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A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
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#And after those days we took up our carriages and went up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:15
Happy 4th of July and the United States celebrates Independence Day. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. The Greek word for carriages is Aposkeuazomai which is a compound word of apo and a derivative of skeuos which means to pack up one's baggage. Well, so it is that Paul and his companions packed up their baggage and went up to Jerusalem. So Paul is ready to be bound for the Lord as well as to die for His namesake. Let us offer our service to the Lord as we call a nation to repentance. The Scripture teaches that the nation that forgets God shall be turned into hell. I pray that a revival will break out as we seek the Lord with our whole hearts and turn away from our wicked ways. If my people which are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their sins, I will hear their prayer, forgive their sins, and heal their land. II Chron. 7:14 Let us move forward by faith turning to the Lord just like Paul did by saying not my will, but Thine be done.
#And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Acts 21:14
The Greek word for persuade is Peitho, which means to persuade, to have confidence. A primary verb; is to convince (by argument, true or false) by analogy, to pacify or conciliate. So the disciples were fully persuaded, that Paul would not be willing to not go to Jerusalem, so they ceased trying to persuade him, so they said the will of the Lord be done. The Greek word for Lord is Kyrios, which means master; supreme in authority, i.e. by implication Master, God is in the supremacy of authority, and His will must be done. The Lord Jesus submitted in the Garden of Gethsemane, that if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done. This is the attitude of Paul as he has a manifest destiny to go to Jerusalem. So the disciples submitted to the will of God by saying The will of the Lord be done. When we learn the supremacy of the Lord God almighty, we too must say, not my will, but Thine be done. That is true in our marriage, our employment, and our ultimate time of departing this life. For it is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. We must not be afraid when the will of God calls us to lay down our lives for the brethren. Such is what the Lord Jesus did for us, and He told us that we too would be baptized with the same things that He suffered. Just know that His grace is sufficient for us in every area where God sends us. Jim Elliot the missionary said a man is no fool to give up what he cannot keep, in order to gain what he cannot lose. Jesus said the abundance of our life is not in the possessions that we have. The goal of our lives is when we get to the end of our journey, we will hear well done, good and faithful servants, enter thou now into the joy of the Lord.
#Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21:13
The Greek word for bound is deo, which means to tie, bind, knit, and wind. So Paul answered the prophecy of Agabus, with the words, What mean ye to weep and break mind heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. He is completely knit together in his love for the Lord Jesus and the brethren that his heart is breaking at their concern for his journey to Jerusalem. We must be willing to be bound, and not only that but to lay do our lives for the Lord Jesus. As Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd, and I lay down my life for the sheep, for I have the power to take it back. That is what Paul is rejoicing in knowing that the Lord Jesus will take his life from the grave in the resurrection. So therefore he has no reason to fear being bound or giving his life as a drink offering for the Lord. What a blessing and inspiration this is for us to know that to live is Christ, and to die gain. That is why we are called bond servants of the Lord Jesus and gladly will suffer for His name's sake. So metaphorically, the bodies of the dead were accustomed to being bound with bandages and linen cloths. So this is why Paul was not afraid to be bound in prison and turned over to the Gentiles for execution. Paul could say later in his swan song that I have fought the good fight, run the race, and finished my course, now there is left for me the crown of righteousness, whom the Lord will give to me at the Judgment and not me only, but all those who will love His appearing in the rapture.
#And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:12
The Greek word for besought is parakaleo, which means to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage, beseech, Para and Kaleo is to call near i.e. Invite, invoke, entreat, and pray. That is what both of the disciples did when they heard the prophecy that was given to do their best to exhort Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. This shows the love that they have for Paul and how they do not want to see him bound up in Jerusalem. I thank the Lord for those who love us and pray for our safety, and as we look back over our lives how many of us have been saved by the prayers of those who love us. Paul is blessed to have such faithful companions in the Lord and the consolation that they gave him was inspirational to his ministry. It has been almost six years now that I have been separated from my wife of thirty-five years and I thank the Lord for all those who call on me to check that I am doing well in the Lord. I have experienced the grace of God and the promise that Jesus gave to never leave or forsake us. This is the same hope that keeps Paul going despite all the warnings that he has been given, and we can learn much from this passage about how we are to pray for those whom we love.
#And when he came unto us, he took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. Acts 21:11
The Greek word for girdle is zone, which is a belt; by implication, a pocket girdle purse. So Agabus the prophet takes Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle as well as deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. This is alarming to Paul, but he is prepared not only to be bound for the Lord Jesus and to die for Him. We must be willing to take up the cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus. All those who are disciples of the Lord must bear his cross daily. Jesus told Paul at his Damascus road conversion that he would suffer many things for His name's sake. Thus Agabus is confirming the words of the Lord Jesus. We too must expect more persecution as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ in these days of apostasy. Therefore, Jesus told us all those who would give their life, would receive the crown of life at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There are five crowns that Christians will be awarded at the Bema Seat of Christ so we must be careful that no man will steal our crown. Jesus told us not to fear the man who can only destroy the body, but to fear Him who can destroy body, and soul in the Lake of Fire.
#And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Acts 21:10
The Greek word for tarry is epimeno, which means to stay over, i.e. Remain, persevere, or abide in. So that is what Paul and his disciples are doing enjoying the ministry of Philip and his four virgin daughters. The Greek word for prophet is prophetes which means an interpreter of the forth-teller of the divine will. So the Holy Spirit has sent from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. He is of Hebrew origin and an Israelite. He is a Christian prophet so he is in tune with the apostle Paul and will be used greatly by the Lord to warn Paul of what awaits him in Jerusalem. I thank God that if you desire the gift of prophecy, you will do well. It is a blessing of the Holy Spirit to give us the gifts to edify the body of Christ and that is exactly what Agabus is going to do. Let us continue to pray for Ukraine as the war with Russia is getting very brutal and many innocent people are being targeted by the Russian army and killed. If NATO does not stop Russia in Ukraine they will be a threat to the peace and security of Israel. The scripture tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for they shall prosper who do so.
#And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Acts 21:9
The Greek word for virgins is Parthenos which means of unknown origin; a maiden; by implication, an unmarried daughter. So Philip had four virgin unmarried daughters, which did prophesy. The Greek word for prophecy is propheteuo, which means to foretell or to tell forth. From prophetes to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, and exercise the prophetic office. That is what Philip's daughters were doing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So this proves that women can indeed preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet Paul taught that they were not to usurp authority over the man. So Paul wants them to have a women's ministry mainly and not to be Pastors. Since the Lord appointed twelve disciples and all of them were men; so this is the apostolic doctrine of the Church. Yet not all churches believe in this teaching, as I was in one that appointed a woman to be Pastor, and because of this being in violation of the apostolic doctrine, I left that denomination and became an itinerant minister. I believe having a woman as a Pastor leads to a Jezebel spirit in the church and it will cause all kinds of dissimulations to be developed.
#And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed and came unto Caesarea and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven and abode with him. Acts 21:8
The Greek word for Caesarea is Kaisareia which was the name of two cities in Palestine. Caesarea Philippi was situated at the foot of Lebanon near the sources of the Jordan in Gaulantis and was formerly called Paneas, but after being rebuilt by Philip the tetrarch, it was called by him Caesarea in honor of Tiberius Caesar. So the next day those of the company of Paul came unto Caesarea and entered into the house of Philip the evangelist. The Greek word for evangelist is euangelistes, which means a bringer of good news. And that is what Philip was doing with his four daughters. This name is given in the New Testament to those heralds of salvation through Christ who is not apostles. We were blessed with the famous evangelist Billy Graham who preached the gospel for over 70 yrs. to more people than any evangelists before him. How we are blessed and there will be many souls in the kingdom of God because of his preaching.
#And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais and saluted the brethren and abode with them one day. Acts 21:7
Ptolemais was a maritime city of Phoenicia, which got its name, apparently from Ptolemy Lathyrus who captured it and rebuilt it more beautifully in Judges 1:31 So when the disciples finished their course from Tyre they came to Ptolemais where they saluted the brethren and abode with them one day. Thank God for the true brethren of the Lord Jesus Christ who believed in saluting and honoring the brethren which the scripture commands us to do. Today being a minister, many people will gossip about him rather than salute him. The scripture says let those who rule well be worthy of double honor. So let us salute and give thanks to those who serve the Lord Jesus Christ as Paul is doing in Ptolemais. We thank God also for the Supreme Court for doing a good thing in reaffirming the Second Amendment rights of Gun owners and Congress for passing justly gun reform legislation. If one life is saved it will be worth it all.
#And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. Acts 21:5
The Greek word for accomplished is exartizo which means to complete, to equip fully. It comes from ek and a derivative of artios: to finish out, accomplish thoroughly finish. That is what the disciples helped Paul and his company to do in those days, and once the work of strengthening the churches was finished, they departed and went our way. And they all brought us on our way with wives and children. The question is did Paul have a wife and children? The bible does not tell us specifically if he did or didn't, but we glean from this text that he could have. Then once they were out of the city, we kneeled down on the shore and prayed. This is a great place to have a prayer meeting on the beach shore as it is what the Lord Jesus did on Galilee just before His ascension into heaven. The family that prays together often stays together so I highly encourage you to take your family to the beach shore and have a prayer meeting. This will be a warm time for spiritual renewal and fellowship.
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