Words Are Powerful

Jesus was called a carpenter in the English translation, but the original Greek word used was “tekton” which meant artisan; an artisan or builder, like a stone mason. In the video below, we learn from an archeologist that most all the homes and buildings at the time of Jesus in Judea, were made with stone. So Jesus was actually referred to as an artificer, which at his time was a stone worker, a stone mason. The historian tells us that an artifacer wouldn’t fit the description of wood building much, but it does fit a builder, and that there’s not a lot of wood in their homes but more stone, so a stone worker is more likely what Jesus was. He points out that Jesus used stones as examples of things often. When I heard this the first thing I thought of was Jesus as the chief corner stone.

Matthew 21:42 KJV

⁴² Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected. Has become the chief cornerstone: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

The second thing was when he referred to his followers as stones…

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So as we learn more of the customs and the original words used, we begin to see a different meaning to many things we have been told. Now many of the things we’ve been told that are different may appear minor, but when you take them all into account for understanding…the importance of the customs and the original words become of great magnitude and of utmost importance. Knowing the customs and the politics of the day are vital to understanding the days of Jesus and what it was all really like and why things were said the way they were. How this understanding can and does totally change the meaning of many interpretations made by those who lack the knowledge of the times of Jesus. Poor translations and little to no understanding of Jewish customs have been a major reason why many have been easily misled into believing false interpretations. We see how false reporting of events that happen on a daily basis confound people and lead them astray, even now in 2021/22. Trust me at the time of Jesus, he was fighting all the liars, the propaganda, and political lawmakers of the Sanhedrin. The priests and elite of the day were constantly trying to have Jesus removed and sought ways to do it on a daily basis.

Matthew 21: 32  ^“For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.”

I’m just thinking of those publicans and harlots, whose labels bear in mind some very outcasts of society, taking the witness of a man down at the river seriously. The kind of sinners the elite of Jesus’s day whispered about and pointed fingers at. Yet, Jesus shamed them for showing how sinners heard and believed and they rejected him (whom he now pointed himself out as the chief corner stone).

We are no different in these days as in the days of Jesus and the first followers of the way. When we see the similarities we are reminded once again that there is nothing new under the sun. Only the customs and methods of making a living has changed…all but one…politics and ruling over others. That has remained pretty much the same deal…going out to conquer and enslave to rule over and collect taxes and imprison, assassinate or condemn any whom pose a threat.

Let us pray unceasing and go to the Lord for discernment daily as these are wicked days where sorcery is used at every turn in broad daylight. Remember this, it was not the Romans who stoned Stephen, it was the people who believed differently then he did.

Remember also Saul oversaw the stoning and then went on house to house to rid Jerusalem and Judea of all such followers of the way. Imagine the finger pointing at Saul after he became Paul? Now how could anyone believe a word out of his mouth? Especially with his terrible past of arresting all the followers of the way and having many killed.

We don’t even question that why not? Oh, because he changed and converted his life to serving God after he came to believe on the road to Damascas.

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

And so we see that God’s ways are not man’s ways…heed the message, especially in these wicked days.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹² And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

¹³ Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much ^[b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

(SO WE SEE THAT ANANIAS BROUGHT HIS CONCERNS TO THE LORD FOR DISCERNMENT.)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children^[c] of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord ^[d]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Saul Preaches Christ

²⁰ Immediately he preached ^[e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

²¹ Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

SO PAUL, BECAUSE OF HIS TERRIBLE PAST OF PERSECUTING THE FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY…BECAME A GREAT TESTIMONY FOR THE LORD AND NOW WITH ZEAL HE SERVED THE MESSIAH PROVING JESUS IS THE CHRIST!

The lesson here is to NOT JUDGE for God has plans for each person. This also teaches us to pray for our enemies and perhaps shows why we are to pray that those who do wickedness find the Lord and repent of their evil ways and turn and serve the Lord? This is probably the hardest thing for God’s people to do for we are in the flesh and when we are met with wickedness and listen to the boasting of the enemies and their belittling, their lies, and threats of what they will do to us, and watching what they have done to others… it is very hard to see them as someone to pray for so that they turn and find the Lord.

There are some who have the gift to do this genuinely and quickly, and others must grow in the Holy Spirit to get there, some never reach this and others come to this point after much struggle, prayer and fasting to do so. This is hard and I will not pretend to say it is easy, nor will I lie and say if you have Jesus you will be able to do this simply. This way of being comes only through the Holy Spirit and it does come, but it does require a level of compassion and the discernment of hell and that eternal punishment but more than all of that, it requires love. The love God has for all that he gave his only begotten Son, and the love Jesus had to allow all the wickedness to befall onto him when he could choose to say…none of them are worth this, I’ll just take my loved ones and be outta here.

But, the Lord chose to fulfill his purpose so that all who believe on Him may have life eternal and knowing this was a step that must be taken to bring about the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven and he shall return in great glory and every eye shall see Him. He stayed focused on His Spirit filled destiny and not on the weakness of the flesh.

That being said, pray unceasing and pray for those who hate you that they find the love of God and turn from their evil, for eternal hell is a great punishment. To realize that those who have chosen to not believe and instead deceived themselves into falling for the lies of wickedness and desired cheap shiny trinkets over eternal joy and peace, is so sad and pitiful in and of itself. I remember some of the ones in the limelight that I liked and appreciated their talents and skills until I saw who they were and how they hated others. They became very sad souls to me. I still admired their talents and skills but now I pitied them for they became ugly and proudly displayed their horrid sides openly.

But, if they would only open their eyes and see and repent and turn, imagine the good they could do like Saul named Paul? That is the prayer to say for them. We must ask for that sincerely. Begin by praying for family and friends to see….and build forward, keep pressing forward. Press, press, press.

Dianne