Dr Paul Allen

The Jordan River (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “But [do not] . . . enter Gilgal . . . For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity.” ( Amos 5:5 ) Gilgal was the place of new beginnings. Twelve memorial stones from the Jordan were set up at Gilgal after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River ( Joshua 4:3 ). The nation was circumcised there in preparation for their possession of the Land ( Joshua 5:5 ). The Passover was celebrated ( Joshua 5:10 ), and the miraculous manna ceased ( Joshua 5:12 ). The victorious campaign in the hill country of Judea extending to Kadesh-barnea and Gaza was conducted from Gilgal ( Joshua 10:15 ). The great battle at the waters of Merom was conducted from Gilgal ( Joshua 10:43 , 11:5). Saul was crowned Israel ’s first king at Gilgal ( 1 Samuel 11:15 ). Yet, the activity at Gilgal began to obscure the Word of God. Saul compromised and sacrificed at Gilgal to try to gain God’s blessing. His desire for political favor resulted in direct disobedience t

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” ( 1 John 4:14 ) This unique title of the Lord Jesus Christ assures us that when the Father sent His Son away from the glories of heaven down to a world lost in sin, it was not just to be the Messiah of the Jews , or to assume David’s throne as King of Israel , or to punish the wicked Gentile nations. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” ( John 3:17 ). In fact, this special title is used only one other time in the Bible, and it was used by Samaritans rather than Jews when they came to know Jesus as He ministered among them for two days. These people were mostly of Gentile background with a mixture of Israeli blood who had become adherents of a quasi- Jewish religion that was also part pagan. But they were actually looking for a Savior, and their testimony after meeting Jesus was: “Now we believe . . . and know th

Christ and The Pharisees (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 In order to learn how to discharge your duty as a witness for Christ , look at his example. He is always witnessing: by the well of Samaria , or in the Temple of Jerusalem : by the lake of Gennesaret , or on the mountain’s brow. He is witnessing night and day; his mighty prayers are as vocal to God as his daily services. He witnesses under all circumstances; Scribes and Pharisees cannot shut his mouth; even before Pilate he witnesses a good confession. He witnesses so clearly, and distinctly that there is no mistake in him. Christian, make your life a clear testimony . Be you as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom—not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface—but clear and transparent, so that your heart’s love to God

English: Christ and the woman of Samaria at Jacob's Well (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.' (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'How is it that you, a Jew , ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?' (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)" ( John 4 :7-9) In John 4:7-9, Jesus crossed three barriers. The first was that which separated Samaritans from Jews. In the eighth century BC, the Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and deported the Israelites who lived there. In their place, the Assyrians brought other peoples to populate the land (see 2 Kings 17:24). These Gentiles sought to worship both the gods of their homelands and the local deity, the God of the Israelites, so they mixed the religions. This was a grave offense to the Jews, and over the centuries their hatred only grew as the Samari

Christ and the Samaritan woman  (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.' (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'How is it that you, a Jew , ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?' (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)" ( John 4 :7-9) In John 4:7-9, Jesus crossed three barriers.  The first was that which separated Samaritans from Jews. In the eighth century BC, the Assyrian Empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and deported the Israelites who lived there. In their place, the Assyrians brought other peoples to populate the land (2 Kings 17:24). These Gentiles sought to worship both the gods of their homelands and the local deity, the God of the Israelites, so they mixed the religions. This was a grave offense to the Jews, and over the centuries their hatred only grew as the Samaritans developed their o

Fortress Cathedral (Photo credit: Stuck in Customs ) “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit , it multiplied.” Acts 9:31 What is the key to growing a church? How does a church remain healthy amid various challenges? We have learned in the book of Acts that the church had to endure various forms of persecution: Peter and John were beaten for preaching. Stephen was stoned to death. Paul was dragged off to prison. The church was “being built up.” How could that have happened in light of such circumstances? The text gives us two clues: it says that they were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  Why do you think those two things would cause them to grow in spite of all these challenges? Walking in the fear of the Lord means that they feared God more than they feared their attackers. This gave them immense power

English: John the Baptist baptizing Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ . 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city. 9 But there was a man named Simon , who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jes

English: Christ and the woman of Samaria at Jacob's Well (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Two thousand years out, it’s easy to miss how shocking the salvation of the Samaritans would have been to the Jewish Christian community . The Samaritan people were neither Gentiles nor were they Jews ; they were a detested third entity.  The route from Jerusalem to Galilee was through the land of Samaria , but Orthodox Jews would take a much longer route, just to avoid being defiled by an “unclean” people. The Samaritans , in turn, despised the Jews, claiming the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible ) as their own but changing words and sacred places to fit themselves. In John 8:48 , the Jews, seeking to slander Jesus , accuse him of having a demon and being a Samaritan. And now we read how God scatters the young church into Judea and Samaria ( Acts 8:1–4 ). The spread of the gospel beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem may seem inevitable from our point of view, but it took tragedy

Image via Wikipedia "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me." ( Isaiah 6:8 )   In this passage we see, perhaps, a hint of the triune nature of the Godhead . It is as if God the Father is inquiring of God the Son and God the Spirit as to whom other than one of them would be an effective representative for them. Isaiah, in his freshly forgiven and purified state ( vv. 6-7 ), offers to accept the commission and represent the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. A similar call is issued to each of us today.   Elsewhere in Scripture we are told more plainly of the fullness of our call to represent God the Father: "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour" ( Isaiah 43:10-11 ).

Image via Wikipedia "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea , and in Samaria , and unto the uttermost part of the earth." ( Acts 1:8 )   These very familiar words of the Lord Jesus are commonly considered as a statement of His Great Commission , commanding us to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" ( Mark 16:15 ). Actually, however, it is not given here as a command, but rather as a declarative statement--indeed, a prophecy--saying that we shall witness for Him to the very ends of the earth.   Then, His disciples were promised that "this same Jesus" would return ( Acts 1:11 ), with the promise clearly tied to the prophecy. Just a few weeks previously they had asked, "What shall be the sign of thy coming?" ( Matthew 24:3 ). And Jesus had answered, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world

Image via Wikipedia On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers , who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, " Jesus , Master, have mercy on us"  (Luke 17:11-13, ESV , used throughout). Jesus is called aside by the plaintive shouts of men afflicted with a serious skin condition that present-day translators render as leprosy. Some Bible scholars generally don't believe their disease was the same as modern-day leprosy, but clearly it fell under the unhappy strictures of the Old Testament law intended to keep communicable disease from spreading. These ten men knew the law. They had to; it was a matter of life and death. But they also knew something of the kindness and power of Jesus. His fame had preceded him, even in this seemingly godforsaken dead end.  Surely,  they must have thought,  if Jesus can cure the blind, heal the lame, and raise the dead, he has the power to he