On the Island of Malta With Paul, Luke and 260 Shipwrecked Souls

Ashore on Malta Healing Many, and Onward to Rome

Taking Care of Business as Only the Apostle Paul Could

(Acts chapter 28, verses 1-16)

What’s the Social Gospel? Why does it matter? Find out the truth at Rev. Paul Bern’s Faith Based Community, or at https://business.google.com/site/l/01832834538876848585

Last week as we concluded our study of Acts 27, we finished off part 3 with the shipwreck described in vivid detail by the apostle Luke. After being blown around by a major storm that lasted 2 full weeks – due to the sailing ship’s lack of mechanical propulsion – the pilot and his crew managed to beach what was left of the ship on the eastern shores of Malta. Malta is situated in the east-central part of the Mediterranean sea, with Sicily to the north, Algeria to the west, Libya to the south, and the island of Crete far off to the east by roughly 1,000 miles or so. So the island of Malta isn’t near much of anything. So much so that the culture there seemed a bit backward and superstitious to Paul, and the other men with him couldn’t help but notice it. With that in mind, let’s plunge right in to the refreshing waters of the apostle Luke’s written testimony, starting at verse 1.

Part One of This Week’s Verses for Study and Memorization

“Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2) The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3) Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4) When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ 5) But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6) The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” (Acts 28, verses 1-6)

How God Can Change Us Through the Power of His Risen Spirit

Sometimes in life we are taught things that later turn out to be wrong. Denominational church dogma has a disconcerting habit of repeatedly doing just that (based on my own experiences). Things that we learn from first-hand experience, on the other hand, tend to stick with us for our entire lifetimes. Unless, that is, something or someone comes along and completely upsets our entire way of looking at things. Jesus Christ is such a person as that. Just as the Holy Spirit of the risen Lord is a consuming fire, so the large bonfire that evening consumed the cold night air was a metaphor for the mercy and goodness of the Lord Almighty. The great kindness of the Maltese people lifted the spirits of all 260 people who had been on that ship. Anytime anyone can raise the tired spirits of any group of strangers, and with the absence of organized religion, that’s when you know the Holy Spirit is truly at work.

You Can Live a Great Life by Being a Willing Teacher or Receptive Student

Next in verses 3 and 4, we have the little incident with the apostle Paul and the snake that found itself flung into the bonfire. The fact that Paul was unharmed by that venomous snake obviously startled the people of Malta, as it is written: “4) When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.’ 5) But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” There is a God who stands for Justice and Mercy, but his real name is Jesus Christ. OK, so if we tie this into what I said in the previous paragraph about “Sometimes in life we are taught things that later turn out to be wrong”, the suspicion directed at Paul by the Maltese people was one of those instances where this was the case. The apostle Paul demolished the superstitions of the island’s inhabitants once they saw he was unharmed.

Nothing Compares With the Spirit of the Risen Lord

“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.” See what I mean? The Maltese people based their initial judgment of Paul on what amounted to folklore by our standards. But folklore by our standards was all they knew, so the whole tribe thought that only an escaped murderer with special powers could have done what Paul did in the presence of everyone. They were witnessing and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit for the very first time, and there is nothing that compares with the Spirit of the risen Lord. Bearing that in mind, let’s move on to the second part of this week’s lesson, beginning at verse 7.

Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses

“7) There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8) His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9) When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10) They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.” (Acts 28, verses 7-10)

The apostle Paul was very grateful for the shower of hospitality, as were the other 260 or so people who were on board the storm-stricken vessel that we covered in lasts week’s study. So when Paul saw an opportunity to heal someone, he did not hesitate to do so. Many were healed following the first one in the house of Publius, and many sick or handicapped persons were healed on Malta. And now, let’s close this week’s installment beginning at verse 11.

Part Three of This Week’s Study Verses

“11) After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island – it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12) We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13) From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14) There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15) The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16) When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.” (Acts 28, verses 11-16)

A Little Bit of First Century Geography

The verses from the above passage comprises several consecutive weeks of sailing, with stops at 4 different ports along the way. The first was Syracuse, on the southern tip of Sicily, followed by Rhegium on the southern tip of the Italian boot. Afterwards there were 3 more ports closer together, going up the western coast of Italy towards Rome. The 1^st of those three was Puteoli, where Paul and those with him met up with some “brothers” (notice the absence of titles, unlike today’s churches?), many of whom were accompanied by their fellowship of believers. Having spent an entire week there and being rejuvenated by the hospitality of Puteoli’s people, they completed the final leg of their northward journey to Rome days later. “And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”

The Good News of Christ’s Salvation Spreads Far and Wide Thanks to the Apostle Paul

As you can see, Christianity had developed quite a following by the time this was occurring, which was roughly 15 or maybe 20 years after the Resurrection of Christ the Lord. So much had the Christian faith grown by this time that Paul, who was nearly killed on 3 separate occasions, had nearly achieved ‘rock star’ status by the time he reached Rome. For the apostle Paul, it was more than enough validation for all the bad experiences he had endured, including the attempts on his life at the hands of his fellow Jews. He gave thanks out in public for his deliverance from a watery grave, and for the opportunities to heal all those whom he could heal. And now, Paul was on his way to Rome, the final stop on this particular journey. A trial awaited him, that much was certain, but the outcome of it all was anyone’s guess. To find out what happens, please be sure and stop back next week for the final installment of the Apostle Luke Gospel Study Series, part 2 if Acts 28.

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Written Proof of One Billionaire’s Greed, and What the Scriptures Say About It

Supplemental message to all my viewers, readers and subscribers from the Social Gospel Worship and Learning Center for Monday 10/16/23

by Author Rev. Paul J. Bern, pastor

All my readers know by now that I believe in the Bible for several reasons. First, it’s the true written Word from Almighty God. Second, it’s about Jesus Christ and the shedding of his Blood as he hung on a wooden cross for 3 hours until he died from blood loss while in extreme agony. Then, on the morning of the third day of His burial, he rose from the grave to live forever. Finally, it has come to my attention that Jesus and his Father stand for truth, justice, fairness and compassion. By extension that includes human equality – unconditionally and with no expectation of repayment.

With respect to human equality, that means economic equality. So, when this Web based ‘short’ showed up in my morning news just recently that originated from the Australian press, I simply had to pounce all over what you are about to read. Moreover, for anyone who doubts the motives of striking workers all over North America, check out this posting from Yahoo News from Friday 10/06/23.

Millionaire CEO wants unemployment to jump to 50% because workers have become “arrogant”

“In a rare, honest glimpse of the contempt and utter lack of care the oligarch class has for the workers whose exploitation produces their wealth, Australian property developer Tim Gurner — infamous for launching the “millennial’s have no money because they’re eating avocado toast” broadside — smeared workers for being “arrogant” and called for unemployment to rise by a whopping 50%. “We need to see pain in the economy…we need to remind people they work for the employer, not the other way around,” said Gurner, doubtlessly squinting through a gold-rimmed monocle and twirling his waxed mustache. “Pain in the economy” means kids going hungry, families suffering, and people losing their homes — all so that the ultra-wealthy can lower the price of labor and pocket even more profit. It’s selfish cruelty writ large — and the guiding principle of oligarchic capitalism.”

A Biblical Quote About the True Value of Workers Everywhere

Now let’s compare what was said just above to what the Bible says about the true value of the workers; “The worker is worth his/her wages” (Luke chapter 10 verse 7). In modern lingo, this means that workers are worth every penny for their work. But with the minimum wage still stuck at a paltry $7.25 per hour in nearly half the states in the country, workers will continue to be cheated because it’s still legal to do that. It’s no wonder at all to me that labor unions are sprouting up like flower beds in the Spring.

Is Equality in the Bible Anywhere?

If a substantial wage increase is already in the Scriptures, is there any mention of how those increased wages should be distributed? Actually, the apostle Paul mentioned this in the second of his two letters he wrote to the church at Corinth, and I quote “13) Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14) At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15) as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (2nd Corinthians 8, verses 13-15) I see human equality written between each one of the words from this Biblical quotation written by the apostle Paul. Unconditional human equality isn’t just a political talking point – it’s also Scriptural, an ancient and time-honored tradition.

What Church Was Like in the First Century

This made me wonder what else was in the Bible about this topic. That was when I went to the Book of Acts chapter 2, verses 42-47, and I quote: “42) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43) Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44) All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45) They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Everybody take a good look at these 2 sentences one more time. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45) They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Because of how they lived, the first century Church “enjoyed the favor of all the people”. They also found a way to combat poverty. In today’s terms, this would amount to communal living. Not socialism or communism, since they are politically based, but 1^st century Christianity as it was meant to be. Except that back then, it was called, “The Way”. The term “Christian” was not in common use until decades later.

One Final Example From Scripture

It is also written just two chapters later in the Book of Acts, this time in chapter 4, verses 32-37, and I quote: “32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34) that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36) Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37) sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

Why Economic Inequality Is Unjust and Unfair

There it is in black and white, everyone. If you’re a real Christian, you see all people as being basically the same. No matter what race, religion, gender, age, or sexual orientation people may be, are all treated the same way. This especially means the economic status of everyone. Unconditional equality reigns supreme as the master plan for how we treat each other. This is why economic inequality must be stamped out like an accidental fire in your kitchen. Otherwise, how would any of us have any chance at prosperity?

Under no circumstances will any worker be considered greedy or “arrogant” just because they are asking, and striking, for more pay. Unconditional equality is in the Bible in the 3 different places I have just listed. I challenge anyone to start living this alternative lifestyle that is faith-based instead of being based on money. Instead of donating our weekly 10% each and every week, let’s go out and find someone who needs our help and follow through with that. Enough talk about money, let’s talk about leading some souls to Jesus Christ, who saved us all. By ourselves we can do little, but when we organize and unite we can accomplish much.

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War Is an Obscenity, and It Becomes More So With Each Passing Year

Putin’s Threats to Use Nukes and Its Contradiction With Authentic Christianity

The Ongoing Obscenity of the Specter of Nuclear War

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

(Matthew chapter 26, verse 52; chapter 5 verse 9)

The war in Ukraine has lasted more than 18 months, with no end in sight as of this writing. At the height of its military operations, the United States was spending $60 billion per month on the twin wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. That is not counting all the other bases the US military now has in well over 140 countries around the world, such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Diego Garcia and Kuwait, to name a few of the major ones. A stepped up nuclear arms program is the ultimate escalation. All this is coming from Vladimir Putin, a man who is reputedly portrayed as a devout member of the Russian Orthodox Church.

He Who Lives by the Sword Will Die by the Sword

This raises a fundamental question; why is our country’s leadership (because it’s not just president Biden) doing this? Why take a chance on a nuclear conflagration ever happening in the first place? Have we become collectively suicidal and homicidal, all at once? Look at the world from the standpoint of armaments. The USA is the world’s #1 arms manufacturer by far. This leads me to the conclusion that most of the arms being manufactured by other countries, such as Russia (the #2 arms manufacturer), are in place to counter the American threat. Too many Americans do not realize how much our country has frightened and damaged much of the world. We have the military and our elected politicians to blame; this happened on their watch. And now the Pentagon wants to ramp up nuclear arms production? I rebuke those intentions in the name of Jesus, who said, “He who lives by the sword will die by the sword”. (Matthew chapter 26, verse 52) I’m quite certain that these words of Christ are not limited to swords. By extension, nukes are included.

They Have Been Lying to Us Right From the Start

The notion of America being a superpower – the highly vaunted American Empire – is a 20^th century notion whose retirement date has long since arrived. With over 8 billion people currently inhabiting the earth, waging war has become counter-productive. It creates more problems than it solves, both in terms of human lives and in damage to the environment, which is already severely damaged and in need of extensive rejuvenation. Moreover, wars are almost never being fought for the reasons stated to the public.

Guess Who’s Really in Charge?

Let’s take Afghanistan as an example. The US military was allegedly there to find Osama Bin Laden, but the truth is that Afghanistan is a country with vast untapped natural resources, including enormous copper deposits. Meaning, all the fuss about Afghanistan’s poppy seed crop being a target of the ‘drug war’ here in the US is just a whitewash job on the American public. Upon closer examination of what has happened there, out of sight of the American people, it becomes apparent that none other than the CIA has been running the show.

America Has Betrayed Her Own Values

This is a stark contrast to what I have been teaching about being a people of peace for the last 7 years (I started this Christian blog back in 2015). It brings the US “war on terror” into sharp focus and sheds light on the criminality of the American Empire’s military machine and its illegal incursions into countries where it does not belong.

The truth of the matter is that the US position with respect to the dictators in the Arab world has been one of pure hypocrisy. We have supported these tyrants in the name of “stability” and the “war on terrorism” in exchange for easy access to their oil, but it has been a policy that has contributed mightily to the oppression of the people in those countries, as well as ongoing economic slavery here at home. This is a betrayal of our own revolutionary past as well as exacerbating Islamic terrorism.

Going Nuclear Is Not the Way to Go

Contrary to what is being reported in the ‘Lame Stream Media’, populist revolts in the Arab world have been non-sectarian, grass roots organizations in every country they have occurred. That fact would seem to expose and make America’s policy in the “war on terrorism” while initiating wars in the Muslim world obsolete and absurd. Regarding this, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said during Bush 43’s second term in office, “Any secretary of defense who advises a president to engage in land wars with vast armies in foreign lands needs to have his head examined”. So going nuclear is now the new way to wage war? Go to Japan and find a few of the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ask them whether nuclear war is a viable option, and see what they tell you.

No More Endless Wars

The fact is Washington’s entire strategy of preemptive nuclear war and the whole “war on terrorism” is a ruse, a cruel invention concocted by neoconservatives and cold war warriors who were itching to replace the defunct Soviet Union with another enemy – otherwise the purpose for their existence would have to be called into question. Not only is the war on terror a reason for the American Empire to exist, it has become the only reason for its existence. It was and is a fantasy perpetrated by them and foisted on the American people.

The Noble Cause of Peace

But in light of the unfolding “awakening” in much of the world, why aren’t there more serious discussions in the White House and Pentagon of the absurdity of America’s continuous global wars? Jesus commented on this very thing during his ‘Sermon on the Mount’ when he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God” (Matthew chapter 5, verse 9) From here it seems the US resembles (in its ability to end its wars) a giant ship at sea that takes an excruciatingly long time to reverse course. Like the Viet Nam quagmire of the 20^th century, our country seems stuck, committed to the non-winnable ‘endless wars’ yet unwilling and unable to face reality. War is an ongoing obscenity, and America is addicted to it. It’s time for America, particularly those inside the Washington Beltway, to check it’s collective self into ‘war rehab’. No more wars and their civilian casualties, and especially no more nukes! I urge you all to stand against the US military-industrial complex. What will you do this coming week to stand up for the noble cause of peace?

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Sometimes We Must Do Whatever Needs to be Done to Succeed

Doing What is Necessary and Expedient Can Save Lives

(Acts chapter 27, verses 30-44)

What’s the Social Gospel? Why does it matter? Find out the truth at Rev. Paul Bern’s Faith Based Community or at https://business.google.com/site/l/01832834538876848585

Last week as we left off at verse 29 of Acts chapter 27, the storm that was battering the ship they were traveling on had become so severe that those on board were helping the crew toss the cargo overboard in an attempt to save the ship and themselves. Had this particular vessel been equipped with a modern form of propulsion rather than sails, they would have stood a fairly decent chance of being able to outrun, or go around, that storm. Instead, they found themselves caught up in that storm as they were being pushed along with it. As we begin part 3 of this week’s lesson on Acts 27, we finally find their circumstances showing signs of changing for the better, starting at verse 30.

Part One of This Week’s Verses for Study and Memorization

“30) In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31) Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, ‘Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.’ 32) So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33) Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. 34) Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ 35) After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36) They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37) Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38) When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.” (Acts 27, verses 30-38)

Whoever Stands Firm to the End Will Be Saved

Without a doubt, the ship the apostle Paul was on had just experienced a near- catastrophe at sea. So much so that Paul said in verses 31-32, “’Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.’ So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away….” By now it is clear that Paul had quite a bit of sailing experience – even to the point of knowing what to throw overboard and what to keep. Sometimes life can be like that. There are times in life where we see clearly to our intended destinations, and still others where we can barely see our hands in front of our faces. But the Bible tells us repeatedly that he or she who holds out to the very end will most certainly be saved by the Blood of the Lamb. (Matthew 24, verse 13)

Sometimes It’s OK to Take a Break

Once again, beginning at verse 33, the apostle Paul begins to have a greater role, not in the fate of the ship, but in the lives of those who were on-board with him. Saying and doing what needed to be said or done, as he encouraged the men on board, he urged them to stop and eat something: ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. 34) Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive….. 35) After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all…..”

The Continuing Efforts to Save the Ship and All on Board

I don’t know about yourselves, but I don’t really see myself as being the type of personality that could endure 2 weeks at sea without eating anything. So it’s no wonder that, once Paul had baked the loaf of bread that he was about to consume, the rest of them joined in immediately, and I quote: “36) They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37) Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38) When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.” And so, even though it was evident the storm was no longer their biggest problem, they had continued in a state of heightened alert since the ship had been damaged by the storm to the extent that it could no longer carry its cargo, let alone the 276 individuals on board. And so they continued to throw heavy objects overboard. Let’s hold that thought as we continue to the second half of this week’s study, beginning at verse 39.

Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses

“39) When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40) Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41) But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 42) The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43) But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44) The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.” (Acts 27, verses 39-44)

For the Sake of Expediency

Those aboard what was left of that ship were being presented with a choice in verse 39. Those choices were to go for that beach or attempt to find a better one with a deeper harbor. Either way the voyage was over. One thing I have learned over the years when it comes to being a servant of the Lord Almighty is to never try and second-guess God. Sometimes when a solution to a problem is presented to us, we are to be ever thankful as we receive it, even if it doesn’t seem right at first. This inevitably leads to our own differentiation between our emotions, our logic, and our souls or spirits. The apostles Paul and Luke, together with Aristarchus of Thessalonica, Julius their Roman guard, and the other 260 or so passengers and crew, knew that if they saw land with a suitable beach, they should make for the shoreline immediately. No speculation about a better landing spot was ever considered. They simply did what needed to be done.

Necessary Steps Had to be Taken

Life and how we live it puts us in similar predicaments today. Sometimes we are presented with a choice that doesn’t seem to fit our situation at first. Oftentimes it’s because we’ve seen better choices in our own pasts, to the point that the current choice seems inadequate (FOMO). That’s what that beach may have looked like just before they hit that sand bar. But first, they had to cut loose all that was holding the ship back. Like the freight back in verse 18 from last week’s study, everything that held the ship down or kept it from moving forward was thrown overboard or cut loose from the ship. Had any of these drastic steps not been taken, they would have sank before they made it to shore with the probable loss of everyone on board.

A Nearly Miraculous Ending to This Tale of Survival

By now Paul’s strong faith in Christ, combined with the prayers from the people of faith who were on board, had made a deep impression on everyone else. So taken aback with the formidable faith of Paul and the others were the rest of those on board that Julius the centurion put an end to the plans of some of those on board who wanted the prisoners executed, as we saw in verses 42-43. Instead, he organized a plan of escape so that, at the end of the chapter, everyone reached shore without the loss of one single life. This is a really great ending to the harrowing tale of being lost at sea for two weeks, only to culminate in a successful landing with no fatalities.

So what’s in store for them now? First, they needed to get their bearings straight by identifying their location. But that is something I must hold in reserve until next week’s Biblical lesson. So until then, stay safe, stay in tune with God, and continue to live your faith as a lifestyle. God willing, I will be back next week to start the final chapter of the Book of Acts.

Since you evidently liked my writing style by reading all the way to the end, come and join me for unlimited access to my blog, plus thousands of articles from many other writers from all different genres by signing up for a membership. You’ll receive my biweekly blog, (Sunday Mornings at 6:30AM), and my ongoing Biblical study series (Thursdays at 7PM). You’ll also gain access to bonus articles of various kinds, my considerable archives, free access to my You Tube channel, plus Christ-centered leadership, guidance, life lessons, and the true life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their is some merchandise for fund raising purposes (books, computers & faith based tee shirts for now, more to be added later) to help support this ministry. The paid version with all the above is only $5.00 per month or $50.00 annually (that’s only 16 cents a day!) Come aboard for Spiritual growth, education, and enrichment! Sign up now at https://medium.com/@greatestservant62/subscribe/

When’s the Last Time You Helped Someone in Any Way?

When Was the Last Time You Really Helped Someone?

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

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I get a view of the inner workings of modern churches every Sunday morning when I take my place behind the keyboards at the little church just under a mile from where I live. Every week the Bible lessons are taught to various groups by their group leaders, but everyone is studying from the same books. They only teach certain parts of the Bible while skipping over parts of it. It is for this reason, plus many more that I’m about to share, that I keep organized religion – whatever the denomination may be – at arms length. In my case, it does have the added benefit of paying what amounts to a couple hundred dollars each month for my talents, giving me a badly needed second income (my monthly retirement check won’t go far enough).

It Seems Like the Same Old Stuff

Every Sunday morning the same thing happens, generally speaking, although there was one notable exception from just a couple weeks ago (check it out here). Once the Bible studies have concluded, the service begins. My favorite part comes next, and that’s the music. Once the songs we sing are concluded, the message is delivered from the pastor, which is followed by the offering. Church services all over the world happen in much the same way, with the same outcome. The faithfulness of the church members usually gets measured by their attendance and their giving – which is measured by their donations.

Is Your Church Sanctimonious?

This makes me wonder what Jesus thought about all this. In Matthew chapter 21, verses 12-13, he said to those present there with him, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. He was referring to the times of the past where ritual slaughter of animals was presented as an offering to God from the Isrealites of old as atonement for sin. Jesus was telling all the religious people who were present that Almighty God had grown tired of their incessant offerings. Christ was telling those present that he wanted to see a lot more compassion, empathy and mercy. He did so due to the religious snobbery and sanctimony of those in authority as poverty raged all around them while they turned their backs to the poor.

Does Jesus Really Need Our 10% Each Week?

Today, not much has changed. Every Sunday morning, the congregation gathers for the (hopefully) inspirational sermon and dutifully chip in what they can, sincerely believing that they have done all that is required of them. But didn’t I quote Christ Jesus just above? “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”? After much study, prayer and contemplation, this is what the commands of Christ mean to us here in the present tense. Don’t brag to your friends, neighbors, other church members, your pastor or your relatives, how often you have been to church or how much you gave at collection time. Instead of all that here’s a list of pointed questions we can ask of ourselves and each other.

When Was the Last Time You Helped Someone?

Instead of your church attendance or the amount of our donations (or not), when have you ever done any of the following things? When was the last tine you:

• Took in an orphan kid, even if only temporarily?
• Paid the back property taxes for an elderly homeowner?
• Paid someone or some family’s internet bill so their children can continue their education?
• Feed a homeless person or couple?
• Talked someone out of committing suicide, or obtained professional help for them?
• Had food delivered to a widow or other needy person?
• Helped out a homeless person in need?
• Bought some groceries for a poor family?
• Partially or fully paid someone’s college tuition?
• Partially or fully paid someone’s student loan?
• Paid someone’s water, gas or electric bill?

Summary

The list you just read is a modernized version of the commands of Christ. Don’t tell Him or us about what you have sacrificed, how much money you donated. Don’t tell Jesus how merciful you are towards others. Do so by your actions. Talk is cheap and words may be a dollar a dozen, but our actions speak volumes. Make the world a better place. Help someone who needs it. Feed the hungry, take in the homeless (especially the children). “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Everyone can do something no matter how small or insignificant it may be. When you do these things, “the peace of Christ, which is beyond all human understanding or comprehension”, will be with you.

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Trouble on the High Seas: an Existential Threat

Trouble on the High Seas: Caught in the Storm

(Acts chapter 27, verses 13-29)

You are about to read a brief excerpt from my Christian nonfiction book, “The Social Gospel Teaching Series Vol. 2: the Acts of the Apostles” by Rev. Paul J. Bern (c) copyright 2022 by Rev. Paul J. Bern, all rights reserved; available exclusively from this link

Last week in our ongoing Biblical study series of the writings of the apostle Luke, the apostle Paul, together with the others with him including his guard Julius, had left the port of Caesarea and was headed to Rome with some stops along the way. But since the weather wouldn’t cooperate with the pilot’s plans (see verses 4-9 from last week’s study), the ship wound up on the southwest side of the island of Crete. At that point in the voyage, since it was getting later in the year with increasingly unfavorable weather conditions, the decision was made to finish the voyage for Rome. So Paul, Julius his Roman guard in the Alexandrian ship from the port of Lycia, along with Luke, Aristarchus plus the crew and some others, set sail for Rome. Things started out well enough, but once they left what would be near the coast of Crete, things got progressively worse. So let’s pick up where we left off last week, stating at verse 13.

Part One of This Week’s Verses for Study and Memorization

“13) When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14) Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15) The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16) As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17) so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18) We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19) On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” (Acts 27, verses 13-20)

Although I’m no expert on cargo ships from that time period, but they ranged in capacity from 70-100 metric tons all the way up to 400 metric tons in capacity (for more info, just click here). While not exactly tiny, these vessels of the sea had lengths of 25-30 feet on the low end to over 100 feet for the biggest vessels. Still, these merchant ships and their crews were the kings of commerce in their day. I don’t know how big the ship was that Paul was on, but it most likely was one that was above average in size and displacement, Otherwise, the storm they were caught up in would have already sunk the ship.

The Fine Art of Sailing First Century Cargo Ships

From the time they left the shores of what would be modern Greece today, they had sailed on the south side of Cyprus and westward to the south side of Crete. However, their ultimate destination was Rome, so the ship, crew and passengers left once again, probably after a day’s rest. “14) Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15) The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.” If we take a look at a map of the Mediterranean sea, we can see the island of Crete situated in nearly the center of the Mediterranean. There is nothing west of there but open water until we go further towards Sicily and Malta. So the ship Paul and company were on was largely protected while they were on the south side of those two islands. But, once they came around to a northwestern bearing towards Italy, that’s when all hell broke loose.

The Raging Fury of the Storm

Verses 18 -19 bring the severity of the storm into sharp focus, like having a front row seat at a movie or a sporting event. “18) We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19) On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands…..” As you can see, that ship was taking on water faster that it could be bailed out. Their situation was becoming increasingly urgent as the hours crawled on by even to the point of throwing the cargo overboard. “20) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” The storm was of such intensity that everyone lost track of time itself.

Life Van Be a Lot Like ‘Northeasters’ and How We Respond to Them

I’m sure you all have noticed that life can be a lot like the sudden, violent storm that Paul, Luke, Aristarchus and the rest of the ship’s crew experienced. When they left the port at Crete’s western edge, everything was fine. But before that day had ended, they found themselves in the worst storm of their lives. Their situation was so dire that they began throwing the cargo overboard in an attempt to save the ship. In our own lives, we too can find some sort of excess baggage of the emotional, psychological or Spiritual kind that we need to “throw overboard”. It is my sincere hope that someone somewhere benefits from these words that I write today. Jettison all that useless baggage, everyone! You don’t need all that junk anymore. Replace all of it with Christ the Lord. And now, let’s move on to part 2 of this week’s lesson, beginning at verse 21.

Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses

“21) After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22) But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23) Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24) and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25) So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26) Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” (Acts 27, verses 21-26)

How Natural Disasters Are Defined, Then and Now

Now we see in even more graphic detail that Paul’s situation, along with everyone else on board, was increasingly dire. The seas were too rough to fix a decent meal, and so it had been days since they had eaten anything by this point. Neither the sun nor the moon and stars had been seen for possibly as much as a week. Evidently there was enough of a lull in the weather for Paul to say what needed to be said. “Paul stood up before them and said: ‘Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22) But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” Centuries later, people find themselves enduring great loss due to natural disasters. When that does happen to less fortunate individuals, the response seems to be universal – we can replace the stuff we lost, but lives are irreplaceable. This truth is still the same, and always will be.

Part Three of This Week’s Study Verses

25) “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26) Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” So Paul was saying that even running the ship onto the rocky shore would be better than drowning, and he was absolutely right. Now, here comes the remaining verses of this week’s lesson. “27) On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28) They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29) Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.” (Acts 27, verses 25-29)

In verse 27 where it says the sailors “sensed they were approaching land”, it doesn’t say how they knew they were getting close to it. Added to this mystery was the fact that it was in the middle of the night, yet the sailors knew they were getting close to land. It’s not until the final two verses when they realize the were closer to land than they thought. So much so, in fact, that when they took “soundings” and discovered they were getting close to the shore line. So how much closer were they by then? Would they be able to beach their ship and walk ashore, or would they drown trying? Stop on back here next week for part 3 of Acts 27, and you will find out. Until then, take good care.…

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The Only God Who’s Real: a Message for Our Time

The Only God That’s Real

by Pastor Paul J. Bern

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Like nearly everyone else, I too am appalled by the infighting in Washington over politics, ideology and religion. Moreover, I find all the bickering between the peaceful 90%, which is us, and the war hawks (the top 10%) to be little more than a sideshow considering what’s actually at stake, which is the future of democracy itself. I am equally put off by all the sniping and infighting between religious denominations over man-made dogma and traditions steeped in pomp and circumstance while they remind everyone constantly to “support our troops”. They are all in favor of brawling with, and even killing those who disagree with them, while calling themselves “pro-life”. It makes no sense.

No One Can Worship God and Materialism

I will use the Scriptures to prove that the one true God is above and beyond all wars, churches and organized religions, in keeping with the theme of this website. The first thing that I want to remind you of is that there are many false gods in the modern world. The most egregious example that comes to mind is the worship of money and material goods and all the evils that come with them. In the apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”. That means money in and of itself is not always evil, but greed and the insatiable lust for more and more money most definitely are. Jesus said in the four Gospels, “No one can serve two masters. He/she will either love one and reject the other, or cling to the latter while despising the former. You cannot serve both God and materialism.” (Luke 16: 13) I think this would apply to, among other things, the sales of military armaments by the US military-industrial complex.

Getting Our Priorities Straight

The “love of materialism” appears in many forms. Let’s ask ourselves these questions – do we sometimes find ourselves in automotive dealerships every time a new model comes out? Do we shop for new clothes, electronics, mobile or “smart” phones, the latest computers, and new decor for our homes whether we need them or not, just because they’re “on sale”? Do we sometimes find ourselves shopping for a new house whether we need one or not? Are any of us in debt up to our eyeballs (not counting student loans) because we owe too much on our credit cards and everything else? If anyone answered “yes” to any of these questions, and particularly if you prioritize these things at the expense of your Spiritual lives, then you are worshiping a false god(s). Sorry to have to tell you that, but truth is truth.

It is Jesus Christ and he alone that must be at the top of our priorities. Anything else takes a back seat to Jesus in the order of our lives. Most of the things I just mentioned (excluding greed) are not evil in and of themselves. But false and futile worship of anything other than God, while bypassing or not including Jesus Christ as our Savior, amounts to idol worship. A similar line of questioning was presented to the apostle Paul nearly 2,000 years ago, and it is well documented in the book of Acts in the New Testament. I will begin with a quote from chapter 17, beginning at verse 22.

A Clarifying and Topical Quote From the Bible

“Then Paul stood up at the meeting of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth…. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps to reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us…. as some of your own poets have said, “we are his offspring”. Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent….when they heard about [Jesus] resurrection from the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “we want to hear from you again on this subject”. (Acts 17, verses 22-32)

The Real Truth About God and His Origins

This passage is just one of numerous examples of the apostle Paul’s teaching about the one true God. I especially appreciate that Paul made two distinct points about God. The first is that God is above and beyond all nationalities, races and religions because he preached the same message equally to Jews, Greeks and all other Gentiles. The one true God is also above and beyond all the material possessions money can buy. These things were considered to be radical teachings at the time because all these groups believed that their version of God was the correct one to the exclusion of everything and everybody else.

This very mistake continues to be made today by certain church denominations who I will decline to name. Nobody has the exclusive path to God. No one has the right to claim that they are any closer to God than anyone else. It’s just not true and it never was. Moreover, nobody has the right to condemn another person’s religion, so long as their beliefs don’t hurt or restrict the freedom of anyone else. And, we can’t buy our way into heaven either.

God Has an Address, Which is the Heart, Mind and Soul of Every True Believer

The second point that catches the human eye and captures my imagination is what Paul said about where God lives. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives life and breath and everything else.” What an awesome statement! Think about how many religions there are in the world. There are over 4000 Protestant denominations alone, and that’s just in North America. All are called churches or houses of worship regardless of which religion they represent. And yet God doesn’t live in any of them. Instead, for the true believer, God lives in the souls, minds and hearts of all individual believers. The true Church is portable too, moving along with whatever task God may assign us. Never mind all the spiritual sophistry that’s being “taught” in some modern churches, because it’s largely based on money.

What Matters to God

God doesn’t care who you are, where you live, what you have done (or not), what country you are from or what church you are connected with (or not). He doesn’t care where you have been, and He doesn’t care about what is in your past. Unlike many men and women who attend church regularly, God doesn’t care what you look like, or how much money you give to your church or to charities, or what your social or economic status is. The one true God doesn’t even live in churches, although a lot of phony religious leaders and related clergy will no doubt insist that He does. Instead, God wants to live and breathe in our souls, hearts and minds. He wants you to become a church in and of yourself, a church that walks and talks. Not only does God want to live inside you, He wants us all to pay that forward by unconditionally sharing our faith with others. Also, to quote the apostle Paul, God wants us to “continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord” (Philippians 2: 12).

The True and Authentic God

In closing, let me add that there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to church no matter what religion you identify with. If you currently attend, I’m certain that God wants you to continue to go so long as you keep hearing messages from the pulpit that are encouraging, uplifting and positive, and most importantly based on Scripture. I don’t want this message to be a reason for those who are attending church to stop going. God forbid! On the other hand, please keep in mind that the church is just a building and nothing more. I acknowledge that churches are built as meeting places for like-minded believers and that they should remain so. But now that you have read today’s message I hope I have given everyone a better perspective, whether in church or out. You can look at organized religion with skepticism as I do, but do not let that compromise your most deeply held Spiritual beliefs. The one true God is greater that all the religions in the world combined. He is truly above and beyond it all.

Live Your Faith as a Lifestyle

Let me bring up one last thing before I go, and I really wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t point this out. If we are going to have God living inside of each of us then we should be living and acting as if He did. Watch what you say and how you say it. Clean up your life and the language that you use. Be mindful of anything that you are doing to excess because this is the root of all addictive behavior. Live your life as if God is watching what you do and listening to everything you say because He really is. Until next time, then, be a believer that walks and talks the good example of Christ for others to follow, especially those who look up to you. And the almost incomprehensible peace that is the very embodiment of Jesus Christ – the Savior of the world – will remain with you all permanently. Amen.

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A Perilous Journey from the Southern Coast of Modern-Day Turkey to Rome

The Apostle Paul Sets Sail For Rome

(Acts chapter 27, verses 1-12)

What’s the Social Gospel? Why does it matter? Find out at Rev. Paul Bern’s Faith Based Community or at https://business.google.com/site/l/01832834538876848585

Last week as we put the finishing touches on our knowledge of Acts chapter 26 and what it all actually means, we saw the apostle Paul had concluded his testimony to King Agrippa in the presence of governor Festus and various officials and dignitaries of their time. About his testimony Festus had said to Agrippa, “This man could have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar” (see verse 32 of Acts chapter 26). But Paul, who was on a mission from Almighty God, undertook that journey knowing it could be a life-ending decision. But first, he must sail to Rome on a perilous journey by ship, and sailing ships were far more rudimentary than they are today. And so on that point, let’s all go to verse 1 of Acts 27.

Part One of This Week’s Verses for Study and Memorization

“1) When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2) We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us. 3) The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4) From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5) When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6) There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7) We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8) We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.” (Acts 27, verses 1-8)

People Were Compelled to Lead Hazardous Lives Back Then

In verse 2, Adramyttium was originally located at the head of the Gulf of Adramyttium, on the River Caicus in the Plain of Thebe, approximately 4 kilometers west of the modern town of Burhaniye, but later moved 13 kilometers northeast to its current location and became known as Edremit. Also in verse 2, (Acts 20:4) “They are designated “men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.” We learn later that Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica (Acts 27: 2). They were probably seized to extract from them information about their leader Paul, but when they could tell nothing, and since they were Greeks, nothing further was done to them. But both men would be executed by the Romans in their not-too-distant futures.

The Geography of Those Times

“3) The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.” Right here in this verse is ample proof that Paul posed no threat whatsoever to his Roman captors. In fact, he readily gained their trust once they realized that Paul’s faith was genuine and authentic. Paul reinforced the trust he had earned when he came back to the ship on schedule. In verse 5, “ 5) When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6) There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.” All these seaports were located along the southern coast of modern-day Turkey.

Verses 7 and 8 further trace the directions of Paul’s Roman captors as they ultimately ended up in the seaport of Fair Havens. By now everyone realizes that traveling long distances in the 1^st century AD was difficult on a good day. On a bad day, trying to sail a boat was a pointless exercise in futility. “When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.” Fair Havens is on the south side (“leeward”) of the island nation of Crete in the central part of the Mediterranean sea. And now let’s move on to part 2 of this week’s study series.

Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses

“9) Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, 10) ‘Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.’ 11) But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12) Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.”(Acts 27, verses 9-12)

The Feast of Yom Kippur and the Apostles

For any persons who weren’t aware, Paul the apostle and the others with him were all Jews who were converts to Christianity, so the Day of Atonement had deep meaning and was of major significance for each of them. All except for the Roman guards, who evidently cared nothing about the convictions of Paul, Luke and company. So much so that the ship’s captain and her owner convinced Julius the centurion to set sail ASAP. And, that meant setting sail on the morning of the first day of the Jewish feast of Yom Kippur, just so Julius and his fellow soldiers could show off their sailing skills and their disdain for Christianity, not to mention their total disrespect for our risen Lord and Savior. But this is what happened in verses 9, 10 and 11.

Off to Rome They Went

“….But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12) Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on….” Can’t stay where they were, but couldn’t leave either? It looks like some additional planning in this case would have been beneficial for everyone concerned. But that was not to be. And so the apostles Paul and Luke, together with Aristarchus, who had been a member of the church at Thessalonica that the apostle Paul had founded, set sail for Rome. Will they make it despite setting sail at an inopportune time from a weather standpoint? At this juncture, there’s no way to tell. But if you will only return next week at this time for the next lesson in this series, everything will become clear to you. So, God willing, I will see you then.

Please subscribe to my biweekly newsletter and blog at the Social Gospel Worship and Learning Center, “Where Truth, Justice and the Bible Meet”. This is a contemporary Christian community as it was meant to be, plus you get “The Social Gospel Blog” and access to the Social Gospel archives, life lessons and at least two videos each week from our You Tube channel. The true story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ taught here; all delivered to your inbox, plus other extras whenever available. This biweekly blog is only possible because of readers like you. You can help support this online Web ministry with a paid subscription for only $5.00 per month (that’s 16 cents a day) or $50.00 per year. Merchandise (nonfiction Christian books, computers & faith-based T-shirts) also available. Sign up at https://pbern.substack.com

My Recent Encounter With a Demon-Possessed Man

Demonic Possession is Real and Extremely Serious

My Encounter With a Certain Young Man Last Sunday

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

Visit my book page at https://www.facebook.com/revpauljbern

or on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/author/revpauljbern

For this Sunday’s message, I want to share with you all what happened at the Church where I play keyboards every Sunday morning. In case this raises any questions, let me explain why I’m a musician in one church while leading an online church all at once. I have been preaching and teaching online since 2015. I’m on three different blogs under two different organizational names, I’ve been all over social media, and readership and subscribers have been slowly ramping up to the point that I now have over 8,000 people reading or watching my stuff.

Why I Can’t Do Any Live Broadcasts or Podcasts Yet

But I’m not doing any live events yet for my Sunday service online. My reason is I play keyboards (digital piano or Hammond organ) at Atlanta’s Prayer of Faith Church of God in Christ every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Some might say that my interests are divided by doing things as I do, but I remind them that I am serving Jesus Christ, my Savior and Kinsman Redeemer, in two places under two different capacities. I’m a pastor and Bible teacher online, but I’m just a musician at the brick-and-mortar church I attend, and I’m perfectly OK with that.

Setting the Stage

Last Sunday at church was a lot different than the usual morning service. As I took my seat at the keyboard I noticed a younger man, Caucasian, probably in his 30s or maybe his 40s who I had never seen before. Apparently homeless, he was seated in the second row of pews from the front, fairly close to one of the windows. On this particular Sunday it was the pastor’s wife, evangelist Teresa A. Norris who began to deliver the Lord’s Word. Within 5 minutes of the start of her delivery, I noticed the new guest begin acting rather strangely. He was muttering things that made no sense, just to himself at first, but then he gradually became more vocal as the first few minutes wore on.

Here’s Where the Prayers Began

Finally after 6 or 7 minutes of this, Mrs. Norris stopped her delivery and told the guest that she or any of the other leaders would be happy to discuss that with him after the service was over. By this time the man was becoming noticeably agitated and his interruptions escalated. As this was happening, the pastor’s wife (‘first lady Norris’), together with himself and quite a lot of other members who were there that day including myself, immediately launched a group prayer that went all the way to the moon. When that happened, the ‘guest’ began streaming all kinds of unintelligible stuff, and profanity began to flow from the mouth of our ‘guest’.

Prayers Really Do Work

The more unruly the ‘guest’ became, the louder the prayers became. Finally, and very abruptly, the ‘guest’ grabbed his stuff and went storming out the front door. Some would just dismiss it all as the rantings of a madman, but I saw that differently because I was there. What happened at my part-time church last Sunday morning was a clear-cut case of demonic possession. The serious and threatening nature of demonic possession should never be underestimated. That man could have pulled out a weapon and opened fire, killing many of us including myself. But that didn’t happen because a vastly superior force was already present by the time our unruly guest arrived. And it was the combination of the presence of the Spirit of the Risen Lord and our fervent prayers that ultimately drove that man away.

Never underestimate the power of prayer because of its authenticity. Never overestimate the power of evil and of deranged individuals, you never know what might happen. And when you pray, do so expecting an answer. Provided, that what you seek is in your own best interests, as well as those around you, and especially to God, you should pray as often as you can with everything you’ve got. Never ket up until you begin to see a good result

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Why Did Paul the Apostle Appeal to Caesar When He Was Officially a Free Man? Because God Him To

Paul the Apostle Continues His Riveting Testimony Before King Agrippa

Why Paul Appealed to Caesar When He Could Have Been Set Free

(Acts chapter 26 part 2, verses 19-32)

Last week as we left off at part 1 of Acts chapter 26, the apostle Paul was giving his testimony before King Agrippa, in the presence of many of those who had imprisoned Paul previously. Moreover, the majority of those individuals seated before Paul, Festus and king Agrippa were accessories to the murder of Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead on the morning of the 3^rd day, much to their humiliation. As the apostle Luke wrote, Paul had not yet finished his defense, so let’s start where we left off at verse 19.

Part One of This Week’s Verse for Study and Memorization

“19) So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20) First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21) That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22) But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen – 23) that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” 24) At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.‘” (Acts 26, verses 19-24)

The Critical Ingredient that the Jews Lacked in Their Faith

Since the first half of Paul’s testimony to Festus and the king was covered last week, this week we find Paul the apostle beginning to turn up the intensity of his rhetoric. He testified vigorously against the Jews from Jerusalem, and especially to those who were denigrating the sacred Name of the Lord. In verses 20-21 Paul said, “20) First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21) That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.” ‘I remind them’, to paraphrase Paul regarding his Jewish accusers and former brethren, ‘of the very thing that they lack, which is Christ’s Salvation’. All they had to do was believe, but they were too proud.

Paul Testifies Directly to God

Moving on to verse 22, the apostle Paul would not allow himself to be separated from Christ in any way, and compared his faith to that of Moses from centuries before: “But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen….” Paul was testifying on the Lord’s behalf what His intentions were, and that those intentions manifested themselves through Paul. Those who saw or were touched could be saved by embracing the Gospel, and by being healed (in that order).

It was not until the following sentence was uttered that the real purpose of Paul’s testimony came forth: “23),,,,that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” Immediately, King Agrippa stops the proceedings at verse 24, as he accuses the apostle Paul of insanity. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” I don’t know about you, but if anyone is called ‘insane’ because of their Christian beliefs, that’s a huge compliment to a real believer.

Part Two of This Week’s Study Verses

So here we have the apostle Paul being called a madman in full view of everyone, and how does Paul respond? “25) ‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied. ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26) The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’ 28) Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ 29) Paul replied, ‘Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’ 30) The king rose, and with him, the governor and Bernice, and those sitting with them. 31) After they left the room, they began saying to one another, ‘This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.’ 32) Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’”(Acts 26, verses 25-32)

King Agrippa Was Not Yet Convinced at This Point

Somehow, in some way, Paul seems to have found an opening in the heart of king Agrippa. Maybe it was something the king had been taught or otherwise had exposure to in his youth, who can say for sure? But his response gives away his true belief when Paul asks this question in verse 27: “The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.’ 28) Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’” The sarcasm in Agrippa’s tone of voice was likely unmistakable by this time. He was telling Paul to take a look around and notice that he was surrounded by his enemies. So to paraphrase Agrippa, he was asking Paul, ‘if you can’t make converts out of your own people, what makes you think you can convert me?’

What Shall the Court Do With Paul the Apostle?

Paul’s reply was classic Christian: “…I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Although Paul was in chains during these proceedings, he was more free than many of those who had no chains and walked around as free men. Seeing this as being a potential rallying cry for Paul’s supporters, King Agrippa – with Festus’ agreement – immediately adjourns the proceedings so they can discuss the matter privately starting at verse 31. “After they left the room, they began saying to one another, ‘This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.’ “. Nobody knew what to do with Paul, except for the one thing Paul sought, which was to have this case dismissed so he could be set free, even if he had to go all the way to Caesar to do so. And even then, he stipulated, only for the cause of the risen Christ, with nothing held back for himself.

Paul’s Real Motivation

“32) Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’” To everyone there, what Paul the apostle was doing didn’t make any sense. He could have been set free, but Paul couldn’t allow that to occur just yet. He was mindful of what the Spirit of the Lord had told him in Acts 23, verse 11: “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” This right here is the real motivator for Paul – the opportunity to speak to Caesar himself. That would be the modern-day equivalent of setting up a meeting with president Biden.

Paul Begins His Journey to Rome

Paul had been told by the Spirit of the risen Lord, who had appeared to him after he had been apprehended by the Roman guards at Jerusalem, that he would testify in Rome as to the good news of the Gospel of the risen Christ. Paul had also been told that he would testify before governors and officials, and the Lord had taken the most painstaking care to make sure that everything occurred precisely where and when it was intended. Paul the apostle continued to follow in the Lord’s footsteps, as the other prophets did before him dating all the way back to Abraham. The next stop on his journey of faith will be Rome and an audience with Caesar, but the journey to Rome will take a few unexpected turns. So be sure and return next week at this time for Part One of Acts chapter 27, where Paul sets sail under guard for his audience with the Emperor. Everyone have a splendid week.

Since you evidently liked my writing style by reading all the way to the end, come and join me for unlimited access to my blog, plus thousands of articles from many other writers from all different genres. You’ll get free access to my YouTube channel, plus the “The Social Gospel Blog” (published biweekly) and the Social Gospel Worship and Learning Center’s archives; plus Christ-centered leadership, guidance, life lessons, and the true life and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all delivered to your inbox twice or more weekly, plus other extras whenever available. Subscribe here for the paid version (just 16 cents per day, $5.00 monthly or $50.00 annually). It’s easy! https://medium.com/@greatestservant62/subscribe