Hey Element Church! Today is the final day of our journey together. 28 days of praying, fasting and reading Scripture together. I hope this has been a benefit to you. I failed to post on Friday or Saturday my thoughts. Today we’ll lump all those together. Today’s prayer is “Lord, make us audacious!” We’re going to listen to a sermon by Steven Furtick today at church. You can check out Acts 26-28 online HERE. Here are my thoughts:
Acts 26:6 — Paul’s arrest and hatred from the Jews rested in his belief in the fulfillment of the law they were so adamant about. EVERYTHING in the Old Testament pointed to Christ. In fact, on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 Jesus explains from the books of Moses and ALL the prophets the promises he came to fulfill. Everything was set up for the Jews to experience the fulfilling of God’s promise to them, yet most of them missed it. Paul’s hope was in the fulfillment of those promises through Jesus.
Acts 26:7-8 — The Jews shared the same hope as Paul, they just didn’t believe it had come yet. And they didn’t believe because they believed Jesus was dead. I love Paul’s question in v. 8 “Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?”
Acts 26:18 — Paul’s purpose statement. He stated he was sent to the Gentiles to “Open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness unto light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.”
Acts 26:20 — Paul’s message wasn’t just to turn to repent and turn to God but to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. To live as if you’ve been saved. We need to take note of that.
Acts 26:24-32 — Great exchange of words between Festus, Paul and King Agrippa.
ACTS 27
Key verse of this whole chapter Acts 27:25 — The boat Paul was on was in a fierce storm and the men were afraid. Paul had received a vision the previous night from God that they would all survive. Paul says “So take courage!” WHY? “For I believe God.” THAT’S IT! We can have courage too WHEN WE BELIEVE GOD! Not believe IN God, but BELIEVE HIM. Believe what He says He will do in, for and through us.
ACTS 28
Acts 28:17-20 — Paul arrives in Rome and calls all the Jewish leaders together to address them. He tells them “I am bound with this chain because I believe that that the hope of Israel — the Messiah…” EVERYTHING up to this point ALL Jews would be ok with, “…has already come.” UNTIL THEN!
Acts 28:21-22 — They were at least willing to listen for all they had heard was that this movement as denounced everywhere. They hadn’t been poisoned yet by the Jewish leaders who were so opposed to Jesus. Ever noticed that the Jews who were MOST opposed to Jesus were the ones who actually knew Him? It was the Jerusalem Jewish leaders that hated Jesus. It was the leaders who experienced Jesus everyday, and the people they led, who tried to stop what Jesus did. And they tried to no avail. How many times I wonder, is it the church, WHO HAS JESUS, which tries to stop what Jesus is doing? WOW!
Acts 28:23-25 — Paul explained through the law of Moses and the books of the prophets about Jesus. He used the very Scripture they held hope in, to reveal their hope was fulfilled in Jesus. Some believed, others didn’t. What is our responsibility? To boldly preach the Word of God. To proclaim freedom for the captives. To offer Jesus who can turn people from darkness unto light, and from the power of satan unto God. That is ALL we can do. OFFER salvation. Some will believe, others will not. It is NOT our obligation to make sure everyone is saved. It IS our obligation to do our best to make sure that EVERYONE is given an opportunity.
Believing,
Jeff
