The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com
.

Presents 
The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 16

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

 Now here is our revised study of:

:

Chapter 16

"Pauls extended tour in Asia Minor, Lystra."

We will be looking in this chapter for the knowledge that alerts us that we are to be a "sent one" of God. To take the Word of God to plant the seeds of truth in the minds of others.

Acts 16:1 "Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:"

Timotheus' mother was a Hebrew, and believed on Jesus Christ, and his father was an Helenist. Because of Timothy's father's position as a Greek Gentile, of the Helenist faith, it prevented Timothy from being circumcised when eight days old. We know that both Timothy's mother and grandmother were very devout believers in Jesus Christ as recorded in II Timothy 1:5.

II Timothy 1:5 "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

So we see that it was important to know who you are, and what your ancestry is.

Acts 16:2 "Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium."

Acts 16:3 "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek."

In the fifteenth chapter of Acts, we were taught that it was not necessary for the Greeks to be circumcised. So why was it necessary for Timothy to be circumcised, when his father was a Greek, and well known in all circles of that day? It wasn't necessary for Timothy or anyone to be circumcised in order to receive salvation then or in our generation today.

However, in as much as Timothy's mother was an Hebrew, and from this part of Timothy's ties to his family, Timothy was circumcised to please his mothers side of the family. Remember where the brethren of Jerusalem, those Kenite Jews that had entered the church, sent out their spies to spy out Titus into the restroom to see if he had been circumcised? Some times it becomes necessary to do certain things that are not necessary, that the Word of God may be accepted by weaker ones in the Lord.

To take away this running argument and conflict in the future, concerning Timothy's circumcision, Paul had Timothy circumcised to please the Jews of the church that were weak, and set Timothy apart from the faith of Timothy's father, the Hellens, or Greek religion. This was using common sense, Paul and Timothy just did not want anything to take away from the beautiful mess that they were about to give on their missionary journey. It was expedient to do it for reasons of plain common sense.

This applies to this present generation also, take for example when you are in a Bible study, and many different religious beliefs come up, and the positions of many different organizations [some may be good and some bad]. When you center your study on them, you take away from the study of God's Word, and you waste the time that could be covering more important things from God's Word, so this is why it is important keep those other ones that are in error out of your study, and focus only on understanding God's Word.

You may wonder what those others believe, yet because it is expedient to fully use the short time of study, you leave out all non essential thoughts, for the sake of understanding more of God's Word. You don't hammer on those others, except when their teaching comes up in the Word, and then the Word of God will do the hammering. Use common sense when you set the limits in your teaching ministry, and don't hinder yourself with things that are not important to the understanding of what is being taught from the Word.

Acts 16:4 "And as they went through the cities, they delivered them to decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem."

Paul and Timothy are taking that edict, or letter that was sent from the church of Jerusalem, that the Apostles and elders had agreed upon, and delivering it to the church of each city that they pass through. They read it, and taught those truths.

Acts 16:5 "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily."

This is why it pays to preach and teach all of God's Word as it should be taught, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse, with understanding. The purpose is that the church, the body of Christ can be established in the faith, and more would come to know the Gospel of Christ. When you establish each person in the faith, then God's Word will take care of all problems that can arise in each of their lives.

Acts 16:6 "Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia,"

The question that should come to mind is why would the Holy Spirit not allow Paul and Timothy to take this letter to Asia? Because it wasn't the time yet for that ministry. Remember the ten tribes, the House of Israel, those tribes that were scattered by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.? They were to receive the Word first.

Acts 16:7 "After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."

Acts 16:8 "And they passing by Mysia came down 
to  Troas."

Acts 16:9 "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, "Come over into Macedonia, and help us."

Paul was stopped from entering Asia Minor, and now the Holy Spirit is going to direct him through this vision to where he should go with the ministry. The Holy spirit is telling Paul, that is where the door is, now get through the door.

Acts 16:10 "And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them."

Paul and Timothy finally know the direction that the Holy Spirit is taking them. We know that the writer of the Book of Acts is Luke, the Doctor, and writer of the Gospel of Luke. Luke the writer of this verse is including himself, with Paul and Timothy, when he states "we". Luke has joined them in this missionary journey.

Acts 16:11 "Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;"

Acts 16:12 "And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days."

Paul, Timothy, and Luke have arrived in Philippi, the capital city of Macedonia, and they decided to rest up a few days before continuing on in their journey.

Acts 16:13 "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was won't to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither."

So we see that Paul, Timothy and Luke didn't go to the synagogue on the sabbath, but they went out by the river side to meditate and pray. Keep in mind that the Spirit of God is still leading them. At the place where they sat down, there were some woman that were there also by the river.

Acts 16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."

Remember the church of "Thyatira" mentioned in Revelation 2:18; "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; `These things saith the Son of God, Who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass:" Their type of church was a church that would exist in our generation.

This lady named Lydia that was sitting on the river bank listening to Paul and the others, was a believer in God, and when she overheard what they were saying, the Holy Spirit opened her heart and she believed. She was from Asia [Thyatira] where Paul was trying to go, and God wouldn't let him. But Paul went to Macedonia, and God planted this Asian woman in Macedonia, and it will be she that takes the Word of God back home.

Though many have called Lydia a prostitute, because she was a seller of purple, they just show their lack of understanding, for Lydia was a dealer in "purple cloth". Lydia was a trader of goods, selling her wares in Macedonia. In the Strong's Greek dictionary, number 4211 the Greek word is "Porphuropolis, a female trader in purple cloth."

Isn't it amazing how the Holy Spirit works. This was written in God's Word to give each of us an example of how we should all do what He wishes in our lives. God controls those that He sends, and if you are sent of God it is only because you were sensitive to God's Spirit. If you claim to be doing God's work, then allow Him to do the leading. If Paul would have gone to Asia Minor, and followed his own desires, then he would have missed the key person that God wanted to lead His church there. He would have missed Lydia because she wasn't there, she was on a business trip over in Macedonia.

Acts 16:15 "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us."

After Lydia and her family were baptized, she came to Paul, Timothy and Luke, and asked them to come and stay in their home. God has a way of opening doors, to start a work where He wants to plant a church. When you are teaching souls, gender has nothing to do with it, but God is using a woman to start His work in Asia. So we have met the first lady of this chapter, and now we are about to meet the other type of woman that God will use.

Acts 16:16 "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:"

The word "divination" as it is used here, is "Puthon" and this is the only time in the Scriptures that it is used. In the English, it is "Python" the old snake that could charm. It was an evil spirit that could destroy. It was a spirit from Satan, that charm you into Satan's ways. This woman then was a woman that was possessed with an evil spirit, but within herself she thought of herself to be very spiritual. She though of herself to be in the service of God, but the question is, which God?

So this is saying that through her spirit of charm, the words that came from her mouth, she had a way of getting people to seperate themselves from their money. Today we call these women that use such powers of the devil, "mediums". These people have the ability to listen to these evil spirits, and say things that would astonish and shock people. She would divine up many stories from the listeners past from the spirit world that would captivate those that would listen to her.

So from this we still see just how Satan operates in his realm, with his spirits.

Acts 16:17 "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, which shew unto us the way of salvation."

This girl who was filled with those evil spirits followed Paul and the others, and cried aloud as she went. This loses it a little in the translation, for it was the demons within her that were crying out over and over, like in a chant. The statement was true, for that is exactly what they were doing, but it was the way and the repetition that it was done in, the chant like grinding over and over, that made it evil. She was right on their heels, and Paul with the discernment of the Holy Spirit knew that this was not of God, but of evil spirits.

The point of this is that there are many sent forth ones, and if one came to you stating something that is in fact true, however the way it is stated makes it false, we are to be aware. Satan has a way of buttering you up with words, when in fact he really wants to do you in and destroy you. Satan will tell you what a great teacher or minister you are, and what a great ministry you have, and all the time he is looking for you to drop your guard. Just because someone claims to believe, which is what this statement is declaring, Satan uses scripture to deceive people and he will deceive you if you allow it.

Acts 16:18 "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out the same hour."

When you are one of God's children, you have power over all of Satan and his spirits. Though Satan is held by Michael now, shortly he will be released to this earth to deceive the whole world. However his spirit and demonic realm are present today. These spirits of Satan are fulfilling their role in God's plan, as being the prince of the world, and over the darkness of the world.

Christians are to be able to recognize and discern between the spirits of Satan, and the Holy Spirit, when they see it, hear it, or feel it. Then when you recognize that spirit, you are to do something about it. Not necessarily to demand it to do something openly, but we must anoint ourselves and our family from it. You have power over all evil spirits. The option is never left open to any evil spirit, whether they would or would not leave, when the command is given by a servant of Almighty God to leave, they must leave, and they do.

Acts 16:19 "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,"

After Paul had given the command for the evil spirit to leave, this girl no longer had any demonic power to make money, and her value to her masters was gone. They knew that Paul was the fault, and they delivered him to be judged by the leaders in the town.

Acts 16:20 "And brought them to the magistrates, saying, "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,"

"Jews" as it is used is a geographical statement. Paul was not of Judah, but they came from Jerusalem, thus the asumption that they were Jews. Though Paul was a Benjamite, his native birthplace was Tarsus, and his citizenship was of Rome. There was not a son of Judah here, but those placing the charge against them did not know this.

These men placing the charge, no doubts are Kenites, that are the rulers that work their way in for what ever power that they can gain, and they are the ones that do Satan's bidding on this earth. What we have seen Satan do here, is by a possessed woman, and through his evil spirit, followed Paul and Silas around, bugging them where ever they went, and causing a great deal of trouble for them, until Paul is tired of this harrasement, and orders the spirit out of the girl. Satan caused the trouble by using truth, we most be alert for this in our lives for he will use that same truth to cause us to be delivered up, and we will then pay the price.

This is a type of what shall happen when Satan comes as the "instead of Christ" the religious one, and then it will be Satans own that shall cause many to be delivered up, those that believe, and they will be held in an religious way, a spirit way, and then we are to do exactly as in this example we have with Paul and these other sent ones. Most people would agree that Paul is in trouble here.

Remember that Paul is on a divine mission for God, lead by His Spirit. Should they worry?

Acts 16:21 "And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."

This is why it is important to know who you are, with respect to the law, God's law, and and those things that are important to the time when you will be delivered up.

Acts 16:22 "And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them."

This looks like it is real trouble for Paul and the others, and even the Christians of our day will be tested. When that time comes, God will always give you the victory in the end.

Acts 16:23 "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely:"

If this was a type of our being delivered up, as is recorded in Mark 13:11, we see that we are not to speak in our own defense, but that we are to let the Spirit of God do the speaking.

Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost."

The Spirit will take over, and they do speak prayerfully, then in Luke 21:15 which is another recording of this same event, we are told that even the gainsayers will know how to resist. "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."

Remember what has brought Paul and the others to this place, one good, and one evil. The evil one was possesed by an evil spirit. Now watch what happens to Paul.

Acts 16:24 "Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."

So we see that these servants of God had been whipped, and now they are brought to the most secure part of the prison, and their feet locked in the stocks there. So Paul and the others with him are locked away were they could hardly move. We see that when Satan thinks he is in control, he will really try to overpower you. However when it looks that we are at our weakest, then is when we are at our strongest.

Acts 16:25 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."

Midnight, spiritually represents the time of the wedding feast, the time when Christ returns for His bride. This is the time that you prepare yourself for, the standing ready to observe how the Lord comes to get his bride. Did Paul and Silas cry and carry on? No; they prayed, and sang songs. They talked to the Father, and sang praises to Him for the victory.

You might say, where is the victory? It is on the way. Even while they are sitting there in the stocks, behind the bars, and aching with the stripes of the beating they took, they are singing and witnessing for Almighty God, and the prisoners also heard the truth.

Acts 16:26 "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."

God hears the prayers of his servants, and the earth shook. The doors were shook and fell from their hinges, and even the bands that locked them to the shocks fell from them. They were free to run for the gate, but did they? No. The freedom is in their mind, and we always have the freedom when we believe on Jesus Christ. Though this delivery is in the physical, the delivery in the end, will be in the spiritual. However this is a lesson or type for us to understand, so we should have no fear in that time of the end. We have this as an example to follow.

We are to plant the seed of truth wherever we are, not to be a religious fanitic, but to tell others the truths that they are seeking right where they are, when they are ready to receive it, then we are pleasing our Heavenly Father. It dosen't matter what Satan has placed around you, or what demonic spirit are present, God will give you victory over all of them.

Acts 16:27 "And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled."

If the doors are open, and the prisoners were gone, the prison keeper knows that he is just as good as dead. The deputies, and rulers will order his death in the morning.

Acts 16:28 "But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here."

Paul was one of those that never ran, no matter how rough it got.

Acts 16:29 "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,"

Acts 16:30 "And brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

The prisoner had heard that song and praise of Paul and Silas, even when they had been locked and sealed away in that prison. This is the same as when you will be delivered up in the end times, and the true tongue of Pentecost goes forth, that is heard clearly in every tongue. Many people shall be delivered.

Acts 16:31 "And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

This is the fulfillment of becoming a Christian, as stated in John 3:16; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

In many churches it is stated so many times, that the meaning is just slipped over. OurAlmighty Father gave His only Son, begotten of the Father, to be shamed and killed so that when you believe in that Son, Jesus Christ, and repent to the Father in Jesus name, all those sins that you are accountable for, will be blotted out. Everlasting life, is the promise that your soul, that is the self that does your thinking and carries your emotions will never be destroyed. The opposite of perishing is to be saved, and that is what salvation is, the condition where the soul will never die.

You are saved from the lake of fire, whereby you will have eternal life in Christ. Remember though it is important to know who you are.

Acts 16:32 "And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house."

Paul took advantage of the opportunity that the Holy Spirit had given him. He saw that the jailor was in much trouble, and that is the best time to plant seeds, the jailers mind was open to what Paul had to say.

Acts 16:33 "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway."

Sometimes it will take much strength to stand up for Christ, and Paul and Silas were beaten for their preaching, and they had the stripes of the whip on their backs, and the blood stains covered their backs. This jailor that evening did not care what condition they were in, however when the love of God came into his heart, the Spirit of God changed him. Though the beating that we take in the end times under the "instead of Christ" [Antichrist] will not be physical, we will take a spiritual beating. You can count on that, but that will not hurt, when we know that our Heavenly Father is in control.

This jailor and his family were believers immediately, and there was no delay in their baptism. This jailor knew that something powerful had happened, and he did not want any delays. The jailor saw the power of God, and he did not want anything to delay his salvation.

Acts 16:34 "And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house."

Acts 16:35 "And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants [executioner, constable], saying, "Let those men go." "

The "serjeants" are the officers enforcing the laws, and the judges told these lawmen to go to the jail and let Paul and Silas go. Now pay attention to what is going to happen.

Acts 16:36 "And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, "The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace."

Remember that Paul was many things. He was a Benjaminite, of the Israelites. He was not a Jew, of the tribe of Judah, but of the tribe of Benjimin. His father was a Roman citizen, and so was Paul, and it was for this reason that Paul always wanted to go to Rome. It makes a big difference when you know who you are, and others try to take an advantage of you, through the law.

These people of Philippi, that declared that they were Romans, and in ignorance accused Paul and Silas of being Jews, and had taken a Roman citizen and caste him in Jail. This was an illegal act, for a Roman citizen could not be jailed without a fair trial before his peers, with the exception of a direct decree from Caesar. If any Roman governor, or magistrate threw a Roman citizen in jail and beat him with out a trial, they were in trouble with Rome.

Remember Paul was educated in the law, yet led by the Holy Spirit to hold his peace when they were making the charges about him, and now though they want to release Paul and let him go, Paul has something else to say about it.

Acts 16:37 "But Paul said unto them, "They have beaten us openly uncomdemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out."

Paul called attention to the fact that they had beat them without due process of the law, in public, and Paul knew that he had all kinds of witnesses against them. The charges were that they were from Judea, and they had violated all the customs of this area. Paul is reminding them that He was a Roman, who was beaten, and jailed with out a trial and now they are not going to throw us out and get away with this. Let those that threw us in here come and release us from this prison.

There is trouble in this river city of Philippi. Those rulers and magistrates are in trouble with Caesar, and they know it. So how does this apply to you and I living in this generation.

We must always remember the leverage that we have, that a man or woman of God is many other things, other then being a Christian. We have rights under the laws of the U.S.citizenship that we have, and the powers of authority under which our citizenship exists, are extended to us, as well as to those that would condemn us. The laws that give them freedom also is extended to our freedoms. We have rights to express our religious and spiritual beliefs, and we are not second class citizens. When those rights are violated, we do not sneak out the back door, and drift into the night, but we stand boldly and firmly, and call attention to any violation and those that would commit those violations.

If you do not understand the Constitution of the United States and those ten bills of rights that we have protecting our freedom to worship, and to live our lives, then you will become nothing but a second class citizen until Christ actually gets here. Paul knew his rights as a citizen of Rome, and he will not have anyone violating those rights without calling attention to those that violate the law. Just like Paul, our country has granted us the right to teach the Word of God in this nation, and no one can legally prevent us from that in America today. It is our right as a citizen of this nation.

When we have the knowledge in our minds then we can use that knowledge, and sometimes Christians, for their own good, should aquire other knowledge in addition to the Word of God, for we are living in the world, and to function in this world, we need knowledge that is useful in living our life in the flesh. You don't need to have a college degree to know your rights in America; the right to bear arms, the freedom of Religion, and of the press and so on, but it is good to know them when others would try to exercise authority over you, and violate those rights.

Christians don't give ground to Satan, we take ground from him, we aren't second class citizens to Satan, we are the citizenry. The constitution was formed from the Word of God, and those rights give us the authority to stand boldly.

So this magistrate is in a pack of trouble, not only that they threw Paul and Sials in Jail, but they publically beat them with many stripes.

Acts 16:38 "And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans."

Who is in the drivers seat here? It is God, through Paul. They "feared when they heard that he was Roman." Paulwass stretching it a little bit, for he was the only one of the group that was a Roman, and that is all that mattered. What was important was that the rights of citizens have been violated.

Editor's Note: Was that a little white lie in verse 38?  No not really, Paul said, "they heard that they were Romans". He did not say they heard it from him.

Acts 16:39 "And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city."

It is time to get out the peace-pipe, and make peace. In the translation, "begged" would be better then "desired". They tried to buy off Paul, just to have him leave. That is what Paul wanted to do anyhow, for he had converted the jailer, and Lydia, and God had given divine intervention to them.

Remember here, that no Roman could be disgraced through beating or put to death with out an order from Caesar, and comfinment came only following a fair trial. They had done it all.

Acts 16:40 "And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed."

When Paul Silas and the others left the prison, they went back to the home of Lydia, the woman that traded in purple cloth. They stayed there long enouth to comfort and teach them before departing. They knew their rights, and the people of Philippi were in no position to pressure Paul and the others after what had happened.

Renenber, don't sell yourself out in ignorance, be sure of yourself, and stand firm in the Lord. The time is coming very shortly, when we must have the events of the end times sealed in our minds, in order to make the stand that God will require of us. It is interesting that the events of this sixteenth chapter, and the power and authority that we posses give us the ability to stand, yet many will allow themselves to be mind-controlled to the point of giving up on the American dream.

The only way that it is over, is when you allow them to brow-beat you into submission, and lay down your spiritual arms, and give up. You will live in the one world system of Antichrist, just as Daniel and the three men in the firey furnace did in Nebuchadnezzar's day, and you will survive in it. Under the rules of the Antichrist, you, knowing the true Christ from the false Christ, will not submit to him for one minute.

Those sneaky servants of Satan, that would try to scare you into submission to a one world system, that would drag you under Satan's power, and leave you sneaking out of town, just as the magistrate would have had Paul do. But we have the power of the Living God on our side, and the rights of our nation that is extended to all of our citizens, and learn to use those rights that God has given to you.

The locusts in Satan's locust army are trying to break our nation by breaking the morals and spirits of our people, and they will not if you stand strong on your rights, and exercise your right to worship and spread the Word of God. It is there for you, learn to use those rights, then stand. Don't submit to those evil minds of one worldism, that would reduce our Father to a force like the wind, and take away the power of the Spirit in their babble, like that evil girl following Paul. But take control over all evil spirits that would come upon you, and order them out of your life.

How are you doing today? The people in the press would have you feel like thieves for what you have, but God blesses His own. We are under the promise that God gave to Abraham, and America is part of the House of Israel. You have what is your inheritance, because it is part of the inheritance that God gave His people, and you are blessed because of the honor that we give to our heavenly Father. Never forget that, and allow yourself to be tricked out of your blessings, and sell cheaply your inheritance, for that is what Esau did, and that is what the Kenites of today would like to do to you. Be wiser then the serpent. You have the gift of God in His Word, and you have the right to take pride in those things that He has given to you.

It is not politics but just common sense that allows you to see, that taking from the blessed people of God by force and bestowing it on the lazy is just not in the Scriptures, and that is what liberalism is all about. Liberalism is a form of Communism, which is not dead, but has moved into a different form, and we can see it as it weaves it's web through our political system, and into the schools, and even the churches today. We are not talking about the aged, sick and handicapped, or the children in need, but those that refuse to be part of the productive part of our society, yet demand the fruits of it which they have not earned. Social security and employer plans for retirement are also not included in this, for they are earned over the years of employment, and part of a man or woman's wage.

We are to be aware of those like the Kenites that would lie to you, put you down, and take from you in your ignorance, and that is why we are to be aware of both our spiritual rights and our rights as a citizen, and that is what this Acts 16 is all about and we had better learn from it. We have the victory, and it is time to claim it.