The Sufferings of Paul (sic!)

Remember our previous post on the Damascus-road-experience?

Someone reads the subsequent part in Acts 9:29: and speaking boldly in the Name of the Master יהושע and disputed with the Hellenists, but they undertook to kill him and this someone says: "See, the words and prophecy of Jesus in verse 16 was coming true!"

... but was it?

The Hodos experience

How many sermons have you heard about the "Damascus-experience"?

Some law-preachers even teach that everyone should have a "Damascus-experience" before being fully converted.

So, what does it mean ... and what really happened?

In Acts 9:1-22 we read all about Paul's "Damascus-experience".

Restored to take charge! katartizō and râdâh

There comes a time when those sown in confusion (us, born in Babylon) (Babylon - confusion by mixture ... mixture of law and Grace) will return to the position of peace and rest (Jerusalem) and live out the original God-given purpose for their lives ... to have dominion (Gen 1:26).

Life secured by the Shepherd of Grace

Ready for some really loaded verses?

The Gospel is everywhere concealed in the old covenant and clearly revealed by Grace Himself (the new Covenant Himself).

The pictographs (in brackets), as the Spirit of God revealed them to me, just absolutely took my breath away.

Reading Psalm 106 verses 1 to 5 with picture analysis from the ancient Hebrew text and letters:

Praise ye יהוה. O give thanks unto יהוה; for he is good [ṭôb or טוב with pictograph: surround the secured house]: for his mercy [goodness or chêsêd or חסד with pictograph: bondage broken down to freedom] endureth for ever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of יהוה? who can shew forth all his praise? [The answer comes in the next verse ...]

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. [Those that behold the judgement of Jesus over evil and He (Jesus) who does righteousness always]

Remember me, O יהוה, with the favour [râtsôn רצן, or pleasures, delight, acceptance with pictograph: the Highest captures you in life] that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation [yeshû‛âh];

That I may see the good [ṭôb] of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance [nachălâh or נחלה with pictograph (get this): life secured by the Shepherd of Grace]. Psa 106:1-5

...

... breathless!

Love-embraced-hypervictorious!

To be victorious in this life has nothing to do with our abilities, right living, being obedient to the law or how long or how right we pray.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of יהוה, which is in Messiah Yahushua our Saviour. Rom 8:38-39

Love-Cross-check!

Ready for a CROSS-CHECKING exercise?

1 Corinthians 13 is a perfect description of Jesus!

Does it have a shadow in the scriptures of the old covenant?

You can read the whole of this love chapter by substituting Love's other Name wherever the word "love" or "charity" (KJV) is used with the Word "Jesus".

It makes a whole lot of sense if you do, doesn't it?

Who is Jesus? Lego.

Our confession of who Jesus is, is oftentimes tainted, twisted and corrupted because of our traditions and beliefs formed through the man-made doctrine of the institutional church.

So many times have I heard people saying that it was Jesus who allowed some devastating event to happen in our lives so that that person could grow in faith and emerge a stronger person.

That is sick!

Pesach again?

Pesach is not Easter

The Jewish feast of Pesach is on again.

So are many other similar feasts and rituals that celebrate similar events and man-made traditions - see here.

… and somehow Christians feel obligated to celebrate one, if not a man-made cooked-up version of these feasts.

Easter-celebrating Christians will not be looking at the Jewish dates this year since the Passover is not aligned to the feast of Pesach (see here). 

Easter is not Pesach

How then, is the date for Easter determined on the Western calendar?

Task-master or Close-Companion? Paraklētos

It is amazing how we sometimes attribute functions and characteristics to the Holy Spirit that are simply not true. These characteristics are far divorced and distant from the kind and beautiful character of our Abba and Jesus Himself.

The Holy Spirit is not the One who reminds you of your bad, sinful past!

Thoroughly acquainted?

Paul is the apostle of Grace. Look how he greats the Colossian Christians by reminding them that they have a Hope, an Inheritance laid up in heaven for them. He says in Col 1:6:

It is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.