ACTS 17

 "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.  "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands." Acts 17:22-24

"To an unknown God". Quite an observation. Do you ever run across people who are seeking something, but they don't know where to find it? Are they seeking comfort, peace, guidance, a fuller life, even a satisfying  career or the right mate? Most of us are searching for something.

Have you ever thought of it like this? The Holy Spirit guided the Greeks to inscribe the idea of an unknown God on an altar in Athens and then led Paul to find it and use it as a means for teaching about Christ? Has he ever led you to such a discovery? Has he given you an idea that needs to be  shared with others? Be open as the Holy Spirit is constantly showing us a way to go and taking us closer to the Lord and to those who are seeking what we already have found. How are you sharing this?

ACTS 16

Have you ever wanted to do something and were held back? Something just grabbed you and kept you from taking that step? Were you disappointed, But you willingly went in a new direction? Did you find an unexpected treasure?
This is one of my favorite passages in scripture. Because Paul listened to the Holy Spirit and went in a different direction than he had planned to go, the word of the Lord was spread into Europe. Lydia, a woman I admire greatly, was brought into Biblical importance through her friendship with Paul. A jailer was baptized and Christianity was spread to many new parts of the world. When I visited Greece, my favorite experience was visitng Lydia's church and the jail. The words Paul said when the jailer asked the question are ones we also should delight in being asked. How do you answer this same question?
"He then 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--you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house." Acts 16:30-32

ACTS 15

Have you ever wondered about the requirements some religions place on people? No wonder there are folks out there who have very bad tastes in their mouths about these things and unfortunately see church as a burden. What does the New Testament say? Our greatest commandment has to do with loving God, ourselves and our neighbors.

The early church had trouble with those who were advocating following the Law to the letter. Some of our modern day religions still follow that idea and turned the unbelievers away instead of inviting them to believe in Jesus and salvation. Paul makes it very clear about not burdening our belief system with non essential ideas and requirements. Our job is to bring folks to the love of Christ, not to weigh them down.

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. " Acts 15:28-29

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ACTS 14

When you reached that "come to Jesus" moment, did you believe you had found your "happily ever after" life? Well, some of you may have been somewhat disappointed from time to time. Too often when things are going great, Jesus is forgotten. It's when we are drowning that we reach out for that lifeline. The disciples and apostles and even Christ himself had troubles, some of them more frequently than good times. What we can depend on is that he will never give us more than we can endure with his help. Only a prayer away, he is there loving us and bringing us closer to his peace. We as believers who have experienced tribulation, are the earthly encouragers to help others through the tough times and remind them they can indeed depend on the Lord at all times. We were never promised a rose garden with out a few thorns, but we are promised a rainbow after the storm.

"When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14: 21-22

Acts 13

"What do I say?" you ask. "Tell the truth," he answers, "Jesus died for our sins at Calvary. If you believe, you will have eternal life." "Why should I tell them?" you ask? "Will they believe me or just laugh at me or worse tell others I'm crazy and don't listen to me?"

Do you think maybe Paul and other apostles had questions when they went out to tell about what Jesus did for them? They were surrounded by Jews who were against them, yet the gentiles seemed receptive and wanted to hear the message. So as you share the gospel with unbelievers, be prepared for negativity. But when the Holy Spirit has called you and sent you, don't you think you have a special protection and guidance?

"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region." Acts 13:47-49

Acts 10

Have you heard folks saying that this church or the other church is the one true church? How do you answer them? God has spoken directly or through other believers enough times emphasizing that Salvation through Christ is a worldwide invitation, that we are assured he means for all to come to him through Christ. As we learn in Acts 10 from the story of Cornelius, the Roman, the Holy Spirit comes through belief in Jesus and baptism regardless of where that person lives. It is God who sends it to us, not men, although we usually hear about salvation through men who God sends to us. Have you been sent to bring the truth to others?

"Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. " Acts 10:34-36

CALLED TO HIM

Have you ever been discouraged while praying for someone who is lost to come to the Lord? Or have you decided that it was no use to become a Christian because you could never live up to being like Christ? Go back and read Paul's conversion. Here was a man who was so mean spirited that he persecuted the church and took advantage of everyone. He seemed not to have a heart. When people heard his name, they shook. Yet, Jesus called him as an Apostle and most of the New Testament is written by him. Even today, going on 2000 years after his death, we follow his teachings. Don't ever give up. When the Lord calls, just say "here I am." He knows who he needs in his kingdom and why. Leave the plan to him and just do as he says.

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel." Acts 9:13-15

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