"Saul, Saul, Why Do you Persecute Me?.... "I Am Jesus Whom You Are Persecuting."

  Paul Before King Agrippa

   The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entering the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city.  At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.  Festus said:  "King Agrippa, and all who are present with us,  you see this man!  the whole Jewish community has petitioned  me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea,  shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

   I found he had done nothing deserving of death,  but because he made his appeal to the Emperor  I decided to send him to Rome.  But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him.  Therefore I have brought him before all of you,  and especially before you,  King Agrippa,  so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write.  For I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.

   Then Agrippa said to Paul.  "You have permission to speak for yourself."

   So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:

"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today  as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,  and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies.  Therefore,  I beg you to listen to me patiently.

   The Jews all know the way I have lived  ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country,  and also in Jerusalem.  They have known me for a long time and can testify,  if they are willing,  that according to the strictest sect of our religion,  I lived as a Pharisee.  And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers  that I am on trial today.  This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God  day and night.  O king it is because of this hope  that the Jews are accusing me.  Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises from the dead.

   I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  And that is just what I did in Jerusalem.  On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison,  and when they were put to death,  I cast my vote against them.  Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,  and I tried to force them to blaspheme.  In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

   On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of our chief priest.  About noon, O king as I was on the road,  I saw a light from heaven,  brighter than the sun,  blazing around me and my companions.  We all fell to the ground,  and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,  "Saul, Saul. why do you persecute me?  It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

   Then I ask,  "Who are you,  Lord."

   "I am Jesus,  whom you are persecuting,"  the Lord replied.  "Now get up and stand on your feet.  I have appeared to you to appoint you  as a servant  and as a witness  of what you have seen of me  and what I will show you.  I will rescue you  from your own people  and from the Gentiles.   I am sending you to them  to open their eyes  and turn them from darkness to light,  and from the power of Satan to God,  so that they may receive forgiveness of sins  and a place among those  who are sanctified  by faith in me."

   "So then,  King Agrippa,  I was not disobedient  to the vision from heaven.  First to those in Damascus,  then to those in Jerusalem  and in all Judea,  and to the Gentiles also,  I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance  by their deeds.  That is why the Jews seized me  in the temple courts and tried to kill me.  But I have had God's help  to this very day, and so I stand here and testify  to small and great alike.  I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said  would happen-that the Christ would suffer and,  as the first to rise from the dead,  would proclaim light to his own people  and to the Gentiles."

   At this point  Festus interrupted Paul's defense.  "You are out of your mind,  Paul!"  he shouted.  "Your great learning is driving you insane."

   "I am not insane,  most excellent Festus,"  Paul replied.  "What I am saying is true and reasonable.  The king is familiar with these things,  and I can speak freely to him.  I am convinced that none of this has escaped his noticed,  because it was not done in a corner.  King Agrippa,  do you believe the prophets?  I know you do."

   Then Agrippa said to Paul,  "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

   Paul replied,  "Short time or long--I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today  may become what I am,  except for these chains."

   The king arose, and with him the governor and Bernice  and those sitting with them.  They left the room,  and while talking with one another, they said,  "This man is not doing anything that deserves death  or imprisonment."

   Agrippa said to Festus,  "This man could have been set free  if he had not appealed to Caesar."

                                      The Book of Acts - chapters  25, 26.  - NIV -

   Peace, Joy, and many Blessings to you and yours,

                                          David McIntire

                                          "A Soldier Of The Light"

  

    

"The Temptation Of Jesus"

   Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,  where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  He ate nothing during those days;  and at the end of them he was hungry.

   The devil said to him,  "If you are the son of God,  tell this stone to become bread."

   Jesus answered,  "It is written:  Man does not live on bread alone.  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

   The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all of the kingdoms of the world.  And he said to him,  "I will give you all their authority and splendor,  for it has been given to me,  and I can give it to anyone I want to.  So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

   Jesus answered:  "It is written:

Worship the Lord your God  and serve him only."

   The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  "If you are the son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.  For it is written:

     "He will command his angels   concerning you

           to guard you carefully;

      they will lift you up in their hands,

          so that you will not

     strike your foot against a stone."

   Jesus answered:  "It says: 

Do not put the Lord your God  to the test."

   When the devil had finished all of this tempting,  he left him until an opportune time.           The Gospel of   Luke   Chapter 4

                                                                                                   Matthew   Chapter 4:4

   Matthew  4:18 - 19

    "The Spirit  of the Lord is upon me, 

because he has anointed me to preach the good news  to the poor.

   He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

   to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Peace, Joy, and many Blessings to you and yours.

                                  David McIntire

                                 "A Soldier Of  The Light"

"The Wife Of Noble Character"

   "Speak up  for those who cannot  speak for themselves,
for the rights  of all  who are destitute.

Speak up  and judge fairly;
defend the rights  of the poor  and needy."




   The wife of noble character  who can find?
She is worth  far more  than rubies.

   Her husband has full confidence  in her
and lacks nothing  of value.

   She brings him  good,  not harm,
all the days  of her life.

   She selects wool  and flax
and works  with eager hands.

   She is like  the merchant ships,
bringing her food   from afar.

   She gets up  while it is still dark;
she provides food   for her family 
and portions  for her servant girls.

   She considers a field  and buys it;
out of her earnings  she plants a vineyard.

   She sets about her work  vigorously;
her arms are strong  for her tasks.

   She sees that her trading  is profitable.
and her lamp  does not  go out at night.

   In her hand  she holds  a distaff
and grasps the spindle  with her fingers.

   She opens her arms  for the poor
and extends  her hands  to the needy.

   When it snows,  she has no fear  for her household;
for all of them  are clothed in scarlet.

   She makes coverings  for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen  and purple.

  
Her husband is respected  at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders  of the land.

   She makes linen garments  and sells them,
and supplies the merchants  with sashes.

   She is clothed  with strength  and dignity;
she can laugh at the days  to come.

   She speaks  with wisdom,
and faithful instruction  is on her tongue.

   She watches over the affairs  of her household
and does not eat the bread  of idleness.

   Her children arise  and call her blessed;
her husband also,  and he praises her:

   "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass  them all."


   Charm is deceptive,  and beauty  is fleeting;
but a woman  who fears the Lord  is to be praised.

   Give her the reward  she has earned,
and let her works  bring praise  at the city gate.
                                      The Book Of Proverbs - chapter  31   - NIV -

   Peace,  Joy,  and many Blessings  to you  and yours.

                                         David  McIntire
                                        "A Soldier Of The Light"

"Walk While You Have The Light, Before Darkness Overtakes You."

THE WORDS OF JESUS: 

   "The hour has come  for the Son Of Man to be glorified.
   I tell you the truth,  unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,  it remains only a single seed. But if it dies,  it produces many seeds.

   The man who loves his life  will lose it,  while the man who hates his life in this world   will keep it for eternal life.

   Whoever serves me  must follow me;  and where I am,  my servant  also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.

   Now my heart is troubled,  and what shall I say?  Father save me from this hour?
No,  it was for this very reason  I came to this hour.

   Father, glorify  your name."



   "You are going to have the light  just a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light,  before darkness overtakes you.
   The man who walks in the dark  does not know where he is going.
Put your trust in the light while you have it,  so that you may become  sons of light."


   "When a man believes in me,  he does not believe in me only, 
 but in the one who sent me.

   When he looks at me,  he sees the one who sent me.

   I have come into the world as a light,  so that no one who believes in me  should stay in darkness.

   As for the person who hears my words  but does not keep them, 
 I do not judge him.  For I did not come to judge the world,  but to save it.

   There is a judge for the one who rejects me  and does not accept  my words;  that very word  which I spoke  will condemn him  at the last day.

   For I did not speak of my own accord,  but the Father  who sent me  commanded me  what to say  and how to say it.

   I know that his command  leads to eternal life.  So  whatever I say  is just what the Father  has told me to say." 
                                      The Gospel Of John  -  Chapter  12


  
  
   "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; 
 trust also in me.

   In my Father's house  are many rooms;  if it were not so, 
 I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.

   And If I go and prepare  a place for you,  I will come back  and take you to be with me  that you also may be where I am.

 YOU KNOW THE WAY  TO THE PLACE  WHERE I AM GOING."
                                        The Gospel Of John - chapter  14:1

  

   Many Blessings to you and Yours,

                                   David McIntire
                                 "A Soldier Of The Light"

"A Man Who Strays From The Path Of Understanding Comes To Rest In The Company Of The Dead."

   The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord;
he directs it like a watercourse  wherever he pleases.


   All a man's ways  seem right to him,
but the Lord weighs  the heart.


   To do what is right  and just
is more acceptable to the Lord  than sacrifice.


   Haughty eyes  and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked   are sin!


   The plans of the diligent  lead to profit
as surely as haste leads  to poverty.


   A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor  and a deadly snare.


   The violence of the wicked  will drag them away,
for they refuse  to do what is right.


   The way of the guilty  is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent  is upright.


   Better to live  on a corner of a roof
than share a house  with a quarrelsome wife.


   The wicked man  craves evil;
his neighbor gets no mercy  from him.


   when a mocker is punished,  the simple gain wisdom;
when a wise man is instructed,  he gets knowledge.


   The Righteous One  takes note  of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked  to ruin.


   If a man shuts his ears  to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out  and not be answered.


   A gift given in secret  sooths anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak  pacifies great wrath.


   When justice is done,  it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evil doers.


   A man who strays  from the path of understanding
comes to rest  in the company of the dead.


   He who loves pleasure  will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil  will never be rich.


   The wicked become a ransom  for the righteous,
and the unfaithful  for the upright.


   Better to live in a desert 
than with a quarrelsome  and ill-tempered wife.


   In the house of the wise  are stores of choice food and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.


   He who pursues  righteousness and love
finds life,  prosperity  and honor.


  A wise man attacks the city  of the mighty
and pulls down the strongholds  in which they trust.


   He who guards  his mouth  and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.


   The proud and arrogant man - "Mocker"  is his name;
he behaves with overweening pride.


   The sluggard's craving  will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.


   All day long  he craves for more,
but the righteous  give without sparing.


   The sacrifice of the wicked  is detestable -
how much more so  when brought with evil intent!


   A false witness will perish, 
and whoever listens to him  will be destroyed  forever.


   A wicked man  puts up a bold front,
but an upright man  gives thought to his ways.


   There is no wisdom,  no insight,  no plan
that can succeed  against the Lord.


   The horse is made ready  for the day of battle,
but the victory rest  with the Lord.


                     The Book Of Proverbs -   Chapter  21
          

   Peace,  Joy,  and many Blessings  to you and yours,


                                  David McIntire
                               "A Soldier Of The Light"

  

"One Thing God Has Spoken, Two Things I Have Heard."

   Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.


   He alone is my rock  and my salvation;
he is my fortress,  I will not be shaken.


   My salvation and my honor  depends on God;
he is my mighty rock,  my refuge.


   Trust in him at all times,  O people;
pour out your hearts to him,  for God is our refuge.   
   Selah


   Lowborn men  are but a breath, 
the highborn  are but a lie;
if weighed on a balance,  they are nothing;
together  they are only a breath.


   Do not trust  in extortion
 or take pride  in stolen goods;
though your riches increase, 
do not set your heart on them.


   One thing  God has spoken,
two things  have I heard;
that you,  O God, are strong,
and that you,  O Lord, are loving.


   Surely you will reward  each person
according to  what he has done.       Psalms  62

Peace, Joy, and many Blessings to you and yours

David McIntire

"A Soldier Of The Light"

He who testifies of these things says: "YES I AM COMING SOON".

   ..... The great street of the city was of pure gold,  like transparent glass.


   I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb are its temple. 
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the "Glory of God " gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
   The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendors into it. 
 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
   The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.


   Nothing impure will ever enter into it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, 
but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book Of Life.

The River Of Life


   Then the angel showed me the river  of the water of life,  as clear as crystal,  flowing from the throne of God  and of the Lamb  down the middle of the great street of the city.
On each side of the river stood the tree of life,  bearing twelve crops of fruit,  yielding its fruit every month.
And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 
No longer will there be any curse.
The throne of God  and of the Lamb  will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him.
   They will see his face,  and his name will be put on their foreheads.
There will be no more night. 
They will not need the light of a lamp  or the light of the sun,
for the Lord God will give them light.
And they will reign forever and ever.


   The angel said to me,  "These words are trustworthy  and true.
The Lord,  the God of the spirits of the prophets,  sent his angel
to show his servants  the things that must soon take place."


JESUS  IS  COMING

   "Behold,  I am coming soon!
Blessed is he  who keeps the words of the prophecy  in this book."
   I,  John,  am the one who heard and saw these things.
And when  I had heard  and seen them,  I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel  who had been showing them to me.
But, he said to me,  "Do not do it!  I am a fellow servant  with you  and your brothers  the prophets  and of all  who keep the words of this book.
Worship  God!"


   Then he told me,  "Do not seal up  the words of the prophecy  of this book,  because the time  is near,
Let him who does wrong  continue to do wrong;  let him who is vile  continue to be vile;  
let him who does right  continue to do right;
and  let him who is holy  continue to be holy."

   "Behold,  I am coming soon!
My reward is with me,  and I will give to everyone  according to what he has done.
I am the Alpha  and the Omega, 
the  First  and the Last,
the Beginning  and the End.

   Blessed are those  who wash their robes,
that they may have the right  to the tree of life
and may go through the gates  into the city.
Outside  are the dogs,
those who practise magic arts,
the sexually immoral,  the  murderers,
the idolaters  and everyone
who loves and practices falsehood.

   I,  Jesus,  have sent my angel 
to give you  this testimony  for the churches.
I am the Root  and the Offspring  of  David,
and the  bright  and Morning Star."

   The Spirit  and the bride say,  "Come!"
And let him  who hears say,  "Come!"
Whoever  is thirsty,  let him come;
and  whoever wishes,
let him take  the  free gift  of the water of life.


   I warn everyone  who hears the words  of  the prophecy  of this book:


If anyone adds  anything to them,
God will add to him  the plagues described in this book.
And if anyone takes words away  from this book of prophecy,
God will take away from him  his share  in the tree of life
and in the holy city,
which are described  in this book.


   He  who testifies to these things  says,
"Yes,  I am coming  soon."
   Amen.  Come Lord Jesus.


   The grace  of the Lord Jesus  be with God's people.
Amen.
                                                    The  Book  Of  Revelation
                                                chapter  21:21-27:  chapter  22

   Peace,  Joy,  and many Blessings to you and yours.


            David McIntire
        "A soldier of the Light"