September 01, 2014
Paul’s Plans
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 19, 21 – 27
When this was concluded, Paul made up his mind to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.” Then he sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, While he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia.
About that time a serious disturbance broke out concerning the Way. There was a silversmith named Demetrius who made miniature silver shrines of Arremus and provided no little work for the craftsmen. He called a meeting of these and other workers in related crafts and said, “Men, you know well that our prosperity derives from this work. As you can now see and hear, not only in Ephesus but throughout most of the province of Asia this Paul has persuaded and misled a great number of people by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. The danger grows, not only that our business will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be of no account, and that she whom the whole province of Asia and all the world worship will be stripped of her magnificence.”
It happens sometimes that a person is not completely healed the first time I prayed with him or her. I remember this woman who was paralyzed on one side of her body. I prayed with her and she was healed at least now she could walk without dragging her foot, but she could not lift her arm any higher than her shoulder. I prayed with her a second time and this time she could lift her arm well over her head. I thank the Lord that she was completely healed.
Below you will find the message of Our Savior and Lord given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I call you to listen to Me My dear brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who believe that I am the Savior of the world. I am the one who died for you to redeem you and to open heaven for you. So keep your heart open to Me and you will hear My word and you must follow what I tell you in silence and peace.
Saint Paul was My great friend and he was always ready to listen to what I had to say to him. I am the one who gave him his plan for visiting the cities and to go back to Jerusalem and that one day he would go to Rome. As you know from the stages of his life, he did go to all these places. Paul taught the people in Ephesus and in different towns of Asia that Christians are not to follow pagan gods and there was one god whom he was against and that one is Arremis. He was a god made by human hands and all should reject that god. The silversmith who made many things in the temple of Arremis, were not happy that Paul said this because they would lose their trade. So these silversmiths started a serious disturbance which we will read about tomorrow.
Remember there is only one God and He is the one you are to love and adore. I bless you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had a mostly cloudy day today but we did not have any rain.