Hey Element Church! Only a few days left in our one prayer walk together. Todays prayer is “Lord, make us relevant.” We’re shifting our focus on praying for churches today and lifting up all the churches in some local communities over the next couple of days. Today we are praying for the Pine Bluffs churches. Pray that people in Pine Bluffs would come to know Jesus and be strengthened in their faith through the ministry of their churches. You can read Acts 25 HERE online. Here are my thoughts:
Acts is winding down at this point. Paul is imprisoned and will eventually end Acts in Rome under house arrest. There are by now, churches established all over and Jews and Gentiles alike are being saved.
Acts 25:1-9 — This was TWO YEARS after their initial accusations and arrest of Paul. You’d think they would have forgotten about it, let it go, found new problems to focus on. Paul couldn’t even continue to stir up trouble in prison. After two years in prison, the Way was still going strong and the Good News was continuing to be taught and spread to Jews and Gentiles. I’m reminded of what Gamaliel the Pharisee said in chapter 5 “My advice is to leave these men alone. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be over. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 25:10-13 — I think Festus had the same problem Felix had in chapter 24. “Because he wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people…” Festus, according to Paul, knew Paul had done nothing wrong. BUT, the opinion of the people meant more than the opinion of God.
Acts 25:19 — Their problem was “Something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is Alive!” Here in lies the problem. The Jews would have had NO problem if people would have said Jesus was a good man. A great teacher. A prophet. But if Jesus was alive, HE WAS THE MESSIAH. And if He was the Messiah it means they are subject to Him, and they didn’t want that. Still the same today. People don’t mind if He is a good man, a great teacher or a prophet. But if we make Him the Messiah there is a problem. People don’t have a problem with Jesus, until they have to surrender to Him. Sin, at its tap root, is selfishness. I’m on the throne.
With the risen Jesus,
Jeff
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