Acts 22: Paul Speaks and Meets with the Roman Council

Paul Speaks and Meets with the Roman Council

Paul retells his story of how he came to Christ and how he had been the one responsible for the death of Stephen. He retells how he was blinded and his sight was returned to him. Paul's baptism is believed to have happened shortly there after due to verse 16 and from there he would spread the word to the Gentiles. That further upset the Jews who did not think Gentiles were worthy of having Salvation.

When he was done speaking they still wanted to have Paul killed. And when they took Paul away to be scourged (whipped to death or even being crippled- just like Jesus was before his crucifixion). Paul then asks them if it is proper to scourge a Roman citizen without due process. The custom was not to even bind a Roman citizen without due process but they had done just that. After Paul tells them that he was born in Rome which makes him a citizen by birth and not by purchase (verses 27-28) they cannot scourge him. The next day he was unbound and brought before the council. Chapter 23 tells us more. We will be back tomorrow for that.

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Acts 21: Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Paul's Courage and Dedication in the Holy Spirit

Once again we have an example of Paul being courageous and standing strong in the Holy Spirit. This man has had quite the journey from being one who arrested and killed Christians to now being arrested for being a Christian.

Now Paul is in a position to where he was told by others through the Holy Spirit to not go into Jerusalem. Through the Spirit he was warned but persisted to go on to Jerusalem anyway by saying in Acts 21:13 "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Some might say those words were foolish, but I think it takes a brave man to be ready to die for Jesus. Some may say that Paul felt guilty for having Stephen killed, but we don't know that at this time so it sounds like he is dedicated to doing God's will and being ready to endure whatever comes his way. I like the response that was given by those that were with him when they said in verse 14, "Let the will of the Lord be done." They could have yelled at him and called him names, but they did not. They realized they cannot control or persuade him to do something different than what he was dedicated to do. Paul took several men with him and participated in purification practices. After those seven days were up he was captured in the temple by Jews from Asia. The crowd was so angry and loud an physically vicious, Paul had to be carried into a separate barracks. He asked to speak to the people and in Acts 22, we will see what Paul said.

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Friday Focus #17

It Won't Last Forever

When I was a kid I had heroes and role models. Most of them (if not all of them) were athletes. Nothing wrong with being an athlete, but there are people who define themselves and hang on to their job or social status. That becomes the most important thing to them. How they are viewed by others or how they see themselves becomes far more important than having a life that is Christ centered. Eventually that earthly glory fades. If you don't believe me then look at the careers of Kobe Bryant, Jerry Rice, Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. It won't last. No matter what you have done, it does not define you. There is something far more important than earthly glory which is the sacrifice that Jesus made for you.

In the story of the young rich man (Matthew 19:16-22) we learn that a young rich man asks Jesus what Good deed he must do in order to have eternal life. Jesus questions the man's view of good and then tells him that you must keep the commandments and he gets specific into which ones. Then the man replies and says he has kept them all and he needed to know what else he needed to do in order to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. The young man heard that and turned away from Jesus sadly because he had a great number of possessions.

This begs the question, what is holding you back from following Christ wholeheartedly? Is it that you are more dependent upon earthly things than submitting to God's will in your life? What is getting in the way of a full dedication to following Christ? Is it it pride? Is it thinking that you are "good enough" for Heaven? There is no good enough when it comes to us. There is either walking with Christ or not. It is your decision, not one that people make for you. Don't be like the young rich man who would rather have what is earthly than that which is godly (Psalm 40:8).

On the next Wednesday Wake Up we will go through Matthew 19:23-30.


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Acts 20: What Lies in Paul's Words

What Lies in Paul's Words

There are many things Paul says in Acts 20:17-35, but I want to point out transparency, humility in trials and and serving like Christ. Being transparent is not something that many of us Christ followers allow ourselves to be these days. We live lives of seclusion and don't want anyone holding us accountable for how we can become stronger in our walks or stop letting ourselves sin. Paul was transparent. As a leader he needed to be transparent. He was an example of what it was to walk in the Holy Spirit and follow Christ. He tells the elders of the church in Ephesus that they know how he lived since he lived among them in Asia (Acts 20:18).

Paul also served. I know that sadly is not something common in this "gimme gimme" society we live in, but a leader of the church spreading the word of Christ was serving. He served with humility and with tears and trials for all the things that happened to him while spreading the word of Christ and avoiding capture from the Jews (Acts 20:19).

Lastly, in verse 35 he really breaks down the true essence of serving and quotes Jesus. He says that he has shown them that when you work hard you must also help the weak and remember what Jesus said that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." For anyone who is a believer and is not serving from their heart to honor God's will for our lives and show love and be loving to others, then you may have missed the point of being a Christ follower.

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Wednesday Wake Up #17

When You Get Angry

When was the last time you were angry? I don't mean angry that your favorite show got cancelled or your favorite team lost, but angry to the point where you could not sleep. Do you have your answer? Now, I ask you what did you do with that anger? Did you just ignore it like it didn't exist or did you let it explode? Please don't tell me that you went to social media to complain about things that you just need to deal with. But there are much more productive things to do with anger and knowing how to handle it than just ignoring it or letting it consume you. Do you agree?
 

As we read through Proverbs (which is a great start if you have never read through the Bible), I come across Proverbs 29:11 which let us know that giving full vent to your anger is foolish. It also informs us that self control is what the wise people do. That means when you are angry, don't go punch someone. That means do not go yelling at them. There are time we are angry about how we perceive someone's words rather than what they really mean. I have been guilty of that before and had arguments with people about what they said and how I perceived what they said without actually having a conversation about it. What we need to do is focus on what would actually anger God and seek to be surrounded by the Holy Spirit and walking with the Holy Spirit (more on that later).

We also need to deal with the anger in that moment. I know from personal experience that if I do not deal with that anger, it will stew. That is when the devil take a hold of my thoughts and pulls them away from the Holy Spirit. Then I will keep replaying what was said or done and start trying to connect things and maybe even add an attitude of righteousness on the other person. That is letting bitterness grow. How many times do we get mad at someone and then completely ignore them based on what happened? Deal with the problem. Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us that we can be angry, but in that anger do not sin. We cannot let the sun go down on our anger. I mean truly, how often do you get mad at someone and talk about it the next day and settle it? I would be willing to assume that not many people confront and deal with issues in the moment. They walk away mad...and got to the passive aggressive Facebook post. Let's stop Facebooking and start facing the problems with the use of the Book (Bible)!!

And when we do respond, do we respond with gentleness, or do we respond with yelling, sarcasm or undercutting people with insults? It is interesting that when we get angry, we throw the ways of Christ (like being loving at all times) out of the window. Then we run those ways over with our car. C'mon people!! Let's start responding in love for others and know that whether we know someone well or not at all, our words reflect our heart and have an impact on other. Respond in love and not in wrath (Proverbs 15:1).

Whether it is anger or sadness or lust and knowing how to deal with these feeling and thoughts when they arise, we must rely on the Holy Spirit. That is God's will for our lives has to be our will. If it is not, then one cannot expect the Holy Spirit to guide them if they have not sought that guidance in the first place. Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6). He is the only way to the Father, not one of the ways, THE WAY. He tells us in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. If you are not with the Holy Spirit and you keep having the same problems, then the answer is pretty clear on what needs to happen in your life in order for you to deal with the problems as they arise. Follow Christ and the Holy Spirit will guide you.

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Acts 19: Paul's Healings and Exorcising Without Jesus

Paul's Healings and Exorcising Without Jesus

We have seen Paul uncover idols and heal people in the name of the Lord. We have seen him drive home the point of faith in Christ over Mosiac Law in terms of salvation. But in this chapter we see the Holy Spirit so infused in Paul that even Paul touching items of cloth allowed for him to have healing powers. People were being healed of sicknesses and evil spirits came out of people (Acts 19:11-12).

When seven traveling Jewish men sought to exorcise a man who had been overcome by evil spirits, they referred to the Jesus that Paul spoke of. That was their mistake, it was not the Jesus that they knew, but someone else's relationship with Jesus. The evil spirit did not know who they were but it knew Paul and Jesus. The evil spirit made the man attack the seven men and left them fleeing, naked and wounded. Many people found out about this and around the same time those who had become believers came forward to admit doing magic arts. In an attempt to rid themselves of those ways they burned their books that were altogether worth 50 thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:13-20).

Without the Holy Spirit what can you do? You can do things on your own power. There are people who are very successful in life and do not have the Holy Spirit. They do not know Jesus. Do you see how Paul's faith in the Holy Spirit and God using him allowed for pieces of clothing and cloths to be used as healing agents as long as Paul touched them? Yet, with the 7 men that tried to exorcise an evil spirit without them having Jesus as their personal Lord became useless. See the difference? With Jesus/God/the Holy Spirit you can work wonders. Without either of them it is a wonder anything would ever work.

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Acts 18: Paul's Journey with the Holy Spirit

Paul's Journey with the Holy Spirit

We have seen all that Paul has gone through from being imprisoned and chased from one town to another avoiding death. As we see here in Acts 18:4 he was still preaching the word. I love that even though he would have every human reason to give up, he didn't. He feared for his life. It was not a made up "people are after me" though as people were truly after him Paul has been a man of perseverance and persistence in the Holy Spirit. he wasn't always there, but once he started following Christ you saw a big change in his behaviors and his life. 

In verses 5-6, he was testifying that Jesus was the messiah but when the Jews opposed and reviled him, he did not sit there and keep arguing and get madder and madder. He did what he was supposed to do. He let them know that they are responsible for themselves now and he left and went to the Gentiles. God told Paul in verses 9-10 (in a vision) to go on speaking and to not be afraid because God was with him. Paul did just that for a year and 6 months. 

In Acts 18:18-23, we see that Paul worked hard at strengthening the disciples that he came in contact with and still preaching the word of Jesus from land to land as he traveled whether it be Ephesus, Caesarea, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia. Paul had left Ephesus and left 2 that he traveled with there in Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila. While they stayed behind, they met Apollos who also preached the word accurately. Priscilla and Aquila (husband and wife), took Apollos aside and taught him how to preach the word more accurately. And with that he continued to spread the word that Jesus was the Christ, even in public against the Jews (Pharisees).

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