Month: March 2024

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Everyone must choose

ACTS 26 Testifying

Paul has had opportunities that few have had; to stand before judges,rulers and kings more than once. Now, he stands before the king and his testimony is full of his life before Christ andsince meeting Jesus on the Damascus road. With each ruler, Paul has expertly spoken to them using their own life and how they perceive the risen Christ. More than once, Paul has heard: you almost convince me to become a Christian. As we stand before others do we hear the same words after we have testified to the risen Christ? Each time, the Holy Spirit has given Paul the words to convict each person of their sin and. prove their wrong understanding of sin and righteousness and judgment— all because they do not believe in the risen Christ. [John 16:8-9]

Why do we fear speaking about the Christ when it is the Holy Spirit that does the convincing? All three men, Felix, Festus and now Agrippa will have to stand before God one day and they will hear these words; depart from Me, I never knew you, and this is the tragedy of many today. May you not hear those same words but repent now and be saved.

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Do not presume ahead of time!

ACTS 25 Paul has certainly had many opportunities to speak for Christ before these Roman puppet leaders and he has remained “cool.” as we say. He has not changed his story but the Jewish leaders heap charge upon charge. They have no evidence and no witnesses, yet they are persistent. That is the way of our enemy, the god of this world. He will not quit, but provides his unbelieving followers with lies and ignorance to further his cause, yet God will prove Himself faithful.  Be forewarned beloved believer that even though you may be charged falsely, He who is faithful will be by your side. Not only will He be by your side, He will give you the right words to say in your defense…at just the right time just as Jesus told the disciples prior to his death. Your job, beloved believer, is to model Jesus. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” [1 Peter 2:23]

Here’s our mandate: Luke 21:14  “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” 

Praise be to the Father who has given us this example in the life of Paul. May we remain steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Knowing your work is not in vain. [1 Cor 15:58] 

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Acts 24 Are we prepared?

ACTS 24 Are We Prepared? 

Paul has been taken by night from Jerusalem to  Caesarea to stand before Felix.   Paul was assured that he would go to Rome because the Holy Spirit had reminded him that this would come to pass. In the meantime, the religious leaders, after hearing Paul’s testimony, seek further retribution from Felix. 

Paul has now been presenting the case for Christ for some time and he was well prepared to once again present the truth.  As he stood listening to the lies of the Jewish leaders, we wonder what was going through his mind?  Did he remember the words of Jesus to the disciples that when they would stand before governors etc. the Holy Spirit would give them the words to say and this was true in Paul’s case as well. 

As we listen to Paul’s defense we see how true that is for him and will be true for us. What is the reaction of others when we present our case regarding salvation? Felix is a picture of those who hear the truth, but choose to reject Christ, yet are alarmed.  Apostle John wrote: “he [that is the Holy. Spirit] will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me.” [John 16:8-9] Felix was convicted yet denied Christ. Yet, in all this we see the Apostle Paul remain confident to present the case for Christ.

How about us? 

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Praising God!

Psalm 13-15 Singing

The psalmist is singing because the Lord has vindicated him. I loved the MSG reading, “I am singing at the top of my lungs, I am so full of answered prayers.” Are we singing today as we enter our houses of worship? When we sing, do we ponder all He has done for He is a faithful conqueror? Let the god of this world take note: we sing because the true God has been faithful to answer all our prayers. Get thee behind me, Satan for your time is short and today we choose to honor the Christ who paid for my/our sin (s). 

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Trust God, that which He said, He will do!

Acts 23 Be Strong and Courageous

How many times have you set out to do what you thought was God’s will and all trouble of all kinds come your way and you wonder what is going on? You wonder where will this lead? So, it is comforting to know that what God has planned, that will He do!

Just as Paul is wondering how this riot will turn out for his future, the Holy Spirit comes in the middle of the night to tell him: “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” [ Acts 23:11]

How interesting that Paul’s nephew was in the right place at the right time to overhear the plans of the enemy and how they were seeking how to kill Paul. What is even more encouraging is to see how the Commanding officer was willing to listen and then to take steps to protect Paul! Again the words of the psalmist: Be strong and confident,  all you who wait on the Lord. [Ps 31:24]

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Blindness

Acts 22 As Paul stood before the Jewish rioters, he expertly took them through his testimony. Later, he would write these famous words: “the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4] He is saying, that was me. 

There are two kinds of blindness; one is physical and one is spiritual. We read about the blind man in John 9 who was blind from birth. Graciously Jesus healed that blindness so he could see. Paul is not speaking of that, but he is speaking about spiritual blindness to the rioting Jews. Paul tells them that this is what he experienced,  and they are just as spiritually blind as he was. To be spiritually blind is one’s inability to see spiritually the truth of the gospel.  

If we return to John 9 we see what spiritually blind is. After seeing the miracle of the formerly blind man,the religious leaders asked Jesus if they were blind too. Here is His response: If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains. [John 9:41]

Ironically, the Jewish rioters are just like the religious leaders, for former Paul,  and those we meet today. They cannot see, cannot understand, but worse they are unwilling to open their hearts, minds and eyes to the truth of the gospel.  

Where are you today? 

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