Paul Archives – Page 4 of 5 – Sonshine's Journal

March 2, 2014

Acts 23 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”

How do you face each new day and especially when it seems that the skies have fallen in and all of the world is against you? The Hymn “When Morning Gilds the Skies” originally written in German and translated into English by a Roman Priest offers to us a view that we should consider. The first stanza reminds us that no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, Jesus is our source of hope and our reason to give praise.

“When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!”

The Apostle Paul, after having experiencing a second round of discouragement due to his inability to present Christ and His resurrection fully to the very men who were the leaders in the religious community, sat in his cell wondering as we might “what next?” Three times I have presented Christ and three times there has been not acceptance but riots. And yet we read: “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Truly the words of this hymn might have flowed forth from Paul even though with a heavy heart he seems to know that God’s mercy has come to an end for these religious leaders. They now have had six times to hear the truth of the gospel message from Jesus, Stephen and now Paul and with each time their hearts have hardened. It would be just a mere two years and the priest who ordered Paul to be struck would be assassinated and his reign of corruption would come to an end thus fulfilling the words of Paul: “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!”

When we are at the point of discouragement and it seems that those to whom we witness are hardened may the words of this hymn flow forth as words of praise for the one who holds our future in his hands will direct our steps in the way he has planned.

Beloved today are you facing a loved one that seems to have a hardened heart? Are you standing at the crossroads of discouragement? Beloved, take heart, Jesus knows the end from the beginning. Take the words of this hymn and sing as you have never before sung! Re-read this chapter and find encouragement from Jesus’ words to Paul: “Have courage!”

March 1, 2014

Acts 21 “Support or Dissuade?”

We are often reminded of this wise counsel of “A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.” [Prov] But along with this God often, but not always, brings others alongside us to give us moral support, when we seek to do God’s will and His work. God also often through the still small voice reveals what may lay ahead for the choices we make. As we re-read Acts 9 Christ spoke to Ananias about Paul’s life ahead: “this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” If God should ordain that you suffer are you as willing to drink that cup as Paul? If truth be known we shy away from this and forget the principle of Luk 14:28 “counting the cost…?”

As we have been reading the journeys of Paul we can see that he in fact counted the cost and was willingly ready to face the words “you will suffer.” As he taught new believers and prepared to re-enter Jerusalem did the words of Jesus to his disciples in Matt 20 come to be his daily reminder of Jesus’ suffering? Is this why he could like Christ say: I am “compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.” In Acts 21 Paul hears from precious believers not to set foot in Jerusalem and again the prophet Agabus came to see Paul and role played this scene: “he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”

Had you been in the hearing of all of these words what might have been your reaction and what would you have counseled Paul? The people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. To that Paul responds: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Hundreds of years later William Carey heard much the same: “When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or ours” and yet he resolutely and steadfastly set his heart to go forward. The reason both men were able to face those who would seek to dissuade them was because of their life’s choice: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” [Phil 3]

Beloved, perhaps the Lord has touched your heart and called you to ministry or some avenue in which you need to count the cost. Parents, friends and sometimes even Pastors counsel you to “count the cost” and even seek to dissuade you from this course of action just as the early believers did for Paul and later, William Carey, missionary to India. “The world seems to offer two kinds of support: “Wait ’til you get out in that cold, cruel world. It’s rough!” And those who exude a contagious, confident “Bon voyage!” [Neal Pirolo] When you know that the Holy Spirit is directing your steps do you trust HIM or listen to those who are giving you counsel that is opposite to that?

February 27, 2014

Feb 27th Acts 20 “Footprints”

Today we mark the celebration of a precious friend who is now sitting at the feet of Jesus. Her life was marked by a sweetness that only comes from spending time in the Word and serving Jesus moment by moment and she left her footprints in our lives and others with her ministry to the shut ins along with her card ministry to those who celebrated their special days. She lived in one home for many years and served in her home church and community in that time frame as well. As we celebrate today we will hear the words of those who knew her for many years and they will recollect and will share their memories. Acts 20 is like a celebration of memories as Paul who was “always on the go” and lived out of a suitcase was once again leaving. He will leave his footprints where he ministered for several years but God was calling him to Jerusalem even though the Spirit has told him that with that persecution awaits. Our special friend and Paul alike left us “instructions” which included:

Remain steadfast.
Raise up faithful men and women to pass the torch on to others.
Recall memories of sweet fellowship: Paul ministered with humility, tears and trials and therefore we should seek to serve in likewise manner.
Remember your calling: do not consider your life worth just a moment in time but consider that you have a task to finish which is to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Renew the charge: now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Yes, they were especially saddened by what he had said that they were not going to see him again. Yet they were encouraged that although they would remain in Ephesus and Paul would be “on the go” once again, the ministry would go forward and the book of Revelation reveals to us how that actually took place as the Apostle John recalls their footprints. Twice John noted that they labored steadfastly, endured and did tolerate evil. They even put to the test those who referred to themselves as apostles (but were not), when they discovered that they were false. This was the footprint they left for us…even though later Jesus notes that they had left their first love.

Beloved, whether you live in one place from birth to death or are like Paul, living out of a suitcase always on the go from place to place, you are leaving your footprint in the sands of time. Be encouraged to remain steadfast, enduring to the end that one day you may hear from the Savior: You have been faithful to the end, enter into my joy and my kingdom!

February 24, 2014

Seed Propagation….Seed Planters (Acts 18)

The wonder of seed propagation! Have you ever wondered where those new little trees or plants came from in your yard? We know from the study of science that our Creator has so designed our world that wind, water, feet of humans and animals become the transporting agents of seeds. This is a perfect illustration to show us how the seed of the gospel is transported by the anointed and empowered seed planters (you and me) through various ways and means to many places. In Acts 18 we learn of Pontus, Corinth, Macedonia, Italy or Priscilla and Aquila, Crispus, Sosthenes, and Apollos. Where are these places? Who are these people? Dr. Luke introduces them to us so that we may “see” people and places in action and secondly see how God transported his gospel seed then and glean lessons on how God does it today.

Seed drop in Corinth. The Jew Aquila, a native of Pontus [present day NW Turkey] recently came to Corinth with his wife Priscilla from Italy. Why he was in Italy is an unknown but we do learn just from vs 1 that he was a Jew and the Emperor Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Italy. In Acts 11 we learn that there was a famine in the time of Claudius’ reign. We also learn that Aquila was a tentmaker and Paul joined his business for it was customary that all rabbis have a trade. Later in this chapter we find them busy worshiping in Ephesus and teaching a gifted young expositor named Apollos.

Second seed drop Ephesus. When Paul left Corinth due to the jealous Jews charges, Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him. Paul did not stay in Ephesus but Priscilla and Aquila did and it was there that they met the gifted young expositor Apollos, a Hellenistic Jew from Alexandria, Egypt. Using their gifts of hospitality we learn that “they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately” when they learned that he only knew of the baptism of John. After a time, the church in Ephesus graciously commended Apollos by letter to the church in Corinth where he became an effective teacher of the scriptures.

Why is all of this so important? God works in mysterious ways using people to transport His seed of the gospel message. It was through the faithfulness of such people as Paul, Priscilla and Aquila, Silas, Timothy, and Apollos the message of salvation had come to be known through all of what is modern day Greece and Turkey. Where has God used you to transport His gospel seed? Who did God place in your path that brought the good news of the gospel to you? Do you see each stop on your life’s journey as a “seed drop” for you to share the good news? Today, may we stop and praise God for faithful seed messengers.

February 15, 2014

Are you a Barnabas?

Barnabas, the man who impacted my life. God graciously places people into our lives for many reasons but the most memorable are those who come to us and leave with words of encouragement lasting upon our hearts. Barnabas was such a person. Born in Cyprus and living in Jerusalem, he so touched each life he crossed that he was given the nickname “son of encouragement.” Oh would that be our nickname instead of complainer, thankless or some other.

The dictionary defines encouragement as that which inspires courage or confidence. The early church faced many obstacles such as the distractions of the widow’s needs, the raging anger of Saul of Tarsus, the stoning of Stephen, and more. In spite of all this Barnabas was steady, always ready with a word to give courage to faltering hearts. He so loved the new foundling church that he sold his land and gave the proceeds for the church’s needs. And now in chapter 11 we find that the apostles sent him on a journey to check out the Cypriot believers in Antioch. He was fully prepared with language skills, familial ties, he knew the mannerisms and the ways of these brethren of his so he was the perfect choice. But, there is better reason: Barnabas “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” Stop and think about that for a moment. To be full of the Holy Spirit means that he was demonstrating the Fruit of the Holy Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” [Gal 5] In addition his faith was his foundation and he lived and walked by this: “The righteous by faith will live.” [Rom 1] “You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.”[James 2].

It was because of Barnabas living out his faith through the Holy Spirit that many came to know the Lord. Who is the Barnabas in your life? Take time today to let them know, for the Barnabas’ of this world are usually the unassuming quiet behind the scenes people. And how about yourself, could you be a Barnabas to someone today?

October 17, 2013

Is Your WYSIWYG Showing or Hidden?

WYSIWYG is an acronym for “What You See Is What You Get.” In computer lingo it is an editor in which content (text and graphics) are displayed onscreen during the editing process. When WYSIWYG is hidden from the reader it looks just like you are reading now but when turned on it shows the editing marks so you can realign and readjust what you want the reader to see. What if the world saw our WYSIWYG? What might they see? That is the essence of what Paul asked the Corinthians in this last chapter [2Cor 13] as he draws this letter to a close. Paul said, I have left my WYSIWYG marks open for you to see. I have revealed my humility, meekness and gentleness in Christ, my visions and revelations. When I was with you I was open and transparent and never became a burden to you. In the time I was with you did I not reveal the signs of a true apostle? I was “not like the religious hucksters ..I did not go about “missionarying,” as Mark Twain described this type of religious swindling [referring to the false teachers among the Corinthians]” [Bob Deffinbaugh]

Paul said: You are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. I came as Christ, weak now but I can be powerful and I will demonstrate that resurrection power of Christ when I come if need be! Then in a flash, he turns the tables on the Corinthians. Now let me see your WYSIWYG or better yet why don’t you do it for yourself? Paul says: Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test! If you doubt my apostleship you must doubt your own Christianity for you are the fruit of my apostleship!

So how does one test to see if you are in the faith? Paul does not give us a “do’s and don’ts’ list of things we can mark off, but instead Paul infers that we must check our lifestyle that is apparent to all. We could begin in Matthew 5 with the “Be-Attitudes.” Kingdom people strive to demonstrate kingdom character qualities: poor in spirit, mourning over personal sin, meekness under pressure, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. These character qualities are observable in kingdom people’s conduct: merciful to others, pure in heart which is noted in being single minded; and peacemakers. As others observe our character and our conduct they can see that we are called to be kingdom people. In the book of Galatians Paul enumerates that which can only come about from an anointing of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Our question then from the book of 2 Corinthians which we finish today: Is your WYSIWYG showing or hidden? Are you hiding your salt in the saltshaker and your light under a bushel?

October 16, 2013

Being a SaltShaker for Christ

Everyday you pick up the salt shaker and probably do not realize that there are at least 14,000 uses for the common table salt. Truly God’s gift is a wonder. Salt is not just an enhancer but also a preservative. It is an excellent cleaning agent—a brine of salt and vinegar poured down the kitchen sink prevents grease from collecting! Jesus said we are to be salt and light, not pepper and dark! Yesterday we talked about the message of the gospel and how it offends the person to whom we bring it. But, if they only could taste the salt in our shaker then what a transformation would take place! The message may be offensive but as Paul and Jesus said we are to be meek and gentle, salt and light in a dark world.

Today in our reading, [2Cor 11] Paul speaks to his beloved Corinthians in boldness for as their spiritual father he had promised them to Christ. He used the analogy of a father’s jealousy for the protection of a virgin daughter. In particular, Paul spoke to them about his love and concern for their lack of discernment regarding those who came to them with various “truths” thus deceiving them and leading them astray. Jesus asked this pointed question: “But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again?” This is what Paul was asking his beloved Corinthians. By not being discerning they were losing their salt’s effectiveness, they were being“tossed to and fro , and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness…” [Eph 4]

As the Corinthians we need to ask why we too so easily accept the pepper of this world; those who come wrapped in skilled speech and are proud. Unlike the , the Corinthians and us in turn, are often unable to discern the truth of message because we are searching the scriptures to verify what is said is truth and not error. [Heb 5:14]

Jesus did not say to be pepper but to be salt. Just as pepper is dark so our enemy is dark. Just as pepper is spicy so is the enemy with his methods of deception. He has one aim in mind; he seeks to devour. The false teachers came with the motive of removing the salt from the Corinthian church and its effective testimony. The enemy today comes for the same reason. Their peppershaker might be camouflaged as a salt shaker but when turned upside down we find not flakes of salt but peppercorns! As Jesus said, they are dressed in sheep’s clothing but inside are but ravening wolves. Once we know the truth we can discern the peppershaker from the saltshaker. As babes we are to be encased and protected in the saltshaker but once mature we are to allow God to shake us out. We will then find that we are walking and sharing the table with the pepper. Our job as salt is to share the truth that frees from death, preserves the saints, heals, seasons and shares the cleansing message of the gospel to the peppers of this world.

October 14, 2013

The Battle is in the Mind! 2Cor 10

David Mathis, Ex Editor for Desiring God wrote in his blog yesterday: “In communicating the gospel, one of the essential things we must at least imply, if not make explicit, is the most offensive truth possible: you are powerless precisely where it matters most. You are dead to what truly is life.” When we come to grips with that statement and yield to Christ then we know the truth: “So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” [Rom 6:11] The heart of the matter is this: the gospel is offensive and the gospel workers are as well. Paul of all people faced it head on when he became aware of the charge: “some” were saying Paul was living by the world’s standards. Paul may have lived in the first century but the same charges are leveled today. It seems that although our enemy is strong and he has been honing his skills, his tactics remain unchanged. We are called hypocrites, complainers, judgmental and the list goes on and on. But, in godly wisdom Paul gives us some idea of how to face our foes and his ideas come straight from the book of Joshua. God is unchanging and His ways are unchanging. What worked then works now.

God told Joshua that He was about to defeat the enemies of Jericho, but there was a condition that must be obeyed scrupulously. They were not to take any of the riches of the city lest they make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster. The same is true for us. We are not to take any of the riches of the enemy we face: “all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world” [1John]

In 2Cor 10 Paul tells us more: the riches of this world are the enemy’s stronghold: the arguments or reasonings that are hostile to Christ and His Word. These are the philosophies, reasonings, schemes of the world. The battle is in the mind and therefore we must take captive these enemies to the obedience of Christ. God has given us the weapons. We are but jars of clay and He wants to fill our jar with His promises and power. Here are a few.

2Cor 10:6 take every thought captive. Bind them and destroy them just as Joshua was to do to Jericho.
Eph 6/Ps 119:11 we have the sword of the Word, thus hide it in our heart. Memorize it and use it when the enemy comes
Is 41:10/Matt 28/Heb 13:5 I am with you and will never leave you nor forsake you. This is God’s promise just as it was with Joshua and the Israelites.
Ps 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble. That is our weapon of prayer.
Ph 4:19 I will supply all your needs. Whatever the battle is before you, God has what you need.

Today wherever the enemy has you in his stronghold, apply these to your situation and see the walls that he has erected come tumbling down so you can walk freely from the enemy’s camp into the newness of life that God has for you. You are the Rahab that God has saved, now go forth and proclaim the victory.

Remember the Battle is in the Mind!

October 9, 2013

Letters: I wish I had not sent but I am glad I sent….2Cor 7

We all have written letters that later we regretted but in hindsight we are glad we aired our concerns. Today we use email and sometimes it is misread, misunderstood but it is there for the world to see if we are not careful. Paul had written a mighty letter to the church in Corinth about an offender and the Corinthians did not receive it with grace. His second letter which we are studying is a reflection on how Paul viewed their response and how he wisely used an intermediary (Titus) to settle the issue. It teaches us some important principles of letters and they can be used to cross that breach…that letter we wrote and then wish we had not but then in hindsight are glad we did. It is important to note that Paul’s honesty has brought true repentance to the church and more importantly to the offender who was living blatantly in sin, thus tarnishing the image of Christ and the church.

As Paul waited he continued to work in Macedonia even amidst slander, as well as some praise. Some regarded him as an imposter and on and on. It is part of the territory for a believer that one will face extraordinary circumstances for sharing the Word of the Lord, but like Paul, we are not to sit idly but be active. As Paul wandered about, preaching and teaching, his mind was on Corinth and the believers there. He wondered how Titus was faring with the believers after his letter (1Cor) had been sent. Titus arrived with glowing news! The Corinthians still loved Paul and had repented regarding how they had handled the offender noted in 1Cor who was bringing shame upon the church. Paul as euphoric at the news Titus brought.

There are some principles from chapter 7 that we can take to heart:

God uses other believers to encourage us when we are anxious or depressed or downtrodden. It can come through a visit or a written letter.
The second part of this principle is that as believers we can reciprocate with words of encouragement in return to the one for whom we were anxious. Prov 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.”
And the third part of this principle is that in doing so we are demonstrating love from one to another and exhibiting Christ-like grace. Notice how Paul affirms the Corinthians at the end of this chapter: 7:16 “I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.”

God took time to write a letter of His love to each of us which are His Words of affirmation and encouragement. His message was “I love you.” Paul’s letter back to the Corinthians was the same message. “I love you!”

Are you waiting for an answer from a note you have sent? Has God brought a person to mind that needs affirming because of circumstances which have brought anxiety? Take a moment and pick up pen and paper and send a note! Let them know about God’s love and your love for them.

October 1, 2013

Steadfast Confidence

How do you react in times of difficulty? Are we confident in the God we say we believe? If so, are we living so that others may ask how we are facing life’s circumstances?

As Paul wrote this second letter to the church in Corinth he shared from the heart the burdens he was carrying and the love he had for them. His ministry was not without a cost however and in this letter he openly bears his soul to them that they may learn from him how to handle adversity. As we read we want to keep our eyes open to what he faced: conflicts, fears, sufferings. Then we want to transition to ask: are they similar to mine? Am I persevering as Paul did? What lessons can I learn that I can use later for others?

Question 1: Who is God to you when you face adversity? Is he as Paul notes: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort? Is he a god who can comfort us in all of our troubles? Do we see our troubles as God’s open door for us to in turn minister to others? These are the questions we need to address as we read 2Cor.

Principle 1: One purpose in suffering is that we may in turn comfort others when they face similar circumstances. vs 4 God is the God of all comfort; vs 6 if we face affliction/suffering/adversity it is that we may be in turn be able to comfort and empathize with others.

Principle 2: We can be confident and trust that God is involved in our circumstances vs 7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. Vs 9 we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Principle 3: Be steadfast, immovable in whatever circumstance you find yourself vs 10 We have set our hope on him – on God alone

Principle 4: Our prayers that are being offered are useful for ourselves and others. 1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. John Bunyan wrote: “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

What adversity are you facing today that you can implement these same 4 principles? Perhaps you may have faced a similar adversity. Thus the question is: How may I pray for you in this time?

Know this: God is not only a God of all comfort but He is a God of love!