Steven Garofalo
Spirituality/Belief • Education • News
Steven Garofalo, M.A. Apologetics is president and founder of ReasonForTruth.Org and EquippedAcademy.Com. His mission is to help you not just survive, but to thrive by cutting through the distortion of current events with discernment, wisdom, and the truth of God-to encourage, educate and prepare you for what is, and what is at hand. www.ReasonForTruth.Org www.EquippedAcademy.Com
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WHAT MAKES A STRONG MAN?-Not Our Physical Appeaeance But Where We Draw Our Strength From

Correction…from my European Bible study, my friend Michael wrote this outstanding piece and I want to share it with you!

TO CAESAR WILL YOU GO
Acts 25:8-12 (NIV)
_“Then Paul made his defense: ‘I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.’ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?’ Paul answered: I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!’ After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: ‘You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!_’”

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND
When Festus became the governor of Judah, one of his first actions was to travel to Jerusalem to meet with the Jewish Leaders. While Festus was in Jerusalem, the Jews requested a reopening of their case against Paul. They hadn’t given up in finding a way to kill Paul. Festus agreed on hearing the case, but instead of bringing Paul back to Jerusalem, as requested by the Jewish leaders, Festus invited the Jewish leaders to return to Caesarea for Festus to hear the case. They reluctantly agreed.

After returning to Caesarea, Festus took his seat on the bench and made Paul face the accusers. This time the scene was different, as Paul’s was made to stand as his accusers stood “_around him_” (v.7) as they presented their charges. This was far more physically menacing than the first trial. But Paul is not easily intimidated. During the trial, the Jewish Leaders “_brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them_” ( Acts 25:7)

Today we will see Paul’s response.

A PROPOSED COMPROMISE
_Then Paul made his defense: ‘I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.’ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, ’Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?’ _

In his defense, Paul simply denied the accusations. Since his opponents had no evidence, only their words. In his rejection of the charges, Paul reiterated that he had done nothing wrong against the temple or Caesar (Roman law). By all rights, Festus could have closed the case at this point. However, Paul continued to be used as a political pawn between the Romans and the Jews.

At his first hearing, the previous governor, Felix, “_wishing to do the Jews a favor, left Paul imprisoned_” (Acts 24:27). Now, two years later, Festus, “_wanting to do the Jews a favor_” (Acts 25:9), made an unreasonable request for Paul to move his trial to Jerusalem to accommodate the Jews. While Festus would still preside as judge, he was seeking a compromise with the Jewish leaders. However, unbeknownst to him, this plan played directly into their schemes, as they were still plotting to ambush and kill Paul on the way to Jerusalem (Acts 25:3).

DEMANDING HIS RIGHTS
_Paul answered: ‘I am now standing before Caesar's court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them’_

Clearly, Festus underestimated Paul. He did not back down, even though he was outnumbered. After two years in prison, many people would have wavered in their faith, feeling discouraged and defeated. But Paul’s faith and trust in God’s promises were the source of his strength. Instead of being intimidated, he spoke boldly.

Paul responded by pointing out that he had not been formally charged with any crime against Rome, so the court had no legal right to compel him to do anything. He asserted that the fabricated charges against him were baseless—and Festus knew it. Paul further declared that he was not afraid to die, but if he were to receive a death sentence, it must come from a Roman court, not from the angry Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. As a Roman citizen, he had the right to insist that his trial be conducted according to the law.

This boldness and strength, driven by faith, had been a hallmark of Paul’s ministry. He knew that going to Jerusalem would be difficult. Reflecting back on Acts 20:22-24, we read: "_And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace_”

Paul was further strengthened by the promise God had given him in Jerusalem after being accused before the Sanhedrin: “_Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome_” (Acts 23:11).

AN APPEAL TO CAESAR
_‘I appeal to Caesar!’ After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: ‘You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!’_

Finally, realizing that he would receive no justice in this court, Paul appealed to Caesar. This was a right granted to every Roman citizen who felt they were not receiving justice in the provincial courts, allowing them to take their case to the Roman Supreme Court—namely, Caesar himself.

God used this moment to continue Paul’s journey to Rome. His appeal to Caesar put Festus in a very difficult position. Politically, he could not set Paul free without offending the Jews, but he also could not convict and sentence him, as there was no evidence of Paul breaking Roman law. At this, Festus conferred with his legal advisors.

According to the Bible Background Commentary: “A Roman judge normally had a _consilium_, or council, with whom to confer; because a governor might not be learned in the law, it was important for him to have some advisors who were, although he was ultimately free to disregard their counsel. This was an unusual case.”

Festus found himself in a political dilemma. He did not want to upset the Jewish leaders, with whom he needed to build a positive working relationship, but denying Paul’s appeal to Caesar would leave him vulnerable to accusations of overstepping imperial authority.

The Jewish historian Josephus describes Festus as the most faithful governor of Judea in carrying out Roman policies during this period. Given this, he granted Paul’s request to appeal to Caesar.

At the time, "Caesar" referred to Nero, who reigned from A.D. 54–68. The first five years of his reign were relatively peaceful, but afterward, his rule became increasingly cruel and irrational (Acts 25:9).

APPLICATION
Paul’s life provides a powerful blueprint for how we as men can be both strong in faith and action. His unwavering trust in God and his boldness in ministry teach us how to stand firm, lead courageously, and persevere through hardship. Let’s explore some key lessons we can learn from Paul.

1. Be Committed to Your Mission (Acts 20:22-24)
"_And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace._"

Men who are strong in faith embrace their God-given purpose with courage. Paul didn’t let uncertainty or suffering stop him from fulfilling his calling. Likewise, we must remain focused on our mission as husbands, fathers, workers, and leaders—faithfully serving Christ no matter the obstacles.

2. Stand Firm Under Pressure (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
"_We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed._"

Being strong in faith means persevering through trials without losing heart. As men, we will face challenges—spiritual battles, family struggles, workplace pressures—but like Paul, we must refuse to give up. God sustains those who trust Him.

3. Rely on God’s Strength, Not Your Own (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
"_But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong._"

A strong man is not one who appears invincible, but one who humbly depends on God’s power. Paul embraced his weaknesses because he knew that through them, Christ’s power was revealed. Likewise, real strength comes from admitting we need God in every area of life.

4. Stay Confident in God’s Love (Romans 8:35-39)
"_Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us._"

Men who are strong in faith do not fear failure, rejection, or suffering, because they know that nothing can separate them from Christ’s love. Paul’s confidence in God’s love made him fearless. When we rest in God’s love, we can lead, serve, and make decisions with boldness.

5. Live with Purpose and Courage (Philippians 1:21)
"_For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain_"

A strong man lives for more than just himself—he lives for Christ. Paul saw every breath as an opportunity to serve God. Our careers, families, and daily actions should reflect our devotion to Christ.

6. Finish Strong (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
"_I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing._"

True strength isn’t just about how you start, but how you finish. Paul remained faithful to the very end. Men of faith must lead their families, serve their communities, and remain faithful to Christ for a lifetime.

Being a strong man is not about our physical or mental toughness – it is about where we draw our strength from – our faith in God and our Hope in the glory which is to come.

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BAPTISM
SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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WHY NOT TO MESS WITH GOD
By steven Garofalo, April 21, 2025 (Copyright 2025)

WHY WE ARE NOT TO MESS WITH GOD
EXODUS 9:27-35

When we tell God we are going to do something, we better do it. Today, I am going to show you WHY we are not to mess around and lie to God. Let’s get started.

In Genesis 9:27-35, we find Moses coming around towards the very end of all his warnings and plagues on Egypt. After Moses called down dust to create a storm of hail, lightening and fire which killed most of the Egyptian’s servants and livestock, Pharaoh, calls for Moses and tells his this: 

"27 Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Plead with the Lord, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the Lord. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the Lord's."

It was bad enough for Pharoah to confess his sins, but worst that he really never meant it; hence he lied on top of rejecting God’s commands. Thats a really bad place to be for any human being, especially a world leader.

GOD’S GRACE EXTENDED TO PHARAOH

“33 So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and stretched out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured upon the earth.” 

PHARAOH SEALS HIS OWN FATE WITH A HEART EVEN MORE HARDENED

"34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.”

The moral of the story is that the worst we try to lie to God and/or not keep our word in carrying out what we said we would, the worst the judgement of God will eventually be in our own life.

Conclusion

When we tell God we are going to do something, we better do it. Today, I showed you through God’s Word WHY we are not to mess around and lie to God. And this was not the rest of the story. As all know, Pharoah lost his only son for disobeying God to the degree that he did. Let’s think about this very truth and reflect on how we can do better with honoring God and keeping our word in obedience to God in our lives.

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PURPOSE OVER STAYING PUT
By Steven Garofalo, April 18, 2025 (Copyright 2025)

PURPOSE OVER STAYING PUT
Moses and Aaron Before Pharaoh

THE CALLING (Exodus 7)
“1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land…4 Pharaoh will not listen to you…5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them” (Exodus 7:1-5).

PURPOSE IN ACTION (Exodus 7)
"6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them. 7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

FIRST:  
THE LORD CALLS MOSES & AARON. “1 And the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet." 

SECOND: 
THE SPECIFIC MISSION:
The Lord calls Moses and Aaron and instructs them as to the mission of his life.

"You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land…"

THIRD: 
GOD MANAGES EXPECTATIONS REGARDING WHAT THEY WILL ENCOUNTER IN THAT THEY WILL FAIL AT FIRST.
"4 Pharaoh will not listen to you.”

FOURTH: 
THE BIG PICTURE: THE EGYPTIANS WILL KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE TRUE GOD!
"5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them” (Exodus 7:1-5).  

God was clear that He would reach out his hand against the Egyptians, and bring the the Israelites from among them. Then God moves from calling to action.

PURPOSE IN ACTION (Exodus 7)
In verse six, Moses writes not that they contemplated, thought about, or prayed on God’s calling. Moses and Aaron simply got up and “made it happen”!

"6 Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the Lord commanded them." 

NOW FOR THE KICKER: THESES GUYS WERE IN THEIR 80’s! Let’s pick it up in verse 7.

OLD MEN WITH A NEW MISSION
"7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

Verse 7 makes clear that Moses was 80 and Aaron 83 years of age!  They could have chilled out and golfed, taken life easy, spend time by the water, or just coasted through the rest of their lives. But NO-they went uncomfortably to complete God’s calling and spoke with Pharaoh. It had to have been intensively inconvenient, uncomfortable, and simply unpleasant to take up God’s calling at such an old(er) age. But they did. WHY? Because they put PURPOSE OVER AND ABOVE STAYING PUT.

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