The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Three

"Deadly Fall"


Acts 20:7-12 (Message) We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.
   Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. "No more crying," he said. "There's life in him yet." Then Paul got up and served the Master's Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

Paul and his bunch ended up in Troas. Here's a description of the area known as Troas, now located in Turkey (biblical Ephesus): Alexandria Troas is an ancient city located south of Canakkale province on the Aegean Sea. It was one of the major sea ports in the Aegean connecting trade routes in Asia Minor to Neapolis in Macedonia by sea lines and then to Rome by road. The city was founded in 310 BC and its original name was Antigonia Troas, named by Antigonus, but then it was changed into Alexandria Troas by Lysimachus and dedicated to Alexander the Great. (allaboutturkey.com)


Here is where Paul and those who traveled with him stayed for a week. The last day they were there, Paul spent the night preaching to a congregation of believers in an upstairs room that had better lighting. In one of the windows a young man sat in a window. He fell asleep and toppled out of the window falling to his death three stories below. They all ran down and found that he had indeed died. Paul went to him and held him in his arms. He told the crowd that there was still life in the boy. Later the boy returned home with his family after they had all celebrated in the Lord's Supper.


There is another instance in the Old Testament that is very similar. Check it out:




2 Kings 4:32-37 (NLT) When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet’s bed.  He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the Lord. Then he lay down on the child’s body, placing his mouth on the child’s mouth, his eyes on the child’s eyes, and his hands on the child’s hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child’s body began to grow warm again! Elisha got up, walked back and forth across the room once, and then stretched himself out again on the child. This time the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes!
   Then Elisha summoned Gehazi. “Call the child’s mother!” he said. And when she came in, Elisha said, “Here, take your son!” She fell at his feet and bowed before him, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she took her son in her arms and carried him downstairs.

These stories remind me of the frailty of human existence. We will all die one day and that is 100% accurate. None of wants to face the topic of death. There has been only One who has conquered death and that is Jesus. He didn't just accomplish this for Himself only. He accomplished it for the whole world. Its up to each person whether they will accept this gift.

I recently had a discussion with a young women's bible study I lead called S. P. I. E. S.  (Sisters Praying In Every Situation) were the question was raised if we will be ourselves when we are in heaven. The answer is, "Yes". We won't be angels and we definitely won't be absorbed into the light or be reincarnated. God created each one of us in His image and He wants us to be part of His family through the belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we leave this earth we will be given temporary bodies until His final return to earth and then we will all be fully restored to the perfect body that He had in mind before sin entered the world. (See "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn)

When Christ returns He will create a new heaven and a new earth were there will be no more sorrow or pain, illness or death, hatred or bitterness. We will be made perfect as He is perfect all because of Who He is. Jesus is God. No other religion offers this. NONE!

Here's some interesting facts about other religions and what they believe that happens after death:

Buddhists: Many Buddhists believe in reincarnation, or, more specifically, that the mind-stream continues after the physical body dies. As long as a person remains deluded about the true nature of reality s/he will continue to be reborn into Samsara for lifetime after lifetime. When the true nature of reality is understood - Nirvana - a person can choose to continue being reborn, in order to help others understand as well. These people are called Bodhisattvas.


Hindus: They believe in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. It is like changing clothes; the soul moves from one body to another. Your next birth is determined by your karma. You carry the effects of the good and bad deeds to your next life. This cycle continues till you attain Moksha (salvation).


Mormons: All men will receive a degree of salvation commensurate with their desires, their faith, and their good works. This is the divine will and plan. Their salvation is not based on Jesus but on the "good works" they accomplish on earth.


Jehovah's Witness: Jehovah's Witnesses believe death is a state of non-existence with no consciousness. There is no Hell of fiery torment; Hades and Sheol are understood to refer to the condition of death, termed the common grave. Jehovah's Witnesses consider the soul to be a life or a living body that can die. Their hope for life after death involves being resurrected by God to a cleansed earth after Armageddon, or to heaven for a limited number. Those remaining on earth are referred to as the "other sheep". Only 144,000 will go to heaven.


Islam: On the Last Day, resurrected humans and jinn will be judged by Allah according to their deeds. One's eternal destination depends on balance of good to bad deeds in life. They are either granted admission to Paradise, where they will enjoy spiritual and physical pleasures forever, or condemned to Hell to suffer spiritual and physical torment for eternity. 

Here's what the Bible says about heaven:

John 3:16-17 (NLT) “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."


Romans 3:22-24 (NLT) We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
   For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 


Romans 6:5-10 (NLT) Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.     When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.


Romans 6:23 (NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

These passages are but a few of the promises found by believing that Jesus is God and overcame the penalty of sin, death, by raising from the dead by the power of God Most High. With Christ there is no doubt that He made a way for mankind to have an eternal relationship with God. It isn't about "good works" or trying to get things right through our reincarnated lives. It's about the work Jesus did for us. I think I'll choose Jesus because I am insufficient to save myself.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Just as the young man fell from the window to his death, we too fall to our death without the love and rescue of a Savior. Jesus rushed down from heaven to earth and lived as one of us. He loved us so much that He gave up His life to pay the debt we owe to God for our sins that separated us from Him. There is no other Savior. He takes us into His arms and breathes His Holy breath into us, saving us from death and raising us up to eternal life with Him. We can now truly celebrate His communion because we are now alive and not dead in our sins.

There is no other Savior. Come to Him if you haven't already. He's waiting for you because He loves you with an everlasting love.

John 14:1-7 (NLT)  “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
   “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
   Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.  If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”





Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."  




  

The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Two

"After The Riot"


Acts 20:1-6 (NLT) When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
   Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.

After the riot was over. Paul encouraged the believers there in Ephesus. Now this riot lasted for hours and hours. It wasn't just a protest. It was an angry mob. I'm sure it shook everyone up. Paul knew that their faith had been shaken so he encouraged them with words that the Lord gave him.

The Greek word for "encourager" as we have learned before, is "parakaleo" and it means "to comfort, encourage, aid." It is a forceful word. In that I mean it wasn't just a pat on the back and a "bless your heart". It was a sincere, heartfelt moment of encouragement from Paul to keep on loving and serving Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (NLT)  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

We have an amazing God who, when we are experiencing trouble, never leaves us and matches our pain with His comfort. We learn from Him how to comfort others. What's cool about God's comfort is that it's not the "bless your heart" kind of comfort. It's an "I'm with you and never willing leave you" kind of comfort. He doesn't leave. He doesn't feel uncomfortable and awkward around you. He knows exactly what you need and uses those who love Him to comfort you.

Psalm 119:49-50 (NLT) Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope.Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.


Psalm 119:75-77 (NLT) I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.

God is our only true Hope. No one else can love us as much as He does. It may not seem like He cares because He allows things to happen in our lives. But, I believe that someone who gave up His One and Only Son to rescue us from this fallen world, does really love us with an everlasting love. People suffer because this world is a fallen world. God allows us to make choices and with those choices the world suffers at times. Even the elements groan with sin in the world. The Good News is that Jesus will come again and make things right. There will be a new heaven and a new earth where all bad things are gone and sorrow and pain will not exist. We will live in the encouragement of Jesus.

Who have you been an encouragement to? Who has been an encouragement to you? Did you know that encouragement is a spiritual gift from God?

Philippians 2:1-3 (NLT) Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
   Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

The questions, found in this portion of scripture in Philippians, are questions we need to think about and answer. Take time to answer them:
1. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ?
2. Any comfort from his love?
3. Any fellowship together in the Spirit?
4. Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

If you really believe that the answer is "yes" to the questions then you should truly know that we should be rejoicing in this knowledge. Don't let the negatives riot in your brain. Allow God to rule and reign. Take your thoughts captive to His love.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (Message) The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Use your "powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ." I love that!! We have the power, through God, to take action against this world and its negative and hurting ways.

If you answered "no" to any of these questions then you need to re-think things. Is Jesus really Lord of your life? Have you really accepted Him as ruler and director of your life here on earth. Friend? He loves you so much and He wants you to know His peace.

God's peace isn't void of emotion. I have a friend in the hospital right now and his family is worried. I'm sure there have been tears and fear, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that they are trusting Jesus. They have turned to God for comfort and healing. They rely on the comfort and prayers of believers who are praying right now.

All of us experience "riots" in our lives. We must rely on the comfort found in Jesus. Even after the riot is over we should keep our eyes on Jesus and comfort and encourage one another. That's what the church is for.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-One

"Idols Cause Confusion"

Acts 19:23-41 (NLT) About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:
   “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
   At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.
   Inside, the people were all shouting, someone thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.
   “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.

Artemis

Who is Artemis? Why was she so revered? Here's little FYI on this idol:

Temple of Artemis

The Anatolian "Great Mother" was identified by Greek settlers with the Greek Artemis--virgin huntress, goddess of wild animals, wild nature, chastity and childbirth. It is difficult to discern which of her three roles--mother goddess, fertility goddess or nature goddess--was primary in the minds of first-century devotees. Details of her statue, however, do reveal the powers attributed to her. The multiple bulbous objects on her chest have been variously interpreted: are they "breasts, bee eggs, ostrich eggs, steer testicles, grapes, nuts, acorns"? They point to her role as a goddess of fertility. The dreadful animals on her skirt show she has the power over them and is able to deliver from fear, since she is the supreme "ghost goddess." The signs of the zodiac around her neck show she can mediate between her followers and the cruel fate that dogs them. Indeed, she possesses authority and power superior to astrological fate. In sum, Artemis had unsurpassed cosmic power. She was called Savior, Lord, Queen of the Cosmos and heavenly goddess. Each year in March or April, Ephesus hosted the monthlong festival Artemisa, a time of carnival and religious celebration. Pilgrims flocked from all over the Empire to participate in the impressive ceremonies to Artemis, including offerings at her sacred grove, to enjoy athletics, plays and concerts, and to partake of great banquets and revelry. (John Wesley)

Artemis was a part of the culture of Ephesus. The ministry of Paul and the budding Church were a great threat not only to the set belief patterns of the people, but also to the economy. In the eyes of some Ephesians, this new religion, was a threat. It is no different a threat than the threat to society now. There is no other "faith" that stirs up people opposed to its message.

The Christian message is about repentance and conversion. Repentance means to "turn away from" and conversion means to "take on a different set of beliefs." Demetrius, the silversmith who made his living from creating idols of Artemis, saw the way people were being changed and this made him angry. He was so caught up in making a living that he didn't hear the true message that Paul was preaching about Jesus.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT) For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Some people don't see the need to be rescued. Satan wants this rescue effort completely stopped and he uses anything to accomplish it. In the passage today he used two major things: the pocket book and confusion. It's no different from the tactics he uses today. We have walking and talking idols in our world. The entertainment industry is full of them. Confusion is rampant and truth or the idea of truth is distorted in so many ways. The riot in Ephesus is but a glimpse into the anger and frustration of the evil one.

Isaiah 44:9-20 (NLT) How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.
   The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint. Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine. He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”
   Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

Can we look at the idol you are holding in our hands and call it a lie? This is what Christ Jesus asks us to do. Are there things in your life that you don't won't to let go of? Are there ideals that you don't want to say are not ideals at all? The simple message of the Good News is this: Jesus Christ is God come down to earth in the flesh of man, who paid the death penalty of sin for mankind. He did this to make a way, the only way, to a relationship with God. What "stick of wood" can do that for you? NONE.

Jesus came to shake up the world not placate its practice of idol worship. He demands that the idols we have in our lives be destroyed. He refutes other religions and ideals as lies of the evil one. There is no room for acceptance of "other beliefs" there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus.

Matthew 10:38-39 (Message) "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Jesus asks us to let go of the things, the people, the ideals that keep us from being fully devoted to Him. Its time we all review what we value. Is Jesus first? Is He foremost in your life? Is there something or someone holding you back from enjoying a complete relationship with God? Its time. It IS time. Lay everything down and embrace the True Savior ~ Jesus.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty

"The Remedy for a Hard Heart"


Acts 19:1-22 (NLT) While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.
   “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
   “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.
    And they replied, “The baptism of John.”
    Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
   As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
   Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.
   God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
   A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
   The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
   Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.

We greet Paul in the city of Ephesus where he began his third missionary journey through Asia Minor. Apparently God was allowing him to preach the Gospel there now. Here he met believers that had only heard of the baptism and repentance of sins from John the Baptist. Paul was able to tell them the whole story about the redemption found in the Christ and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The people received this Good News whole-heartedly and were filled with God's Spirit.

Others didn't receive the Good News so well and the Bible calls them, "Stubborn". Why wouldn't a person want to receive such an awesome gift? I have met people who really are angry when Christianity is even broached. The bible says that their hearts are hard. What does it mean to have a "hard heart?"

Proverbs 28:13-14 (Message) You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them. A tenderhearted person lives a blessed life; a hardhearted person lives a hard life. 

Do you have trouble admitting when you are wrong? I do. I think we all do on some level. I think that everyone likes the idea of a peace-loving, gentle Jesus, but when they are confronted by the admission of sin or wrong in their lives that's another matter all together. We have a list of things we will accept about Jesus up on the walls of our hearts and when someone ventures to discuss Him outside those realms we get upset. "Yes, He was a good man...Yes, He was a Jew... Yes, He was a Rabbi...Yes, He performed miracles,...maybe...Yes, He taught good things about loving one another..." "No, He can't be the only way to God... No, I won't admit I'm wrong...No, I don't have to listen... NO!"

C.S. Lewis said this about Jesus in his book "Mere Christianity"~ “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

How can a person say, “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God?” Jesus is either who He says He is or He's not. Who do you say that He is? Are you willing to accept all Jesus claimed to be or do you want to believe in something that you've made up in your mind about Him?

The people in Ephesus had to make the choice. Those who chose to believe the whole truth about Jesus being God come down to man and becoming a sacrifice for sin, are the ones who are really stepped into eternity. Those who chose to believe what they always believed wanted nothing to do with the message that Paul preached. They didn't just refuse the message, they maligned it.

Matthew 11:13 (NLT) To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.

Listen. You owe it to yourself to listen to Jesus and what He has to offer. You've heard the phrase, "Make an informed decision?" Investigate and become informed. Ask the God of the Universe how to know Him better. Is it through Jesus? Is it through Mohammed? Is it through Joseph Smith? Is it through Buddha? I believe that Jesus is God and He's proven Himself to be God come down to man who provides a way to God through the forgiveness of sins. I've studied these other "paths" to God and have decided that Jesus isn't a lunatic or a liar. I  believe He is Lord. Open your hearts to Him and see what is real.

Ephesians 4:17-18 (NLT) With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

Confusion is the devil's greatest tool. If he can get a person confused he's got the upper hand. Our God isn't the God of confusion. He's willing to open the eyes of those who seek Him in humble truth. Take the time to pray,"Lord make my mind clear so I can know you fully." 

Psalm 98:6-7 (NLT) Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

The remedy for the fatal ailment of a spiritually hard heart is to kneel down before the Lord our Maker and listen to His voice. It takes this act of humility to really find God and know for sure that Jesus is the Way to Him. What do you have to lose? Even more important, what do you have to gain. It's my belief you have eternity to gain, just like those people in Ephesus. Open your heart to the One who knows you best and loves you most. His love is a love beyond all reason.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Nine

"Cotton Candy Messages"

Acts 17:18-28 (NLT) Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
   They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.
   After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.
   Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism.  When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately.
   Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.

Have you ever been to hear a speaker who just truly inspired you and made you want to try harder at life or gave you a much needed boost? Some people have the gift of communication and encouragement. They can get you to see the world from a different point of view. Charisma is their middle name and you wish you could just tap into a little of what they have. Well, today we meet a man who fit this bill to the "T". His name was Apollos and he believed that Jesus was Messiah but had only heard part of the story.

Here's a little FYI about Apollos. He was a Greek Jew from Alexandria. He knew the scriptures and was very eloquent in his speech. When we meet him in Acts 18 we learn that he only knew about Jesus and baptism from John the Baptist. I guess the Gospel message had not reached there yet.

Paul and his team stayed on in Corinth and it was there that Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos speak. They were impressed by him but knew that he needed to know the whole truth about Jesus. They brought him home and explained the truth about Jesus more adequately. Apollos fully accepted it and to keep preaching the Good News. He was encouraged to do so and was a vigorous debater who proved that Jesus was Messiah through the Scriptures.

As believers we need to know the full truth about Jesus. I know this sounds bad, but the Good News about Jesus making a way, the only way to God, is often overshadowed by sermons on how to get through life or fulfilling our purposes here on earth. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with those things. However, when they become the focus over the saving grace of Jesus Christ, then the goal is an incomplete one.

Romans 10:16-17 (NLT)  But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
   But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

The Good News is a beautiful thing!! The difference between an encouraging message and a supernatural message is one where the saving power of Jesus Christ is preached first and foremost. We are called to be different from the world. What would be the difference between an awesome talk at church compared to an awesome talk at a secular conference if the Gospel is secondary or even left out?

A friend of mine, who is an orthopedic surgeon, recently went to a medical conference. There was a speaker who had climbed Mount Everest several times, reaching the summit once. He was inspiring to this room full of professionals and many wanted to attempt the grueling months long hike up the world's tallest peak. The man was not a believer. He was a good man who was an inspiration to many but his message wasn't a life saving one. The point I am trying to make is this, without Jesus, no matter how inspiring the message, its still just a message with a finite point to make. With Jesus, there's a supernatural, infinite, life-saving message.

Apollos was an awesome preacher but when He came to know the full truth about who Jesus was and what He has accomplished on behalf of reconnecting people to God, his message was just an inspiring message like any other. Equipped with the complete truth, he went on to bring many to Jesus and a relationship with God through Him.

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 (NLT) But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

Our message to the world and the messages we listen to at church and conferences, books and CDs, should always put the Good News about Jesus first. It shouldn't be tagged on at the end to make it "fit" for church. God gave us the ultimate gift through His Son Jesus Christ and this should be our clarion call. All else is just noise that may inspire for a moment and then fade as life goes by.

Galatians 1:10-12 (NLT) Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
   Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

If presenting a "pleasing" message is the goal of preachers, teachers and individual Christians, then the church has totally missed the mark. Human reasoning gets in the way with excuses like, "we want to be relevant," "church should be interesting and draw people in." Jesus has to be the first and best reason to preach at all. The rest is just fluff.

Its time we take a firm stand on what we teach, preach and listen to. Is Christ first? Is the saving grace of Jesus preached without apology? Do we want fluff or fulness?

2 Corinthians11:1-4 (NLT) I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride[a] to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.


Don't settle for a good ear-tickling sermon. Be on guard against cotton-candy messages that melt in your mouth and leave you with a short-lived buzz. Instead, insist on sermons where Christ is preached first and foremost. The rest, though inspiring, is like eating that cotton candy and expecting to live a healthy life. God is jealous for you. He bought us with the price of His Son and expects us to recognize this and give Him all our attention and all our praise. Stop the sugar rush!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Eight

"Dependent Tentmaker"


Acts 18:1-17 (NLT) Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
   Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
    Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.
   One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
   But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”
   But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom.
   The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.

We learn that Paul was a "tentmaker" to make a living. In the city of Corinth, he became an employee for a wealthy couple Aquila and Priscilla. I want to paint a word picture of what Paul did for a living. He made portable tents of leather or of cloth of goat's hair. When he wasn't preaching, this is what Paul did to support himself. 

The City of Corinth was another metropolitan area located 50 miles southwest of Athens. The name "Corinth" (corai entha)  means, "here are girls, or whores" where pagan worship involved thousands of young temple prostitutes.  Paul lived and worked there for a year and a half preaching the Gospel Message. What a hard place to preach. Not only was he up against the pagan society, he had to battle the Jews who wanted nothing to do with Jesus. We see the opposition raise up against him once more. However, we read that God was protecting him here and so he stayed as long as the Lord allowed him to. It was also during this time that Paul decided to preach solely to the Gentiles. (See verses 5-6.) 

What does this history lesson have to do with you and I? Why do we need to know these things? I think it's because we too, though on a completely different level, face opposition every day. We also have to make a living to support ourselves and those dependent on us. It is a noble thing to work for a living. It is also a part of life that we will face hard times. It's how and with whom we face our lives that really makes a difference.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NLT) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

What we do is important. But, it's how we view ourselves in the mix that matters. Do we depend on ourselves or do we depend upon God? Without His help we can do nothing. We can't depend upon our wealth or the lack of wealth. We have to depend upon God.

Psalm 62:6-8 (Message) God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life. My help and glory are in God—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.

You may be in a place right not that is painful and scary. Maybe you are jobless or sick. Maybe you have all kinds of money and are lonely and depressed. With or without, poor or rich, among lots of people or alone, we are nothing without God. He takes whatever situation we are in and takes care of us. You see this world is temporary and His Kingdom is not. Whether we live or die, we are with Jesus.

James 4:14 (NLT) How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 

Why depend on what we don't know will happen? Why don't we depend on what we do know? We know, if we are followers of Christ, that He is dependable and His will is definite. Keep your eyes toward Jesus and keep living life. This world is just a small portion of our existence. Eternity with Him is our future. Keep on making your "tents" and live your life totally dependent on the One who knows you best and loves you most.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Seven

"Unknown God"

Acts 17:16-33 (Message) The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.
   He discussed it with the Jews and other like-minded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: "What an airhead!" But others, listening to him go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: "That's a new slant on the gods. Tell us more."
   These people got together and asked him to make a public presentation over at the Areopagus, where things were a little quieter. They said, "This is a new one on us. We've never heard anything quite like it. Where did you come up with this anyway? Explain it so we can understand." Downtown Athens was a great place for gossip. There were always people hanging around, natives and tourists alike, waiting for the latest tidbit on most anything.
   So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. "It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I'm here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you're dealing with.
   "The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn't live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn't take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don't make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He's not remote; he's near. We live and move in him, can't get away from him! One of your poets said it well: 'We're the God-created.' Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn't make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?
   "God overlooks it as long as you don't know any better—but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he's calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead."

Areopagus today

   At the phrase "raising him from the dead," the listeners split: Some laughed at him and walked off making jokes; others said, "Let's do this again. We want to hear more." But that was it for the day, and Paul left. There were still others, it turned out, who were convinced then and there, and stuck with Paul—among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris. 

Model of Areopagus
and what it looked like when Paul was there.

What a sight Athens would have been when Paul preached there. I've alway wanted to go to Greece because of its beauty and history. Think how amazing the city was in those days. The people there were considered the most forward thinking people of the day. America is supposed to be one of the most forward thinking people of today, but I wonder if the "all accepting" attitude doesn't place a blockade in the way of truly finding the truth about God.

Paul took an opportunity to use the idols of the day to help open the eyes of those around him. He focused in on the altar of the "unknown god" and used this as a jumping off spot to point them toward the One True God ~ Jesus. He was making the "unknown god" the "Known God" through believing in His One and Only Son ~ Jesus who is God come down to man in human form.

First, Paul taught them that God made the world and everything in it. The Greeks in Athens were always looking for something new. They grew bored with things easily and because Paul had something new to say they listened.

"all the Athenians . . . spent their time in nothing else but to tell or hear some new thing--literally, "newer thing," as if what was new becoming presently stale, they craved something still more new. This lively description of the Athenian character is abundantly attested by their own writers. (Jamison, Fausset Brown Commentary)

Doesn't that sound like the world today? I don't think the world changes much, if at all, when it comes to spiritual things. Technology changes, but the ways of the heart don't. God made it that way. Our spirits were created by Him and long to know the One True God. I dare say even those who don't believe in the existence of God wonder at times whether they are right or not. It's their spirit that sends out this feeling, if you will, creating that moment in time where one wonders.

Isaiah 42:5-9 (NLT) God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons. “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”

Today people rely on science to convince them of things. Evolution is the name of the game. But, what I don't understand is why it is so hard to think that there could be a Creator, someone who is far more intelligent than His creation, that lovingly and painstaking created this world, this universe, all humanity and every living thing. I choose to believe that I have an eyewitness to creation, God Himself. Why is it so hard to believe this over an amoeba or a big bang creating what we are now?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xaj0PbPxyc&feature=related This is the first of 5 parts of Louie Giglio's Indescribable Talk. In it he uses some magnificent pictures and facts of science, to describe God. You owe it to yourself to watch these videos. Its good to make an informed decision.

Paul described God to the Athenians. Some listened and accepted Jesus. Others, walked away with a laugh and a shake of the head. You know what? That's ok. God has given us the ability to choose what we want to believe. This blog isn't to insult your intelligence, rather, to get you to at least explore the possibility of a Creator God that loves His creation. May your journey lead you to Jesus. You owe it to yourself as an open-minded person to at least explore God and His Son Jesus. I have studied all the other major religions and have decided for myself what I believe to be true. There is no other religion that offers a God who walks us into eternal life with a Hope and a future. All other religions stop before that and offer no eternal life as our true selves as God created us to be. May your journey to find truth be productive. Peace!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Six

"Discovering the Truth"


Acts 17:1-9 (NLT) Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
   But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
   The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

The traveling duo of Paul and Silas continues throughout Amphipolis and Apollonia and ends up in Thessalonica. Here's a little FYI to help you locate and imagine these places:

Amphipolis: Just north of the Aegean Sea sat Amphipolis, a city of northeastern Macedonia.  It was approximately 30 miles (45 km) southwest of Philippi and 5 miles (8 km) inland of the port city Eion.  The city was best known for its oil, timber, wine, figs, gold, silver, and woolen textiles.

Apollonia:  A town in Mygdonia, a district in Macedonia. It was situated a little to the south of Lake Bolbe, on the Via Egnatia, the great Roman road leading from the coast of the Adriatic to the river Hebrus (Maritza), one of the main military and commercial highways of the empire: it lay between Amphipolis and Thessalonica, a day's journey (Livy xlv.28) or about 30 Roman miles from the former and 38 from the latter.

Thessalonica: Thessalonica was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia and was named after the wife of Cassander, who built the city. Those in Thessalonica adored many gods, particularly Jupiter, as the father of Hercules, the alleged founder of its ancient royal family. The city also boasted a celebrated amphitheater, where gladiatorial shows were exhibited for the amusement of the citizens, and a circus for public games. One of the chief towns of Macedonia from Hellenistic times down to the present day. It was the seat of the governor and thus practically the capital of the whole province.

Now that we see the cities that Paul and Silas visited we can understand the background for the controversies they faced. Not unlike major metropolitan cities of today, there were many different influences on society. Paul brought in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and it stirred up the melting pot. What caused such an uproar? You would think that one more religion wouldn't matter. Just like today, Christianity is not viewed upon with the same "equal opportunity, non-judgmental, open-minded attitude" that society offers other religions.

Why does Christianity threaten the world? No other religion does this. Could it be that Satan is only fighting the True God ~ Jesus Christ and the other "religions" pose no threat? Just a thought.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 (NLT) You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
  For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 

Whenever a person's heart is examined by God a very unique thing happens. Our hearts respond. Now in response to God we may either accept His love or reject it. In Thessalonica many came to know Jesus and many rejected Him. But, it didn't end with rejection, it pushed into persecution. You see, a threat to the evil one comes only from the One who has proven "all-powerful."

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT) What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
   Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
   And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Like Paul and Silas, those of us who proclaim Christ and the One True God, we too will face opposition. The closer we get to His return the harder it will become. I hope you don't find this to be discouraging because God sees what is happening and rewards the faithful for serving Him. Don't become discouraged for doing good. Keep on doing it. Like it says in Romans, "nothing can ever separate us from God’s love."

Acts 17:10-15 (NLT) hat very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.   But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

From Thessalonica Paul and his team headed for Berea. They left because of the persecution but did not leave their ministry. In fact, the church grew in Thessalonica and Paul kept in touch with them. Now he was Berea bound.

In Berea Paul found a more accepting place. Many people came to hear Paul explain why Jesus was Messiah. The Bible says that the Bereans "were of more noble character." I believe this to mean that had a true open-mind and were willing to investigate his claims. These kind of people often review the claims of Christ and come away believing in Jesus as Messiah. "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel is an excellent source to explore the claims of Christianity. video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3473983875617762630#

Here in Berea, the minds of the people were open to at least investigating the claims of Christ. If you don't know if Jesus is real, then maybe you should investigate Him fully yourself and make an informed decision. Again, though Paul was successful in preaching the Gospel message in Berea, he came upon harsh opposition and had to leave. The brothers sent him on to Athens for his safety and the furtherance of the Gospel.

In tomorrow's lesson we will meet Paul in Athens and review what happened there. Until then focus on what you believe about Jesus. If you believe, continue to learn more and more about Him and tell others as well. If you don't know whether Jesus is who He claimed to be or even if He existed, you need to at least investigate these claims. It will be worth it!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Five

"Ain't No Room for Fat Cats in Heaven"


Acts 16:16-21 (NLT) One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”
   This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.
   Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

Confusion, blackness, a running commentary of never-ending words were this young slave girl's life. That is until she ran into the presence of the Holy Spirit. Paul, Silas, and the others, on their way to pray, met a demon-possessed slave girl who wouldn't leave them alone. Apparently she was so persistent that Paul became so exasperated with her that he turned and commanded the demon living inside her to come out in the Name of Jesus. Freedom!! She was no longer slave to the demon possessing her and now she was no use to her owners.

This girl was now useless to the people who owned her because she could no longer read fortunes. All she was was money to them, not a person. To the King of Kings she was precious. Her abilities to tell the future were not what made her valuable, rather it was the spirit God placed within her when he created her. The world doesn't value this part of a person. It often only recognizes a person for what they can give. The Good News is a threat to the world's view of what is important. It rears it's ugly head when it is threatened by the values that God holds important.

Psalm 73:7-10 (NLT) These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

These "fat cats" were now finding that their bank account was threatened and had the apostles arrested. That's where we pick up the story:

Acts 16:22-24 (NLT) The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 

When you oppose the world and what it holds dear, you may find yourself persecuted. We don't get beaten here in the US or in any of the free world nations, but we are persecuted. We must examine how we will respond to this opposition. Paul and Silas found themselves "severely flogged and thrown into prison." What would you do if you found yourself in the same spot? Well, here's what they did. Keep reading.

Acts 16:25-16 (NLT) Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

What do you do when you find yourself shackled? You sing hymns! Sounds logical? To the believer it makes all kinds of sense. I have found myself shackled recently to thoughts of failure and disappointment. It seems like its always worse in the middle of the night when thoughts run through my mind. If I pray and begin singing hymns or new praise songs, I find myself becoming engulfed in His presence. God shakes my world with His presence and grace and my chains fall off.

What are you struggling with? What binds you up? It's ok to admit that you don't have your act together. None of us do without the Lord. He puts things in perspective. Yes, the "fat cats" of this world may seem to have it all right now, but the unseen supernatural world holds another Victor high and His Name is Jesus. Just like the slave girl, we too can be free from the world's view of what we are worth, and take up our rightful place among God's people.

Lord, free our hearts and minds. Let us see our worth only in You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.


Acts 16:27-34 (NLT) The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
   The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
   They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

We meet another person who sees no way out ~ the jailer. In fact, he's drawn his dagger and is ready to plunge it into his heart or neck to end it right there. He knows that if those under his charge have escaped, then his fate would be death. Paul knew this and came to his rescue. He offered the jailer another way out of this life. He told him about Jesus. HOPE! The jailer found hope and asked, "What must I do to be saved?" I'm not sure that he meant his eternal salvation at this point but rather, how can I not kill myself because they will kill me if I don't." (My paraphrase.)

Are you trapped and see no way out? This present life offers us nothing but Jesus does. He opens our eyes to the eternal unseen world that holds true meaning. He awakens our lifeless spirits and beckons us to join Him in eternal life. This is what Paul offered the jailer and the jailer quickly responded. It made such a difference in his life, he bathed the disciples wounds (remember they had been beaten severely) and took them home and fed them. His whole family believed in Jesus and their lives were forever changed for eternity. A joy-filled life replaced the fear-filled life.

Acts 16:35-40. (NLT) The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.”
   But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!”
   When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

The next day, the city officials freed Paul and Silas. Little did they know that God had already freed them. Not only were they free but so was the Jailer and his family. Paul wasn't about to let this imprisonment die. I'm not sure why, but I see God's hand in this. God doesn't let the "fat cats" off in the end. He will take care of the injustice they cause.

Psalm 68:1-3 (NLT) Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives. Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

There ain't no room for "fat cats" in heaven. God has made sure of that. Unless they bow to Him before their time on earth is done, He will take care of their wickedness. Eternal dying is their due. Those who love Jesus will inherit His Kingdom and eternal life is their reward. So don't get discouraged when life is hard and seems to knock you back down. Keep your eyes on what matters and that is that you have an inheritance that is eternal full of pure joy and peace.

When you find yourself in the depths of despair and see no way out sing out a hymn or just cry out to Jesus. He will respond and lift you out of your prison. He loves you so much.

"Without Him I can do nothing."

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Four

"Purple Hospitality"


Acts 16:11-15 (NLT) We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.
   On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

The Gangites River near Philippi

Paul and his group of fellow missionaries continue on to an island Samothrace, a mountainous island navigational marker with its 5,577-foot Mount Fengari. About halfway on their voyage they anchor for the night on the north side of the island. They complete their 156-mile journey the next day, landing at Neapolis. It is assumed that Luke is traveling with them, because in verse 11 he says, "From Troas, we put our to sea..." It is interesting that we get a firsthand account of this particular time in Paul's journeys.

When they get to Philippi, after a long trek, they decide to find the local synagogue as was their custom. When they didn't find a synagogue they went down to the Gangites River to set up worship. There they found a group of women worshiping God. In those days, you had to have at least ten men to set up a synagogue. So to find a group of God-fearing women worshiping down by the river alone meant that there wasn't a strong God-influence in Philippi.

Murex Mollusks

As Paul preached a woman named Lydia, was listening intently. The Bible tells us that she was a dealer of purple cloth. An ounce of good purple dye would cost many times more than a pound of gold. The Phoenicians had long ago given up their secret of how to make "Tryian Purple", but that didn't lower the cost: it still took more than ten thousand Murex mollusks to make one raw wool toga into a purple "toga picta". Someone had to know where the right varieties of Murex were found and had to dredge the spiny shellfish from the sea, and then they had beat and break them with iron bars -- also dangerous work in the days before safety goggles. Then, after the slimy mess sat in the sun for several hours to let the color mature, someone had to wade into the now stinking mess to sop up the ooze and then dry it out. (Wikipedia)

The color purple is a color worn by the elite or the royal. It is a symbol of wealth and power. So, we can assume that Lydia was a wealthy woman and had many people working for and living within her household. This lady of influence was influenced by Paul's words about Jesus. She was herself a "worshiper of God" and she recognized the Truth and responded with her heart. Not only was she baptized, her whole household believed and was baptized.

How do you influence those around you? Are you aware of your actions and how they may determine someone else's life? Who influences you? Are you listening to those who are godly people in your life or are you listening to what the world says?

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIVRV) Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.

Jesus is to be our example. He is the Only One who is perfect and who loves perfectly. Our lives should be a reflection of that. Paul was this for Lydia and Lydia in turn influenced those in her household. I'm sure her influence for Christ didn't stop there. Being a successful business woman and her influence in the world of trade, I'm sure she brought many more to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

I want to mention the hospitality Lydia showed to Paul and his men. She wouldn't take no for an answer when she asked them to come to her home. We all should show hospitality in our homes. But even more so, we should reflect the grace of God to others. 

The following verses help us see why we should show grace, mercy and hospitality as believers in Jesus.

Romans 12:14 (NLT) When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

1 Peter 4:9 (NLT) Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Hebrews 13:1-3 (NLT) Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Lydia showed the grace and hospitality that we should all show. She was so grateful for Paul's preaching the Good News and wanted to show these men how much it meant to her. Her home offered a place a rest and nourishment phyiscally for these men, just as Lydia and her household were refreshed and nourished spiritually.

Our lives' purpose on this earth is to bring praise and honor to God through how we act toward others and how we live our daily lives. Our words and actions influence our world and we should be influencing people for the cause of Christ. Lydia is a great example to follow. In turn we should learn to accept hospitality graciously like Paul. You never know what blessing you receive by accepting or giving hospitality. And, you'll never know how many people you will influence for Jesus. 

 

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifty-Three

"Lead Me Now ~ Show Me How"


Acts 16:6-10 (NLT) Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.
   That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

As we read the passage for today we learn that the Holy Spirit prevented Paul and Silas from preaching in Asia. We don't really know why but He did but God wanted them somewhere else. In fact, God spoke to Paul in a vision with a man asking for help in Macedonia.

Here are some maps to show the area of Macedonia and the length he had to travel. Paul wasn't afraid of the miles, he just wanted to be in tune with the Holy Spirit of God.

I just read Mark Driscoll's sermon on "How to Pray for the Holy Spirit" to help you. 

Here's the link:

blog.marshillchurch.org/2010/10/10/how-we-can-pray-to-the-holy-spirit/

Do you ever wonder why you don't hear from God like the Apostle Paul? Do feel like your prayers seem to hit the ceiling and fall useless to the floor? 

I've felt that way and want nothing more than to hear like Paul did. But, am I willing to do what the Holy Spirit says? I'm afraid that He will lead me on a long journey and I'm not ready. Maybe I'm ignoring what He tells me. Or, maybe I don't recognize what He is saying because I am not listening or prepared to listen to His urging.

Romans 8:26-27 (NLT) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

"The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness." We are weak without the help of the Holy Spirit. God knew this and He gave those who love Jesus His Holy Spirit to dwell within us and help us in our weakness. We need to tap into this ultimate powerful gift. If and when we don't know what to pray we need to pray that and ask God's Holy Spirit to pray for us.

Romans 14:17-18 (NLT)  For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

We too often focus on the here and now and how it affects us. Life consists of many distracting things. I often focus on how I look and sound to those around me. Do they think I look good? Do they think that I'm smart? Do they really know who I am? (Anyone else feel this way?) Instead, I should focus on living a life that is fully directed by the Holy Spirit. He takes care of the rest and I please God.

Romans 15:13-14 (NLT) I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

   I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them.

Life lived by the power of the Holy Spirit is the source of true hope, complete joy and peace, it's all due to our trust in Him. Along with our trust comes confidence and with this confidence fear's fire is extinguished. When we live in confidence, because of God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we can teach others about Him. Without the Holy Spirit our message falls flat.

2 Corinthians 3:7-9 (NLT) The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

I believe we need to let go of our old ways of thinking and fully rely on the new way of thinking, that is, a life lived according to the direction of the Holy Spirit. When we do this we will see our prayers getting past the ceiling because we know by faith that He will hear and will act. God doesn't ignore His children. He loves us so much that He prays for us through the power of His Holy Spirit. He knows what we need.

We must be open to God's direction through the power of the Holy Spirit. He does speak. He indeed leads us when we allow Him. The first step is to let go of our limited way of thinking.  Asking the Holy Spirit to take over is the ultimate step. Pray with me:

Dear Holy Spirit,

I want Your plans for my life. I lay down my old way of doing things and chose to follow You. Fill me now. Show me how. Lift me high and open my mind. I love you!

In Jesus' Name ~ Amen!