And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; Acts 18:9

While Paul was in the city of Corinth, obviously famous for his letters to the Corinthians, he became extremely frustrated. He spent every day preaching the gospel to the Jewish people hoping they would understand that Jesus is the Messiah. However even after all the evidence Paul presented to them from Old Testament scriptures, they would not believe him. Finally, Paul declared “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it, from now on I will go to the Gentiles”

Paul was at his breaking point of frustration trying to teach the Jews about Jesus Christ and decided to walk away. Many of us can probably relate to Paul with this, maybe not even in ministry. Have you ever tried to teach people something and they just were not getting it? This is what Paul experienced and he let it get the best of him

However God had a different plan, he told Paul to “Keep on Speaking, Don’t be Silent” See Paul might have been done trying to teach the Jews but God wasn’t finished yet.

for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:10

Paul might have felt alone, being rejected by many, but God was with him. Not only was God with him but God promised him protection. We are not alone either, when you are serving God, you are never alone. Don’t be silent about Jesus Christ, Keep Speaking!

Heavenly Father, give us the courage and wisdom to keep speaking about our Lord Jesus Christ, protect us from our enemies in Jesus Name Amen!

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; Acts 17:24

While Paul was in Athens he observed idolatry at its highest extent, the Greeks had manmade idols which they worshiped everywhere, they even worshipped gods that didn’t have a name. The Holy Spirit inside Paul was deeply disturbed by this false worship, which led to Paul to preach a power sermon about the one true God

Even in today’s society we have the same issues of idolatry worship as the Greeks had. We worship celebrities and make them gods. We worship professional athletes and make them gods. We worship musicians and make them gods. This is deeply disturbing to God and the Holy Spirit grieves inside us all.

Its important to understand all these modern-day idols are just mortal people, like you and me. They are all flawed and lost. None of them can save your soul, none of them can create the Heavens and the Earth, they will all let you down.

because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

There will come a day of judgement, who will save you? Will a celebrity redeem you of your sins? Only Jesus Christ can pay the debt for your sins, he is the only way to God. Don’t be misled by false idols and false worship, worship the only one who was anointed to save your soul, Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your grace and mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray the Holy Spirit convits and leads us away from false idols and worship, in Jesus Name Amen!

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten with rods , then thrown into jail for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. There charge against them was “throwing the city into turmoil” Imagine if you were going out to preach the gospel somewhere and the end result was being stripped, beaten, and imprisoned. How would you be feeling about now?

However we didn’t see Paul and Silas crying about there outcome, they weren’t organizing walkouts and marches, they were praying, singing hymns and praising God! What can we learn from the early Christian Church?

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

We need to learn that we are not in control, God is in control. So if we want things to change or work out, we need to give it up to God, and let him take control. This is exactly what Paul and Silas did, instead of complaining or plotting revenge, they worshiped.

To a non Christian this might sound insane, what kind of response is that? But because of Paul and Silas faith, God rescued them from the prison. Not only that because of the demonstration of there faith and the power of God, the jailer accept Jesus and he and his family were baptized also.  God took a dire situation and turned it into another victory for the Kingdom of God

Heavenly Father, we know you are in complete control, we pray that you lead and save us from our troubles and enemies, in Jesus name Amen!

“Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? Acts 15:10

When Jesus said “It is Finished” at the cross he took the yoke that was hung around our necks and took it upon himself. The fact of the matter is we are all sinners and if we were going to be judged according to the law our sentence would be death. However because God loves us and showed us mercy, Jesus took on the penalty of our sins and removed that yoke from around our necks

Grace has been misunderstood since the resurrection. Even today there are some “Christian groups” who have a hard time accepting Grace. The power of the blood of Jesus Christ, has broken every chain and set us free. The Pharisees would not accept Grace, they didn’t understand no matter how religious they were, they were wretched sinners just like all of us.

“But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” Acts 15:11

Peter declared we are saved through the Grace of Christ not the Law. This doesn’t mean Christians reject The Law but Christ has fulfilled it. We are no longer under The Law but Under grace. Because anyone who lives under The Law is cursed because nobody is righteous enough to fulfill it except Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father, we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ, who took on the wages of our sin and freed us from our yokes, Thank you for your amazing grace in Jesus Name Amen!

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Over the past few months our family has been under attack by Satan. My wife has had surgical complication that includes a staff infection, it will be a long road for her recovery and we continue to press on and trust in God to see us through. Our family has had other battles also, however the point of my post is not to unload all my complaints

When I was reflecting on the song “It Is Well” the message is no matter what happens to us physically here , Satan can never have our soul, unless you voluntarily give it to him. Satan is going to try and take his best shots, take our health, take our wealth, maybe even try to take our life, however our souls belong to Jesus, put your faith and trust in him.

Jesus said this don’t fear Satan or Evil, Fear the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, who is the only one who has the power and authority to destroy our soul. No matter how many punches Satan and his minions take on us, he cant destroy us! It is Well with My Soul because my soul belongs to Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father, we put our faith and trust in you, even during hard times we know it is well with our soul in Jesus Name Amen