Acts 22
 
His defense seems very logical. Why would he suddenly risk so much for the Way when he had previously tried to kill them? There are so many reasons to give credence to this. People just don’t want to believe anything that they don’t like or that does not match their preconceived customs, lifestyle, etc. We see this today. People just choose to ignore things if they don’t want to believe them.
 
I think this just points to what Ephesians 2:8-9 says, that is really has to be the work of the Holy Spirit that opens eyes and instills faith. It is just the Spirit that allows us to accept and believe and not get entrenched into our own way.
 
This is a good reminder not to think we are better than others and to have compassion on others. We should understand that, but by the grace of God, we too could have rejected the gospel and hope of life.
 
Acts 22:21-22  "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' " The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, "Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live!"
 
It seems their hatred of Gentiles and the thought that Gentiles could receive grace from God set them off again. We also see that today. People have such resentment and bitterness to others (different politics, races, lifestyles, etc.) that they cannot even dialogue with each other, believe the worse of each other, spread crazy distortions or outright lies about each other. They never give them the benefit of the doubt and they judge them more harshly than they judge themselves or those with whom they agree.
 
I think, at least in the U.S. right now, we need to watch our rhetoric. It is absolutely appropriate and in fact required as a citizen to speak up and fight for what you believe. But, we need to discuss facts and principles and it is fine to offer factually and respectful criticism of people’s policies and principles. But let’s not be shrill, unkind, hateful, and ungracious.
 
Remember, as believers we should be know for being people of love. Now love can and does correct, because if you really love someone you will correct them. And love can and does speak out against wrongs and fights for what is right. So, that is fine, speak up, speak out, offer legitimate, constructive and respectful criticism. But, let’s do it with kindness, respect, and with a spirit of humility and graciousness.
 
Acts 22:25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?"
 
There is nothing wrong with trying to protect and defend ourselves. There is nothing wrong with using the laws to obtain our rights. We just have to trust God so that if someone wrongly takes or does not respect our rights we don’t act in ways unpleasing to God or that are illegal or unethical. We accept that it is a glory to overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11) and that we don’t have to insist on our rights because God will ultimately fight out fights.

Acts 23 continued

I was rereading the chapter and just saw some new things.

Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" - Acts 23:9

It is always about individual agendas. When the Word meet people's individual agenda, they are all for it, when it clashes with their personal beliefs or desires they reject it.

When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. - Acts 23:12

They were full of so much resentment towards the truth, that it fueled a passionate commitment to destroy Paul and to destroy the Way.

It seems today that people who are advocating for wrong are more passionate and committed than those who advocate for truth.

I just keep coming back to the point that we need to simplify our lives to free ourselves for more service and to be workers in our communities so that God will be known and to bring honor to his name.

Ok, so I told you guys that I am going to start once a month feeding the homeless. I am going to continue to look for opportunities and timing to expand my service.

Also, in addition to formal service, I think we can look for opportunities just to reach out to people and be involved in their lives.

I notice that almost all my friends and those I hang out with are Chrustians. So, I am going to make more of an effort to reach out to others - inviting them into my home for dinner, or just drop by for casual dessert/coffee, make your own taco bar, Christmas open house with just cookies and cider, etc.

And just asking about their life, letting them know I am praying for them, and following up to see how things are going to let them know I am thinking of them, and I care.

Also, actually doing things to help. Bring over a meal, help with yard work, help housework, showing them how to do something helpful.

I want to start with my neighbors.

My neighbor had a heart problem and she can't eat all the down home comfort food that she misses. Well, I am really good at making very tasty and satisfying light and healthy versions of things. So, I am want to bring by a dish to cheer her up.

So, I am trying to reexamine how I spend my time so I can do these things. It is definitely on my heart, but I don't want to always just have good intentions, I want to act on them.

So, it is something I can be in prayer about.

Last edited by TBG (10/09/2015 10:17 am)

Acts 25

Mathew Henry points out that the Jewish leaders were so anxious to get to Paul that as soon Festus was in office they went to him to try to get Paul. After all these years they were obsessed with it and it was the first thing on their mind.
 
By contrast, Festus did not go up to Jerusalem till he had been in the province for 3 days. Paul could have immediately requested an audience with him.
 
So, we see Paul patiently bearing up under injustice.
 
Optional GMG Discussion Question from Chpt 24
Have you been faced with unjust judgment in your life? If so, how did you respond?
 
I think it is hard to not get upset when we are being treated unfairly or for me, disrespectfully. We just have to remember that the world is not our home and if they persecuted Jesus, how much more so will they persecute us. We must remember that our hope is not in this world and that this is a fallen sinful world and unjust things will happen.
 
Lastly, we need to remember to be humble because Jesus never got upset when He was mistreated. He only got upset when God was disrespected. So, we are not special, we are only here to do God’s work so I should not be overly focused on myself but just on glorifying God.
 

esuzannah wrote:

This is inspiring....I am going to talk to my husband about having a Christmas open house and invite all our neighbors. Such a great idea!

Well, I am not doing this as I should now. But it really is something I want to work on prioritizing. I really think we have to reach out and be a part of people's lives not just talk at them.

Acts 26
 
This is a pithy chapter today.
 
26:16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
 
We sometime wonder why certain things do or do not happen. I have concerns about some of the teaching going around that God’s purpose if for Christians to have health, prosperity and all the good things in this world. 
 
I think God intends for us to have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1). This world is not our home, this world is not our hope. I think God does promise us in this world to have peace, joy, and the power of the Spirit inside of us, and ultimately true, real, eternal life.
 
So when we wonder why certain things do or don’t happen, remember God has a specific purpose to fulfill His spiritual goals in us and through us. Paul suffered tremendously in life, but his purpose was to be a minister and a witness. That was the goal of it all, that was the purpose of it all. And ultimately Paul said that his suffering was light and fleeting and nothing in compared to eternity.
 
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
 
We must remember that was is really real is yet to come and will be revealed with Christ’s return. Then we will really fulfill all that we are. (Colossians 3)
 

26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
 
Paul was sent to help people comprehend the message and see the truth of the scripture (open eyes)
 
For the purpose of turning them from darkness to light, from power of Satan to God.
So, the purpose is to cease old lifestyle and old deeds, to live differently, and to stop yielding to Satan and the flesh but to surrender and submit to the Spirit, to stop serving the world and to serve God.
 

26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
We need to be obedient and faithful in living out God’s plan for our lives. We don’t always know the long term plan, but I mean being faithful to serve Him where He has us right now and being obedient to what He has put in front of us.
 
 
26:20-21 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.  For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
 
Paul’s message to unbelievers is that they should
- repent (change their mind, have a new belief about life),
- turn to God (seek Him, serve Him, depend on Him, follow Him) and
- live a life that matches or conforms with someone who has a new mind and a different opinion and desire. Our lives should be consistent with the evidence of our turning away from old things and turning towards God. Our works should show that turning.
 
For these reasons – because of what Paul taught they wanted to destroy him and destroy the message.

Why would that message make one so angry that one would want to destroy someone? Well it upset the status quo and challenged their position, their holiness, their values and beliefs.
 
We see that now. People are offended at the thought they are not good, that they need to change the way they are living, that there values need to change. They want to elevate and celebrate themselves as great and good.
 
 
26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."
He was understanding the message and knew the facts to be true but still rejected it. We see this in our day as well. Ultimately, it is a heart issue; people just don’t want to submit to God’s authority. They want to live under their own authority. They are prideful and think that they are good within themselves and they don’t want to live differently or alter their lifestyle.

 
26:32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
 
Paul’s own decision got him killed. This hit home because often we think, “If I had not done or said that, then this would not have happened,” or “if only I had said this then.” But if we are walking in the Spirit and doing things that are obedient to the word of God as written in the Bible, then that is all we can really do. We must trust the rest to God that He can use it for His ultimate purpose.
 
We have so much anxiety around our decisions. This should not be. If we acting according to Biblical principles, seeking wise godly counsel, acting according to what is proper and in a way to please God, and if we have peace about a decision – just go for it and don’t worry and leave the results to God. It does not mean everything will be great. Here it got Paul killed. But it does mean that we just need to trust our lives and future to God’s hands and God’s plans.