~STRENGTHENED WITH POWER~
- From: "Traudel" <hildegard8@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:15:23 -0600
~STRENGTHENED WITH POWER~
"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit In the inner man" Eph 3:16
To the unregenerate soul, many of the declarations of the
Apostle Paul are unfathomable. Most notable among these is the statement
recorded in verse 10 of 2 Corinthians, chapter 12: "I take pleasure in
infirmities (weaknesses), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
The saint of God, however, can heartily empathize with this pro-found
affirmation. He knows that the strength here referred to by the apostle is
drawn from the power of God in Christ. We who are redeemed in Jesus Christ
know full well that to struggle in our own strength is to tilt at windmills.
Thus, Paul declares that "(his) strength is made perfect in weakness" (2
Corinthians 12:9) He is saying that he gains strength only as the power of
the indwelling Christ prevails. Hence the confident statement, "I can do all
things through Christ who strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
As members of His Body we are specifically instructed, exhorted and
admonished through His Word of truth. And He assures us of our ability to
comply with His requirements by HIS strength, which will enable us to resist
and persist in accordance with the walk of faith. "God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" ( 1
Cor. 10: 13b).
And so Paul prays for us"
<><><><><>
November 20th - St. Nerses of Sahgerd & Companions
(also known as Narses)
Died 343.
The authentic acta of this group of more than a dozen Persian Christians
were recorded in Chaldaic. The most illustrious of the group were Nerses,
bishop of Sahgerd (Schiahareadat, capital of Beth-Germa), and his disciple
Joseph, were taken prisoner in the fourth year of the great persecution
under King Shapur II. When they were brought before the visiting king,
Shapur exhorted them: "Your venerable gray hairs, and the comeliness and
bloom of your pupil's youth, strongly incline me in your favor. Seek your
own advantage: receive the sacred rites of the sun, and I will confer on you
most ample rewards and honors; for I am exceedingly taken with your
persons."
Nerses: Your flattery is very disagreeable to us, because it ensnares and
tends to draw us over to a treacherous world. Even you who enjoy whatever
the world can give, and who promise it to others, will find it fleeting from
you like a dream, and falling away like the morning dew. As for my part, I
am now above four score years old, and have served God from my infancy. I
pray him again and again, that I may be preserved from so grievous an evil,
and may never betray the fidelity which I owe him by adoring the sun, the
work of his hands.
Shapur: If you don't obey immediately, you shall this instant be led to
execution.
Nerses: If you had power, O king, to put us to death seven times over, we
should never yield to your desire.
The king pronounced the sentence and handed the martyrs over to the
executioners. When the martyrs were led out of the tents, they were followed
by a large crowd. At the place of execution Nerses looked at the multitude
congregated to witness their execution.
Joseph: See how the people gaze at you. They are waiting for you to dismiss
them and go to your own home.
Nerses: You are most happy, my blessed Joseph who have broken the snares of
the world, and have entered with joy, the narrow path of the kingdom of
heaven.
Joseph was the first to be beheaded. The same acta present the martyrdom of
several other saints:
Bishop John of Beth-Seleucia was put to death in the castle of Beth-Hascita,
by order of Ardascirus prince of Persia, probably a son of Sapor.
The priest Isaac of Hulsar was stoned to death outside the walls of
Beth-Seleucia by order of the president of Adargusnasaphus.
The priest Papa of Herminum was killed in the castle of Gabal by prince
Ardascirus, then the viceroy of Hadiabus.
Uhanam, a young clergyman, was stoned to death by some apostate gentlewomen
of Beth-Seleucia by order of the same prince.
Guhsciatezades, a eunuch in the palace of Prince Ardascirus, refused to
sacrifice to the sun; thereupon the prince commanded Vartranes, an apostate
priest, to kill him as a sign of his renunciation of Christ. At first
Vartranes hesitated. But Ghusciatezades dared him: "Do you who are a priest
come to kill me? I certainly mistake when I call you a priest. Accomplish
your design, but remember the apostasy and end of Judas." Thereupon
Vartranes stabbed the holy eunuch to death.
The laymen Sasannes, Mares, Timaeus, and Zaron were martyred about the same
time in the province of the Huzites.
Bahutha, a noble lady of Beth-Seleucia, was put to death for the same by
order of the president.
Tecla and Danacla, virgins of Beth- Seleucia, were martyred soon after
Bahutha under the same judge.
Tatona, Mama Mazachia, and Anne, also virgins of Beth-Seleucia, were killed
outside the walls of the city of Burcatha.
Abiatha, Hathes, and Mamlacha, virgins of the province of Beth-Germa, were
massacred by order of King Sapor during his travels through that territory
(Benedictines, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
And he says to him again after the resurrection, 'Feed my sheep.' It is on
him that he builds the Church, and to him that he entrusts the sheep to
feed. And although he assigns a like power to all the apostles, yet he
founded a single Chair, thus establishing by his own authority the source
and hallmark of the (Church's) oneness. No doubt the others were all that
Peter was, but a primacy is given to Peter, and it is (thus) made clear that
there is but one flock which is to be fed by all the apostles in common
accord.
-St. Cyprian (AD 228)
Bible Quote
And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give
to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind
upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19)
<><><><>
Canticle Apocalypse 11
The Judgement
We thank you, Lord God Almighty, who are and who were,
that you have taken up your great power and begun to reign.
The nations were angered, but your anger came,
the time for the dead to be judged,
the time to reward the prophets and saints, your servants,
and those who feared your name, both great and small.
Now have come the salvation and might and kingdom of our God,
and the power of his Anointed,
for the accuser of our brethren has been brought down,
he accused them day and night in the sight of God.
But they vanquished him through the blood of the Lamb
and through their own witness.
They did not cling to life, even in the face of death.
Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
.
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