Episode 126: Signs and Wonders in Iconium

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting

mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the Light of the world

and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and

enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge.

Sanctify our souls by Your truth and grant that we may be

obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at

every hour. O You who enlightens the

rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my

Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and

divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son

and Holy Spirit, forever. We're going to go ahead and

continue with Acts chapter 14. Just the recap.

Acts 14 · chapter mention

As always. Welcome everyone.

We read off the Genesis jealousy and indignant Jews in chapter 13

at Antioch. The jealousy and indignant Jews

were trying to stir up the Roman city leaders and some renowned

rich, unfaithful women to have the apostles dismissed from the

city. And as we said, it was a

strategy by the Jews to have the Romans quash disturbances and

uproars, right, to keep peace. So though they would have gone

and said, listen, these people are causing uproars and they're

they're they're disturbing the peace.

You need to do something. And for the Roman city leaders

to contain the peace they would to go to any measures, even

execute people, just as did they did with Christ.

Pontius Pilate, who didn't want the stir up of the the city.

He he then surrendered Jesus into the hands of the Romans to

be to be tortured and to be crucified.

And and we we understood and we ascertained they that they

imitate imitated the snake Satan who threw a woman Eve closed

paradise to all mankind. This is what I this was the

repercussion of the breaking of the disobedience of the first

people, Adam and Eve, Eve first, then Adam.

So paradise was closed to mankind through, you know, the

woman who then who then in turn deceived her husband basically.

But it was only for a period of time until Jesus opens it again

for the believers in his name and all who Allah, you know,

believed in him and accepted him and were baptized in his name.

And he allowed them to enter again.

And the first being Titus, the thief on the right hand side,

The Jews being snakes in character, they too used women

too close to humanity, the way of salvation, the preaching of

the gospel which is Jesus Christ.

And in no way did this hurt the disciples.

No, On the contrary, all the more did they continue in the

Word. In verse 50, we read that they

shook off the dust from their feet and went to Iconium.

They continued to preach, but there was a time where they

actually said to the Jews, listen, it was, it was made, it

was right for us to preach to you first, but you have deemed

yourself unworthy of eternal life.

We're now going to preach to the Gentiles.

And they went as a testimony of their labor, the dust being the

testimony of their labor according to Matthew chapter 10,

Matthew 10:14

verse 14 and Mark chapter 6, verse 11.

Mark 6:11

But we said that that wasn't the alarming thing.

But verse 15 is the one that we need to really, you know, ponder

on in where Jesus says. And truly I say to you, it will

be tranquil in the day of judgment for the land of

Solomon, Gomorrah compared to that city.

So it was a, a testimony of their labor that they went

there, they preached, but they weren't received.

And if they continued not receiving Jesus Christ, well

then the Lord will return and you know, the final judgment

will be done by him. Why?

Because they didn't receive God the Father, God the Son, God the

Holy Spirit, and they didn't receive the apostles.

Matthew chapter 10 verse 40. Now they could have, they could

Matthew 10:40

have complained about the, the, the apostles or you're too harsh

and you know, we don't understand what you're saying,

for example, but we we want to continue to hear that.

No, they didn't want to hear it as at all and they didn't want

to hear it from the apostles as well.

Matthew 10, chapter 40. Whoever receives you receives me

and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

Hence thus the the dust of your shoes, and you know, shake off

the dust of your shoes and leave them to me when I return, Jesus

says. And in no way did this hurt the

disciples. On the contrary, all the more

they did continue in the Word. They continued preaching the

Word going from Antioch, Pisidia to Iconium.

Now that was 85 miles in distance.

So they left Antioch and went 85 miles to this city.

And that this this didn't take an hour or two hours, 85 miles,

probably 2 1/2 hours in a car. Steven Tesla.

Yeah. And 2 1/2 hours, maybe 3 hours.

This would have taken the months to reach this city.

But they went because they had the zeal to preach the word of

God. This is 1 and 2.

And Paul and Barnabas entered into the Jewish synagogue.

See, they go into the into the city.

The they, they enter Iconium and they go straight to the

synagogue. They went into the Jewish

synagogue and addressed the people in such a manner that a

great many of the Jews and of Greeks believed.

See, they were all we read in, in, in the life of Jesus Christ.

He was constantly and continually going to the

synagogue. Why?

Because it was the place of worship.

This is where they would come and read from the Torah.

This is where they would come and they would offer their their

sacrifices according to God's commandments.

And Jesus who fulfilled, fulfilled, fulfilled, fulfilled,

not abolished, fulfilled. All the law did the same.

Now these people were doing the same because at that time there

was no Jewish faith and Christian faith.

There were Jews and Gentiles. The word Christians is not even

is not evident here. But there was the Jewish faith

where the where those who believed in Jesus Christ would

continue but then preach the gospel meaning preach and preach

Jesus, not preach the Bible. There was no Bible per SE.

Beloved, the first you know, writings of the scriptures are

the Corinthians. The one Corinthians is in the

year 50. The Gospels were written in the

year a hundred, 130. There was no Bible per SE, but

they were preaching Jesus, meaning the gospel, meaning

Jesus Christ. So they continued to preach and

when they did, look at what happened.

But the Jews again see the Church is a persecuted church.

So where there is persecutions in a church and not comfort

zones, no, no, when there is persecutions in a church, that

church is right. Hence, hence, let me tell you,

the late Pope John Paul, when he met the His Holiness, the late

Mardenka, he actually mentioned that this is a persecuted

Church, the Church of Martyrs, the Church of the East.

Yes, because it is built on persecution.

Jesus was persecuted and he washed and cleansed his Church

through his blood. While he was being persecuted,

while he was crucified, he washed his church through his

blood. And we are washed through the

the waters of baptism, of the sacrament of baptism.

So they began. The Jews who would not listen

stood up, the Gentiles to oppress the brethren to oppress

them, the Christians. Do you feel a prophecy coming

along Psalm 21? Why do the nations clamour or

appeal and people's device plan in vain?

This is what it was about. And yes, they started the

nations and even the Jews. They started to stir up the city

and be against them now. Meanwhile, Paul continued to

refer to his fellow Jews as his brethren, just as Jesus did,

because he knew those who believed would become saved,

would become saved from the Mosaic law, would become saved

from the evil, from their sins, and would be living in Christ

for eternal life. Jesus we read in Psalm chapter

Psalms 22:22

22, verse 22, speaking for Christ, being a Jew.

Christ was a Jew. I will declare your name to my

brothers. Brothers.

Yes, because he was a Jew. That's why Paul says I'm ready

to be a curse for Israel to live now do you think that Paul

wanted to be cursed and not to see Christ and eternal life

because of the Jews? No, it's a it's a a testimony of

the love that I will go to any extent for my brethren for the

Jews to believe and to live in Christ.

I, Father Genard Lazar of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian

Church of the East of the great Assyrian nation, I will go to

any extent to preach, to teach, to rebuke, to correct, to

encourage my people to my Assyrian people so that they may

enter the Kingdom of heaven. The Italians should do the same,

the Greek should do the same. The Russians should do the same.

Now, I don't want to not end up in heaven.

No, that's not what I'm saying. But I will go to any extent.

I will receive spittles in my face, just like my Lord did.

I'm not worthy, by the way. I will receive ridicule.

I will receive all types of condemnation or rejection so

that my people would be saved and saved in the truth, the

truth of the Scriptures and the truth of the one holy Apostolic

Church. That's the mentality we should

have, beloved. That's the mentality.

Parents, should you know? We say, we say in Assyrian they

refrain from food, for example. It's it's an analogy, it's an

allegory that we we refrain from food so that we can supply for

our children. Yes, that's good.

OK, great. Our children need nourishment,

but refrain from our free will, from our joy, from our evil

desires, so that our children can grow in the holiness that

we've been called to refrain from that.

That's what we need to do. Look at the prophecy.

I will declare your name to my brothers.

He still called them, calls them brothers, beloved.

And this is what Saint Paul continued.

That's why He was persecuted, so that his people, along with

others, could believe and be saved and live in Christ.

So they remained there for a long time and spoke boldly

concerning the Lord. And He that is the Lord gave

them testimony to the word of His grace by means of signs, not

miracles, signs and wonders or powers which He performed by

their hands. When we are in faith, beloved,

don't look for signs and miracles.

We don't need miracles. We don't need miracles.

Don't send me. You don't need to send these

posts. If you type, I mean, your life

will change, you will receive a great job and you will see six

figures. Rebuke that in the name of

Jesus. Don't share it and don't tag me

in it. That's a command.

Don't tag me in these ridiculous and false testimonies.

No, Christ didn't promise a a healthy and prosperous and rich

life. Why do I have to tape type?

Amen. For the Lord to bestow his grace

and mercy and his gifts upon me. No, beloved, don't be fooled.

Don't be fooled. Delete them.

I let me tell you what I do, beloved, I just, you know, the

three dots or the four dots, I go down and say hide all from

this. Christ is our Lord.

Christ is your Lord. Don't portray Christ to be a

magician, Hasley. Don't portray Christ to be a

magician. No powers, miracles were

performed, were shown for people to believe.

Once they believed that there was no reason.

And let me tell you, what are these powers now?

Firstly, beloved, why didn't the apostles go away at this point?

So they as they did before, Why? Because they weren't attacked.

They're only opposed, right? They weren't attacked.

There was no harm. There was no danger to their

life. They remained for a long time

speaking boldly. There is the power.

You know, the heavens didn't open up.

There wasn't any thunders and storms.

And, you know, a light shining down from heaven on to them.

Or Paul hovering in the air to show that he is a St.

No, no, no. The signs were this number one.

Their boldness, their steadfastness.

Remember these people, beloved, we're ordinary men.

Yes, Paul was very learned of the of the law.

But also remember that it was the Holy Spirit who chose them.

He gave them the power. Just that steadfastness, you

know, sometimes steadfastness, sometimes we look for powers and

miracles to prove my faith. No, maybe the miracle, the power

is that right now you're reading the Scripture because you didn't

before, or you're attending church more often, or you're

confessing your faith more often, or you're feeling guilt

and conviction through your conscience more often.

That's a miracle. That's a power.

That's a sign that the Lord is saying to you, keep going.

That's me. That's me present in your life

because I love you. Saint Paul writes to the

Ephesians. While we were sinners, God

performed what he did for us. He loves all beloved.

He loves the sinners. He hates the sin.

He loves them to, you know that he gets disappointed.

Yeah. The sinners grieve the Holy

Spirit of God. They do.

But the love that he has for them is that he's waiting for

them to return so that he could forgive them and reinstate them

one more time. So sometimes we look too much

into. I want to see a mirror.

I want to see a sign. I want to know if if if I'm

doing this right. Just do it one day when the Lord

wants to reveal to you through your conscience, through the

scriptures, through your parents, through your best

friends, through your school mates and and you know at work

colleagues. One day the Lord will reveal to

you. So the signs were this

steadfastness, fastness themselves, the boldness and and

more so was that people were being converted.

They were believing the you know, the the conversion of the

hearers of their words. They were preaching no thunders

and bright lights and fire and brimstone.

Definitely no beloved was five, and they were menaced by both

the Gentiles and the Jews and with their leaders who wanted to

disgrace them and have them stoned.

Now there is the time, the alarming time.

This is the time to flee. This is the time to flee to

avoid the cessation of the preaching of the Word.

Because if they were stoned to death, who would preach to them?

Who would continue to preach to them?

Who would then go to another city?

They're going to go to another city.

I think it's in this Leonia. Yeah.

There there be cities of Leonia. Who would go there.

No, it's not odd, beloved, that the Saints flee from those

intending to attack them, most assuredly fleeing from the

possibility of martyrdom even when time comes.

They became martyrs, of course, but now it wasn't time.

Matthew 1023. And when they persecute you in

one city, flee to another. Now, by no means is Jesus

telling them to be cowards. No, he's telling them not to be

casting themselves into dangerous and you know,

situations and not to die at once.

Now remember when they brought Jesus to the top of the hill,

They brought him to the Cliff of the hill and they wanted to toss

him because he made himself to be as God, equal to God, right?

Was Jesus Christie, cleanse me, O Lord, for saying this, just

for understanding. Say, was Jesus a coward?

No, time hadn't come. He went among them and no one

knew. But when time came in the Garden

of Gethsemane, he even said to them, You come out to me with

torches and clubs as a thief. I'm not a thug.

I'm no criminal, right? I was with you all this time.

Three years you did not touch me.

You couldn't. But now it's time.

Now it is time for me to lay my life, not for death to take my

life, for me to delay my life. Praise and glory be to His name.

Why, beloved? Simple.

That would be a loss to those who otherwise will benefit from

the teaching of this. It would have been a loss for

those. So they left, and you'll see

that they will. Yes, they will now leave and go

to another city, but they will continue.

And again, not that you not that they merely told them to move.

If they would have said listen, stop talking, they would have

continued to preach. If they would have said, listen,

don't preach yet they would have continued to preach.

But when persecution, assault, physical assault was brewing and

indicating then they left because they didn't want to be

cut down. They would didn't want to be

taken away from preaching the Gospel vowel of Jesus Christ.

And that's what we need to be. You know, now I'm talking about,

I see all these videos of our, you know, those who go out and

they're preaching and you know, and sometimes, I'm sorry to say,

sometimes they're being the, the cause of people to blasphemy the

name of Jesus Christ. Nowhere in the Bible does it

say, go in the streets and ask people that they believe in

Jesus. Do you know Jesus?

Do you believe in Jesus? I'll give you $100 if you quote

me as a scripture verse. Why do you have to reward people

to you know, it's all about likes and and subscriptions,

isn't it? Yeah.

See how Satan manipulates and his own devious ways this his

own his own, you know, you know, tricks and he's he's.

Deceptions how we he, he shows us that yes, we're doing the

word of God, but really we're not.

We're causing more harm. Why should I go and offer people

money if they quote Scripture? We're in the Bible, we're in the

Holy Scriptures. Do the apostles go into these

cities and say, quote me what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy?

They don't do that. So why should we do that,

beloved? Let's not water down

Christianity. Let's give it when time comes.

Remember, yes, we're quick to claim, Oh no one comes to God,

except no one comes to Jesus except whom God brings.

So God chooses them. So then why are you going there

and bashing these people? Why are you?

Why are you owe a Facebook page? Jesus Christ is Lord sending me

a post telling me that if I share and type Amen, I will

receive. This is blasphemy and maybe you

know the enemies behind that. No, you know what you do.

Let me give you an advice. Those who receive these link.

What is a chain emails and chain the post.

Just click on the three or four dots and click where it says

hide all from Jesus is my Lord. And don't don't be no, you're

not blaspheming. No, no, no, actually you're

doing something great. Stop it.

Don't share it and let me let me give you a give me a a a a a

command. Please don't share with don't

tag me. I don't, I, I untag myself by

the way, that's not Christianity, beloved.

And not everyone is being called to preach because some are going

out there to preach and the enemies are asking them

questions and they don't know how to answer.

So what happens then? Then they come in the in the

comfort of their room where there's no one to, you know,

rebuttal or ask questions. Oh, you know, this man said to

me, but there's why didn't you, why didn't you correct the

person there? And then you're quoting

Scripture incorrectly. Not all of being called to

preach, beloved St. Paul writes, are all preachers.

And if they don't preach, how can they be sent?

If they don't, how can they preach if they are not sent?

When he talks about faith comes from hearing the word, by the

way, doesn't say reading the word.

Faith comes from hearing the word.

So just because you read the scriptures, it doesn't mean you

go down New York City and Manhattan and start, you know,

pasting, pasteurizing people. No, no, first and foremost, live

the world and when the Lord wants to use you, be ready.

Saint Augustine said. Preach the Bible and if

necessary, use words. I've been called to preach.

This is my vocation, and I received that authority in the

Church, the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Universal Church.

I've been ordained. I'm an ordained priest, not an

ordained minister. I'm not a pastor.

I'm an ordained priest and I have the authority passed down

on me from the laying on of the hand from the apostles of Christ

to preach, not to interpret scriptures, not to interpret

scriptures. I have no authority to interpret

scriptures because the Scriptures have been interpreted

by the Fathers and the Scriptures have been lived in

the church, in the framework of the Church, in the life of the

church being guarded and moved by the Holy Spirit.

I can preach you, my brother, I've not been called.

So let's not all think that once I read a chapter or a book of

the Bible, I need to go out and to preach.

No, that's not what the Bible says.

Beloved, when the Lord's talking about preaching, he commissioned

his disciples. Go out to his disciples every

time you read these commissions. And Jesus said to his disciples,

and Jesus said to his disciples, he was talking to his disciples,

to the apostles. That's why they did not deter.

They weren't deterred. They went and continued to

preach. And they preached because they

were called to preach, beloved. And when danger was brewing,

they were wise enough to leave the city according to the

commandment of Jesus Christ and to go to another city and

continue to preach the gospel because the Holy Spirit had set

them apart to preach the holy, the holy Gospel.

Praise and glory be to the name of our Lord and now Savior Jesus

Christ, now and that all times and forever.

Amen. We hope you enjoyed this week's

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Until next time, God bless you all.