Pre-Christmas Thoughts...

Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

                  The night sky is filled with stars, some bright, some a little dull, some near and some very, very far away. They make a light filled tapestry that is very impressive even to the most casual of observers. The further into the suburbs and outlying areas, away from all the light pollution the sky is transformed. The deeper darkness reveals billions more stars so that it almost looks like a thick starry blanket that covers the night sky. Breathtaking is the only way to describe it.

            A little over 2000 years ago a certain star filled a small segment of the sky. It was said to have led the 3 Magi to where the Christ child lay. Some scientists and astronomers got together and tried to find out if it really was a star or other celestial bodies that were responsible for that certain big, bright light that night. That star provided the type of light that made travel a bit easier as it lit up the terrain that surrounded you as you continue your trek thru the night. There was speculation that it may have been 3 planets, all properly aligned at the time of Christ’s birth that could have been responsible for that great light. Others speculate that it may have been an mighty angel shining with the light of heaven, that hovered over where Christ laid as a sign of the importance of this development. Or it could have simply been a star … a Star of Bethlehem. Regardless of what it was, it’s light drew those God desired to be present for the birth of his beloved Son. His Son who would live and die with the sole purpose of eradicating all sin from the hearts of mankind.

            There was nothing special about that star other than it being one of a myriad of conduits used by God to fulfill his purposes. Another piece in the mysterious puzzle that constituted his grand plan of salvation. Once the star had served its purpose it is never spoken of again. Another innocuous event in the lives of men that led to a greater purpose, a singular goal, the expulsion of sin from man’s heart. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His name & for His glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Pre-Christmas Thoughts...

Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

            Women get pregnant all the time. It’s the right of passage to motherhood. It’s something that has transpired throughout the years, generation by generation. But Mary was different. She was hand selected by God to carry HIS Son. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to deliver this message; Mary would give birth to a son who shall be called Jesus. I think it’s safe to say no one has had an experience like that before that time or since. So while women can relate to the experience itself, there is no way they could ever relate to how it all took place.

            Joseph was an honorable man. We know that because when he found out Mary was pregnant he decided he would help her because of the stigma that was borne out of what appeared to be an illegitimate pregnancy. He knew he couldn’t marry her under these conditions but wanted to do the honorable thing.  Then Gabriel came to Joseph and told him it was all right for him to take Mary as his wife for she was pregnant by the hand of God. 

            The pregnant Mary endured travelling riding bare back on a donkey the entire trip that she and Joseph were to take. Speculation from scholars says the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was roughly 90 miles. They probably travelled about 20 miles per day making their trip take approximately 4 ½ days. Even though there were no rooms in the Inn, resting in a stable was probably a welcome break after their long trip. A donkey would play another prominent role in the life of Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem on the back of one as an adult. This beast of burden was a symbol of the simplicity demonstrated by Christ. Thought he was worthy of it; Jesus requested no gold covered carriage or throne. Rather he very specifically sent his disciples to fetch a donkey for his entrance. It was a sign of not only basic transportation, but a clear indication of humility. This is an important trait in any follower of Christ. God is greater, I am the lesser. He is to take the lead in our lives, not us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Pre-Christmas Thoughts...

     Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

             At this time of year the landscape becomes littered with manger scenes. Plastic ones that light up, life size ones that move and table top ones for the homestead. Some come with hay and a wooden crèche. Cultural history from that region tells us there may have been a variety of crèches  … some made of stone, some of wood, some cut out of a stone wall. I’ve read various articles regarding what type of crèche Jesus was laid in, but aside from tradition, cultural regularities or accumulated historical data, no one truly knows. 

            Man is a curious being. They have a need to know inconsequential information. Frankly, although it’s interesting (at least to some) to find out where Jesus was born, in what he was laid and what his surroundings were regarding personage and animals, the main topic to be discussed would be the birth.  I do see the significance in knowing about the 3 Wise Men. They traveled a great distance following a star in the sky to where the baby lay. They bore him gifts fit for a king and were Godly men due to their allowing an angel of God to advise them. I would imagine the presence of the animals and the overall scene itself reveals the common way in which Christ was born. Not in a palace, but in a stable with barn yard animals. A relatable scene to the vast majority of those he would minister to in future years.

            There was no heat, no creature comforts and no amenities, just beasts of burden, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. This scene is just the opposite of what you would expect for the birth of a king. God orchestrated this from the very beginning and worked out every detail with the precision of a highly skilled surgeon. Was Jesus really born on December 25^th? I doubt it. There are several theories as to when he was born, but all of that is inconsequential in the eternal scheme of things. The fact that needs to be focused on is that Jesus came, lived his life ministering to mankind and died a criminal’s death so that we might live. That’s what can be called ‘the great exchange’! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

http://www.minidevos.blogspot.com

https://rlkeller4291.wixsite.com/mysite

Pre-Christmas Thoughts ...

NOTE:  Now thru Christmas day I will be breaking from our study of Acts to look at the Advent Season. I’ll be touching on what Christmas appears to mean to a large grouping of people and perhaps what it could or should mean. I hope you enjoy it. Rlkeller - BOLM

 

Pre-Christmas Thoughts from a Random Mind

 

The message of the gospel is straining to be heard over the cacophony of noise the world provides at this time of year. Salesmen sound like Carnival barkers as they sell their wares. Sales for the next “latest, greatest” thing are soaring thru the roof. The giddy excitement of getting what you’ve always wanted. The numbness that hits you over and over as your credit cards become so overworked they are warm to the touch by the end of each day. That’s what Christmas has become and that’s what it is. But is that what Christmas is supposed to be all about?

The message of the gospel doesn’t hit you like the heavy-handed sound of a syncopated drumbeat. It’s the still small voice of peace and hope. Those who are drawn to it embrace it and follow its lead like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites out of Egypt. It speaks to our hearts about the Christmas story that was born over 2000 years ago. There are many explanations of just what a manger is. There is so much discussion about the time and the place and that which surrounded baby Jesus, that it almost overshadows the importance and miraculous nature of his coming.

       Christmas time is a time to reflect on the divine gift giver, rather than the gifts we receive, for their value is infinitesimal by comparison. We all need to focus on Christ at this time of year more so than any other time of the year for his coming is vastly important, not just to you and me, but to all mankind. His death cannot take place unless his birth comes first.

Learn to block out the wide variety of noises that attempt to break the sound barrier and hone in on the importance of birth vs. the resurrection. That is not to diminish Christ’s death and resurrection at all, but it is very much like the ‘which came first the chicken or the egg’ conundrum. We Christians must stay in touch with what our faith means to us as individuals because it is a very personal individual faith that we have. Don’t ever lose sight of what is truly important during this most wonderful holiday season.

       May God be praised both today and always!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

In His name & for His Glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for Today

 

Word for Today

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

GRATITUDE

Being thankful

 

            I would contend that Christians throughout the world are grateful for all God’s blessings YEAR ROUND. Having said that, there is a special day when we in America and certain other countries of the world either publicly or privately celebrate in acknowledgement of divine favor in all aspects of their lives. Other countries, such as Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Japan, The United Kingdom & even Brazil celebrate in various ways the holiday known as Thanksgiving. Some countries have religious overtones to their celebrations, others focus on their yearly harvest, like Germany, who calls their celebration Erntedankfest, which is a more public celebration with musical performances, dancing, fireworks, and food. In some places, churches are decorated with autumn crops and during the day, people participate in religious processions or parades.

            In America, many have reduced this special day to nothing more than a family gathering, with food, drink, and football. While there is nothing essentially wrong at all with that take on the holiday, I’m afraid that God is largely left out. The dark elements of the world have sought to eliminate God from all parts of our lives; however, the light of God still remains, albeit in a lesser role. 

            On this day when we remember all the wonderful blessings God has bestowed on each one of us, don’t forget to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done in our hearts thru the death of His Son. We must never lose sight of the fact that God is the preeminent force and guiding light for us to bask in and follow as we seek to imitate all that Christ is. Don’t ever lose sight also of the fact that we exist for His good pleasure and without Him there would be no life at all. Man didn’t come into existence all on his own. Our Creator has birthed us and blessed us with immeasurable gifts that many times we either overlook or take for granted. Thank God for it is from God that all our blessings flow. Glory be to God, for His love endures forever and whether we acknowledge it or not, He loves us and only wants the absolute best for each one of us in this life. 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and may the God of heaven bless each and                              every one of you with His deepest and richest blessings!

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Word for Today

 

Word for Today

 

Word for Today

Hello friends ... tomorrow I embark on a 20 day work marathon. In other words, working in a Logistics environment as I do, our customers consider this time of year their peak season. Therefore, I will be working from tomorrow thru Saturday, December 10th with no days off except Thanksgiving. You may remember me saying in the past that if I feel I don't have the time to do the research to put together a proper blog posting, then I will find and post something else, such as the Word for Today postings I put up. I've been super busy lately and am only able to prepare a proper posting several times a week and for the next 21 days there may be more of the Word for Today postings. This will be a temporary situation. I trust you will understand and stick with me during this busy time. Please pray for me as my body hasn't been handling the heavy work load as it once did when I was younger. God will see me thru this brief change in schedule and He will receive all the glory without question. Thank you all and God bless you ... .

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The Book of Acts

The Riot in Ephesus

Acts 19:22-41 _NLT

“(Paul) sent two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia. About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.” - Acts 19:22-23

                  It seems that there’s always someone somewhere who for their own selfish reasons has a problem with the gospel message. The fact that the message preached said nothing of the Greek god Artemis yet proclaimed Jesus and what their message conveyed regarding love, peace, forgiveness, compassion and so on, infuriated the tradesmen of the city. Demetrius, a local silversmith who manufactured silver shrines to the Greek goddess Artemis, saw ‘red’ because the message was bringing about confusion with the city dwellers.

                  Artemis was the goddess of fertility, represented by a carved female figure with many breasts, which had been placed in a temple constructed solely for her in Ephesus. That temple was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The gospel message would most definitely cut into the livelihood of the tradesmen, since Paul told his listeners that the “hand-made gods” were in fact not gods at all; therefore, Demetrius instigated a riot in the city to compel the Christians to leave and never come back. Even though Demetrius’ beef was solely monetary and as a result selfish, he portrayed the situation as the province-wide loss of respect and influence of Artemis, who now held great prestige. In other words, he misrepresented his reasoning for the anger he was exhibiting publicly.

                  Paul wasn’t there at that time, therefore the rioters took Paul’s traveling companions Gaius and Aristarchus, to the Amphitheatre, apparently where matters of this nature were taken to discuss. Paul had wanted to go stand up for his brothers, but the believers he was with beg him not to go for fear that something terrible would befall him. 

                  At the Amphitheatre, a Jew named Alexander was coerced into stating the case for the rioters, as the Jews were equally upset about the propagation of the Way. However, the cause of the Jews was far different than that of the tradesmen, so when Alexander attempted to speak, the crowd realizing he was a Jew, began to shout once again. For the next 2 hours the crowd shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

                  At last the mayor of the city quieted the masses down and began to reason with them. Since the Christians hadn’t spoken out against Artemis or stolen anything from the temple in her name, they should not riot, but rather file charges for the city officials to hear and make a judgment.  The mayor’s concern was that the Roman government would accuse those in attendance of rioting, which would not be good for anyone. Therefore, the mayor defused the situation and the crown dispersed. Notice how all three parties involved with this situation had their own selfish reasons for shutting down what was going on. One was over money, one over the message itself and the last to avoid problems with the government. All selfish motives, all missed the point of apostles message. Sadly, in many ways, their reaction was no different than the reaction of many today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible  

Word for Today

 

The Book of Acts

                                         

Paul Ministers in Ephesus ... Acts 19:8-22 _NLT

“Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.” - Acts 19:8

            Paul’s preaching in the synagogue in Ephesus was the longest he was ever allowed to plead his  case in a synagogue. While there were those who saw the light in what he was saying, some were stubborn. Those individuals rejected his message and even began speaking out against “the Way”. Paul left and began speaking in a lecture hall at a school in the city. Historically, halls of this nature were used in the morning hours to teach philosophy. No one attended school or for that matter even worked during the peak of the day (11 am to 4 pm) because that was the hottest part of the day. The workers came to the hall during those hours to hear Paul preach.

                  The province of Asia, as shown on the map at the top of the page, refers to Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. Paul’s ministry touched souls in that entire region, not just because of his teaching, but also because of the converts who passed what they had learned on to others. Passing information along by word of mouth can be very effective, especially if the person is known to you. Then it would be my speculation that they more than likely know you can be trusted and that what you’re saying is true. 

                  Luke relays an incident regarding the seven sons of Sceva, who happened to be a leading priest in the area. They thought it was wise to attempt to cast out demons “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches”. Invoking the name of Jesus without knowing him personally can be a problem for you and so it was for the seven sons. The demon challenged them by saying he knew Paul and Jesus, but didn’t know who they were. The demon then pounced on the sons and beat them up, sending them fleeing to their home naked and battered. Demons are not to be trifled with. You must be in tune with the Lord and with the Holy Spirit and feel a certain calling to take on a ministry such as that.

                  The power of God was so great when Paul preached that even touching the sick or demon possessed with an article of clothing worn by the apostle brought about healing. Luke may have mentioned this to draw a parallel between the touching of the hem of Jesus cloak ^{(Luke 8:44)} and Peter’s shadow bringing about the healing of the sick ^{(Acts 5:15)}. It is to emphasize God’s power instead of the power in clothing or a shadow. God can use whatever He wishes to bring about a supernatural miracle. Such miracles brought a solemn fear across the land. There was a profound reverence for Jesus because of the the sons of Sceva event. It was at that point quite obvious that not just anyone could perform miracles, but rather someone in tune with God and His Holy Spirit, such as Paul and Peter. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004.

Word for Today

 

Word for Today

 

Word for Today

 

The Book of Acts

Paul’s 3^rd Missionary Journey

Acts 19:1-7 _NLT

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples...”. -  Acts 19:1

            Apollos had decided to remain in Corinth; however, Paul went on to Ephesus. He had intended to visit them at the start of his 2^nd Missionary journey but was unable to make it. Therefore he made sure he not only went this time but stayed a while...reportedly a little over 2 years. It was during his stay in Ephesus that he wrote his 1^st letter to the church in Corinth. 

            The 12 men he had encountered when he first arrived in Ephesus were true believers who were missing a most critical piece of the forgiveness puzzle. They admitted that they were followers of John the Baptist yet knew nothing of Jesus or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Their repentance was secure thru John’s baptism, but they needed to turn their faith to Jesus, the author and finisher of that faith. Once Paul had instructed them in their lack they received Christ and were filled with God’s Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by the apostle Paul. As evidence that this baptism had taken place, they immediately began speaking in tongues and prophesy. They had now believed that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah the Jews had all been waiting for.

            A word about Ephesus... It had been a sprawling metropolis that was a commercial and transportation hub for that Roman province, being a huge center of trade. This area linked the hinterland* of western Asia-Minor via the waterways. Excessive lumbering left the land somewhat barren and prone to erosion from the rains that came. The topsoil eroded into the streams and rivers carrying it to the river’s mouth, creating a marshy situation. The unchecked erosion clogged the waterways, choking off commerce, thus causing the city to lose money and its ability to sustain itself. When Paul had arrived it was a shadow of its former self. Nonetheless, this appeared to have no ill effect on the propagation of the gospel, which gave hope to those all who embraced it. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004.

*  The land directly adjacent to and inland from a coast.

a. A region remote from urban areas, backcountry.

b. A region situated beyond metropolitan centers of culture.

Word for Today

 

The Book of Acts

Apollos’ Story

 

            In yesterday’s post we identified Apollos as a gifted man who knew the Old Testament and the ministry of John the Baptist. He was a believer whose zeal for God showed every time he spoke. So when Priscilla and Aquila took him home to help fill in the blanks regarding what his teaching and preaching was missing, Apollos eagerly went along and listened intently. His humility was evidenced by his desire to learn whatever anyone wished to teach him about the one true gospel and the life of Jesus. If he were prideful he would have resisted further instruction, believing that what he already knew was enough. We all can learn from his life by also having a teachable spirit. No matter how long we may serve the Lord, there will always be something we have been unaware of. We must be willing to feast at the table of God’s wisdom. 

            Apollos ability to speak with God’s power, was only accentuated by his persuasiveness. The definition of “apologist” is one who is able to defend and justify a doctrine or school of thought effectively. Therefore, Apollos would be classified as an apologist for the gospel of Christ. His messages were effective in that they were biblically accurate and infused with the power of the Almighty. His clear verbal defense of the gospel message not only convinced unbelievers of its truth but acted as an encouragement for believers as well.

            Apollos was a Jew who originally came from Alexandria in Egypt. His main occupation was as a travelling preacher and, as mentioned earlier, an apologist for the gospel. Paul mentions Apollos in his correspondence to the Corinthian church several times and in his letter to Titus. It is very apparent that Paul favored Apollos and wasn’t hesitant in the least to recommend him to others so that they might benefit from his ministry gifts. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

The Book of Acts

Apollos Receives Instruction at Ephesus

Acts 18:23-28 _NLT

“After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt.”- Acts 18:23-24

            Apollos had been taught in the ways of Jesus and was zealous to impart all he had learned to others who had yet to hear. The one informational shortfall Apollos had was that he was only aware of John’s baptism. John the Baptist entire message spoke of repentance from sin and believe in Christ. Apollos was unfamiliar with Jesus’ life, crucifixion, and resurrection.  He also knew nothing of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos preaching in the synagogue in Ephesus and noticed some deficiencies. They approached him when he was finished and explained his lack of knowledge regarding the Lord. Apollos was eager to learn whatever was available to learn, so he listened to the couple intently. Once he had the missing information fed to him, he went to Achaia; the Ephesus church strongly encouraged him to go. They even wrote a letter of introduction on behalf of Apollos to the believers in Achaia. 

            When Apollos arrived in Achaia, he was welcomed with open arms. His presence there proved to be a wonderful blessing and benefit to those who believed. His ability to debate and convince Jews there that Jesus wasn’t simply a man, but the very Messiah the OT had prophesied about was amazing. Being a gifted orator, God used Apollos to bring many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Now having heard the entire story of Jesus, he was an even more formidable ambassador for the Kingdom. We will look a little deeper into Apollos, the person, in my next posting.

            The lesson we can learn from this story of Apollos, is that though he was humble and never sought fame, fortune, or any type of notoriety at all, the believers in Corinth, where he later went, began to idolize the man rather than focus on the message, as they should have. There is no evidence that Apollos encouraged this type of attention, and Paul, when made aware of it, didn’t hold Apollos responsible at all. Paul did, however, make a point of speaking with the Corinthian church about this divisive issue. We must always remember that we are nothing but a single grain of sand on the beaches of life. We are significant only because of God. He needs help from no one but did choose to use us for his glory as his witnesses, His ambassadors, so to speak. Remember that and choose your words and actions wisely each day. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004.

The Book of Acts

Paul Returns to Antioch of Syria

Acts 18:18-23 _NLT

“Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea.” - Acts 18:18

                  The remainder of verse 18 reveals something that on the surface seems rather odd until you realize why Paul was doing such a thing. I am referring to shaving his hair off. The balance of the verse says, “There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow.” What vow might this be? “Paul had apparently earlier taken a Nazirite vow that had now ended; such a vow had to be fulfilled at Jerusalem, where the hair would be presented to God and sacrifices offered.” *

                  Scripture tells us that from the port of Cenchrea, Paul set sail for Syria. He took with him his new friends Priscilla and Aquila. All three being leather workers**, they were able to take their business with them wherever they would go and that is exactly what the couple did. When Paul wasn’t in the synagogue preaching and debating, he was with Priscilla and Aquila making tents out of leather. It would appear that they used goat skin to make their tents. It sounds like they left the hair on the skin to add warmth. An interesting bit of trivia is that if the hair comes from an Angora goat, it is called ‘mohair’. Perhaps you’ve owned a mohair article of clothing at some point in time. You were wearing goat hair.

                  Paul, along with Priscilla and Aquila, stopped at the port of Ephesus. Paul then separated from them to go to the local synagogue to reason with the Jews there. When they asked him to stay with them longer Paul declined saying that he would come back at a later date if God allowed it. The apostle left Ephesus, going to the port of Caesarea. From there is visited the Jerusalem church. Paul then went back to Antioch. He spent an unspecified amount of time there, then went back to Galatia and Phrygia where he spent his time visiting all the believers there with the purpose of strengthening their faith in Christ.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

* Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

** The Greek word for tentmaker can also mean leather worker or someone who works with leather. Since the tents Paul, Aquila & Priscilla made were mostly made from goat skin, they were be classified as leatherworkers.

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day