Felix (Acts 24)

Towards the end of Acts 23 we’re introduced to a Roman procurator by the name of Felix. Acts 24 gives us a more in depth look at this man and his character. Here are some surface level facts we learn about him from Acts 24:

Surface Level Observations:

- A Roman Governor (over the region of Caesarea). Verse 1b, They brought their charges against Paul before the governor.

- Able to keep peace in his designated area. Verses 2b-3a, "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix.”

- Familiar with Christianity. Verse 22, Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way.

- A judge in charge of Paul’s fate. Verse 22b, "I will decide your case."

- Lenient on Paul. Verse 23, He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

- Married. Verse 24, Later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess.

- Curious about Paul’s beliefs. Verse 24, He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

- Fearful of what Paul said. Verse 25, As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

- Could be bribed. Verse 26, At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

- A Jewish people pleaser. Verse 27, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

These are just general observations. Next week, with your help, I want to go sub-surface into Felix’s character. So, I challenge you to read Acts 24 several times and deduct for yourself a character sketch of Felix. We’ll compare our findings next week.

*Also, I’ll be posting your findings into my blog next week. So, be sure to leave a comment sometime this week with what you find out about Felix.

Loving the Law (Acts 23)

Read Acts 23:12-22

In Acts 23 Paul once again finds himself amidst trouble. Listen as Luke describes a secret plan devised by some of Paul’s accusers,

When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this plot.

For Paul, the outlook is grim. This is a sobering situation. The Jews moved from trying to publicly remove Paul to secretly conspiring to kill him. The word oath that’s used here is the Greek word anathematizo, meaning to bind by a curse. This tells us just how serious theses Jews were about killing Paul. To make matters worse, they pulled the chief priests and elders into their devilish plan (v.14-15). The chief priests and elders were supposed to be the spiritual leaders of their day. But, now we find them conspiring and agreeing to break one of God’s Ten Commandments.

You shall not murder.

The Law was the very thing they were so adamantly trying to protect and uphold. Paul was seized and almost beaten to death by them for supposedly preaching against the Law. Luke writes in Acts 21:27-28a,

The Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all me everywhere against our people and the Law and this place.”

In Acts 23 we find them about to break the very thing they were so intent on protecting. The Law makes it very clear that murder is a sin, but now it’s all of a sudden ok. Seems there is a double standard here.

Sometimes I find myself loving God’s commandments more than God Himself. I find myself acting like the forty Jews. Striving to protect His commandments, but at the same time eager to break them to satisfy my desires. The truth is that it’s really a matter of the heart. The Jews who were persecuting Paul didn’t have their hearts in the right place (or Person). Even the Old Testament tells us that we should love God with all our heart, soul and might (Deut 6:5). They loved the Law like they should have loved God and when they placed their hearts in it; they couldn’t love God which meant they couldn’t really love others. The Law became an end for them. Jesus said,

If you love me you will keep my commands.

It’s interesting to note that our obedience to God starts with loving Jesus. So, we see in this verse that the Jews didn’t really love God, because they were about to break His commands. Had their love been for God, rather than the Law, things would have been different and Paul would have had forty new disciples. Instead he had forty men who loved the Law.

Here are some questions for you to think about pertaining to this:
- Why do you think the Jews (who were very zealous about the Law) were so willing to break the Law by murdering Paul?
- How would they have been able to justify themselves before God if they were able to follow through with murdering Paul? Could they justify themselves?
- Do you think it’s possible to be in love with God’s commandments (the Law) more than Him?
- What are the dangers in loving His commandments more than Him?
- Are there any dangers?
- What would a person’s life look like if he/she loved God’s commandments more than God?

Vacation

I'm going on vacation! The wife and I are going to St. Louis for the weekend. A city we have both been by, but never in. We'll be exploring it a little. Here's a little of what we plan to do:



1. Relax
2. See and go up in the Arch
3. Take a river boat cruise and listen to live jazz music.
4. Visit the zoo.
5. Check out the Historical Museum.
6. Do some more relaxing.

We're both very excited and have been looking forward to this for a while! The last time we vacationed alone was April 2005 (our honeymoon). I can't wait to have some time alone with my wife! Our jobs have kept us both very busy all day and sometimes even on the weekend. It's been a real struggle balancing work/personal time/time with wife/etc. I guess that's life though. So, hopefullly a little time off will help me keep things in perspective.

*I'll be back next week with an article over Acts 22 and/or 23.

I don't want to hear it! (Acts 22)

In Acts 22 we find Paul on the defensive against the Jews. Once again the Jews have incited the crowds against Paul. Their problem? They say Paul is teaching against their people, their law, and that he brought a Gentile into the temple (see Acts 21:28-29). So, Paul addresses them and tells them his testimony. He starts (v.3) with himself and where’s he’s from,

“I am a Jew born in Tarsus of Cilicia.”

Then he backtracks to what his life and thoughts were before encountering Christ,

“I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.”

He definitely had a passion for persecuting Christ’s followers. After this he talks about his Damascus Road experience (see Acts 9) and the change it brought in his life. Towards the end of his talk Paul begins telling the crowd about God’s plan for him (v.18-21). This is where things heat up. After Paul tells them that God has specifically sent him to the Gentiles, the crowd goes nuts (v.22-23). If you listen as you read this passage you can hear them yelling and screaming at Paul, “I don’t want to hear it!”

As soon as Paul talks about the Gentiles (and God’s plan for them) they get upset. I’m curious if we still act like that today. What do you think? Do you really believe the Gospel is for everyone? I think we have to keep a close watch on ourselves, because the media (and I’m talking conservative media) will lead us to think that some people aren’t worthy of the Gospel. Sometimes we (I’m guilty of this too!) tend to think that because someone is a Conservative Republican their every word and action are going to be Christian. But, that’s not always true! I’ve heard some call terrorists the most evil group of people on the face of the earth. Do you believe that? Aren’t we all born with a sinful nature that makes it easy for us to choose evil and be selfish? Labeling others as the most evil people on the face of the earth can change our view of them.

I just think we need to be careful with how we think of others. If not, we may end up like the Jews persecuting Paul, hands over ears and screaming, “I don’t want to hear it!” Maybe we need to read John 3:16 again to grasp who it is God loves.

Questions:
- Your thoughts?
- How do you view and think of people outside our country?
- How should a Christian view others?

Setting the Stage (Acts 22)

For me, studying the scriptures inductively is priceless. So, I thought I would share a little on how I go about approaching a particular passage for study. This is a little trip through my mind of how I start studying scripture. My purpose for sharing this is to maybe encourage you in your examination of God’s Word. It can sometimes be a very time consuming task, but very much worth it! I’m very unskilled and by no means have I mastered God’s Word, but I am learning so much about it by just reading it, re-reading it, and taking notes of what I read.

Take Acts 22 for instance, it starts off with Paul rearing up to defend himself. My first question if I were to only have read wActs 22 ould be, “Why is he defending himself?” To get a full grasp on his setting, audience, and reason for defending himself you must read Acts 21. This chapter sets the stage for Paul’s speech in Acts 22. In Acts 21 Paul is working his way back to Jerusalem, but if you look further back in the book of Acts (chap. 19) you will see it is here where Paul decides to go to Jerusalem.

Acts 19:21 reads,
“Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem.”

So, from Acts 19 we learn: Paul has purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Now, swinging back to Acts 21, where Paul finally arrives in Jerusalem, we learn about why he (Paul) is getting ready to defend himself.

In Acts 21 Paul visits the temple and is thought to have taken a Gentile (Trophimus) into it (21:26-29). Now, Luke makes it pretty clear Paul didn’t take a Gentile into the temple (v.29), but the crowd of Jews, who already have their minds made up about Paul (v.21, 28) and what they plan on doing to him seize him with hopes of killing him (v.31). After Paul is seized, the Romans break onto the scene and break up the beating (v.32). Then Paul appeals to the commander (v.37) telling him whom he is, where he is from, and he then asks if he can address the people (v.39). Now we finally have everything in place and we’re ready to look at Acts 22.

Hope this sheds some light on how I approach God’s Word. I also hope you are encouraged to really dig into God’s Word and learn for yourself what it means to discover His Truth!

Some Summer Goals

June has been a crazy month! Jr. High camp went well and I had a blast! This past week we’ve had district camp meeting going on. So, thought I would take some time to share some personal summer goals. Some of them are pretty ambitious and maybe slightly out of reach, but I like to aim high.

1. Start learning Hebrew. I’m exploring options for how to go about doing this on my own. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
2. Spend a lot more time camping. I love being outdoors, but if I don’t schedule time to do it, I won’t.
3. Do some landscaping around our house.
4. Catch at least twenty “trophy sized” fish. I love fishing and so far I’ve had a lot of luck with bass and bluegills. Biggest one so far has been a 13’ crappie.
5. Hike at least 50 miles of trails around Indiana State Parks.
6. Bike ride with my wife at least twice a week.
7. Play tennis at least twice a week.
8. Become better at basketball.
9. Memorize Psalm 63.
10. Visit some small Indiana towns.
11. Read 15 books.
12. Become a better communicator.
13. Finish some creative writing projects I’ve started.

I’ll let you know I did this fall. I’ll be back next week with another article on Acts.

A Disturbing Christian (Acts 21)

I’m going to be at Jr. high camp all next week. I’m going to be teaching a lesson on/about prayer (so I could use your prayers, also pray the junior high will learn something). So, this post will have to suffice for the next 2 weeks. That’s also why it’s a little long. Hope you enjoy and feel compelled to leave a comment.

Things are shaken up in Acts 21. Luke’s primary focus from here on will be on Paul and his troubling times (not that he hasn’t had any already), which begin in Jerusalem. Like Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8, the disciples will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (a process started in Acts and still continuing today). In retrospect, Paul stirred up a lot of division, especially in the Jewish community. His message about Jesus Christ brought both joy and anger.

Maybe I’m wrong to label Paul as a “disturbing Christian”, but looking over his life one cannot help but notice all the turmoil surrounding him. The man caused five riots in five different cities (Acts 14:19, 16:22, 17:5, 19:29, 21:30). Which brings up a lot of questions for us today. Jesus promoted a peaceful message, so why all the uproar and rage when we preach Him?

In the later part of Acts 21 a scuffle breaks out. Luke writes in verses 27-28,

“When the seven day were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, ‘“Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.”’

This was such a big deal that it caught the attention of the commander of the Roman troops (v.31). The commander and his soldiers were there to keep peace and order in Jerusalem. They would be in big trouble with the Roman Empire if peace and quiet weren’t kept. So, they have their hands full when Paul arrives and causes a ruckus. The enraged crowd in Jerusalem became so rowdy that they were about to kill Paul if it weren’t for the Roman soldiers breaking in (v. 31-32). So, Paul incites the Jews and the Romans (I’m sure they were frustrated too). Seems kind of disturbing for a man of God to be causing so much upheaval. Don’t you think so?

When you look back over Paul’s life from this point you see a man intent on preaching the Good News of God. He was commissioned by God to preach to the Gentiles, their kings, and the people of Israel (Acts 9:15-16). He was following God’s orders and passionate about it. He was also burdened for his own people (Jews), you can tell this by how he continually preaches/teaches in the synagogues of each city he visits. Which brings me back to this question: Why was he such a disturbance to so many in the world around him? He was preaching a message of forgiveness, hope, and charity. He wasn’t out to kill or start riots.

Maybe Jesus can help us see why Paul was such a “disturbing Christian”. Jesus spoke very clearly about a Christian’s relationship to the world and His kingdom’s relationship to the world. In John 17:6-19 He prays for His disciples and in John 18:36 He describes where His kingdom is from.

In verse 16 He says,
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

In verse 36 He says,
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

A good reminder of why Christians are sometimes a disturbance. We’re from another world (we’re born from “above”). We don’t belong here and the people who become angry with the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the ones who have made this world their kingdom. In doing so, they don’t recognize our King (Jesus), but theirs (Satan). Is that fair to say? In a way, we who are believers are like aliens from a strange planet visiting earth (bad example, I know). This helps shed some light on why Paul was such a disturbance to those around him. He was not of this world, but another. He preached a kingdom not of this world, but another. He called for a kingdom change amongst people (from Satan’s to God’s); change (big or small) is hard and unsettling when we meet it. It can be especially hard to those who have settled in and are living in this world. However, the Truth must be proclaimed.

Even though we are from another world, Jesus reminds us that we do temporarily belong here. He has us here to spread the message of forgiveness, hope, and charity in Christ. He says in John 17:15,

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”


Questions:
- How does being from another world influence the decisions you make?
- Does it all? Should it?
- How does thinking about being from another world make you feel?
- How should this truth (being from another world) affect the way we witness?
- Do you think this was the reason Paul caused such disturbances everywhere he went?
- If we’re not causing a disturbance (spiritually speaking) among the world around us, are we really proclaiming Him? Or have we become a part of this world too?
- Should proclaiming Jesus cause a disturbance every time?
- What are your thoughts?

My wife has put up another post if you're interested: Click here --> Trina's blog

Encouragement (Acts 20)

Acts 20 is a quick paced tour of Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul is all over the place preaching and teaching Jesus Christ. Two verses pop out in this chapter and move me to action. I’d like to share them with you.

Acts 20:1-2,
“When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good by and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through the area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people.”

Digging deeper in verse 2, we discover a gem of relevant Truth. Luke uses the Greek word parakaleo. Depending on what translation of the Bible you read, the word will be rendered as encouraged, exhorted, or to bring hope. I think if I could sum Paul’s ministry up in one word it would be, parakaleo. Here are some other verses in Acts where Paul or his companions encourage others (Acts 13:15-16, 14:22, 15:32, 16:40, 20:1). This is what the message of Jesus Christ was intended to bring to everyone! The relevancy here is all of God’s people have the ministry of encouragement to others. We’re constantly reminded throughout God’s Word to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13).

I imagine the early believers needed encouragement daily in their salvation journey. The persecutions, riots, stoning, imprisonments, and deaths of Christians were just getting started. For them, meeting together as the Church was necessity. What an honor we (the Church) have today! We get to continue the ministry of encouragement to others. Another opportunity we have as the Church to minister to the world around us. Think of those within your own churches who need a warm word of encouragement. Also, think of those outside your church who need a word of encouragement. If we, who are born from above, can't offer them encouragement out of Agape love, who will?

Here are some simple ideas you could try out to help aid you in the ministry of encouragement.

1. Write a thank you letter to your pastor for preaching Truth and encouraging you.
2. Write a thank you letter to your spiritual mentor thanking him for encouraging you.
3. Write a thank you letter to anyone who is indirectly involved in the service (i.e., janitor(s) who make sure everything is clean, a deacon who shows up early to unlock doors and brew coffee, nursery workers, the grounds person who mows and cleans up the outside of the church, and anyone else who puts their time and effort into the church.)
4. Tell an elder in the church you want to start praying for him each week and ask him for prayer requests.
5. Tell your pastor(s) you want to pray for them each week and ask for prayer requests.
6. Leave an anonymous letter for someone in your church encouraging him or her in their faith walk.
7. Leave an anonymous letter for your pastor (s) encouraging him or her in their faith walk.
8. Leave an anonymous letter for your Sunday school teacher encouraging him or her in their faith walk.
9. Tell your Sunday school teacher how much you appreciate their effort, time, and hard work they put into teaching.
10. Write a letter to a teenager in your church encouraging them in their faith walk.
11. Form a prayer group who prays specifically for the encouragement of others in your church.
12. Form a prayer group who prays specifically for the encouragement of its pastor(s) in your church.
13. Take notice of the interests of others in your church and show you’re interested in what they’re interested in.
14. Invite a family over for a meal and fellowship. Use this time to encourage them.
15. Call a person from your church and offer to pray for them.
16. Ask some of the elderly people in your congregation if there are any ways you can be of help to them throughout the week.
17. Share a favorite verse of Scripture with someone you see at church.
18. Share what God has been teaching you with someone at church.
19. Share some of these verses in Acts and tell whomever you are sharing with how God has encouraged you.
20. Make a list of all the people who have encouraged you throughout your life and send each one a thank you letter.

I’m sure there are many ways (not listed) you can encourage others. Be creative and do it! The thought only counts if you put it in action. Oh, please don’t think I’m advocating sending anonymous letters of discouragement. To me, there isn’t a more cowardly thing a person could do. Remember, we are to be building one another up in love (Ephesians 4:29).

*Also, my wife finally put up a new post! Check it out at www.Trinasheets.blogspot.com

Abusing God's Name (Acts 19)

Acts 19:13-16 tells a story of some Jewish men (seven sons of Sceva) trying to exorcise demon-possessed people by using the Name of Jesus. Apparently they thought uttering His Name would work like magic and do for them what they wanted. On one occasion the evil spirit inside a possessed man talks directly to them. It asks them, “Who are you?” The evil spirit even acknowledges it has heard of Jesus and Paul, but not these men.

What do I learn from such a story? A couple things:

1. When we are working with and for God (building His Kingdom), the Enemy is going to know us. The evil spirit remarked in verse 15,

“I know about Paul.”

The Enemy knew all about Paul and the good things he was doing for God’s Kingdom. Please don’t find this discouraging, but when we accept Christ and start living for Him, the Enemy marks us. They have every right because Their kingdom is at risk. So, expect an attack. This is why Paul asks us to suit up in spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:13-18. God has given us protection (thank you God!). He’s not going to force us each day to wear it, we have to put it on. This passage also reveals how the Enemy feels towards unbelievers. They care nothing about them. These seven sons of Sceva were on the Enemy’s side, since they were not confessed believers in Jesus Christ, they belonged to Satan and his kingdom, but, as we see, the demon doesn’t even know them (maybe he missed the memo that day). He doesn’t even know who’s on his own side, proof of the selfishness of demons and Satan.

Another thing I learn is...

2. God’s Name is holy. His Name is holy because He is holy. If you believe we serve a holy God you will show reverence towards His Name. People who throw God’s Name around in a phrase like, “Oh my God!” have no respect for God’s holiness. Reading this section in Acts might, I hope, change your mind. Going back to our story we discover that after trying to misuse God’s holy Name to drive out the spirit, it backfires on the seven sons of Sceva and they are badly beaten up by the evil spirit (v.16). After this, fear seizes the community and the Name of the Lord is held in high honor (v.17). If we’re misusing God’s holy Name, we could be inviting the Enemy in for such an attack. What do you think? God’s Name deserves respect. He deserves our worship?

*To see the amazing results and conclusion to this story read Acts 19:17-20.

Questions:

- What do you learn from this story?
- How do you honor the Name of the Lord?

Apollos (Acts 18)

Towards the end of Acts 18 we are introduced to Apollos. A man from Alexandria (Egypt) who Luke describes as…

“A learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

The arrival of Apollos in Ephesus was perfect in timing. Paul had just left and was on his way back to Antioch, so the Church in Ephesus needed help. Apollos was the helper (though we don’t know how long he stayed). According to Scripture, Apollos didn’t know anything beyond what John the Baptist had taught concerning Jesus (v.25). So, this meant Apollos was teaching about a Redeemer who would follow John. Apollos, no doubt, believed in Jesus Christ, he just didn’t know (in the word’s of Paul Harvey) the rest of the story. So, Priscilla and Aquila (knowing all about Jesus Christ) taught him Truth (v.26). After this, Apollos makes his way west to Corinth, so he can strengthen and encourage the believers there (v.27).

Luke introduces us to another character (Apollos) that had a dramatic influence, for the good, on those around him. However, Luke doesn’t give him a lot of press time (which is ok). Apollos is mentioned again in Scripture, but we don’t get to learn a whole lot more about him (he’s mentioned as helping out in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:6). Here are a few things I admire about Apollos from our brief encounter with him in Acts 18:24-28:

1. His knowledge of the Scriptures (v.24).

Even though his knowledge was lacking, Apollos was a smart man. I’m sure he knew the Old Testament (the Bible of the early Christians) up and down. He was very familiar with it and believed in the coming Messiah it prophesied about. Luke also tells us that Apollos, while he was in Corinth, was able to prove to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ (v.28). Apparently Apollos was a quick learner, or maybe I should say, the Spirit quickened his intellect. Christians need good spokespersons and the early Church in Ephesus and Corinth had one!

2. His excitement in preaching and teachings Jesus Christ (v.25, 28).

Though it’s not explicitly mentioned, one can deduct that Apollos was excited to preach and teach about Jesus Christ. Luke uses the Greek verb zeo in verse 25 (fervor) to describe the manner in which Apollos spoke. The Greek gives us the impression that Apollos was very zealous and passionate for the Lord. This guy was excited when he talked of God. Can the same be said of us?

3. His willingness to be taught (v.26)

Surprising as this might sound, Apollos still needed teaching and instructions. First off, he only knew of John’s baptism and the coming Messiah. He needed to be taught that the Messiah had come and was crucified, dead, and buried for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. After spending some quality time with the disciples, Jesus returned to the Father, but promised to send the Gift of the Holy Spirit to live in and through them (and us). This Gift would enable Christians everywhere to live a powerful Christ-like life. Apollos didn’t know this yet.

Another amazing thing in this passage is that Apollos submits himself to the teaching of a woman (Priscilla). Again, dabbling in the Greek we discover that Apollos spoke akribos (exactly, accurately, diligently) about Jesus Christ. He easily could have denied or rejected being taught anything more, especially by a woman, but he didn’t. A good example of how we as Christians should submit ourselves to one another out of love for God. Picture what would have happened if Apollos arrogantly walked away and did his own thing? I doubt he would have had such a positive impact on those around him if he did.

Questions:
- What do you think of Apollos being taught by a woman?
- What else do you learn from Apollos?

When God Speaks (Acts 18)

After Paul’s visit to the intellectual city of Athens, he made his way west to the capital of the Roman province Achaia, Corinth. Its location, a narrow piece of land connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnesian Peninsula, resulted in heavy quantities of land traffic passing through. Corinth was an interesting city, reading descriptions of it sounds like a promo for Las Vegas. One Bible dictionary described it as a city of wealth, luxury, and immorality. It was a busy city with a lot going on! What a peculiar backdrop to the preaching of Jesus Christ? If the name (Corinth) sounds familiar, it’s because two books in our Bible were written to the Corinthian Church (1 & 2 Corinthians). Here in Acts 18 we get to witness the start of the Corinthian Church.

At the beginning of chapter 18, we find Paul preaching Jesus Christ to the Jewish community (v.5) only to be persecuted (v.6). Big surprise! After boldly stating to the Jews, “Your blood be on your own heads!” (v.6) Paul enters the house next door belonging to Titius Justus. Some very good things follow according to verse 8 (Crispus and his entire household become believers as well as many Corinthians), but Paul was apparently still anxious and frazzled over the ongoing persecution aimed at him. However, God knew Paul and knew what was needed to boost his spirit. Listen to God as He speaks,

9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

Look at the encouragement in God’s message to him:

"Do not be afraid” Imagine hearing those words directly from God? This had to inspire Paul to continue his missionary work. Seems the popular 90’s slogan No Fear originated with God.

“Keep on speaking, do not be silent” Ah, to bask in the comfort and peace of knowing God approves of what you are doing and wants you to keep doing it!

“For I am with you” A subtle reminder of His omnipresence had to be warmly welcomed by Paul. If the Creator of the universe and everything in it promises to be with us, we can never face an obstacle too big. Remember that next time you find yourself in trouble.

“No one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city" To be given security from God that you are going to remain physically unharmed…wow! That had to be uplifting to Paul. Proof God can take care of our physical needs and protect us. Another bit of encouragement to Paul; he’s not alone. God claims He has many believers in Corinth.

God’s Word to Paul may have been the driving factor in why he stayed a year and a half in Corinth (v.11). The Holy Spirit, who started His work in Jerusalem, has now spread west to the core of the Roman Empire. I think the Romans should be careful and alert, because Something bigger, better, and stronger is moving in.

I glean from this passage that God knows us better than we know ourselves and when He speaks, it’s always encouraging. Maybe this was a down and out time for Paul, maybe he was ready to throw in the towel and call it quits. However, when God’s Word bursts in on the scene, things changed. Could this be what we need to be praying for today? Praying and asking God to speak to and encourage us. I believe His primary way of speaking to us today is through His Word (our Bible). Here’s something to chew on this week; if we never read our Bibles, how can we expect to ever hear from Him? I encourage you this week to open your Bibles and listen.

Questions:
- Have you ever prayed and asked God to speak to you?
- If so, what happened?
- How good are we at hearing God speak?
- Does God want to speak to us on a daily basis?
- Why or why not? What advice do you have to offer on how to hear God speak?

Waiting on God (Acts 1)

Have you ever been told to wait? It can birth feelings of frustration, impatience, humiliation, and invigoration. Even all four at once! Usually the emotions following waiting depend on what we’re waiting for. Some say, “I can’t wait to get married! I can’t wait to get out of school! I can’t wait in line, I’m an important person!” Despite who we are, we all find ourselves waiting. What is it about waiting that perturbs us humans? Yes, waiting for something pleasurable (like a gift) is a lot different then waiting to hear a doctor’s report on if you have cancer or not. But I’m not focusing on the thing we’re waiting for, but on waiting itself.

In Acts 1:4 Jesus tells His disciples,

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”

Some suggest Jesus is restoring His disciple’s faith by asking them to wait in Jerusalem. He’s giving them a second chance to not run off and desert Him like they did when He was crucified. Others say it was to fuel their desire and want for the Gift He promised. No matter how you view this, one thing remains…they had to wait. More importantly, Jesus asked them to wait. What? God asking us to wait? Seems kind of absurd! Especially since we live in a society drenched in instant this and instant that. Waiting just doesn’t fit into the picture here. Or does it?

Throughout the book of Acts we find people waiting. Numerous times we find the disciples waiting in jail (Acts 5:18, 12:5, 16:23), Paul had to wait to receive his sight back after his Damascus Road encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:9), and the Gentile Christians at Antioch had to wait to hear the verdict on if they were to be circumcised or not (Acts 15:1, 5). Waiting is everywhere! *Even before the book of Acts, in the Gospels, the disciples have to wait three days for their Savior to rise from the dead.

In our day and age people are cleverly thinking up new ways to make waiting shorter. We have drive-thru restaurants, drive-thru banks, and now drive-thru prescription pick-ups. Imagine your grandparent’s reaction to hearing that when it was first announced. Think of how frustrating it is when you have to wait in a drive-thru? (There has to be some irony here. The drive-thru was invented so you wouldn’t have to wait, right?) You know what I’m talking about. The guy/gal in front of you orders that “special burger” that takes 10 minutes to make. So, you’re forced into staring at their bumper sticker, which reads, “Proud parent of an honor student.” Or the other classic, “Proud parent of a kid who beat up your honor student!” Nevertheless, you’re left waiting.

I once heard it took all day to do laundry by hand, now it takes an hour or two. We can have dinner ready in minutes. That should give us at least an hour or so of extra free time from the normal time it would take to prepare a hearty dinner, right? With things working quicker and us not having to wait so much, you would think we would have more free time. Think again! I surveyed my own life during the week and I was amazed at how little free time I have. It seems every shortcut taken to save time was canceled out. Why? Because I kept filling my schedule with one more thing. The fact that we can do more things quicker only means we can do more things. It’s like I don’t want to have to wait around, so I busy myself doing something else. I try really hard to eliminate waiting in my life. Should I be doing that?

Looking back to Acts 1, I think Jesus was on to something when He asked His disciples to wait? Maybe there’s something to learn about God here. If Jesus deems it necessary to wait, then maybe waiting isn’t so bad. Jesus could have instantly given the disciples the Holy Spirit, but instead He asked them to wait. Maybe He was preparing them for the Christian life, which waiting is embedded in. How? As Christians, we all universally have something we’re waiting for. Maybe I should say Someone. The return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Someday (I hope it’s soon!) the waiting will be over. So, the next time you find yourself waiting, let it remind you of the hope we have as Christians. Hope in our Lord’s return. Let Him teach you in that sometimes frustrating, impatient, humiliating, and invigorating moment of waiting that He is one day coming back.


Questions:

- Do you cringe when you have to wait for something?
- What do you think God is trying to teach us by having us wait?
- Is there anything you have learned about God or life through waiting?
- Do you think it’s cruel that God sometimes has us wait for things?
- Why do you think Jesus told them to wait?

Investigating (Acts 17)

In the second half of Acts 17 we find ourselves in the secular city of Athens. Paul left Berea due to some Jewish followers who were persecuting him (v.13-15). Once again Jews enraged over his message of salvation through Jesus Christ followed him from city to city stirring up trouble. Tightening up his sandals, Paul is sent by the wise Bereans to the city of Athens to wait for Silas and Timothy.

In Athens, Paul encounters a city chalked full of idols. They were everywhere! The Athenians even went so far as to erect an altar to and UNKNOWN GOD (v.23) just to be sure they had all their bases covered. These people were serious about idol worship. He also runs into strong intellectuals who do nothing but talk about and listen to new ideas (v.21). Did these people have jobs? Imagine the intimidation factor here in trying to tell these people about Jesus the Christ? Paul doesn’t seem too nervy by this (obviously this is the power of the Holy Spirit working in his life). He squares off with them and tells them the Good News. The results? A few became followers (v.34).

One treasure I came across here was Paul’s investigation of Athens. Check out verses 16 and 23:

16 "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols."

23 "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."

He talks about “looking carefully” at their objects of worship. Basically, he did some investigation work prior to speaking and preaching to them. I find this so interesting because in our day and age it seems we (the Church) seldom know what others are really worshipping (by worship I mean – what they spend their time thinking about, the thing that raises their heartbeat and blood pressure, the thing that tries to fill their heart, and the thing they really love and admire). We tend to shy away and dismiss it as garbage that we should have nothing to do with. But the problem is some people are perishing because they embrace this “garbage” as truth. Then they come to us with questions about it and we are completely ignorant and unable to connect what they see as truth to God’s Truth. It’s essential that we connect God’s Truth to them. This is what Paul did in Athens. Their UNKNOWN GOD was about to be explained to them (v.23).

Imagine the scene if Paul didn’t investigate Athens? How well would he have been able to relate God’s Word to them? Do we take time (like Paul) to investigate what those around us are worshipping? Do we spend time researching their religious beliefs? This couldn’t be more relevant with the upcoming release of the DaVinci Code movie. Are we ready to answer the world’s questions after they see the DaVinci Code? Some will and have embraced this as truth. Have we researched it? Have we read the book?

I thought I would list some practical “investigation” steps to help us out. If you can think of any more I haven’t listed let me know. I’ll list them on here for you.

1. Get into the Word. Some good books dealing with false teachings are: Galatians, 1 Timothy, 2 Peter, and 1 John. Also, I encourage you to dig into the Gospels to check out our Savior’s own words over such matters.

2. Pray. God’s Spirit guides us into all Truth the Scriptures say (John 16:13). Ask Him to do that with your research. Ask Him to filter what you see and read to ensure you don’t get suckered into it.

3. Do some research on the internet. This is free! Some good sites to use that offer information and have links to other sites with information over false teachings are: Christianity today and Blue Letter Bible (Jehovah’s Witness, Mormons).

4. Check our your Christian bookstore. Most offer a plethora of books dealing with and addressing false teachings. Right now you can find numerous books on the DaVinci Code. Some are even discounted due to how many are available.

5. Ask your local pastor for help. He/She is smart, educated, and spent thousands of dollars on a degree (from a Christian school) that he/she would love to put to use! He/She might even have some books you could borrow to save money (just be sure to return them). She/He will point you into the right direction for help with such issues.

I encourage you to be informed. Ignorance isn’t an eligible excuse in our day and age. We are surrounded by information. Don’t let the Enemy keep you from learning about his ways because he sure knows about our ways. If you have any other helpful information let me know and I’ll be sure to add it to this post. Thanks and may God through the Holy Spirit prepare us for service to Him.

Checking it with Scripture (Acts 17)

I’m rather happy over all the fuss about the upcoming film The DaVinci Code and the re-discovery of the Gospel of Judas. Why? One reason is that it makes us Christians really examine our beliefs. We go over all the basics to make sure we know why we believe what we believe. We get into God’s Word more to ensure we can explain our beliefs from Scripture. It also has outsiders (non-believers) and idle Christians (non-believers?) interested in the Bible and what it really has to say. What an opportunity for the Church to respond in love and Truth!

In Acts 17:10-15 Paul preaches the Good News in Berea. Luke describes the Bereans as possessing noble character (v. 11). They listened intently to what Paul had to say and they checked his message (Greek = Anakrino; to investigate or examine) with their Bible (which would have been just the Old Testament) to see if it checked out. And as a result of the message being true many Jews, prominent Greek women, and men believed.

What an example they set for us today. When we come across absurd ideas or a supposedly “new” gospel that is going to change Christianity forever (ha!), we should be like the Bereans. We should check what’s being taught with the Scriptures. If it’s not of God, He will tell us through His Spirit and Word. I’m thankful for Luke’s account of the Bereans and how they responded to Paul’s message.

- Any thoughts?
- Do you methodically check every new strange idea that comes out with the Scriptures to see if they're true or not?
- Do you think it could ever be possible for Christians worldwide to be duped into believing a strange new idea? Why or why not?

Prayer (Acts 16)

Prayer plays a vital role in Acts 16. I notice each time Paul and his companions are headed to a place of prayer or praying, something supernatural occurs. Whether it is someone accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, deliverance from a demonic spirit, or a prison break including an earthquake, something miraculous happens. And in each of these prayer is involved.

Check it out for yourself:
- Acts 16:13
- Acts 16:16
- Acts 16:25

In v.13 Paul and his companions meet Lydia and her heart is opened to accepting Jesus Christ. I like the setting; outside the city gate and down by the river. (I love rivers!) If prayer wasn’t such a significant part of the disciple’s lives, they might have missed the opportunity to present Jesus Christ to Lydia. This all happened as they were headed to a place of prayer. Think about that. God opened doors for the disciples to speak of Him and He opened the heart of Lydia and her household to receive Him. A beautiful picture of God using prayer to transform lives!

In v.16 Paul and company meet a slave girl who is demon possessed. She, with the help of this demon, has the ability to fortune tell. (There are such things as fortunetellers.) Apparently the demon inside her knows what is living inside of Paul (Holy Spirit). In sort of a comical scene, she follows them around for several days announcing to everyone who they are and what they offer (v.17-18). If you have a hard time seeing this as bothersome, imagine someone following you around for three days announcing to everyone who you are and what you do. In the name of Jesus Christ Paul commands (Greek = paraggello) the spirit to leave the girl. It does and she is free.

In v.25 Paul and Silas find themselves in jail praying and singing hymns. They ended up here as a result of Paul commanding the spirit to come out of the demon possessed slave girl (v.19). This led to false accusations, a flogging, and imprisonment. Not a happy way to end the day. Despite the fact that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens (v.37) and eligible for a fair trial, they took the beating and remained focused on God. As they are praying and singing in jail a violent earthquake shakes the entire place. All the prison doors fly open and everyone’s chains fall off. (Powerful symbolism for what God can do in us when we accept Him!) To avoid execution from the Roman government for allowing the prisoners to escape, the guard draws his sword to kill himself. But, before he can thrust the sword into his flesh, Paul shouts out to him. Strangely, no one has escaped and it appears no one wants to. The guard is moved to accepting Jesus Christ (he and his whole family).

Look at the role of prayer in Acts 16. Paul and his missionary companions are either on their way to do it or doing it when something miraculous happens. This makes me want to evaluate how much time I spend praying. How often am I headed to a place of prayer when God intervenes and someone’s life is changed forever? I’m embarrassed to answer that question. What an inspiring chapter in the book of Acts on prayer. Time to get you thinking about prayer.

- How important is prayer to you?
- How important should prayer be to the Church?
- What percent of your time during the week is spent praying?
- Can a lost person be saved and come to Jesus without someone first praying for them?
- Any other thoughts you would like to share on prayer?

No! You can't preach Jesus! (Acts 16)

Acts 16 whisks us away with Paul and his companions on a second missionary journey. An immense journey taking them into Macedonia. (Modern day Greece. Where the disciples end up (Philippi) is located slightly to the southwest of kavala.) Paul recruits a young man by the named of Timothy to help out and he teaches him the ropes of spreading the Gospel (he’s discipling him). The author of Acts (Luke) also joins them (v. 10). But, something rather bizarre happens at the beginning of their journey. They are told by the Holy Spirit to not preach the word (v. 6-8).

What? Don’t tell someone about Jesus the Christ! Don’t tell someone about the life He offers! Don’t tell someone about the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Don’t tell someone about eternity in Heaven! I admit I read this passage slightly perturbed and confused. I thought we were supposed to preach and tell others about Jesus. You could go anywhere and do anything as long as you were intent on preaching Jesus Christ to others. And now I’m reading in God’s Word that the Holy Spirit told Paul not to preach Jesus to a certain group of people. Do you find this confusing?

This passage weighs heavy on people with the mentality that says, “I can do whatever and go wherever I want as long as I’m willing to tell others about Jesus.” This chapter in Acts is an in your face reminder that the Holy Spirit is our guide.

Listen to the words of Jesus: 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16:13)

What does a guide do? I do a lot of fishing. I have one of the greatest fishing guides ever and if it weren’t for him, I would be clueless at fishing. (Thanks dad!) He knows when and where the fish will be. He knows what baits to use and not to use. He knows the best times. He knows the best spots. He knows the rivers and how to navigate them successfully without tearing a hole in the boat. He has experience and he shares that with whom he guides. I’m better off because of him. A guide makes us better.

I use this example to illustrate how the Holy Spirit guides us. He leads us, makes us aware of things we might not normally see, and he keeps us on his intended path. And He really is a know it all! John 16:13 gives ample proof that we are to be followers of God. We don’t pave the way and ask God to follow us. We’re supposed to do the opposite. So, for any of you do-it -yourselfers out there who think God will just get on board with your plans, think again (and read Acts 16). He has asked us to follow Him. We may not fully understand the specifics of His ways and why He does what He does, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be a follower of Him. God wants people who are willing to be used and led by Him. I hesitate to write that because we see “being used” as purely negative in our culture. But, God uses us for good. He uses us to build His Kingdom.

Look at the good things that occurred as a result of God changing Paul’s plans and Paul letting God use him:
- Lydia, a wealthy dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira accepts Jesus Christ. She and her household were baptized. (v.13-15)
- A demon possessed slave girl was freed from the demon possessing her. (v. 16-18)
- Prisoners hear and witness the awesome power of God. (v.25-28)
- A jailer and his household accept Jesus Christ. (v. 29-33)

And to think, all of this happened as a result of these early disciples yielding to God’s leading. Followers led by a Guide (Holy Spirit). The above action takes place in the Roman city of Philippi. A major trade center between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. The Church at Philippi was a strong Church. Paul writes a letter to them (the book of Philippians) calling them saints and commending them in their hard labor for the spread of the Gospel (Philippians 1:1-8). God uses us for good.

Any thoughts on this?
Does this remind you of any experiences you’ve had with the Holy Spirit?
What do you think about God using us?
What do you think the world thinks about God using us?
*Out of my own curiosity: Why do you think Paul and his companions were kept from preaching in Asia and Bithynia?

Grace & The Wild Man

We took a break from studying Acts last night in youth group (had a topical lesson). So, I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you a story about God’s transforming grace. It involves a close friend (the wild man) and God’s way of transforming him (His grace & Holy Spirit). I’ll let you listen to his words as he shares his testimony.

“Hello everyone. For those who don't know me I am an old childhood friend of Tim (And can provide many embarrassing stories). I've recently come to the family of God these past two weeks, and the changes have been profound. Although he had been calling me for years I used every fiber of my being to resist him. My mission was to have fun and Christians don't have fun following all of those rules right? However, many signs were sent to me that couldn't be ignored which ultimately changed my life forever. Everything is so much sweeter through him, and life has definitely been more fun. A small army that has been praying for me the past 27 years supported this. I emphasize this point for those of you who have been praying for something you feel will never happen. The first major lesson I have learned is that I am on his schedule, he is not following mine. The second lesson is that I never want to lose this feeling. How many of us fall in routines in our daily lives, and it is so easy to make worship a routine. Reflect upon those first few weeks you became a Christian. It feels like a fireball is going to jump out of you because you want to tell the world about your newfound experiences with God. I already know that it's going to keep getting better, and I am anxious to see what he has in store for me.”
- Todd Spangler

So, for any doubters or skeptics out there, watch out. BEWARE OF GOD! Be very cautious, because you never know when or where you might encounter the living God. He has invaded our planet and is seeking us out. And He has the power to transform anyone; no one is out of reach for Him.

Conflicting ideas (Acts 15)

Acts 15:36-41 contains another awkward moment (there’s a lot of those in the Bible). It’s kind of uncomfortable having it in our Bible. Paul and Barnabas, both of which are godly Spirit filled men, have a fall out. Barnabas wants his relative Mark to go along on a strengthening trip with Paul. Paul objects on the grounds that John Mark earlier deserted them (Acts 13:13). Then, something rather odd happens. Paul and Barnabas have a “sharp disagreement.”

The Greek word used here for “sharp disagreement” is the word paroxysmos. Simply put, it means a heated discussion. So heated in fact, it led to Paul and Barnabas splitting ways (v. 39). Two Christian men who disagree over something so strongly that it caused them to split ways. Does this whole situation or conflict between these two unnerve you a little? It does me. But, like I said last week, I hate conflict!

For kicks and giggles: I found a great quote that goes along with this, written by Phillip Melanchthon.

“In essentials unity. In non-essentials liberty. In all things charity.”

Just some simple questions to throw at you this week:

- Do you think this “sharp disagreement” should have even come up?
- Who do you think was right in this argument?
- Who would you have sided with in this argument?
- Paul or Barnabas?
- Why?

*Side note: This may make you feel a little better about this whole situation. It seems this “sharp disagreement” wasn’t the death of Paul, Barnabas, and Mark’s friendship. Check out these verses where Paul mentions them: 1 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Timothy 4:11, Colossian 4:10.

Conflict (Acts 15)

I hate conflict and I have no problem admitting it. (Although I do enjoy watching it unfold in the lives of other people. I know, I’m sick.) Why is it that we can watch talk shows, reality shows, and any other type of media piece and get excited because something conflicting happens? Another confession: I think reality shows are boring unless there happens to be a fight (conflict) of some sorts taking place. There’s irony in all this (and maybe a seed of selfishness) because when conflict enters my own personal space I become livid and wish it were never there.

Acts 15 (Click to read) is one of those passages in our Bible that makes you scratch your head and speculate. “What was Luke thinking putting this here?” or “Why did God allow this to be placed in His Word?” Like the whole David and Bathsheeba story, truth is on display. If this portion of scripture never appeared, we might not have known how a Christian is to work things out when he is in disagreement with another Christian. Or how to handle conflict within our churches. We also see in this chapter of Acts that Christians can disagree with one another and work the conflict out. This passage also shows God at work in the hearts and minds of those who love Him (See Acts 15:28).

Here’s what I observed from this passage on dealing with conflict:

1. The issue was addressed and dealt with. (v. 2) Paul and Barnabas never denied the severity of the problem. But, more importantly, they never denied dealing with it. A lesson to be learned by all of us. When conflict arises deal with it! Especially conflict within the your church. Don’t shrug it off and hope for it to disappear, because it could cause rotting. For Paul and Barnabas, this meant going straight to the source (Jerusalem) of where the issue arose. They didn’t hesitate or wait around for it to just go away, they acted as if it were their main concern for the moment.

2. A solution was offered. (v. 19-21) Trouble was brewing for the Gentile Christians. Imagine hearing from your pastor that in order for you to continue being a Christian, you have to slice off a chunk of flesh from your body? And if you don’t, you’re going to be cast out of the church. If there were no solution to this and Sunday after Sunday you heard it, what would you think? You were just told by someone else that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:13). Now, something else has been added to that! You’ve been duped! Thank God the elders and apostles came up with a solution to the problem together. (See Acts 15:24-29)

Questions to consider:
- What are some ways you deal with conflict?
- How does that measure up with Acts 15?

Revival (Dr. Tom Hermiz)

No youth group last night. Our church was in a 4-day revival with Dr. Tom Hermiz (excellent preacher of God’s Word!). So, I thought I would share a little on that this week. Feel free to share your thoughts on it too.

Psalm 80:18b reads, “revive us, and we will call on your name.” Our church tasted revival this week. It was a magnificent time! It was a very sweet tasting meal for me personally. God brought me to my knees in a full surrender to Him. What a wonderful scary moment that was!

Revival is a much-needed event for the soul and Body of Christ (Church). In the words of one of our former evangelist, “It’s the nature of a fire to go out.” I notice this happens often after revival ends and the nitty gritty of life smacks us in the face. Our blazing fires dwindle down to a flicker (if it doesn’t go out completely) amongst the world. But, what if something is different this time? What if the fire doesn’t dwindle or go out but grows bigger?

PARENTAL ADVISROY
THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS GRAPHIC TRUTH
THAT MAY BE FRIGHTENING TO SOME.

What if in our search for God, we have actually discovered Him? We’ve discovered the God of the universe, the Divine Being who created everything, stars, planets, space, time, animals, oxygen, humans, and life. Is He not big enough to keep your fire burning? Before you answer skeptically consider our sun. Its been burning for at least 5,000 years (sustained by God). I believe God loves us more than that gigantic fireball in the sky. So much more that He would give us a helper (the Holy Spirit) to guide us, empower us, and help us to love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and, to love our neighbor as ourselves. He (this is scary) lives within us as the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Below are some practical tips I’ve received over the years and things I believe the Holy Spirit has taught me to help the revival fire continue to burn in my heart. Take them for what they’re worth. If you have any others be sure to let everyone else know about them.

Post-revival advice:

- Stay involved in Church. Make attending Church a priority in your life. No matter the cost, be there. Maybe you need to make some adjustments in your work schedule, don’t hesitate but do what needs to be done to ensure you can attend. I think there’s a direct connection between fires dwindling in our hearts and how involved we are with Church. Look at what happened because you attended church for revival. Maybe you only made it 1-2 nights, but evaluate how it made you feel and the change that took place because you were there.

- Stay involved in God’s Word. Do not let your Bible collect dust. Open it up and read it. Even if you don’t understand fully what you are reading…read it! I believe things happen when we read God’s Word with a desire to know Him better. Things I can’t explain logically. Things like, the Word entering our lives and sticking to our hearts, sticking in our minds, reminding us of our hope in Jesus Christ, and giving us a godly zeal for holiness. Remember what Jesus said about the Word of God? “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

- Stay involved with the Truth. Just because you don’t feel like you did when revival was happening doesn’t mean the fire has gone out. A lot of us base faith on our feelings. So, naturally we’re up and down and all over the map spiritually. Why? Because that’s what our feelings do. But, I challenge you to trust in the facts. Trust in God’s Word. Base faith on the Rock. And I’m talking about Jesus Christ! What does He tell you? Does He suggest that because you don’t feel like a Christian that you aren’t? No! Does He suggest that because you don’t feel happy that you aren’t in love and sold out to Him? No! Does He suggest that because you don’t fully understand terminology like sanctification, progressive sanctification, and entire sanctification that it hasn’t occurred or is occurring in your life? No! He does say, “Whoever believes in me will not perish but have eternal life.” That’s Truth!

(Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 for another dose of absolute Truth!)

Once again I don’t claim this list to be comprehensive and I know there are a million more ways and things to do to keep the revival fire burning in our hearts. Maybe some of you would testify to your revival experience(s). Thanks for reading and I encourage you to support your local church with your time, talents, and money.