Unexpected

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Published: Monday, 07 May 2018 08:38
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Unexpected

(1 Corinthian 1:25-31)

Open Bible Christian Fellowship

San Jose, Anda, Pangasinan

April 24, 2018; 2:00 PM

Updated: April 26, 2018 (Thursday)

Revised: May 6, 2018 (Sunday); 2:00 AM

Revised: May 7, 2018 (Monday) 3:40 PM

 

When God brings you to divine realm, the time travel is like a thousand times slimmer than hairbreadth. The journey between the natural to spiritual is like unexpectedly merging you to the threshold between consciousness & unconsciousness

 

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It looks like the title suits me well. Perhaps because I was not the expected the original speaker for the Church Anniversary that day. I just remember that I was one among the two guest speakers on that “End Times Seminar” that was held last April 4, 2018 and it was right there and then that I was invited as the guest speaker to their church anniversary.

 

It is also there that I met this peculiar young man (which I might share it to you later concerning his special conversion in the Lord Christ). And a few days later, I also met the lady in red.

 

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The lady in red

(taken from the internet)

 

Things happen

Sometimes unexpected things happen. I don’t expect that I would become a pastor. It is something that I never dreamt of. I never expected that God will come into my rescue when I was caught for carrying “illegal drugs” in Saudi Arabia way back in 1986. But it did happen this way:

 

 

Transported

On January 16, 1986, Dhahran Airport, Saudi Arabia, I was whisked by 6 Saudi airport policemen to a confined room where I was commanded to stand on a parade-rest position while I was completely undressed for the next 6 hour-interrogation. Between interrogations, I suddenly heard a voice from heaven calling my name saying, “Peps, Peps, Peps.” Then suddenly again, I have been transported to another realm. On that another realm, the Lord gently talked to me while He have shown my life from the past to the present time. While my body remained at Dhahran airport throughout the interrogation my spirit tarried with the Lord Christ like for many, many years. The voice of God is so fluidly clear like pure water – authoritative yet gentle and reassuring. Instantly I brought back to the natural realm. In that 6-hour ordeal in the hands of the Muslim security guards my experienced in the Presence of God seemingly endless and boundless. I was amazingly baffled whether it is real or not. Am I fallen asleep or what? The distance between spirit and the natural realm is indescribably like a thousand times smaller by hair strand.

 

Do you believe that?

 

 

Suddenly happens

Even Apostle Paul himself experienced what I experienced during his call in Acts 9:3/ KJV. While Saul was running after to the followers of the Way to prosecute them, he had this unexpected experience when “suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.”

 

The word “suddenly” that Luke, the physician wrote refers to the Greek word “exaiphnes” means “unexpectedly” and in another Greek “aiphnidios” which means “unexpected, sudden, unforeseen.”

 

The word “suddenly” or “unexpected” can be attributed to the Greek god of speed which is instantaneous, Mercury, a winged god of boundary and traveller.

 

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Mercury is so swift and

it travels in the speed of light.

(Photo from the internet)

 

 

 

Unexpected things

Unexpected things happen whenever God calls you regardless of circumstances. God is God of un-expectations.

 

  • Abram isn’t expecting anything of meeting the Lord. His father, Terah just recently died when out instantly God called him to leave his mother, his kindred, his land… to a land that He will show him (Gen. 12:1-4).

  • Joseph. A Pharaoh suddenly caught the attention of a prisoner named Joseph then in a moment, he was officially commissioned be the next in command after the king (Gen. 41).

  • Moses was merely tending his flock in the land of Midian, then unexpectedly he saw the burning bush and God called him right there and then (Exodus 3:1-2).

  • Isaiah. Just after King Uzziah died, his nephew and a prince Isaiah suddenly caught up in the heaven’s throne and saw His glory. Immediately, he was called to be a prophet (Isaiah 6).

  • Peter, Andrew, James and John were just mending their net when immediately a man named called Jesus, a carpenter said to them “Follow Me.” (Matthew 4:18-21).

  • Saul was out outrageously pursuing the fleeing believers of the so-called “The Way” when suddenly a light came from heaven, that immediately struck him blind and heard the words saying, “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou Me,” (Acts 9:1-4).

 

So God is God of un-expectations. Perhaps you yourself have been called by called unexpectedly.

 

 

 

Unexpected Defined

I can’t find word of “unexpected” in KJV but there is in ISV : Jeremiah 15:8; Habakkuk 2:7. Unexpected in KJV is termed “suddenly” in Hebrew “petha” (peh-thah) i.e. ‘suddenness; in an instant; a wink that is, moment; at an instant, suddenly.”

 

Unexpected is interpreted as “suddenly” in Mark 9:8 and Acts 9:3 which is derived from the Greek words “exapina” or “exaiphnes” (ex-ah-eef-nace) as “of a suddenly, suddenly, unexpectedly.”

 

In other words, the unexpected” denotes time. The unexpected

 

 

Twinkling of an eye

The unexpected can occurs in just twinkling of an eye.

 

The word “suddenly” or “unexpectedly” can be well-described in 1 Cor. 15:52 when “Christ will come with the twinkling of an eye and the dead shall be raised incorruptible”.

 

Unexpected or suddenly or twinkling is Greek “rhipe” (hree-pay) means “ a stroke, a beat or a moment of time” (Thayer). And how will you measure the moment of time?

 

James Strong define “twinkling of an eye” as “instant.” And how fast instant is should we want to measure with time?

 

 

Light travels

Light travels at the speed of 300,000 km. per second. The “wink of an eye” is measured at 1.3 seconds. That is how fast a twinkling of an eye is. Such unexpected speck of time is like a dream or a mere pigment of one’s imagination that you don’t know at times whether you are awake or you fast asleep. Christ claimed that He is the light (Greek ‘phos’) in John 8:12. Phos means “to shine or to make manifest especially by rays “ according to James Strong Bible Dictionary. Rays is not stationary. Rays travel.

 

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We saw a Greek ancient inscription on one fallen column at the Temple of Artemis on Mount T’molus which is very near to the ancient city of Sardis. The Greek inscription reads as “phos” and “zoe” meaning light and life.

 

Artemis is a Persian word which means in Greek as “Diana,’ the chief goddess of the city of Ephesus (Acts 19:24). Diana or Artemis is the sister of Greek god, Apollo.

 

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Distances and events

And whenever there is time, there is space (distances) or events. If you don’t agree with me then ask a physicist. In Genesis 1:14 the reason why God created heavenly bodies or the science of astronomy is to measure time, it says, “Let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.”

 

And what will be the event should Christ comes for His Second Coming in a twinkling of an eye?

Yes, another transition of time, either Tribulation Period or Millennium. But Tribulation should come first before Millennium. Christ’s sudden coming denotes events of birth-pains (tribulations).

 

But how would you measure time and space when God brings you to the heavenly realm? And how fast would the journey be from earth to His heavenly throne? And what would be your expectations of events should God brings you His realm?

 

So how I did measure time and space on that January 16, 1986 when the Lord brought me to His presence from Dhahran Airport that night? I can’t. You can’t measure God. As far as I know is that staying in His presence for a second (earth-time) is boundless like thousands of years.

 

 

Significant biblical events

There were significant unexpected events when God brings you to another realm. It is something very hard to understand.

 

Isaiah said, “I saw also the Lord” (Isa. 6:1). When this prince saw the Lord, he saw him either physically or in a vision. The word “saw” in Hebrew “ra’ah” means vision. Isaiah reacted instantly saying, “Woe is me,” (verse 5). So he repented instantly – that was the event that took place in his life seeing God in a vision.

 

 

When Paul was caught up in third heaven, he didn’t know exactly whether he was taken up there in a body or in the spirit (2 Cor. 12:1-3). How fast he was translated? Nobody knows! Even the learned Paul who had Ph. D in Mosaic Law could not explained it and he only said, “Only God knows!” And that is unfathomable by human mind. He explained in verse 4/ NLT , “they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.” That was the events that took place in his first hand experience when he was caught up in heaven.

 

 

The word suddenly can be found in Acts 10:16 / NLT, “The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.” In KJV it is translated “was received up” form Greek “analambano” which means “to take up” or “intensity”. Webster defines intensity as the quality or state of being intense of strength or force or quantity of energy like the sun.

 

 

Thousand years

God is not limited with time and space. He is eternal God. So how does it feel to be in the presence of an everlasting, infinite God then? Shall a day with God can be like thousand years?

 

2 Peter 3:8 says, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

 

When God brought me to His throne, I don’t know whether I was in the body or in the spirit. As far as I know, my body was left behind to where I was stooping down in prayer when I was suddenly transported to the vast space of the universe. I don’t know how fast I was soaring at the heights but I was travelling like in the speed of light. I saw the very huge universe – the galaxies, the constellations, the glittering stars and revolving planets and the myriads colours and lights are very astonishing that no enough words to describe them.

 

Transported
The world transported cannot be found in KJV. But Enoch experienced the same way in bodily form. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. “

 

The word “translated” in Greek “metatithemi” which means “to transfer’ or “ to change” according to Thayer Bible Dictionary. James Strong Bible dictionary define “translated” as “transported.”

 

The word “translation” in Greek “metathesis” means “to transfer from one place to another.” That is exactly what I experienced on that dawn prayer at 4am. I was stooping down in prayer while my face is buried like a flint on the floor when suddenly or unexpectedly I was pulled up from the floor, soared instantly passing through the cemented ceiling. I saw the buildings of our neighbourhood below as we exiting from the planet earth while traversing in the immense skies.

 

I couldn’t count how many heavens are there but when I suddenly stopped I’ve seen myself floating on the air. Unveiled before me is Lord’s throne glittering with brilliant various lights from His countenance. But I could not see His face. He talked to me like a thunderous voice yet so calm and gentle. I knew I was with Him in a split second and yet it is measured like thousands of years. When the Lord stopped talking to me, I instantly saw myself in my original praying state, stopping down with my knees on the floor.

 

Why “we?” I was with two 9 feet tall un-winged angels. They brought me there.

 

 

Would that be possible? Well, James Strong Bible Dictionary define “translation” as “transposition i.e. transferral to heaven.”

 

 

 

 

Ares-like war

The Corinthian believers often compared the stutterer Paul against his contemporary Apollos who is very eloquent. Apollos is named after Apollo, who is the chief deity of Delphi, Greece. Apollo is the Greek deity of oracles and knowledge. Apollo in other words is good orator with enticing words that captivates his listeners. And Paul is on the other hands comes and talks with “trembling voice.” . The two – Paul and Apollos are not however engaged in word-war against each other for they are co-workers in the Lord. It is their followers that causes the “spiritual divisiveness.”

 

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The schism from the camps of Paul aka Mercury or Hermes and Apollos brought division in the church likened to the Greek god of war, Ares or in the Roman counterpart, Mars, the Roman god of war. The Ares-war like spirit can be seen in the churches today.

 

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How many church-leaders and churches have you seen and heard splitting down?



The congressman

I received a call from Hong Kong one night. She warned me that a certain congressman would come to see me in my office in the next few days. Then one day, this congressman came and I gladly received him and ushered him around the school ground. Then we went to my office and had cup of coffee and had a casual talk.

 

Out from the blue he asked, “If you were a politician, what will you do when you are given the chance to develop your city?”

Of course, Rosales is not a city. Rosales that time was still a 3rd class municipality. His question prompted me to draw something on a white board. After I have done my drawing, this congressman saw the sketches I made that composed of a main road, public and private establishments, and others.

The congressman asked, “Are you an urban planner?” I replied, “No! I am a Psychology graduate but the Lord Christ told me that one of the reasons why He is sending me back to the Phillippines particularly here in Carmen, Rosales is to develop this barangay and make it a commercial place.”

Three of five years late, SM-Rosales was built.

Envisioning or we call it goal-setting is one of God’s tremendous works among His workers in the vineyard. There could not leader without a vision and there could be no vision without someone who catches God’s plan on that place.



On board 5-Star

Right after I jumped inside this vehicle, I was dozed into sleep on the back seat of the bus. The bus was full. Suddenly, there was this voice saying, “What are you doing?” Without my eyes opened I replied, “I am sleeping.” He said, “Get up and PREACH!” Pretending I was so tired and sleepy, I said, “No! I am sleeping” but in reality it scared me doing that in a public place much more inside a bus where I was exactly boarded in.

 

I felt a heavy uneasiness unless I do what the Spirit is saying, I jumped out from the back seat of the bus and approached the bus conductor and driver to authorize me to preach inside. I said, “I will finish it in 7 – 10 minutes. Promise! I won’t ask for any money-offering!” Both agreed. With trembling hands and knees and crackling voice, I opened my mouth. Those sleeping-passenger begun opening their eyes, their whole attention were all focused on me and I felt like I was melting like a wax. In few minutes, I asked, “Who wants to say this Sinners’ Prayer with me and invite Christ in his or her life?” Over half of the boarded passengers raised their hands and we made the Sinner’s Prayer.

 

That was amazing! Not a men’s work but it is a God’s work!

 

 

Works of God

Paul walks the works of God. He is not merely an empty talker (though lacking in eloquence) though he admits he is a stutterer.

 

When Elymas, the sorcerer undermined Paul, “immediately (Greek “parachrema” i.e. instantly) there fell on him a mist of darkness” and he was instantly went blind (Acts 13:11).

 

A man who was crippled since birth perceiving he can be healed because of his strong faith, Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand upright!” and instantly he got healed (Acts 14:10). The Lycaonia Greeks perceiving Paul as Greek god shouted causing a public stir and called him “Mercurius” or Mercury, “the Greek god of message or herald” or “herald of the gods.” Mercury is also called Hermes (Acts 14:12).

 

In Acts 16:14 in Thyatira, Paul and Silas was imprisoned for delivering a girl with demon -possession. While the two were singing and praying unto God “suddenly (Greek “aphno” i.e. “unexpectedly” and “immediately (Greek “parachrema” i.e. instantly)” an earthquake shook their prison and unlocked the doors (Acts 16:26)

 

In Mars Hills in Athens, Paul preached before great orators and intellectuals (Acts 17:22) and Dionysius, a member of Athenian Court or judiciary s and a woman named Damaris, an Athenian woman were converted (Acts 17:34).

 

Athens is not merely a set a political and religious power during ancient time. It is the seat of the world’s knowledge and where the intellectuals hailed from. Greece produced the world’s famous philosophers in the likes of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates.

 

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Their ancient knowledge and culture even dominates in the hall of our Congress today just like the SOGIE Bill and Civil Partnership which is highly recommended and authored by no less than House Speaker P. Alvarez. In Greek culture, homosexuality and lesbianism is not a matter of morality but culture.

 

Mykonos and Lesbos are two islands of Greece that have exclusive places for gays and lesbians. Homosexuality and lesbianism is a part of Hellenistic culture. Artemis or Diana is a he-she god. Apollo, the Greek god of prophesy and healing is also known as bisexual god of Greece who has a male love name Hyacinth, a handsome warrior.

 

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True and pure wisdom

When Paul wrote the 1st Epistle of Corinthians, this man was dealing the Greek believers of their immoral and loose values and sexual promiscuity and perversion. Paul’s epistle is focused on the conversion of the Corinthian believers associated with sexual purity.

 

Even the Americans are not spared with this Greek culture. Even the seat of legislative power in Hellenistic styled US Capitol in Washington, DC and Thomas Jefferson Memorial has Hellenistic-Roman architectural style of building. And what spirit would that be when these American legislators would craft a bill or law? Is it not SOGIE Law came from America as well?

 

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The Word of God must worth the talk. Eloquence is a plus factor but the Word should manifest God’s works as fast the speed of light – the signs and wonders, divine wisdom and counsel, healing, conviction of sins, fear of the Lord to name a few.

 

 

The demonstration of true wisdom

God’s wisdom will subdue human wisdom. Human wisdom may manifest artful discourse yet if it lacks proof or evidence then it is nought. But God’s wisdom speaks of demonstration of spirit and power. God’s wisdom must possess the power to convert souls. Paul said this:

 

1 Cor. 2: 4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Demonstration in Greek “apodeixis” means “proof”. Remember that Hebrews 11:1 says, “ Now faith is the substance of things hope for; the evidence of things not seen.?”

 

In conclusion, morality must not be compromised with one’s eloquence of preaching. True and pure wisdom is not being measured on how good your Hellenistic oratory-styled preaching but the manifestation of power of God through renewed life as what Apostle Paul is strongly pointing at. Conversion of soul is not being tapped by human wisdom but that of God’s true and pure wisdom.

 

Human wisdom is often measured by oratory speeches but lacking in signs. James called “faith without works is dead,” (James 2:17).

 

When Paul talked about the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men, he meant to say that God’s wisdom must be associated with physical and spiritual phenomenon that occurs in the blink of an eye or what we call unexpectedly.

 

Paul as a stutterer, a short man and lacking in physical good appearance manifests God’s wisdom with signs (Mark 16:17).

 

When these God’s wisdom is being manifested with signs, wonders and spectacular phenomenon then we can further explained these sayings of Paul, “It is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES:

 

 

BACKGROUND: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles,[f] Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

 

 

THEME: 1 Corinthians 1:25-31

25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[g] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

 

 

KEY WORDS

  • Wisdom 7 times mentioned

“Sophia” i.e. wisdom; broad and full of intelligence; knowledge of very diverse matters; the wisdom that belongs to men; varied knowledge of things divine; summed up by maxims an proverbs; the science of learning; the intelligence in discovering meanings of some mysterious number or vision; skill in management of affair; the act of interpreting dreams and giving the sagest advice; skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth; supreme intelligence; the wisdom of God as evinced in forming and executing counsels in the formation and government of the world and the scriptures (Thayer Definition). Wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual) by Strong Bible Dictionary.

 

  • Chosen 3 times mentioned

“eklegomai” i.e. to pick out; choose; of God choosing whom He judged fit to receive his favour; set apart.” Example : Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5); The 12 Disciples

 

  • Called 2 times mentioned

“kletos” i.e. called; invited (to a banquet); invited in the proclamation of the Gospel to obtain the eternal salvation in the Kingdom through Christ; called to the discharge of some office; divinely selected and appointed (Thayer).

Rev. 3:20 “sup” Greek “deipneo”

 

Matthew 22:14, “Many are called but few are chosen.”
Rev. 17:14, “They that are with Him are called, chosen and faithful.” While the first two words are action words such are called and chosen the word faithful is not. Faithfulness speaks of character value

 

 

HISTORY

The Church at Corinth was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey. It had become infected with the evils that surrounded it in licentious city. The Greek were proud of their learning and philosophy, but at the same time were grossly immoral. They were especially fond of oratory.

 

 

ATHENA, A PRIESTESS

When we were visiting Parthenon, our tourist guide explained that Athena, the goddess of beauty is also a priestess whose sexual orgy is a part of their religious ritual in Parthenon.

 

It is apparent that Apollos, an eloquent Christian Jew had come to Corinth and captured the imagination of the Greek Christians (Acts 18:24-28). This fact led to the drawing of comparison between him, with his silver tongue, and other religious leaders – especially to the discredit of Paul, whose physical appearance seems not to have been impressive (2 Cor. 10:10).

 

 

Alexandria and Pergamon

Apollos came from a Jewish family in Alexandria, Egypt, a famous ancient city which has largest library in the whole world during that time. While Paul as an apostle have been in Phyrgia and in Pergamon where you can find the world’s 2nd largest library. Our tourist guest Meltem narrated that then the king of the Kingdom of Pergamon get the famous Egyptian papyrus as raw materials for writing instruments.

 

Both Apollos and Paul have then access to these two world’s biggest libraries.

 

Not comely looks
Paul on the other hand does not have the comely looks unlike Apollos but he is quite shorter than any ordinary man with stuttering speech.

 

 

Schism like Ares-Mars

The oratory eloquence of Apollos and the babbling-speech of Paul somehow made two separate groups like Ares, the Greek god of war or in its Roman counterpart, Mars, the Roman god of war.

 

This probably is the cue to the schisms in the church of Corinth because of three-party system because it sounds like that others are for Cephas (Peter).

 

1 Cor. 1:11-13, “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? “

 

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The spirit of divisiveness did not came from Apollos himself but from the fanatic believers who looks at him like demi-god. It is like human worship due to Apollo’s great eloquence for he acquired high learning from Alexandria where it houses the largest library in the whole world during that time.


Do you have the same fractions or grouping in your church today?

 

It was the desire of Paul to purify the church from party spirit and immorality, which was primary cause of the writing of the letter.

 

 

Stutterer

Paul said his ability to preach is not in eloquence or oratory manner. It looks like Paul as a Jew is a not a good public debater unlike the Greeks who are known to the best philosophers. Paul confessed it this way in 1 Cor. 2:3, “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”

 

Though Paul was holding a Ph. D. on Mosaic Law he is quick to admit he trembled a lot whenever he preaches the Word of God.

 

The various stadia all over Greece insinuate the Hellenistic culture of the Greek people of being fond of debates, orations, games and competitions for public display or spectacle. This is also true in many churches today that they sought outstanding bible speakers of our present generation more than of God’s fresh directions. They have insatiable appetite for good speakers and not the gist of the true meat of the Word of God.

 

But Paul reasoned out that the Gospel of Christ is foolishness to the standard and wisdom of this world as he said in 1 Corinthians 1:20, “ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? “

 

To the wise, Paul is referring to the wise people in general who have obtained high learning and knowledge in various fields and sciences; to the scribe referring to the Jews, the secretaries and recorders and those in the government; as well to the great debaters no less than the Greek philosophers.

 

Are you familiar with this quote, “Better said than done?” Well, Paul is saying that being a good talkers isn’t enough, but the walk or actions must worth the talk. In simple saying is this, “Action speak louder than voice.” For Apostle James, a very practical believer quoted it this way, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? “ (James 2:20). Vain means futile or empty. Those who like wanting more to talk have nothing to prove.

 

Paul refers that true wisdom that comes from God speaks for results.

 

 

 

When the word of God is released, there must be an evidence. John 6:63. Jesus said, “That I speak unto you, they are spirit (pneuma, wind) and they are life (zoe).”

 

Where faith to Christ must be rooted from

1Co 2:5  “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 

 

 

FWBD

When Paul said God chosen people as His vessels to demonstrate His Spirit and Power then He chooses the following:

  • The foolish. Greek “moros” referring to the foolish, impious, godless, stupid. Stupid is the people with highest IQ three (3 )MR or mentally retarded people : moron, imbecile, idiot.

  • The weak. Greek “asthenes” referring to the “infirm, weak, feeble” like stutterer like Paul or me.

  • The base. Greek “agenes” i.e. “coward, mean, ignorable, of no family, low born. Without descent. I am ‘born out of wedlock’ which they call, “forsaken” or “bastard” (bastardo).

  • The despised. Greek “exoutheneo” meaning “to make no account; despise, utterly.” Utterly means “damn, damned, dead” according to Webster.

 

 

Perfect Wisdom

1Co 2:6  “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. “

 

 

Why God chooses and calls that way?

1 Cor. 1:29, “That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. “

 

 

 

 

 



Unconscious

Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud said, “The only trustworthy antithesis is between conscious and unconscious.”

 

 

UNDERSTANDING THE GREEK CULTURE

PARTHENON ETYMOLOGY

Christopher Pelling asserts that Athena Parthenos may have constituted a discrete cult of Athena, intimately connected with, but not identical to, that of Athena Polias says Peling ‘Greek Tragedy and The Historian.”

 

According to this theory, the name of the Parthenon means the "temple of the virgin goddess" and refers to the cult of Athena Parthenos that was associated with the temple according to Greek Encyclopedia.

 

The epithet parthénos (παρθένος) meant "maiden, girl", but also "virgin, unmarried woman“ (Henry George Liddell) and was especially used for Artemis, the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation, and for Athena, the goddess of strategy and tactics, handicraft, and practical reason (Frazer).

 

Artemis is also called Diana who is the chief goddess of Ephesus. A silversmith, Demetrius instigated riots together with his fellow craftsman against Paul when they started losing the trade because of the great conversion in Ephesus during the latter missionary journey. Artemis or Diana means “complete light” where Christ is called the “light” or “phos,” (John 1:4) Artemis is the sister of Apollo, Greek god of the sun. Acts 19:24-41.

 

It has also been suggested that the name of the temple alludes to the maidens (parthenoi), whose supreme sacrifice guaranteed the safety of the city according to Whitley “Archaelogy on Ancient Greece.”

 

Parthénos has also been applied to the Virgin Mary, Parthénos Maria, and the Parthenon had been converted to a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the final decade of the sixth century (Freely, 2004). But this need more validation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGORA, A MARKETPLACE

2 Cor. 2:17, “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. ” kapeleuo i.e. to peddle; to retail; to trade

 

Luke 19:45-46, “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46  Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. ” Agorazo i.e. to be in the marketplace; to buy.

 

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Sad to say that some ministers and leaders use the church and the Christian believers as a form of business enterprise to enrich themselves. Sometimes the richer the church is the greater is her spirit of greed for power and mammon. Laodicea is being branded as a “rich church” but Christi down-graded her and branded her a “poor, blind church” in Rev. 3:14-17.

 

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