Acts 22

Ananias said to Paul, “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.  You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.” [Acts 22:14, 15] Actually, this is the commission given to all believers, not just the Apostle Paul.

With God ALL things are possible. [Matt. 19:26] Paul’s obedience and drive combined to make him one of Christianity’s greats. You too have qualities that God can use to further His Kingdom.

Acts 20, 21

Paul was beaten, ridiculed by the Jews, and put in chains by the Roman guard. This all occurred because he had taken a stand for the truths God had shown him … that following the Law of Moses did NOT merit salvation. His presence in Jerusalem was caustic and stirred quite an uproar at the temple. Nevertheless, he boldly held true to his convictions and suffered great rejection and persecution from the religious establishment of Jerusalem.

We are told in scripture that we will be brought before resistant authorities for being disciples of Christ. We see signs daily in our culture that tell us resistance is coming. Christ followers will not always be respected and allowed to worship freely. We can look to Jesus to empower us with the same courage Paul showed.

His courage and ministry gave him a prominent place in scripture.

The book of Acts is still being written.

Acts 20

God’s Word says Paul was “Compelled by the Spirit” to get back to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost gathering. It is interesting to consider how God’s Spirit led the Apostle. We have the book of Acts to give us the history of his journeys and ministry.

Other words for this persuasion by God’s Spirit include; bound, in obedience to, constrained, drawn irresistibly. These are pretty forceful words to describe how God’s Spirit convinced Paul.

As we tune our hearts to God for His presence and leading in our daily lives, let’s be aware of Paul’s experience as a benchmark.

God, give us the grace to be obedient.

Acts 19

Everything God gives us is a gift. We don’t deserve or merit anything. At Ephesus, Paul found some believers who needed a more complete spiritual experience. As they had only been baptized by John’s baptism (unto repentance), Paul explained that they should be baptized in the Name of Jesus and receive the Holy Ghost. They agreed and showed evidence by speaking in tongues and prophesying. (Acts 2)

Some of the Jews resisted Paul’s teaching and maligned his content. He moved on no doubt to those whose faith and hunger for God was welcoming to his message.

God doesn’t force His gifts upon us. We are wise to hunger for and receive ALL that He has for us.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. [Matt. 5:6]

Acts 18

Paul landed in Corinth (I’ve been there) and, as was his custom, began speaking in the Jewish synagogue to reason with the Jews about Christ. No doubt, he experienced resistance from the devoutly religious Jews about his message. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you.” [Acts 18:9,10]

When we do God’s business, He will protect us. If we are fearful, we can’t accurately present His Message. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. [1 John 4:18]

Acts 17

The Apostle Paul would use ANY opportunity available to preach the Gospel. When he got to Athens, he found a culture of philosophers who relished debating and discussing any thing new. They delighted in mental gymnastics. Paul himself had a great mind and was up for the challenge when given the opportunity to enter their arena of verbal stimulation.

Maybe he was calling upon his experience with the Athenians when he said, “We proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. This is what I am working at all the time, with all the strength that God gives me.” [Col. 1:28,29 J.B. Phillips paraphrase]

Acts 16

The apostle Paul was an amazing man. He was very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and he practiced instant obedience. Upon dreaming of a man in Macedonia beckoning that he come, he and Timothy made tracks. They departed immediately for that region to preach the gospel and strengthen the believers.

If you and I become more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and practice instant obedience, our lives will be much more exciting and fulfilling. As we increase our instant obedience to the Lord, he will increase the directives.

Dream on!

Acts 15

From the apostolic council of elders in Jerusalem referred to in Acts 15, we understand that salvation is received through God’s grace and not our works. Legalism and those who espouse it are actually anti-grace. Working against God’s grace is heresy. Salvation comes by no other name than Jesus Christ . It is not merited by anything we can do. Christ did it all for us.

Once saved, we become obedient to Hiim as our Lord and Master, and follow Him into the Waters of baptism and receive the gift of his holy Spirit and continue living in the grace that he gives so freely..

We can ride through life in the vehicle of grace.

Acts 14

Too many Christian leaders love adulation. In the city of Lystra, Paul and Barnabas asked God for a mighty miracle of healing. When a lame man was healed, many began considering them gods. At this, the Apostles tore their clothes and shouted “We are human just like you.”

They did not want to rob one ounce of glory from God. Worthy Christian leaders resist adulation and bathe themselves in humility and worship. The Psalmist said, “Not unto us Lord but unto Thy name receive glory.”

Acts 13

in this chapter we have the account of Paul’s bold indictment of Elymas the sorcerer. He was not bashful as he identified the man’s deceit and hypocrisy.

This is the same man though that said the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle, apt to teach, in meekness instructing those that opposed themselves. Both approaches require God’s truth, grace, and mercy.