin apart from the Torah will perish apart from the Torah, and all who sin under the Torah will be judged by the Torah.

In the end, whether Jew or Gentile, it is those who obey the Torah who will be declared righteous.

Romans 2:12 - 16  NIV  New International Version

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us obey the Ten Commandments. Let us listen to our conscience. Let us do by nature the things required by the Law of God.

Take bread, give thanks, break it.

Tuesday 15Feb2022

This afternoon in my New Testament reading, I came across a passage in Acts chapter 27 telling us that the Apostle Paul, in his voyage to Rome, just before his ship was wrecked at Malta, took bread, gave thanks to God in front of everyone in the ship. and broke it before eating.

Acts 27:33 - 35 RV Revised Version
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all: and he brake it, and began to eat.

This reminds us of the way our Lord Iesus the Anointed One broke bread with his disciples at his Last Supper:

Luke 22:19 RV Revised Version
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Later, in 1 Corinthians chapter 23, the Apostle Paul recounted what the Lord did on the night of the Last Supper:

1 Corinthians 11:23 - 24 RV Revised Version
For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, how that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us remember the way our Lord broke bread with his disciples. Let us recall that the apostle also broke bread in a similar manner in front of the people on board the ill-fated ship. Let us also do likewise with food that the LORD gives us at each meal, to take hold of it in our hands, to give thanks to God for it, and to apportion it before having it for our meal.

The Way - the heretical sect called Nazarenes

Monday 14Feb2022

Did you know that in the early days, Christians were called Nazarenes?

From my New Testament reading this morning, I observed from the words of Tertullus the Orator in Acts 24:5 that the faith of the early disciples was called "the sect of the Nazarenes". This faith was also known as "the Way" and it was considered heretical by the Jews from Jerusalem at that time. (Acts 24:14)

Acts 24:5, 14 RBV Revised Berkeley Version

(Tertullus, an orator) 5 For we have found this man to be a veritable plague, stirring up, as he does, all the Jews on earth, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes

(Apostle Paul) 14 I confess this to you, however, that according to the Way which they call heresy, even so I worship the God of my fathers, believing in everything written in the Law and the Prophets.

Earlier in chapter 22, when Paul was making his defence in Hebrew before the riotous crowd at the entrance to the Roman army barracks in Jerusalem, he testified that the Lord told him in his encounter on the way to Damascus, "I am Iesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting . . . " (Acts 22:8b RBV)

Another observation I made in my reading of Acts chapter 24 today is that Governor Felix of Caesarea, before whom Paul was brought for examination, was well-versed in the teachings of "the Way" of the Nazarenes. And he was probably also quite familiar with the teachings of the Torah and the tradition of the Jews because his wife, Drusilla, was Jewish.

Acts 24:22, 24 RBV 

22 Since Felix understood the teachings of the Way quite well, he adjourned the case

24 After a few days, when Felix was present with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus.

However, governor Felix dared not evaluate this faith of "the Way" honestly and personally, probably because it was called a heresy by the Jews. When the Apostle Paul discussed with him things pertaining to righteousnes, mastery of passions, and the coming judgment, he became frightened and dismissed Paul.

Acts 24:25 RBV 

But as he discussed righteousness, the mastery of passions, and the coming judgment, Felix got frightened and responded, "You may go for now . . ."

David fought without sword and without shield

Sunday 13Feb2022

Only a boy named David
Only a rippling brook
Only a boy named David
Five little stones he took . . .

I learnt the song above when I was in Standard Four in 1970 in Methodist Boys' Primary School, Davidson Road, Kuala Lumpur. It was taught to us by our Headmaster during weekly chapel service.

This morning as I read First Samuel chapter 17, this little song came back to mind and brought back images of a boy swinging a stone at a giant's forehead.

From this morning's reading, my attention was drawn towards David's words in verse 37, telling King Saul that the LORD had saved him from lions and bears which he had killed with his bare hands, and that the LORD would likewise save him from Goliath the Philistine giant.

1 Samuel 17:34 - 37  GNB  Good News Bible
34“Your Majesty,” David said, “I take care of my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, 35I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death. 36I have killed lions and bears, and I will do the same to this heathen Philistine, who has defied the army of the living God. 37The LORD has saved me from lions and bears; he will save me from this Philistine.”

Eventually, when David was face to face with Goliath on the battleground, he told Goliath these words:

1 Samuel 17:45 - 47  GNB
45David answered, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the Israelite armies, which you have defied. 46This very day the LORD will put you in my power; I will defeat you and cut off your head. And I will give the bodies of the Philistine soldiers to the birds and animals to eat. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a God, 47and everyone here will see that the LORD does not need swords or spears to save his people. He is victorious in battle, and he will put all of you in our power.”

In the end, David, using only a sling and stone, defeated the giant who was armed with sword, spear and javelin. David fought without sword and without shield.

He fought in the Name of YeHoVaH Almighty!

Until we are parted by death

Friday 11Feb2022

In Ruth chapter 1 from today's Old Testament portion, I noticed that Ruth, upon being urged by her mother-in-law Naomi to go back to her own parents' home, replied her mother-in-law, " . . . where you die, I will die" and that nothing except death would part them.

Ruth 1:16 - 17  ESV  English Standard Version

16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

This is the first time I come across a person saying "Til death do us part" in the Bible, and not in a marriage vow.

Later in Ruth chapter 2, Ruth's relative Boaz described her life-long decision to remain with Naomi, to be part of the people of Israel, as akin to taking refuge under the wings of YHWH, the God of Israel.

Ruth 2:12  ESV

The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, have you made the same life-long decision that Ruth made? Have we decided to take refuge under the wings of the LORD our God? Have we decided to stay in fellowship with the assembly of God's children in this world, until death do us part?

The day of outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles

Thursday 10Feb2022

This afternoon, in my New Testament reading, the words of the Apostle Peter recorded in Acts chapter 11 woke me up to the fact that there was a second occasion when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened, other than that which took place on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem.

It was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius the Centurion.

Earlier in Acts chapter 2, we read that on the day of Shavuot (Pentecost), the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples as they were gathered together in Jerusalem,

Acts 2:1 - 4  WNT  Weymouth New Testament
1 At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met in one place;
2 when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where they were sitting;
3 and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted.
4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter.

However, it is not obvious, initially, from a cursory reading of Acts chapter 2 that all the disciples in Jerusalem on that Pentecost day were Israelites. It took some pondering over the chapter for me to see one fact:

There were no Gentiles among them.

It is much later, in Acts chapter 10 that we read about Peter being called from the city of Joppa to the city of Caesarea where Cornelius the Centurion, a Captain of the Italian Regiment was based. There, in the home of Cornelius, Peter preached the Gospel of Iesus the Anointed to the entire Gentile household of Cornelius, including "all his relatives and intimate friends" (Acts 10:24 WNT).

On that significant day, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles for the very first time.

Acts 10:44 - 48  WNT
44 While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message.
45 And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling the majesty of God. Then Peter said,
47 'Can any one forbid the use of water, and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?'
48 And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.

Upon his return to Jerusalem, Peter was taken to task by the "champions of circumcision" for entering the house of a Gentile and sitting at meal with them. (Acts 11:1 - 2 WNT). Peter told them in his reply,

Acts 11:15 - 18  WNT
15 'And,' said Peter, 'no sooner had I begun to speak than the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He fell upon us at the first.
16 Then I remembered the Lord's words, how He used to say, ''John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'
17 'If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why, who was I to be able to thwart God?'
18 This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, 'So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life.'

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us rejoice together that God our Father in Heaven has given repentance not only to the children of Israel, but also to the Gentiles as well.

Let us keep these words of the Apostle Peter in our hearts, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to life".

The Day of Shavuot when the Holy Spirit was poured out

Sunday 06Feb2022

In my New Testament reading today, I read the account in Acts chapter 2 of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as they were all gathered "with one accord in one place" in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1)

This outpouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the prophecy written by the Propet Joel:

Joel 2:28 -32 (Joel 3:1 - 5 in LXX Septuagint)
1 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 2 And on my servants and on my handmaids in those days will I pour out of my Spirit. 3 And I will shew wonders in heaven, and upon the earth, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke. 4 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord come. 5 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved: for in mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one be as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings preached to them, whom the Lord has called.

From Acts 2:1, we learn that this outpouring happened on the Day of Pentecost or Shavuot in Hebrew.

Shavuot celebrates the grain harvest of late spring / early summer. It is celebrated exactly seven weeks after the Pesach (Passover).

To arrive at the date of Shavuot, the children of Israel will count 7 weeks (49 days) from the from the second evening of passover (evening of 15th day of 1st month). Today, this practice is called the counting of the omer (a unit measure of grain, particularly barley).

At the end of the counting of omer, shavuot falls on the 50th day after the first passover meal (evening of 14th day of 1st month), hence the name Pentecost

The following lists the dates of Pesach and Shavuot in this year 2022:

• Pesach begins on the evening of Fri 15Apr22 (14th day of 1st month)
• Counting of omer begins on Sat 16Apr22 (15th day of 1st month) and ends on Sat 04Jun22 (6th day of 3rd month)
• Shavuot is celebrated on Sun 05Jun22 (7th day of 3rd month)

Shavuot is one of the three Pilgrimage Festivals among the children of Israel, when Israelite males make pilgrimages to Jerusalem. The other two pilgrimage festivals are Pesach (Passover, 14th to 21st day of 1st month), and Sukkot (Tabernacles, 15th to 22nd day of 7th month)

It is not surprising therefore to read in Acts chapter 2 that a multitude of pilgrims from many distant places heard the disciples uttering the wonderful works of God in each of their languages.

Acts 2:9 - 11 KJV
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

At the end of his discourse on that day of Shavuot, the Apostle Peter told the pilgrims who were gathered there:

Acts 2:38 - 39 KJV
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, have you repented from sin? Have you been baptised in the name of Iesus the Anointed One? And most of all, have you received the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was poured out on the disciples on that Day of Shavuot?

Nine years ago in May 2013, I wrote a short devotion on this account of Acts chapter 2 in my devotional blog, linked below:

• The Promise is for you, for your children, and for all afar.

The Conquests of Moses and Joshua

Saturday 05Feb2022

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work and keep the Fourth Commandment.

From the book of Joshua chapter 12 in today's reading, I came across a list of all the kings that went to war against the children of Israel and were defeated by the army of Israel led first by Moses and subsequently by Joshua's

Moses defeated two Kings in the land East of the Jordan, "beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward" Deuteronomy 12:1 - 6  WEB  World English Bible.

The defeat of the Amorite kings Sihon of Heshbon and Og of Bashan is recorded in the book of Numbers chapter 21.

1. Sihon king of Heshbon, Amorite
2. Og king of Bashan, Amorite

Joshua defeated thirty-one Kings in the land West of the Jordan, "beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir" Deuteronomy 12:7 - 24  WEB

A detailed account of the conquest of Jericho is written in Joshua chapters 5 and 6. The conquest of Ai is recorded in Joshua chapter 8, while the defeat of the remaining 29 Canaanite kings is recorded Joshua chapters 10 and 11.

1. king of Jericho
2. king of Ai, which is beside Bethel
3. king of Jerusalem
4. king of Hebron
5. king of Jarmuth
6. king of Lachish
7. king of Eglon
8. king of Gezer
9. king of Debir
10. king of Geder
11. king of Hormah
12. king of Arad
13. king of Libnah
14. king of Adullam
15. king of Makkedah
16. king of Bethel
17. king of Tappuah
18. king of Hepher
19. king of Aphek
20. king of Lassharon
21. king of Madon
22. king of Hazor
23. king of Shimron-meron
24. king of Achshaph
25. king of Taanach
26. king of Megiddo
27. king of Kedesh
28. king of Jokneam in Carmel
29. king of Dor
30. king of Goiim in Gilgal
31. king of Tirzah

Be kind to the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow in your midst

Wednesday 02Feb2022

This afternoon in my reading of the Old Testament, I saw that the LORD commanded Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 24 to tell the children of Israel to treat three groups of poor people in their midst kindly:

1. The sojourners,
2. The fatherless, and
3. The widows

Deuteronomy 24:17 - 22  WEB  World English Bible

17 You shall not wrest the justice [due] to the sojourner, [or] to the fatherless, nor take the widow's clothing to pledge;
18 but you shall remember that you were a bondservant in Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you there: therefore I command you to do this thing.
19 When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgot a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
20 When you beat your olive-tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21 When you gather [the grapes of] your vineyard, you shall not glean it after you: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22 You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt: therefore I command you to do this thing.

Deuteronomy 27:19  WEB

Cursed be he who wrests the justice [due] to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. All the people shall say, Amen.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, let us also show kindness to the poor who live in our midst. Let us help, protect and bring relief to refugees, orphans, and widows around us.

A Prophet like Moses

Tuesday 01Feb2022

This morning's Old Testament reading brought me to a passage in Deuteronomy chapter 18 where Moses told the children of Israel that the LORD would send to them a prophet "like me" (like Moses). Deuteronomy 18:18 tells us that this prophet would tell Israel everything that the LORD commands.

Deuteronomy 18:14 - 18  GNB  Good News Bible
14Then Moses said, “In the land you are about to occupy, people follow the advice of those who practise divination and look for omens, but the LORD your God does not allow you to do this. 15Instead, he will send you a prophet like me from among your own people, and you are to obey him.
16“On the day that you were gathered at Mount Sinai, you begged not to hear the LORD speak again or to see his fiery presence any more, because you were afraid you would die. 17So the LORD said to me, ‘They have made a wise request. 18I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command.

This prophecy about a prophet like Moses was subsequently fulfilled in the coming of Iesus the Anointed One, born in Bethlehem the city of David, grew up in Nazareth, baptized by John the Baptist and was filled with the Holy Spirit whom God gave to him, coming down upon him like a dove just after his baptism.

In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 3, the Apostle Peter told the people in Jerusalem after he had healed the crippled man at the Beautiful gate:

Acts 3:22  KJV  King James Version
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Similarly, the disciple Stephen on the day he was martyred, told the high priest and the crowd who surrounded him:

Acts 7:37  KJV
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us hold fast to the words of our Lord Iesus the Anointed. He is the prophet promised by the LORD since ancient times, a prophet like Moses. "Him shall ye hear".