Pause for thought

The Athenian philosophers spent most days debating the newest ideas. When they discovered Paul they quickly brought him to the Areopagus (the Greek name given to a large space on Mars Hill) where debates took place, and civil and criminal courts also met.

The Epicureans philosopher believed that everything happened by chance. That death was followed by oblivion, that there were gods but they had no interest in or cared about humankind. That the chief aim of man was to live for pleasure. The Stoics believed that everything was God, that everything that happened was gods will, and must be accepted so we’re very disciplined.

Paul made their alter to the unknown God his starting point, he was reaching out to where they were! True they were religious but ignorant of the One True God. The beliefs of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers is not so different from the beliefs of many today, sadly dare I say both inside and outside some churches!

God does not live in a building made with hands. The church is not a building its people are! 17:24. God created everything and needs nothing, He sustains us we need Him, we don’t do good things to earn or keep our salvation 17:25. Every nationality shares the same blood, Every Christian is redeemed by the very same blood of Christ 17:26. It is only by the grace of God that we find Him, or rather are found by Him 17:27. Idols of gold or silver can never represent Gods divine nature. Repentance from wrong ideas about God is essential for salvation 17:30.
The day of judgement is coming. It is guaranteed by the raising of Jesus Christ from the dead 17:31.

Memory verse

For He has set a day for judging the world with justice by the Man He has appointed, and He proved to everyone who this is by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:31 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

No matter what our circumstances, like Paul and Silas we should praise God, for others may be listening and taking note. The Holy Spirit brought the Jailor and his family to faith in Jesus Christ, By using the circumstances of their imprisonment and miraculous release Paul and Silas were able to shared the gospel, they may not of been so quick to believe had they heard grumbling instead of praises. We may not be in a dungeon like Paul and Silas, but we all come face to face with very trying circumstances, it’s never going to be easy but it’s nevertheless true that the one thing that cannot be taken away from a Christian is the presence of Jesus Christ 16:25

The Jailor confirmed his faith in Jesus by deeds, that same hour (immediately) by washing the wounds of Paul and Silas, after this he and his believing household were baptised that same night 16:33

Unless a man’s change of heart (repentance) is accompanied by a change of deeds (fruit of repentance) the question has to be asked is his faith true or counterfeit.

Throughout the New Testament believers baptism was immediate following faith in Christ. A very good principle that should be followed today 16:15,33.

A chorus to remember

If you’ve a special need within your life my friend, and you’re looking for an answer on the way? If by faith you start believing mighty soon you’ll be receiving for the answer is already on the way! Yes the answers on the way this I know, Jesus said it, I believe it, and it’s so, if by faith you start believing mighty soon you’ll be receiving for the answers already on the way. (Writer Unknown)

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Pause for thought

Timothy’s mother and grandmother were both Christian’s, Timothy shared their same faith and testimony. Paul recognised his potential and invited Timothy to join his team that consisted of Silas, Luke, and himself on their upcoming missionary journey.It’s always fascinating to me that many who think they are the first to believe in their family subsequently discover that their ancestors were believers who prayed for those who would come after them. Timothy is an example when godly parents and grandparents pray for and talk about Jesus to their children. 16:1

Like Timothy we must never let our personal freedom become a hindrance or become a barrier to the spread of the gospel 16:3, 1 Corinthians 9:20-21

The “ Spirit of Jesus” is another name for the person of the Holy Spirit, stopped Paul and company from entering Asia which was probably Paul’s desire. So they continued to Troas where Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading for help. we can understand why Paul interpreted the vision as a confirmation to cross over into Europe, but not how the Spirit guided him from crossing into Asia. Did Paul or others of his team get a “check” uneasiness in their spirit? It’s just as important to know what not to do as what to do! We all would avoid making mistakes if we were a little more patient in waiting on the Lord and seeking the counsel of others. I know it’s not so easy to wait when we have precious seed to sow, but it has to be sown at the right time and in the right field 16:10.

A verse to remember

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

In His parable of the wine skins Mathew 9:17, Jesus taught that the new wine of christianity can not be contained by the straitjacket of Judaism. The decision taken by the Jerusalem council ensured that Christianity never became a sect of Judaism 15:24-29.

We know that no one can earn the favour of God by their own efforts, or by keeping the Law to make themselves right with God. Without the grace of Christ we are all hopeless.. The Jewish party said “we can earn Gods favour by keeping the Law especially by being circumcised” , Peter was saying “ We can only be saved by casting ourselves on the grace and love of God” 15:10

To add the Law to faith is to test God, because it’s like we’re saying Christ’s sacrifice for our sins is not quite enough. But it is God Himself who confirms that our faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is enough by giving us the Holy Spirit 15:8-12

The Jerusalem Council made no additional requirements for salvation on gentile Christian’s, just to separate from paganism and its practices. We Christians must strive to remain pure in an impure world, but we must be sure that the requirements for faith are God’s, not people’s.

A verse to remember

God who knows people’s hearts, confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He gave Him to us. acts 15:8 N.L.T.

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Love and Blessings Robert.

Pause for thought

This Antioch of Pisidia is not the Antioch in Syria where Paul and Barnabas were commissioned and sent out from with the gospel.

No one was ever born a Christian or woke up and found themselves a Christian! Of course we give thanks to God for Christian influence through family and friends and as we look back at different often seemingly unconnected events we can see God at work bringing us to faith in Jesus Christ, and so changing our lives forever. What might We have become if God had not intervened in our lives? 13:48.

This sermon that Paul preached in the Synagogue at Antioch is very similar to the sermon Peter preached at Pentecost Acts 2. Paul insisted that the coming of Jesus is the fulfilment of Jewish and world history. That the Jews had missed this truth and had handed their Messiah to the Romans to be crucified. Because God could not be defeated and raised Jesus from the dead, which was the proof of the power and purpose of God. Especially for his Jewish listeners Paul points out that the resurrection promises made to David were not fulfilled in David, but are now fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The sermon about the good news of Christ was to some of his hearers really good news, but very bad news for those who rejected Paul’s message 13:42-43.

Paul and Barnabas were not prepared to compromise the message of the Gospel, for the sake of their Jewish brethren’s feelings or for any fear of personal rejection. What they preached was and still is a matter of LIFE or death, they did as God bade them and on leaving that place shook the dust from their feet as a sign against them. The fruit from their visit meant that they left behind in Antioch a joyous group of Christians continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit. ( this is the sense of the verb filled used here)

The unchanging message of the gospel will have unchanging results.

A verse to remember

For this is as the Lord commanded to us when He said “I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring Salvation to the farthest corners of the earth” Acts 13:47.

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