Archive for December 2009
Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Acts, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession and kept back part of the price. This would not have been wrong to do under other circumstances, but at that time, there was a consenting agreement among the brethren to dispose of earthly assets and convert them to cash or to use them (for example, a house) wholly in the Lord’s service. They had agreed to hold all things in common to benefit the brotherhood and to distribute to individual brethren in proportion to necessity. The problem was that Ananias sold his property and then pretended, or claimed, to have given all the money from the sale of a possession into the common treasury when, in fact, he had held back a portion. He laid the money “at the apostles’ feet.” This deception was a sin against the Holy Spirit.
Tags: a doctor of the law, Ananias and Sapphira, captain of the temple, chief priests, Gamaliel, gave up the ghost, grieving the spirit, holy Spirit, Joses Barnabas, Kidron Valley, lying to the Holy Spirit, Prince and a Saviour, repentance to Israel, Sadducees, sin against the holy spirit, Solomon’s porch, Tempt the Lord, tempt the Spirit of the Lord, Theudas, unclean spirits, Valley of Hinnom Posted in Acts, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Many of us have false concepts of justice and grace, thinking something is ours by right. Suppose we were seriously unemployed, needing a job for our very survival and for that of our family. We would be thankful for any job and for getting a full day’s wage. We should start to reason from this standpoint, for otherwise, the view is distorted and disproportionate. It was grace that gave the laborers the opportunity to work in the vineyard and to receive payment. Had the laborers fully appreciated that point, the reward of the penny to all would not have been a sore point. The whole way through, the parable teaches grace, not merit.
Tags: baptized with baptism, borne the burden and heat of the day, goodman of the house, healing the blind man, Hetairos, hire labourers into his vineyard, Jame and John Zebedee, Kingdom of Heaven, parable of the penny, parables, penny a day, sit on left hand, sit on right hand, Son of David, Son of man shall be betrayed, Sons of Thunder, The harvest is the end of the age, twelve disciples Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
The ruler had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus had said, “If thou wilt be perfect.” Only perfect obedience under the Law would give life, let alone consecration and following Jesus in the Gospel Age. The rich, young ruler went away sorrowfully, “for he had great possessions” (verse 22). The discussion terminated at that point, for a sensitive area had been touched.
Not many noble, wise, mighty, or rich are called (1 Cor. 1:26). The ruler’s neighbors probably considered him exemplary, but God does the calling. Usually He purposely calls those who are not so well esteemed in order to put to foolishness the wisdom of men. God can make something out of nothing, and He can make something into nothing. He calls the humble to put to nothingness that which men admire profoundly. As a result, no flesh will be able to glory in its own presence. Paul’s reasoning is like a sequel to this incident with the rich ruler. Those who know they are “sick” need a physician; those who feel whole are less likely to seek help.
Tags: camel to go through the eye of a needle, castrated, committeth adultery, divorce, eternal life, eunuchs, false witness, fornication, hardness of your hearts, inherit everlasting life, Judaea, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Kingdom of Heaven, let not man put asunder, Marriage, Origen, Pharisees, shalt not commit adultery, Son of Man, Suffer little children, treasure in heaven, twelve thrones, writing of divorcement Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
First, the one or two witnesses listen to the alleged victim to hear what the grievance is. If it is a trivial matter, the witnesses would nip the matter in the bud, and it would be dropped. But if the accusation is judged worthy of attention if it be true, then the witnesses go to hear the alleged perpetrator’s side of the story. If the witnesses find the accusation is true—that the victim has been injured and has stated the case fairly (not exaggerating it)—they would try to help the perpetrator to see the error of his way. However, the witnesses do not start out with that motive, for at first, they do not know who is right. (Some claim injury when it is really a figment of their imagination.)
Tags: become as little children, cast into everlasting fire, cast into hell fire, disfellowship, excommunication, eye offend thee, foot offend thee, forgiveness, forsaking the Lord, godly sorrow, greatest in the kingdom of heaven, guardian angels, Kingdom of Heaven, little child in my name, millstone were hanged about his neck, second death, seventy times seven, their angels do always behold the face of my Father, trespass against thee, wicked servant Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Questions You Ask (click for the full answer)
But also keep in mind: The Apostle Paul was breathing out threatenings and murder to the Son’s of God. He thought he was doing God a service. Apollos was teaching baptism incorrectly, because he didn’t know any better. If a brother’s heart is right with God, we want them to see the error of their ways and come back in harmony with God and with the brethren.
Tags: confrontation, doing God a service, forgiveness, God is not mocked, grievous sins, murderings and threatenings, rebuking, repentance, Vengeance is mine Posted in Questions You Ask (click for the full answer) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Signs of the Times (click on article name)
They found the dogs, but only after confronting an elaborate altar and the bones of possibly several hundred animals that had been killed, apparently as part of Santeria – a combination of African religions and Catholicism that originated among slaves in the Caribbean.
There were lit candles and tribal drum music playing from a portable stereo, indicating that somebody was there not long before the humane officers appeared, said George Bengal, director of law enforcement for the PSPCA.
Tags: Afro-Caribbean religion, AK-47 assault rifle, fentonville Pennslyvania, forensic veterinarian, Front Street near Rockland, Jesus Torres, Lisa Chap, Lt. Frank Vanore, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Officer George Bengal, Officer Jerry Czech, Pennsylvania SPCA, PSPCA investigators Posted in Signs of the Times (click on article name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Questions You Ask (click for the full answer)
Chapter 5 ends on a mysterious note. “And the wind was in their [the women’s] wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.” The arms of the women resembled the wings of a stork, which are almost like sails on a boat, billowing out to catch the wind.
Tags: Revelation 13, shinar, two horned beast, woman in the ephah Posted in Questions You Ask (click for the full answer) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: 1 & 2 Samuel, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Having a king would concentrate a lot of power in the hand of one individual, resulting in oppression. Family life would be broken up. If the people were already giving a tenth (their tithe) to the priesthood, they would also have to give a tenth to the king. Based on the condition of the human race, even if the first king was faithful, the greater number of his successors would be unfaithful. The fact that the king would have liberty to choose whoever he wanted would lead to autocratic power.
Tags: Abiah, and Phinehas, Beer-sheba, captains over fifties, confectionaries, Eli, Hophni, Nadab and Abihu, perverted judgment, prophet samuel Posted in 1 & 2 Samuel, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 30th, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Signs of the Times (click on article name)
The alarm bells are ringing and the danger is near. Iran can and must be stopped, and military force may be the only way to do so. Six decades ago, the world watched in silence as the Germans tossed us into Hitler’s ovens and turned six million Jews into ashes. We cannot assume they will act any differently if Iran seeks to do the same.
So we dare not tarry. There is little room left for delay. If the world fails to act, the option of last resort may be our only choice.
Tags: defense minister Ehud Barak, Hamas and Hizbullah, Kazakhstan, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, new Auschwitz, nuclear Iran, nuclear warhead, purified uranium ore, Sajjil-2 Posted in Signs of the Times (click on article name) |
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Dec 30th, 2009 |
By admin |
Category: Signs of the Times (click on article name)
Levy told the Associated Press he thought he had sufficiently shown that the Vatican bank engaged in commercial activities in the United States, which can serve as an exemption to the immunities act’s protection clauses. “The reason we’re disappointed is the court found that dealing in gold teeth from concentration camps was not a commercial act,” he said. The court had ruled that the Vatican banks’ commercial activities in the U.S. were “too tangentially related to their legal claims to be considered the basis for the suit.”
Tags: 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, Croatian Catholic Church, Croatian Ustasha war criminals, Franciscan Order, Holocaust survivors, Nazi-backed Ustasha regime, The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, U.S. appeals court, Vatican bank Posted in Signs of the Times (click on article name) |
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