Dr Paul Allen

And the Lord said, “ Simon, Simon . Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. So when you return to me, strengthen your brethren (brothers). (Luke 22:31-32) This story is familiar to us all. Chaos traced back to one man and his diabolical plan, Osama Bin Laden and his hate of the western world, and especially Christianity. Due to his mastermind of despicable acts, he became what is known as a “high value target.” He was a wanted man for what he did and what he represented. A High Value Target (HVT) is defined, as a target the enemy commander requires eliminated for the successful completion of a mission. The elimination of HVTs is needed to seriously downgrade important enemy functions throughout the friendly commander’s area of interest ( United States Dept. of Defense definition). In other words, an HVT is the target the enemy commander requires for the successful completion of a mission. We all k...

Peter, John and the rest were arguably the most motivated people in history. They were bold, courageous and literally turning the world upside down. Then you add John  20:18  and it changes everything. Jesus says, Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go. Jesus tells Peter that he will die on a cross. That is the only way to explain that verse. Well, reading his five sermons in Acts (Acts 2:14-39; Acts 3:11-4:4; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 5:29-32; Acts 10:34-43) takes a whole new meaning when you include the fact that he knew he could die at any moment. This could be his last sermon. So what motivated these guys? How can we be as bold as they were? Well in order to see what motivated them we don’t need to look further than the first eleven verses of the book of Acts. Here are...

It is astonishing to hear Peter say, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” (1 Peter3:13). What could he possibly mean? No other book in the Bible addresses the issue of Christian, non-retaliating, unjust suffering more than 1 Peter. For example, This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (2:19)  When you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (2:20)  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (3:9)  If you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. (3:14)  It is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (3:17)  Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)  If you are insulted for th...

In the Gospels bombastic Peter blurted out his first thoughts; in Acts a matured and Spirit-filled Peter dominated early-church history. And Paul spoke so openly of his feelings and motives that sometimes we’re embarrassed by his totally honest revelations. But it’s hard for us to visualize John, so humble that in his Gospel he cannot bear to name himself. With quiet joy he refers obliquely to “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:7). We know that John was one of the inner circle along with his brother James, and with Peter. We know that at the Last Supper John found a place as close to Jesus as possible. But what else do we know about this quiet apostle? And what do we know about his writings? John and His Writings The man . When John and his brother James, the sons of Zebedee, began to follow Jesus, they were apparently quite young and passionate. Once the disciples were passing through Samaria on the way to Jerusalem. James and John went on ahead to find lodging in a villag...

The intercession of our Great High Priest is the foundation for our confidence when it comes to our perseverance. It also helps us make sense of the accounts of Peter and Judas, two of Jesus' disciples who experienced a serious fall. One disciple's fall away from Christ is seen as a final and full work of apostasy, whereas the other disciple's fall is not final and full because he is restored. And we see that their crime against Christ was very similar. Judas betrayed Jesus. And that same night, Peter denied Christ. These two men who had been disciples with Jesus during his earthly ministry committed treason against Him in his darkest hour. And there are further similarities in these two examples in that Jesus predicted both Peter's and Judas' diabolical acts. But we recall that when Jesus said, "One of you will betray me," the disciples said among themselves, "Who is it, Lord? Is it I?" When Judas asked, "Is it I, Rabbi?" Jesus sa...

“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” ( 1 Peter 2:12 ) This unique expression, “in the day of visitation,” based on a surprising use of the Greek word episkope, occurs one other time in such a way, when Christ wept over Jerusalem and pronounced its coming judgment. “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. . . . because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” ( Luke 19:42-44 ). Now this word, episkope, and its derivatives are usually translated as “bishop,” “office of a bishop,” or “bishopric,” and it seems strange at first that it could also mean “visitation.” However, its basic meaning is “overseer,” or “oversight,” and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is really the “Shepherd and Bishop of [our] souls” ( 1 Peter 2:25 ), as well...