I’m Jemima L Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker. Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says. And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.
Dr. Ellie, Mary, Arabella, and I were in our “green room.”
Dr. Ellie was playing with the three children: Stormie, Joan, and Ethan. Ethan’s schedule was way off again. He had just awakened, and B.B. was planning on feeding him during the church school hour and hopefully, Ethan would sleep during the worship service. It worked that way last week. Sometimes the best “schedule” is the one that works for all parties involved.
B.B. (short for Mary being a Bossy Boss) was fixing my hair, “Belle, Stinker’s hair is not cooperating today. Do you think a hairnet would work?”
Belle said, “I doubt it. Do you want me to run and get my blowtorch?”
I protested, “No! From where I am sitting, it looks good.”
Arabella replied, “Yeah, but from where we are standing, it is like… ummm.”
B.B. suggested, “Lord love a duck!”
I huffed, “Is that a cuss word? Do you owe Aunt Pink five dollars?”
Dr. Ellie groaned, “Did you ever read Ulysses? T.S. Eliot used it in The Rock. It has been around since the 19th century as a phrase for surprise. But I would not use it in this case, ladies. For Stinker, it’s about normal. Train wreck for a runway model, but it is good enough for our Sunday school class.”
B.B. snickered, “I guess you’re right, Dr. Ellie.”
I replied, “I need a new bunch of friends.”
Rev. Joseph was preaching today. He gave a prayer for B.B. to read.
Emmett and the choir sang Holy Spirit Come.
I said, “Nice song, guys. I love how you tie this week’s study to the Holy Spirit.” Emmett smiled and nodded.
Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”
I smiled, “We are looking at the book of Acts. Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”
Arabella nodded, “Aunt Jemima, absolutely Aunt Jemima, what does an Axe have to do with Jesus? As a carpenter, did he have to cut down trees?”
Easy smiled and gave his answer before I said something stupid. “Acts. A-C-T-S. Not Axe. ‘So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.’ (1 Samuel 13:20-21). That was because at the time of Saul, there were no blacksmiths in Israel. The Hittites were known for their work in iron, so, with David having Uriah the Hittite maybe they obtained the blacksmith skills along that line. But the book of Acts has been called the Acts of the Apostles. I think Emmett is hinting that the book should be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. It starts with Jesus ascending into heaven. Then various people are highlighted, but the Holy Spirit works through each of them. In calling the book, the Acts of the Apostles, you can say that miracles are not performed in that manner since then. But the Holy Spirit is still at work. We still have miracles. And the greatest miracle of all is that God can take one of us, someone who rebels against God and clean that person’s life. Each born-again Christian is a walking miracle.”
Arabella smiled, “But who are these Apostles?”
Easy shook his head, “Let’s start with Peter. ‘In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.’ (Acts 1:15-16). This was when Peter said that they should choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Notice that there were 120 in the room. There were only eleven apostles. Matthias was chosen by lots and then you never hear about lots after that. We are to rely on the Holy Spirit. But probably this entire group of 120 were speaking in tongues at the temple on Pentecost. They just recorded Peter’s sermon. ‘One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.’ (Acts 3:1). So, it was Peter and John that were arrested first. Then it was a number of the disciples. Then they chose seven deacons to deal with administrative things while the apostles dealt with spiritual things. Yet, one of them is Stephen, ‘Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.’ (Acts 6:8). Another of the Seven was Philip. ‘Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”’ (Acts 8:26-29). And then there is Saul, a.k.a. Paul. ‘“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”’ (Acts 9:5-6). But then there was Barnabas and Silas who were Paul’s partners on his mission trips. There was Luke who wrote the book and was with Paul some of the time.“
Arabella scrunched her head between her shoulders, “Thank you, Mr. Dictionary.”
I added, “This book starts with the ascension of Jesus. We are looking at the growth of the church through the power of the Holy Spirit. What most churches whine about these days is lack of growth, stagnation, and decline in attendance. But do we rely on the Holy Spirit? When those problems are attacked by church leaders, they come up with a plan when they should be praying. So, what we will do mostly is look for quotations from other parts of the Bible. And we will start with a couple of people who have quietly sat in the corner for a couple of weeks.”
Katie (Acts 3:22) “For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.”
Katie said, ”This is also said in Acts 7: ‘This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’’ (Acts 7:37). This quotes Deuteronomy 18: ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.’ (Deuteronomy 18:15).”
Don Fife (Acts 3:25) “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’
Don said, in a high-pitched, shaky voice, “This refers to several verses in Genesis. ‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ (Genesis 12:3). ‘and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’’ (Genesis 22:18). ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,’’ (Genesis 26:4). ‘Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.’’ (Genesis 28:14). All these verses talk about the blessings from the offspring of Abraham. Those blessings go in all directions and to all nations. The verse from Acts 3 is Peter talking about how he and John were being treated badly, but all they had done was to be a blessing to the man outside the temple gate. Then, the next chapter, Peter and John are sent before the Sanhedrin. All because they were a blessing. I’m a rookie on patrol. My teacher is Dietrich Koch, and yesterday, he was stabbed in the line of duty. He was protecting two people who had come here to Lily the Pink for safety. Since their lives were in danger, the police put them in a safehouse that wasn’t safe. We do what these verses promise. We protect and serve. We should be a blessing to Tracy, but we do not always get treated the way we should. Dietrich will pull through. But I have been doing a lot of praying lately. But Peter and John were arrested. I wonder why we think we should get a free ride.”
I smiled, “Thank you, Don. I had heard that a few people worked through the night. Were you one of them?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t sleep much, but I stayed to protect the youngsters. And then when I was relieved, I went straight to the hospital. I sat by Dieter’s bed and prayed.” Katie put her arm around him.
Blaise (Acts 4:24) “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.’”
Blaise said, “These verses pertain to God as Creator. ‘“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.’ (Acts 14:15). The first is what the believers prayed after Peter and John had been brought before the Sanhedrin and then released. Then, in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas healed a couple of people. The crowd wanted to worship them and give animal sacrifices in their honor, but that’s where Paul says he is human just like they are. Then, with the crowd confused, people from Pisidian Antioch and Iconium revved up the crowd to kill them. They stoned Paul and left him for dead. But to your other verses. ‘And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!’ (Revelation 10:6). Again, the reference to the Creator. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.’ (Exodus 20:11). ‘“He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.’ (Psalm 146:6). If we look at John 1. ‘He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:2-5). So, Jesus was with His Father, and nothing was created without Jesus being part of that Creation. So, all this ties directly to Jesus through that Creation. But back to what Don said, I have been staying here in the lab, in my late Aunt Hortense’s private quarters connected to the lab. My Granddad’s wife Maeve is still at our house with her twins and infant triplets. My Mom texted me this morning. Dad has not been home since Polly called him over 24 hours ago, but he texted her saying that they had a breakthrough. They may lift the protection at the safehouse soon, but for Dad, when the last interview is over, his work heats up, making sure the reports are ready for the D.A. Don, this might be your first big homicide case. But as for being the son of a homicide detective, the entire family wears the badge at times. Mom said that Dad will teach Sunday school and then go straight back to the precinct. But I want to thank you, Don, for being there. Dietrich Koch was in bad shape and Francine worked her cross-training to keep him from losing too much blood. Polly was nicked up a little, but the two teenagers are safe.”
I replied, “Thank you, Blaise. Your Dad is my father-in-law. Polly and Dietrich are good friends. Let’s all pray that they are safe, that they get some needed rest, and that they stopped the person who was doing this.”
Marguerite (Acts 7:5) ”He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.’’
Margie smiled, “And Blaise got off easy. This one has a lot of Genesis references, like Don’s did. Stephen is on trial, and he turns it into a Bible study. ‘The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.’ (Genesis 12:7). ‘All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.’ (Genesis 13:15). ‘The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.’ (Genesis 17:8). ‘and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’’’ (Genesis 48:4). Don’s verses were about offspring. These verses are about land. Other than the tomb to bury Sarah, Abraham had no land. He had the ill-advised son, Ishmael. He had the son of promise, Isaac. That is not many offspring. Of course, he had several children through Keturah. We don’t see a large multiplication of children until the sons of Israel (Jacob). We don’t see the land until the time of Joshua. That is a lot of faith on the parts of the three patriarchs. But interestingly, the stories of offspring and land weave into trial defense in the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, both trials versus the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin did not have to be taught a biblical lesson, but Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide their defense, give them the right words to say.”
I smiled, “Very good, Margie. Are you going to take that lead when you become Blaise’s lawyer?”
Margie nodded, “I sure hope to do that, but most of my job will be researching patents and filing for patents. If I stick with this, my in-court presence will be defending that research but litigating if someone infringes on our patents.”
Gymra asked, “What patents are those?”
Margie smiled, “Blaise and I tinker in his lab, and a few others help. If what we design is worthy of a patent, we’ll need protection.”
Gymra shrugged, “Cool.”
Brenton (Acts 7:35) ‘“This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.”
Brenton said, “This is referring to Moses killing the Egyptian guard and then trying to keep the Israelites from fighting each other. ‘The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”’ (Exodus 2:14). So, Moses hit the road. He ended up near Mount Sinai, wherever that is. While this does not talk about Jesus, it is still Stephen’s defense for spreading the Gospel.”
Carla (Acts 7:42-43) “But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: “‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.”
Gymra said, “Mizz Carla, do you want me to read reference verses for you?”
I snorted, stifling a laugh, “I know Gymra is working as your assistant, but the ‘Mizz Carla’ is a little much, don’t you think, Car?”
Carla laughed, “We have been invaded by my mother-in-law. I have gone from being the unwanted daughter-in-law to having my mother-in-law spending time with Gymra, teaching her how to act and sound like a professional servant. Do not be shocked when Gymra greets you at the door in a maid uniform and speaks in proper English. When delivery people come by, she gets very officious with them. Most of them take it in stride, but some just want someone to sign the paperwork. My father-in-law has given Gymra power of attorney to sign for legal documents. She knows to immediately lock them in our safe. She keeps a log.”
I asked, “But you live in the old servant’s quarters. Wouldn’t they go to the main house up the drive?”
Carla laughed, “In that respect, my mother-in-law loves the idea that an occupied servant’s quarters means that we deal with package delivery and document delivery and they don’t have their afternoon mani-pedi uninterrupted, but that falls apart when all three of us are in class. A hundred years ago, the gate was locked and the servant did all that stuff. Now, Brenton and I are occupying what had become a guest house. And Gymra, these people are family as far as I’m concerned, and I’ll do my own references. Besides, you might have one of your own sooner or later. This is what Amos said. ‘“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god—which you made for yourselves. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.’ (Amos 5:25-27). Stephen quoted Amos. And since this is the last reference that you had us read from Stephen’s sermon, the Holy Spirit guided Stephen in telling him what to say, but that did not spare Stephen from being stoned to death. But even that was in God’s plan because Saul, who was also Paul, was holding everyone’s coats so they could throw the stones at Stephen.”
Gymra (Acts 15:16-18) “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—things known from long ago.”
Gymra said, “This is from Amos, to talk about the return of Israel to the Promised Land. ‘“In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.’ (Amos 9:11-12). The verses from Acts is where James, the half-brother of Jesus, quoted Amos to let the Judaizers know that they should not put too high a price on the Gentiles. All nations that bear the name of Jesus can be part of the church.”
I said, “Gymra, that was very good.”
Gymra smiled, “I’m learning more than just how to be a maid. I go to the breathing classes in case she starts having contractions while Brenton is playing golf. And I am a high B or low A in all my classes. And I like reading Mizz Carla’s textbooks.”
Carla laughed, “Correction, she likes reading my anatomy book and when she sees a photo or drawing of a nude man, she asks Brenton what various parts are called just to see him blush. We dark skinned people blush, but it’s a lot more obvious when he does. And no, she does not have that kind of fun when his parents are around.”
Brooke (Acts 23:5) “Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’””
Brooke said, “This is interesting. The reference is to Mosaic Law in Exodus. ‘“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.’ (Exodus 22:28). But what it refers to is when Paul basically gives a plea of not guilty. Ananias, the high priest, tells the people next to Paul to strike him for saying that. Paul, knowing that he had the right to plea not guilty, and a righteous judge would not tell men to do that, he called Ananias a “Whitewashed wall, and God would strike him for commanding that Paul be struck – basically teaching Ananias what the law of Moses says. But then once they tell him to not speak to the high priest like that, Paul makes this comment. Here, the comment is dripping with sarcasm, but again, he is teaching Ananias what the law says. This is when Paul is arrested under false accusations that Paul had allowed Trophimus, an Ephesian who was uncircumcised, into the temple. Paul was illustrating that he knew the law like the back of his hand, better than the high priest. Paul went back to the protective custody of the Romans, and then they called Paul back again, to kill him along the road, but Paul’s nephew warned him.”
Goober (Acts 28:26-27) “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’”
Goober said, “We won our game yesterday. It was at home, so I was able to come to class. This has been a recurring theme. We went through the gospels, and when they talked about Jesus speaking in parables, these Old Testament Scriptures came up. ‘He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”’ (Isaiah 6:9-10). ‘Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:’ (Jeremiah 5:21). It’s what somebody mentioned a few weeks ago. It’s that problem of the distance between the head and the heart. Sure, we need to know how to answer the person’s intellectual problems, but then, the real understanding is when we get into the spiritual things and start to understand that God is more than that.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Goober. That is a good place to end, except for Grannie Fannie’s benediction.”
Grannie Fannie (3 John 1:3) “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
Then Grannie Fannie added, “And then all God’s children said, ‘Amen.’”
Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her. “Are you ready to drive us?”
Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”
Stormie said, “Aunt Brooke, I go to church and my friends go too!” Joan yelled, “Yay!” And Ellie Rain and Olympia joined in.
Credits
When I am using quoted verses in the New Testament, I got those verses (different translations) from Seeing Jesus – Bible Encounter Study Guide by Marilyn Hickey. The concept of doing this in a Sunday school setting is based on her book. When the youngster gives the other verse, Aunt Jemima had sent the comparison verse from the Hickey book, but occasionally, a verse is added (easily found in the cross references). The rest is from internet searches, a variety of commentaries and study Bibles, and personal knowledge.
Here is Holy Spirit Come from Patrick Mayberry.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
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