Post on 08-Jul-2020
Bible InterpretationThe Acts through the
Revelation
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Pray In
Agreements All viewpoints are valid We agree to disagree We can change our minds any time We keep confidentiality Please turn off your cell phones
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Syllabus
Questions? Write down If you are taking the class for SEE credit There are daily assignments Go over syllabus
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What is the Bible?
Bible: Best selling book, least readSometimes difficult to understandHas multi-layered meaningTake deeper for spiritual inspiration
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Which Translation?
The one that speaks to you…
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Bible Concordances
Book of words from the Bible organized so we can look up words, passages and subjects
Correlate with each translation
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Dictionaries:Look up words, names or places to
explain their meaning in detailCome in compact versions,
comprehensive ones and on CD
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Bible Commentaries:Explain individual verses, Bible
stories, Biblical booksExplain what is really happening
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Bible Atlases:Locate cities, lakes, rivers, valleys,
mountainsSometimes found in Bibles
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Bible Handbooks:Contain general Bible information like
history, terminologyContain possible interpretations
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Tools: What texts help us study the Bible:
Other Bible Tools: Picture Books Pronunciation Guides Stories Study Group Guides Thesaurus Metaphysical Bible Dictionary Revealing Word ETC.
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Viewing Lenses
Factual: Happened a long time ago Has been translated into English Are not really sure who wrote the books Does it make sense? Assessing the “probable” facts to
determine if it really happened
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Viewing Lenses
Historical:
Is pseudohistorical: Does not always correlate to other historical documents
Writers did not write to perfectly preserve history
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Viewing Lenses
Historical:
Wrote to tell the epic story of God’s chosen people
Wrote to instill sense of importance and magnificence about spiritual origins
Writers took literary license, like fish story
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Viewing Lenses
Dramatic:
Stories are sometimes like soap opera Accurately depicts the human condition:
love/hate, peace/war, relationships Requires us to get in touch with our own
humanity
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Viewing Lenses
Dramatic:
Read stories as if you were watching characters on a stage or screen
Put yourself into their places Depicts our growing evolutionary
consciousness Some things never change
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Viewing Lenses
Comedic:
Moses talking to burning bush Moses turning staff into snake Noah collecting all those animals Real-life people like us with foibles,
faults and magnificent spiritual awareness just waiting to be discovered
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Viewing Lenses Literary:
Drama Humor Poetry Hymns Liturgy Great stories Not all Bible is easy to read Become a discriminating reader, looking for stories
that read well and hold attention
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Viewing Lenses
Moral:
Morality Ethics Law Variety of points of view Interpretation lets us ponder our conscience,
values, ideals
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Viewing Lenses
Moral:
Read verses that reaffirm what we already hold to be morally true for us and inspire us to new beliefs
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Viewing Lenses
Moral: What did we learn?
What are the universal spiritual values that are being taught?
How can these values work in simplifying the
living of my life?
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Viewing Lenses
Moral:
How has my live become difficult or challenging when I ignore them?
Look to the precept behind the words
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Viewing Lenses
Prophetic: Eye to the future Involves interpretation Warnings about behavior, what will happen at
the “end of time” Prophet speaks out for God Does Bible prophecy relate to us today?
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Viewing Lenses
Metaphysical: Describes the realm of existence beyond what
we can perceive through our external senses
Spiritual
Allows us to embrace the scripture at our spiritual core, where we ask the question, “Who am I and why am I here?”
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Viewing Lenses
Metaphysical:
Inward journey into our soul
Grasp the psychology of our spiritual journey
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Viewing Lenses
Metaphysical:
We ask, “How do the characters, objects, places, and activities in the Bible relate to our spiritual growth?”
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Viewing Lenses
Metaphysical:
Allows us to identify components of the story that represent mental states of consciousness, spiritual awareness and universal laws
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Viewing Lenses
Allegorical
Symbolical explanation Teach ethical, moral theological ideas Characters are archetypes Symbols point to deeper meaning
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Viewing Lenses
Allegorical
Search for the basic life truths beyond the concrete elements of the story
Passages that contain imagery, parables, poetry and song that are not easy to understand in plain, logical sense are good ones to be interpreted allegorically.
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Viewing Lenses
Allegorical
Cannot be understood literally, but imply deeper meaning than what is obvious
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What is Metaphysics?
Metaphysics: away from the physical Points to the spiritual, inner hidden
meaning Uses the Bible text, commentaries, MBD,
Revealing work, dictionaries, etc. Our own consciousness
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What is Bible Interpretation?
Can mean one thing to one person, something else to someone else
No right or wrong answers
Too complex to be taken literally Several versions of one incident
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Metaphysical Interpretation Rules:
There are no right or wrong interpretations We can get a different interpretation at a
later date We honor everyone’s opinions
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Metaphysical Interpretation Goal:
Become familiar with the various texts so we can do Bible interpretation easily
Begin to enjoy the stories and what they teach us about ourselves
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Metaphysical Interpretation Goal:
Read the passage, take it into our consciousness and allow it to reveal spiritual truth to us
Use the Bible to deepen our relationship with God
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Four-Step Process of Metaphysical Bible
InterpretationStep One: Select, Read and
Study the Scripture
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Step One: Select, Read and Study the Scripture
Select the passage to be studied
Read the passage several times
Consult a Bible dictionary for general information on distinctive or unfamiliar words
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Step One: Select, Read and Study the Scripture
Consult Bible commentaries and handbooks for historical and scholastic information on the biblical book, chapter, and verse
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Step One: Select, Read and Study the Scripture
Consult a Bible atlas to determine the location of the Biblical event
Gain a basic understanding of the story line
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Step Two: Identify the Key Words and Phrases
Scan the passage for those verses and words that you feel are most important to the meaning of the story line or are unique in character
Nouns: proper names, people, places, objects, animals
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Step Two: Identify the Key Words and Phrases
Verbs: actions, movement, thought, feeling
Other words or phrases that are descriptive of the scene
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Step Three: Develop Interpretations for the Words
Consult the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary for suggested interpretations of proper names, name places, and special words (i.e. Adam, Jesus, Egypt, Nazareth, Logos, serpent, etc.)
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Step Three: Develop Interpretations for the Words
Consult an English dictionary (such as Webster’s Dictionary) and a thesaurus for the meaning of and synonyms for common words (i.e. assurance, good, judgment, lyre, righteousness, treasure, etc.)
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Step Three: Develop Interpretations for the Words
Use Strong’s Concordance’s Hebrew and Greek dictionaries to obtain exegetical information on selected words
Consider how the words represent states of consciousness (i.e. doubt, faith, love, praise, temptation, etc.)
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Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge
Study, pray, and meditate on the overall story and the individual words interpreted in Step Three
Consult metaphysical interpretation books that interpret the selected passage
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Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge
Think about how these states of consciousness might correspond to events in your own life (i.e., healing of illness, conquering financial problems, dealing with persecution, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy, etc.
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Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge
Utilize the many interpretive lenses (i.e. factual, historical, dramatic, comedic, etc.)
Explore common metaphysical themes (i.e. illumination, healing, prosperity, etc.) as they might apply
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Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge
Apply your own innate creative intelligence look at the story from many vantage points and perspectives
Remember, the metaphysical interpretive lens has an allegorical, psychological and spiritual dimension
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Step Four: Allow the Metaphysical Meaning to Emerge Finally, ask yourself, what jumps out at
you about the passage? What clicks in you when you read it? Look for the personal, spiritual dimension that rises to the surface of your mind
Write down your interpretation as soon as it is revealed to you
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ASK YOURSELF
How am I like one of the characters?
What feeling does the passage evoke?
How does the passage bring me closer to God?
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ASK YOURSELF
What is the lesson?
Is there growth?
What quality like love, faith, or hope is represented?
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IDEAS
Do an interpretation that is set in today’s world
Make it comical Make it dramatic Use a theme like faith, love, tithing and put
more than one story together Be creative!
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What is Maeutics?
From: Awakening the Fire Within 3 Step Story Interpretation Process Maieutic Pronunciation: mA-‘yu-tik Adjective
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What is Maeutics?
Etymology: Greet maieutikos of midwifery; relating to or resembling the Socratic method of eliciting new ideas from another
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How Do I Start?
Pray, meditate, contemplate
Read the Scripture Passage
Pray, meditate, contemplate
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1. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STORY?
This step is about exploration.
Know the culture and context of the passage.
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1. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STORY?
What is happening in the Scripture before and after the passage?
What are the cultural implications of the main elements of the story?
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What were the customs of the day regarding:
Women and children
Samaritans and Pharisees
Weddings and feasts
Housing and the way people lived
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What were the customs of the day regarding:
Common objects: mustard weed, leaven, water, wine, etc.
Who are the characters? How are they related?
Significance of places
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Perspective
Think and feel the passage with different lenses.
Is there one lens that is more important than another?
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Perspective
Use different perspectives to determine what is happening for each of the characters.
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Perspective
If reading the New Testament, explore Aramaic terms or idioms
Use The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary and The Revealing Word to help define people, places and symbols.
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Perspective
Use quiet contemplation to open the space for a deeper meaning to emerge
Instead of asking, “What does it mean?” ask “How does it feel?” or “What do I think?” “Do I feel it in a certain part of my body?” “What does it bring up in me?”
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2. HOW IS THIS STORY HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND ME?
This step is a bridge between the subjective and spiritual interpretation that reveals the collective and cultural expression of the issue.
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2. HOW IS THIS STORY HAPPENING IN THE WORLD AROUND ME?
Encouraging the student to respond with a wide variety of interpretations will draw out a richness of consciousness in each individual
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“How is this pertinent to us today?”
Use intuition rather than logical analysis
If this were a current news story, what would it mean to me?
How would it change my life?
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“How is this pertinent to us today?”
How can the truth it teaches be put into practice?
What are the political, social, economic, cultural and religious stresses that come into play both in the Bible passage and in life today?
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3. HOW IS THE STORY AN EVENT IN MY LIFE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
Use prayer, meditation and contemplation.
Consider the story as an ongoing event in his/her life.
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3. HOW IS THE STORY AN EVENT IN MY LIFE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
Identify the characters and determine if one speaks more to your heart than the others.
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Ask yourself:
How does it relate to me?
How is the story an event in my life?
What changes does it call forth within me?
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Ask yourself:
What do I need to release in order for this Truth to be actualized in me?
How will it transform my life?
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Historical Overview
Jesus dies. Who will lead the group? Disciples separate and go to groups in
homes carrying on “The Way”
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Historical Overview
Acts and writings attributed to Paul are probably the earliest – 50 CE
Gospels written 60 – 90 CE John written 90 – 100 CE
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Saul
Roman Jew with full rights Cannot be crucified Jesus is crucified because was not a
Roman citizen Speaking from street corners and turning
over tables in temples was definitely not allowed
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Saul
Roman army presence was strong all over the empire
Sought to actively persecute early followers of The Way
Persecution was sporadic
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Has conversion experience on the way to Damascus
Is blinded by the light Has healing Begins to continue work of Jesus
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Paul
Becomes Paul Disciples likely have hard time working
with him He did not know Jesus personally Had never heard Jesus speak Disciples send him out to help do the work
on his own
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Paul
The Roman Catholic Church would probably not exist today if it were not for Paul
The letters attributed to him reflect the concerns and stresses of the time
Churches were study groups in patron’s homes
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Paul
Begins a process to send money back to central church
Women lead many of the groups, yet Paul is markedly misogynistic
Rome was tolerant of religions Rome was not tolerant of sedition
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Paul
Roman army presence was strong all over the empire
Paul is Roman citizen When he is jailed, he is treated better
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Questions and Answers
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Meditation
Ananias and Saphira
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
From the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary (MBD) Page 50 “Ananias”
HEB: Gracious of Jah; mercy of Jehovah; compassion of Jehovah
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
We believe we can be spiritually developing and still hold on to worldly beliefs
Deception is a subtle error to truth
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
Liar and deceiver has two sides in mind
Outwardly, in conscious thought it is Ananias
In the subconscious thought it appear as Sapphira
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
Both must die before spiritual thoughts increase
Best way to dissolve errors is to face then boldly
Accuse them of holding back
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
When we get so wrapped up in material possessions we do not give wholly to Spirit
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
We must be cleansed or purified so we can properly discern Spirit
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Acts 5: 1-11
But a man named Ananias,
Then the false is destroyed and the good is manifest
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Acts 5: 1-11
with the consent of his wife Sapphira
MBD page 573 “Saphira”
Heb: beautiful; splendid; sapphire; precious stone; writer; enumerator; narrator
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Acts 5: 1-11
with the consent of his wife Sapphira
A sapphire is a pure, deep transparent blue and blue is the color of truth
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Acts 5: 1-11
with the consent of his wife Sapphira
Truth is beautiful, but must be cleansed from greed and deception before it can represent Truth in all its purity
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Acts 5: 1-11
sold a piece of property;
Sold Pass on to another
something you own for some kind of compensation
Item sold has value to both parties
Agree on value and make transaction
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Acts 5: 1-11
sold a piece of property;
Property: Something one owns Can do what we want
with it Has value determined
on what another is willing to pay
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Acts 5: 1-11
with his wife’s knowledge,
Knowledge: Understand process and value; may be able to see, touch or feel
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Acts 5: 1-11
he kept back some of the proceeds,
Kept back: Did not make known; was not forthcoming
Proceeds: Value received from sale
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Acts 5: 1-11
and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Part: A portion, some, not all
Apostle: A follower, novice, acolyte, one who has been given special knowledge
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Acts 5: 1-11
Peter MBD page 516: Peter: Heb: hard; compact; strong; firm; unyielding; a large stone; a rock; a cliff
Spiritual faculty of faith
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Acts 5: 1-11
Peter Was called Simon Peter; (hearing) signifying receptivity and ability to discern truth
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Acts 5: 1-11
Peter Was changed by Jesus to Peter, or Cephas (GK) meaning rock
Strong faith in God, unwavering and enduring
Foundation for building up spiritual consciousness
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Acts 5: 1-11
Peter When faith works in the intellect it is subject to winds and waves of sense thought
When it lays hold of life and substance it establishes God ideas in consciousness
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Acts 5: 1-11
Peter Peter wavered in his faith many times because he was not grounded in love
Jesus had him affirm love three times, Spirit, Soul and Body to prepare him to “feed my sheep”
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
MBD page 576 “Satan” Heb. Liar in wait; an adversary; an enemy; hater; accuser; opposer; contradictor;
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
The deceiving state of mind that has fixed ideas in opposition to Truth
Assumes various forms in consciousness: egotism, self-depreciation
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
State of mind formed by personal ideas of power, completeness, and sufficiency apart from God
Makes humans believe they are evil
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
Revealing Word (RW) page 98 “Holy Spirit”
The activity of God in a universal sense.
The moving force in the universe taken as a whole.
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
The Spirit is the infinite "breath" of God, the life essence of Being.
Holy Spirit is the love of Jehovah taking care of the human family.
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
The Spirit is the infinite "breath" of God, the life essence of Being
Holy Spirit is the love of Jehovah taking care of the human family.
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit is in the world today with great power and wisdom, ready to be poured upon all who look to it for guidance. Its mission is to bring all men into communion with God; to guide men in order that they will not mistake the way into the light.
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Acts 5: 1-11
why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit
Lie:Do not tell the
truthPrevaricateDeceive
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Acts 5: 1-11
and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?
Kept back: Did not make known; was not forthcoming
Proceeds: Value received from sale
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Acts 5: 1-11
While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?
Sold Pass on to another
something you own for some kind of compensation
Item sold has value to both parties
Agree on value and make transaction
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Acts 5: 1-11
And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal?
Property: Something one
owns Can do what we
want with it Has value
determined on what another is willing to pay
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Acts 5: 1-11
How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!”
The heart is love Faculty used to
discern being Center through which
Divine substance is poured
Use heart center to send out loving thoughts
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Acts 5: 1-11
How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!”
The heart of the unregenerate man is both good and evil
evil is without foundation in Being
When heart is purged and cleansed we can connect to God’s good
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Acts 5: 1-11
You did not lie to us but to God!” Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.
Lie:Do not tell the
truthPrevaricateDeceive
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Acts 5: 1-11
Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.
Die: RW 48 “Death” Physical dissolution of
body Outer symbol of
mental negation or spiritual inertia
Absence of life in body
Caused by failure to comply fully with God’s law
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Acts 5: 1-11
Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died.
Falling short of the law of life is sin
Sin causes discord in mind, mind loses hold of consciousness of life and enters into negation and dissolution occurs
Results in death to body temple
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Acts 5:1-11
And great fear seized all who heard of it.
RW page 72--Fear is one of the most subtle and destructive errors that the carnal mind in man experiences
Fear is a paralyzer of mental action
It weakens both mind and body
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Acts 5:1-11
And great fear seized all who heard of it.
Fear is cast out by perfect love
To know divine love is to be selfless, and to be selfless is to be without fear.
The God-conscious person is filled with quietness and confidence.
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The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.
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Acts 5:1-11
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Trinity: Father, Son,
Holy Spirit (Religious)
Mind, Idea, Expression (Metaphysical)
Body, Mind, Spirit (Modern)
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Acts 5:1-11
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”
MBD page 516: Peter: Heb: hard; compact; strong; firm; unyielding; a large stone; a rock; a cliff
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Acts 5:1-11
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”
Spiritual faculty of faith
Was called Simon Peter; (hearing) signifying receptivity and ability to discern truth
Was changed by Jesus to Peter, or Cephas (GK) meaning rock
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Acts 5:1-11
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”
Strong faith in God, unwavering and enduring
Foundation for building up spiritual consciousness
When faith works in the intellect it is subject to winds and waves of sense thought
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Acts 5:1-11
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”
When it lays hold of life and substance it establishes God ideas in consciousness
Peter wavered in his faith many times because he was not grounded in love
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Acts 5:1-11
Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.”
Sold Pass on to another
something you own for some kind of compensation
Item sold has value to both parties
Agree on value and make transaction
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Acts 5:1-11
And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?
Test: Challenge Difficulty Measure Something to
overcome
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Acts 5:1-11 Look, the feet of
those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
RW page 74 “Feet” Phase of
understanding that connects us with the outer, manifest world
Reveals right relationship toward worldly conditions
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Acts 5:1-11
Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
We take possession of substance as we connect with and comprehend it (walk on holy ground)
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Acts 5:1-11
Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.
Die: RW 48 “Death” Physical dissolution of
body Outer symbol of
mental negation or spiritual inertia
Absence of life in body
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Acts 5:1-11
Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.
Caused by failure to comply fully with God’s law
Falling short of the law of life is sin
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Acts 5:1-11
Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.
Sin causes discord in mind, mind loses hold of consciousness of life and enters into negation and dissolution occurs
Results in death to body temple
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Acts 5:1-11 When the young men
came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
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Acts 5:1-11
And a great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
RW page 72--Fear is one of the most subtle and destructive errors that the carnal mind in man experiences
Fear is a paralyzer of mental action
It weakens both mind and body
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Acts 5:1-11 And a great fear
came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Fear is cast out by perfect love
To know divine love is to be selfless, and to be selfless is to be without fear.
The God-conscious person is filled with quietness and confidence.
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Acts 5:1-11
Meaning of StoryLensesMeditation
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