Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(5/11/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 5/11/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 7

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

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New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Our Father in Heaven
Blessed Are You,
Oh LORD, Our God,
King of the Universe,
Ancient of Days,
El Shaddai,
The All-Sufficient One!

Oh, Holy, Holy, Holy are You,
LORD, God of Power and Might!
May You Always be The Provider
and Banner For Your People.
May Your Children never be ashamed
or afraid to Lift Your Banner High!
May Your Name Always be Before them in battle and never be profaned!

Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 7

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

As we go through the Gospels, story by story, we see a number of stories that are told more than once. Today's story is one of those.

Since the accounts differ slightly, skeptics will jump all over them trying to debunk the Bible. But, as we have discussed, from The "Detective Lenny Briscoe Method of Eyewitness Interrogation", little differences in the story make it MORE authentic. The four evangelists didn't copy each other, nor were they in collusion is presenting their stories. Each one reported the Truth from his own perspective.

One way in which the accounts of this particular story differs is in the Greek word used to describe the centurion's Servant. The following story, lifted from the October 24, 2022 J-Thread, shows how the misinterpretation of ONE SINGLE GREEK WORD, can be used to further an agenda. That agenda may be good or bad, but is still an agenda, no matter how you slice it. Here goes:

Nearly ten years ago, an acquaintance phoned me to ask about Today's Scripture. He had been watching his favorite TV Evangelist, who is usually right on target doctrinally. The Evangelist was speaking about an upcoming Veterans Day, and was citing this Scripture about the Centurion. It was all very solid, until the Evangelist described the Centurion's Servant as a "Military Aide". My friend had never heard that interpretation before, and knew I would search the Greek New Testament to find its meaning. And so, I was on a mission to find out if this was the meaning of the phrase.

The first place I looked was the Greek Interlinear, and found the word. It was "pais". Then I took the word to Strong's Concordance, and saw that the word had several meanings: Servant, Slave, Youth, and Child. Nowhere was "Military Aide" mentioned. I then checked a Greek Dictionary to see if "Military Aide" would show up there. There were more meanings, but "Military Aide" was not among them. However, way down the list there was a meaning that caught my eye. It was that of a "youthful slave used for sexual purposes". I found that disturbing, and so I looked up the Parallel passage of the story of the Centurion in Luke 7. The word that Luke (a Greek Speaking Physician, and educated man) used in the passage was "doulos", which means only one thing. A doulos is a slave, and not a very prominent one either. In fact, "Doulos" is the lowest rung on the slavery ladder if there is such a thing. And so "Pais" in Matthew describes the person as a Youth, and "Doulos" in Luke describes him as a lowly slave. There is no way either of these words indicate that the young man was either a military aide or a teenage lover. I shared these conclusions with my "friend" who seemed annoyed that I had proven his favorite Evangelist incorrect. Especially on Veterans Day!

I'm telling you this story, not to feel like I'm smarter or better than anybody else, because I'm NOT. However, I want to illustrate how easily even well-meaning people can twist the meaning of the Bible to suit their agenda. Whether it's an Evangelist trying to honor our Vets by making the Pais a Military Aide, or a political group trying to make the Pais into a teenage lover, NEITHER of them are looking at the story for its original meaning.

Very few people impressed Jesus when He walked on earth. He knew people's hearts, and knew what they were going to say even before they did. Yet, He spoke glowingly of this Centurion, a Gentile, an Enemy Occupier, and a worshiper of Pagan gods. This man had more Faith than even the Religious Leaders of the Jews, who had the Scriptures, the Heritage, and the Knowledge of the One True God.

While the average Healer or Physician would have to see the patient before offering any kind of treatment, the Centurion knew in his heart that all Jesus had to do was "Speak The Word" and his Servant (Pais? Doulos?) would be healed.

These words from the Centurion are such a profound declaration of faith that they have become part of the Communion Service in Many Churches.

OK, so I wrote that seven months ago, when we looked at the same story in Matthew 8. Now we read the same story in Luke's Gospel. Even though the Evangelists used different words in the story, the story is the same. It shows that the men didn't consult with one another, but relied upon the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Who used the men's cultural and linguistic personalities to tell the same TRUTH.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[etabeta]

My prayers always. God bless.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Etabeta, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 13

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain* in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

[redryder_90]

Amen

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Wonderful Psalm For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, redryder_90, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

...how easily even well-meaning people can twist the meaning of the Bible to suit their agenda.

Amen, left that other site, to that

So we have to check it out.

Great story on great faith in unlikely places.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and for our beloved America.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[TianaHighrider]

Thank you. Blessings and Prayers up.

[Hiskid]

You are amazing! Thank you for your diligent labor to bring truth.

Amen to your prayers

[Jeanbl]

AMEN, thank you. Joined together in prayer.

[left that other site]

That is such a wonderful thing to say!

You made my day...and it’s only just begun. :-)

(((HUGS)))

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, TianaHighrider, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Jeanbl, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS