Scripture

Suddenly there was from the sky a sound of a strong rushing blast of wind…So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together.

~Acts 2:2,5, Weymouth

Quote

You will get more insights from reading various translations than you will from commentaries.

~Ya’akov

I would not say that I am a fan of John MacArthur but I do confess he is a highly intelligent person and I respect his opinion. MacArthur used the NASB for years and now I understand he uses the LSB, which is an excellent translation. I read it as soon as I heard him recommend it and I think it is great. Very few people believe me when I tell them how much they will learn by reading various translations. I am not real sure, but the Weymouth is around the 40th English translation I have read. I have never read a translation that I thought distorted the text. I don’t know exactly why, but in reading Acts in Weymouth, I am seeing things I have never seen and of course, they have been there all along, I just haven’t seen them.

To get Israel out of Egypt, God did a series of phenomenal things and the same is true with the infant church; to get them started, God did a series of phenomenal things. In Acts two there is a rushing mighty wind that made such an incredible noise that the citizens of Jerusalem come out into the streets to investigate. It was the NOISE that brought the people together. Peter did not gather the crowd; it was the phenomenal noise. In other words, God gathered them. It was a supernatural phenomenon. Then, the apostles {fishermen, uneducated} began speaking in more than fifteen different foreign languages. They were speaking languages they had never studied. Is this a God thing or what! Then in chapter IV at the conclusion of a prayer meeting, God shook the entire building.

Let me ask, which of these phenomenal things did the disciples manifacture? NONE, Nada, zilch or zero! Now I will not say that these things happened a part from the Holy Spirit falling upon them. I think the Holy Spirit was responsible for all of these phenomenal events. I think of the John W. Peterson anthem that came out in the 70’s…Come Holy Spirit, dark is the hour, we need your filling, your love and your mighty power. Move now among us, stir us we pray; come Holy Spirit, REVIVE the church today! But my point is this, the crowd at Pentecost was because of something God did: oh for something simular. 

Extra

I think we told you yesterday about David Mote’s promotion. After a long and gallant battle with cancer, David went to be with Jesus. He left a sweet wife and four lovely daughters behind and we need to pray for them. Arrangements are: VISITATION Saturday 12:00–2:30 and COLS at 3:00. It will be at Decatur Baptist. David was the North Alabama director of the FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. He was an outstanding Christian witness. He never requested prayer for himself, he would always defer to others, usually friends of his who did not know Christ. He was a mans man, a role model; someone we all could look up to. Our deepest sympathy to Rick and Doreen Freeman and their daughter Amanda and their four granddaughters.

Text Christy late yesterday evening and she was feeling good. Joyce Dotson did not know as of late yesterday which rehab she would go to. We have another jam packed day today. Lord willing, we end up in Ardmore tonight: Josie will be praying soccer there. Get back on the visitation trail tomorrow, Lord willing.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.