Acts 16-18

Acts 16:1-10 – Paul’s Second Mission Journey Begins

Paul had the heart of evanglism.  He not only shared the gospel with the people, but wanted to go back to visit the towns to encourage and lead the people to be disciples.  He knew shallow faith would not sustain them.  There had been a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over Mark.  Paul felt Mark was unreliable since he had deserted them in the past and didn’t want to take him with them on the journey.  Barnabas wanted to take him, because he believed in giving second chances.  It’s a good thing God gives us second chances – even third and fourth chances.  The actions of both men ultimately moved God’s work forward spreading the gospel twice as fast to more people.  Later Mark proved himself to Paul by his ministry.  He also wrote the Book of Mark.

Paul took Silas, Timothy and Luke with him on his second missionary journey.  We know Luke went because he wrote the book of Acts and in 16:10 he says “… we got ready…” indicating he was with them.  How did the missionaries know where to go?  The Holy Spirit led them (Acts 16:6-10).  We learn God’s guidance when we listen to Him.  (Proverbs 3:6) “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” 

One way God leads is by opening and closing doors.  Paul was confident in his calling and he didn’t stop his journey just because the Holy Spirit would not allow them to enter Bithynia (Acts 16:7).  God spoke to Paul in a vision calling him to go to Macedonia.  He surrendered to God’s Spirit.  Are you surrendering to God’s Spirit?  Sometimes God says “No”.  Paul had that experience and was obedient.

Principle:  God’s way of leading is step by step.

Have you experienced God opening and closing doors? 

How alert are you with the Holy Spirit’s leading?  

Where do you need God’s direction today?  If Jesus is your Lord, all He asks is for you to do the next right thing. 

Acts 16:11-17 – 17:15 – Ministry in Macedonia

When they reached Philippi, they found Lydia and other women gathered there to listen to their teachings.  Lydia and her household believed and were baptized. 

Also at Philippi, Paul and Silas met a slave girl who was possessed by evil spirits and predicted the future.  Paul knew this was a danger to the word of God and commanded the evil spirit leave her.   Where God is at work the enemy is on a mission.  Satan can appear as an ally or with attacks.  When the owner of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and took them to the authorities.  They were beaten and put in prison. 

Is there an evil influence you need to get away from?

In prison they didn’t complain to God.  Instead they prayed and sang hymns to God as the other prisoners listened.   I can just picture Satan in a panic, because he knew God was at work.  Suddenly a miracle happened.  A violent earthquake shook the prison and the doors were opened and all the chains became loose.  The jailer awoke and was going to kill himself thinking the prisoners had escaped.  When he turned on the lights, he saw Paul and Barnabas still there and asked what to do to be saved.  Acts 16:31 - “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.”   This doesn’t mean if you believe, your household will be saved.  It means if you and you household believe, all will be saved.  The jailer was filled with joy because he now believed in God.  This is an example of how God uses good out of evil and how blessings can come through troubles.  When the Holy Spirit moves among people, there will be opposition by evil powers.

The jailor took them to his house, fed them and cleaned their wounds.  When morning came, the magistrates released them and they were told to go in peace.  Paul reminded them he was a Roman citizen and they had no right to treat him that way and they had broken the law.

Paul and Barnabas left Philippi and went to Thessalonica then to Berea.  In Berea they met with some of the same similarities as in previous places.  They always went to preach in the synagogue.  Some people believed and some agitated the crowns and stirred up people.

There were some differences though.  There the people received the message with great eagerness and even examined the scriptures to see if what Paul said was the truth.  That’s a great lesson for us all.  We should examine God’s word for ourselves and not just take the word of others as truth.

Principle:  God fulfills His plans in unexpected ways.

Acts 17:16-18:22 – Ministry in Athens and Corinth

Paul then went to Athens alone and waited for the others.  He was tired and greatly distressed.  His heart was probably crushed, because the city was full of idols.  This was the greatest city in the world, but the people were lost.  They were atheists and materialistic.  They were probably like the New Age movement today.  The people spent all their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.  There was an altar with an inscription:  TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.  The Athenian people were intellectuals and refused to accept the doctrine of the resurrection.  When they heard about the resurrection, some sneered, some refused the good news about Jesus and the resurrection; however some wanted to hear more and some became followers. 

Does that sound like some people today?  We all know people who are very intelligent and think they don’t need God.  They refuse to listen and accept the gospel.

Paul was prepared and gave them a brilliant message that God was sovereign and in control and that God commands they should repent.  In Acts 16:24-31 Paul gives the message of the foundations of Christianity:

God is a living person – verse 25.

God is not live in temples built by hands, but He created everything – verse 24.

God controls the universe – verse 24.

God controls geographical boundaries – verse 26.

God overrules historical events – verse 26.

God is not distant from His creation, but near to each person – verse 27

God can never be worshiped through statues or images – verse 29.

God commands sinners to repent – verse 30.

God will judge the world through Jesus Christ – verse 31.

Paul’s message is a model for sharing the gospel.  He started on common ground meeting them with compassion and connecting with them.  Then he focused on God and who He is, our Creator and His supremacy.  He shared the truth about sin and that God’s grace is greater than sin.  Then he told them to trust God for the results.

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  Many of the women were prostitutes and the city was considered “sin city”.  There the Jews opposed him and became abusive.  Paul said “…. Your blood be on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6).  God encouraged Paul while he was in Corinth by telling him “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).  God encourages us, too - through scripture and through our Christian friends with support, their prayers, and their encouraging words. 

How prepared and willing are you to speak to those around you?

How has His word encouraged you?

Principle:  God leads those committed to His truth to places His truth is needed.

Join me here next week for our study of the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11 – Faith Examples

This week study is on FAITH.  Like oxygen is air to nourish to the body, faith nourishes the soul.

Some call chapter 11 the “Hall of Faith”.  What is faith?  Faith is to have a confidence and assurance in something without having tangible proof.  The word faith is used loosely today.  Some people today think if you have enough faith in something, it will happen.  It’s almost like they will it to happen.  It’s really just wishful thinking.  Heb. 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Faith is belief, trust, loyalty to God.  Faith has action. 

True faith is belief in God and acting on that belief.  It’s having complete trust in God, His Word, and His promises.  It’s knowing that He is in control.  It’s trusting that He died on the cross for us and was raised on the 3^rd day.  Even demons have belief in God and tremble, but they are not saved.  It’s believing God created the universe.  It’s believing in God’s holiness and requires sinners to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins making Him their Savior.

Where does faith come from?  Faith comes from God.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9.

Saving faith is threefold:

1.       Content – Believing in something

2.      Warming of the heart – loving response to God

3.      Commitment – following after Christ.

Many in the Old Testament had faith.  This chapter gives us examples of true faith.

·         By faith Able offered God a better sacrifice.  God is holy and establishes a way man is to approaches Him.

·         By Faith Enoch was taken by God and did not experience death.  Enoch teaches us there is life after death.  He walked with God and was personally rewarded.

·         By faith Noah in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  He teaches us about the judgment of God.

·         By faith Abraham was called by God to leave his home and go to a foreign land.  By faith Abraham became a father in his old age. 

·         By faith Abraham obeyed God when he was told to sacrifice his son.  He trusted God’s word.  He believed God when circumstances seemed impossible.  God called him to go into a foreign land.   

·         By faith Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph lived and trusted God in His promises.

·         By faith Moses identified with his suffering people and chose to be with them instead of having the riches of the Egyptians.  He looked ahead to his reward.

·         By faith the prostitute Rahab acted boldly.  She was an unlikely person to be in the Hall of Faith.  She didn’t know much, but she believed and acted.  She was saved by her faith.  She became the mother of Boaz who was an ancestor of Jesus.

All these examples given of Old Testament believers were not admired in their time because of their faith, but were persecuted.  None received what God promised in their lifetime.

Principle:  Jesus is the superior object of our faith.

How is God calling you to believe what is hoped for and certain of what you do not see?

Does it give you hope that your faith could change the world like those in the Old Testament?

How would you describe your faith?

How would others describe your faith?

Hebrews 12 – Faith Tested

Chapter 12 tells us how to live our faith while our faith is being developed. 

God has personally marked our race in the line of faith.  Every race requires perseverance.  There are four steps listed that urge us to take to persevere in difficulties –

1.       Fix your eyes on Jesus – That’s our actions and our attitudes.  Get rid of everything that makes you doubt.

2.      Welcome discipline – This is not punishment, but acts of a loving parent training his child the way he should go.  If we are believers, God considers us His sons.  As a father disciplines a son, God disciplines us because He loves us.  He tells us to endure hardships as discipline.  It may be painful at the time, but it produces a beautiful harvest of righteousness and peace.  He is the King Righteousness and King of Peace.  His discipline develops our character like Christ.  Have you seen God’s discipline?  What refining process is He developing in you?

3.      Handle our relationships with others right – Reacting with people is a BIG ole life test!  Sanctification is not optional.

Trust in the promises of God.  Consider the Old and New Covenant.  “See that you do not refuse him who speaks….” (Heb. 12:25).  There will come a time when the earth will be shaken.  This refers to the great earthquake that will occur to end the present world and where God’s Great White Throne Judgment will occur.  “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 25:28)  Freedom and peace come by trusting God completely without fear, because of He is unstoppable and unshakable.

Is your life shaky? 

What do you count on for security?

What is hindering your faith? 

What does it take for you to further trust God?

Are you wrapped up in anger or unforgiveness?

Principle:  God is pleased when we trust what He says.

Hebrews 13 – Faith Expressed

Hebrews 13 gives us ways our faith can be put into action.

·         Be loving – Keep on loving each others.  Entertain strangers. 

·         Be sympathetic– Remember those who are suffering, those in prison, and those who are mistreated.

·         Be pure – Guard your marriage and be faithful to your spouse.

·         Be content – Keep your lives free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have.

·         Be loyal – Don’t be persuaded by false teachings, but stand firm in your faith. 

·         Be bold – Don’t be afraid to speak the truth and worry about what others may think of you.

·         Be worshipful – Praise God in all things.

·         Respect your leaders who speak the truth – Imitate their faith, submit to their authority, and be supportive.  Remember that Jesus is the real true leader and head of the church.

Principle:  Faith in Jesus equips us to do God’s will.

How can we grow in faith?

Ask God to increase your faith.

Focus on obeying God. 

Spend time reading and hearing God’s Word.

Spend time with other believers.

To sum up the book of Hebrews:  A life of faith pleases God.  Faith is reflected in our choices.

Trust that He is developing your faith.  May we become a cloud of witnesses for God. 

Jesus’ example of faithfulness is encouraging to us.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Heb 13:8.

Join me here next week as we go back to the study of Acts 15.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Hebrews 8-10

Hebrews 8 – Superior Covenant

The definition of a covenant is an agreement, a contract, a pact, or a treaty.  The first covenant had many regulations for the tabernacle and for worship.  Only the high priest could enter the inner room of the tabernacle once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins for himself and for the people.  These sacrifices were only a temporary fix and not able to cleanse the peoples’ consciences.    God said He would make a new covenant and put His laws in the minds and hearts of the people.  He would forgive them of their wickedness and remember their sins no more (Heb. 8:12).  This new covenant was Jesus.

The new covenant offers what the old cannot.  It offers eternal life.  Now we can go directly to God without a need for an earthly priest or mediator.  God says our sins will not be remembered.  How can God not remember our past sins?  - Because He chooses not to.  God is either the God of perfect grace or He is not God.  Grace forgets.  He who is perfect love cannot hold grudges.

How does the new covenant give you hope in your daily life?

If God has forgiven your sins, why do you still hold on to guilt?

Principle:  God’s new covenant promises believers a new life and new nature with His sufficient, sustaining grace.

Hebrews 9 – Superior Sanctuary

There were many regulations and limitations with the old covenant.  There were regulations as to worship and also an earthly sanctuary.  The tabernacle emphasized the presence of God in the midst of His people.  It was built in a particular way with an inner room called the Most Holy Place.  That was where God’s presence was.  The earthly tabernacle emphasized God’s holiness and His inaccessibility due to their sins.  No one could enter the inner room but the high priest.  He could enter only once a year and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people.  This had to be done over and over each year to cleanse their sins.  

Why was the shedding of blood necessary?  It’s the way the Sovereign God ordained it.  God cannot tolerate sin.  Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin.  He cannot just forgive sins because He is just.  Blood makes atonement for sin.  (Leviticus 17:11) “For the life of a creature is in the blood and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

The New Covenant is heavenly not earthly.  It is free from the ravages of time.  When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple which was the barrier between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was supernaturally torn in two.  This symbolized the way to God was now open through the death of Christ.   Christ became the High Priest.  He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood having died on the cross for our sins.  The curtain was torn and now people have access to God.  The curtain is Jesus.  His blood cleansed our consciences and through Him we have obtained eternal redemption.  By the shedding of His blood we are set free from our sins and have the promise of eternal inheritance.  “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” – Heb. 10:19-22.

Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of the people and He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting on Him. (Heb. 9:28).  He was our substitution.  He stood in our place.  This is the love of God.  When God sees us He doesn’t see our sins, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

How do you know with certainty you are in perfect standing with God?  Romans 8:1 “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Principle:  Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of His own blood provides our access to God.

How is this truth changing your motives? 

What does it mean to you? 

Hebrews 10 – Superior Sacrifice

The Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow of things to come.  They didn’t clear the peoples’ consciences or solve the sin problem.  They were a continual reminder of sin.  Jesus is the real thing.  Everything else is a shadow or a copy.  Only Jesus gives us access to God.  It is Jesus who saves.  Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all.  We now can enter the Most Holy Place, because of the blood of Jesus our Great High Priest. 

How can you apply this confidence to your life?  

            Draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.

            Hold unswervingly to the hope you profess for He who promised is faithful.

            Consider how you may spur others toward love and good deeds.

            Don’t give up meeting together with others.

            Encourage one another all the more as you see the Day approaching.

            Do not throw away your confidence when exposed to insult and persecution.

            You need to persevere and do the will of God so you will receive what God promised.

            Don’t comprise your beliefs.

There is one sin that cannot be cleansed by Jesus’ blood.  That is the sin of rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior.  When a person rejects Christ and His cross, he will face God’s judgment and spend eternity separated from God.  He will be in eternal Hell.  (Heb. 10:30-31) “… It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people.  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Principle:  Jesus’ superior covenant makes forgiveness of sin permanent.

God keeps His promises.  Forgiven forever is an amazing promise.

Do you know He’s gone through extreme measures for you?

Are you using your access to God?

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Hebrews.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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