Posts
timewithgod.blog-city.com — October 2010
Acts 11 -- More Than Just Preachers Needed
When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he had some explaining to do: "How could you have entered the home of a Gentile?? How could you eat with them? And you seem to think you have converted them??" His accusers wrongl
When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he had some explaining to do: "How could you have entered the home of a Gentile?? How could you eat with them? And you seem to think you have converted them??"
His accusers wrongly believed that first people had to convert to Judaism before they could be saved. Peter recounted all that had occurred with Cornelius, and then masterfully added: "Since God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?" No one could dare to argue with him, and that was a good thing that helped avoid many problems over what would happen next.
In Antioch, the small church there began to grow. Many non-Jews were being saved: "The Lord was helping the believers, and a large group of people believed and turned to the Lord." Barnabas and Saul ended up spending a year there working with that church. The lack of "named ministers" at this church was discussed in my commentary: "How tragic that in the average church the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit lie dormant and latent, because the average believer has no opportunity to minister. As long as every little group of believers has a paid pastor to take care of them, there is one thing certain, and that is, the world will never be evangelized. Thank God for all the voluntary ... Sunday School and Bible class teachers and so-called laymen."
One of our biggest mistakes today can be in depending solely on paid ministers to do the work of evangelism. We are all called to be His witnesses.
Father, help me to do more with evangelism. I love teaching and thank You for the opportunity. But expand my horizons in evangelism!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
His accusers wrongly believed that first people had to convert to Judaism before they could be saved. Peter recounted all that had occurred with Cornelius, and then masterfully added: "Since God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stop the work of God?" No one could dare to argue with him, and that was a good thing that helped avoid many problems over what would happen next.
In Antioch, the small church there began to grow. Many non-Jews were being saved: "The Lord was helping the believers, and a large group of people believed and turned to the Lord." Barnabas and Saul ended up spending a year there working with that church. The lack of "named ministers" at this church was discussed in my commentary: "How tragic that in the average church the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit lie dormant and latent, because the average believer has no opportunity to minister. As long as every little group of believers has a paid pastor to take care of them, there is one thing certain, and that is, the world will never be evangelized. Thank God for all the voluntary ... Sunday School and Bible class teachers and so-called laymen."
One of our biggest mistakes today can be in depending solely on paid ministers to do the work of evangelism. We are all called to be His witnesses.
Father, help me to do more with evangelism. I love teaching and thank You for the opportunity. But expand my horizons in evangelism!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 12 -- Am I Being An Unbelieving Believer?
It must have been a scary time for the believers. James, the brother of John, had been killed by King Herod, who though appointed by the Romans to his post, yet observed the law of Moses. He wanted to keep his subjects under control by pl
It must have been a scary time for the believers. James, the brother of John, had been killed by King Herod, who though appointed by the Romans to his post, yet observed the law of Moses. He wanted to keep his subjects under control by pleasing them, and seeing the response to James' death, he decided to arrest and kill Peter, too. The Feast Of Unleavened Bread led to a delay in the execution.
Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers working in shifts of four, with one sleeping on either side of him, handcuffed to each arm. Despite this fact, an angel of the Lord spirited him out of the prison, and he headed to John Mark's mother's house, which was serving as a house of prayer for his safe return.
The girl who answered the door by calling out, asking who was there, left Peter standing outside, exposed to potential arrest, due to her excitement over his release, while she ran to tell the others. These people who'd been asking God for Peter's release called her crazy for announcing that their prayers had been answered. My commentary said, "We should be greatly comforted that God answers such faithless prayers. We all then dot be unbelieving believers."
Father, I've seen You answer so many prayers. Even the smallest ones You see to take care of quickly. Yet sometimes when the request seems huge, and I feel that the answer may run somewhat counter to Your will, I know that I find myself as somewhat of an unbelieving believer, simply because I preface my request with it being in Your will. Yet You call us to be bold before Your throne. So, Father, help me to ask according to Your riches, not coming to You as an orphan or a pauper, but as a child of the King, fully believing that You have both the capacity AND the willingness to do whatever I ask. I don't want to have to be surprised, as these people were, when my biggest prayer requests are filled!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Peter was guarded by 16 soldiers working in shifts of four, with one sleeping on either side of him, handcuffed to each arm. Despite this fact, an angel of the Lord spirited him out of the prison, and he headed to John Mark's mother's house, which was serving as a house of prayer for his safe return.
The girl who answered the door by calling out, asking who was there, left Peter standing outside, exposed to potential arrest, due to her excitement over his release, while she ran to tell the others. These people who'd been asking God for Peter's release called her crazy for announcing that their prayers had been answered. My commentary said, "We should be greatly comforted that God answers such faithless prayers. We all then dot be unbelieving believers."
Father, I've seen You answer so many prayers. Even the smallest ones You see to take care of quickly. Yet sometimes when the request seems huge, and I feel that the answer may run somewhat counter to Your will, I know that I find myself as somewhat of an unbelieving believer, simply because I preface my request with it being in Your will. Yet You call us to be bold before Your throne. So, Father, help me to ask according to Your riches, not coming to You as an orphan or a pauper, but as a child of the King, fully believing that You have both the capacity AND the willingness to do whatever I ask. I don't want to have to be surprised, as these people were, when my biggest prayer requests are filled!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 13 -- Serving His Purpose
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation ..." David's purpose appears to have been to be the ancestor of Jesus. The Jews venerated and honored David for unifying the nation and leading it.
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation ..."
David's purpose appears to have been to be the ancestor of Jesus. The Jews venerated and honored David for unifying the nation and leading it. God called David a man after His own heart - a man who was willing to submit his life to God's purposes. What was the result of that life lived for God's purposes?
"Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus EVERYONE who believes is free from all sins ... You can wonder, and then die. [God] will do something in your lifetime that you won't believe even when you are told about it!"
I believe every person searches for meaning in their life. "What am I here for?" seems to be our soul cry. David got his answer - "to be the ancestor of the Savior." Mine? "To be a father to two orphans" seems to be the focus God's given me now, but who knows what God could ultimately be up to? David's answer was centuries down the line. I have a charge to keep ... and this side of heaven I may not know the full impact of fulfilling God's purpose in my life, but He knows, and someday He will show me. I want to live my life in such a way that only two words from Him will be enough - "Well done."
Father, please continue to point me along the path of Your purpose and will for my life. Help me to be the father You have in mind for my boys. Show me also how to be a father to others who need me, too. I want to be in the center of Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
David's purpose appears to have been to be the ancestor of Jesus. The Jews venerated and honored David for unifying the nation and leading it. God called David a man after His own heart - a man who was willing to submit his life to God's purposes. What was the result of that life lived for God's purposes?
"Brothers, understand what we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus. The law of Moses could not free you from your sins. But through Jesus EVERYONE who believes is free from all sins ... You can wonder, and then die. [God] will do something in your lifetime that you won't believe even when you are told about it!"
I believe every person searches for meaning in their life. "What am I here for?" seems to be our soul cry. David got his answer - "to be the ancestor of the Savior." Mine? "To be a father to two orphans" seems to be the focus God's given me now, but who knows what God could ultimately be up to? David's answer was centuries down the line. I have a charge to keep ... and this side of heaven I may not know the full impact of fulfilling God's purpose in my life, but He knows, and someday He will show me. I want to live my life in such a way that only two words from Him will be enough - "Well done."
Father, please continue to point me along the path of Your purpose and will for my life. Help me to be the father You have in mind for my boys. Show me also how to be a father to others who need me, too. I want to be in the center of Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 14 -- What Might Be Useless In MY Life?
Paul and Barnabas knew what to do and when to do it. My commentary says, "The guiding principle in Acts is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. These men lived in close, intimate communion with the Lord. Abiding in Him, they receiv
Paul and Barnabas knew what to do and when to do it. My commentary says, "The guiding principle in Acts is the guidance of the Holy Spirit. These men lived in close, intimate communion with the Lord. Abiding in Him, they received marvelous communications of the divine mind and will." Oh, that every believer today could manage that!
In one city, their healing of a man who'd been unable to walk since birth caused the people to think they were Greek gods who'd come down from above. This grated on their souls, for no Christian worker should ever want people to center their spiritual attention on the worker - only on Christ.
Suddenly those same people adoring them had decided to murder them. My commentary explains that when people are ready to pay homage, the refusal of it really offends them. This leads them to hate the very person they were about to worship!
Finally, it's amazing how churches picked up and grew properly with such a small amount of spiritual training back then. My commentary says, "The answer ultimately lies in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit of God. The power was manifest in the lives of men like Paul and Barnabas. Everywhere they went they exerted a mighty influence for God. People detected reality in their lives. Their public preaching was backed up by the example of their own lives, and the influence of this twofold testimony was incalculable.
Father, the closeness with You through the Holy Spirit that these men lived out is what I really want - to be able to see those around me through Your eyes. To see Your will in everything that happens. Paul was telling them to "turn away from these worthless things" in order to commune with Him. Father, help me to examine my life, determine what those useless things are that I'm holding onto, and to let them go. They only get in the way of the communion I want with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
In one city, their healing of a man who'd been unable to walk since birth caused the people to think they were Greek gods who'd come down from above. This grated on their souls, for no Christian worker should ever want people to center their spiritual attention on the worker - only on Christ.
Suddenly those same people adoring them had decided to murder them. My commentary explains that when people are ready to pay homage, the refusal of it really offends them. This leads them to hate the very person they were about to worship!
Finally, it's amazing how churches picked up and grew properly with such a small amount of spiritual training back then. My commentary says, "The answer ultimately lies in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit of God. The power was manifest in the lives of men like Paul and Barnabas. Everywhere they went they exerted a mighty influence for God. People detected reality in their lives. Their public preaching was backed up by the example of their own lives, and the influence of this twofold testimony was incalculable.
Father, the closeness with You through the Holy Spirit that these men lived out is what I really want - to be able to see those around me through Your eyes. To see Your will in everything that happens. Paul was telling them to "turn away from these worthless things" in order to commune with Him. Father, help me to examine my life, determine what those useless things are that I'm holding onto, and to let them go. They only get in the way of the communion I want with You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 15 -- Contentious Issues
"We've always done it this way - make them change!" vs. "What would Jesus do?" Those who'd been raised as Jews and who'd struggled their whole lives, unable to keep all of the commands were trying to pull the
"We've always done it this way - make them change!" vs. "What would Jesus do?"
Those who'd been raised as Jews and who'd struggled their whole lives, unable to keep all of the commands were trying to pull the new non-Jewish Christians into that same burden. Those who had travelled to Antioch demanding this concession had not consulted with the Jerusalem church before doing so. They'd simply made up their own minds and headed out. The discussion was long, it says. I think I would have hated to have been there, for it surely got heated. There were some undeniable facts: Non-Jews had received the Holy Spirit and were not circumcised at the time that they had. Their hearts had been purified by the Holy Spirit. And demanding adherence to Jewish law would result in a gospel of "grace-plus". Jesus' death on the cross wouldn't haven bee enough. Led by the Holy Spirit, the apostles even wisely found Scriptures that supported the fact that non-Jewish nations would come to God, and not as Jews.
Some may be tempted to complain that the few requirements the apostles did make amounted to just that (grace-plus), but my commentary explained that this advice "had nothing to do with salvation. That issue had already been settled. But this advice had to do with fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers."
The prohibition regarding things strangled and eating blood went back to God's covenant with Noah, before Jews had become a separate people, so it applied to all humans. The one on food sacrificed to idols could prove a stumbling block to weak Jewish Christians. The command to abstain from sexual immorality had never been revoked in the Bible, and it applies to all humans as well.
Father, there have been times in our own church's business meetings where discussion had become intense about matters that would have seemed trivial to the apostles. I pray that the Holy Spirit will rule over our meetings, giving wisdom to all of us, helping us to not let the trivial become roadblocks to fellowship. Don't let us major on the minors.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Those who'd been raised as Jews and who'd struggled their whole lives, unable to keep all of the commands were trying to pull the new non-Jewish Christians into that same burden. Those who had travelled to Antioch demanding this concession had not consulted with the Jerusalem church before doing so. They'd simply made up their own minds and headed out. The discussion was long, it says. I think I would have hated to have been there, for it surely got heated. There were some undeniable facts: Non-Jews had received the Holy Spirit and were not circumcised at the time that they had. Their hearts had been purified by the Holy Spirit. And demanding adherence to Jewish law would result in a gospel of "grace-plus". Jesus' death on the cross wouldn't haven bee enough. Led by the Holy Spirit, the apostles even wisely found Scriptures that supported the fact that non-Jewish nations would come to God, and not as Jews.
Some may be tempted to complain that the few requirements the apostles did make amounted to just that (grace-plus), but my commentary explained that this advice "had nothing to do with salvation. That issue had already been settled. But this advice had to do with fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers."
The prohibition regarding things strangled and eating blood went back to God's covenant with Noah, before Jews had become a separate people, so it applied to all humans. The one on food sacrificed to idols could prove a stumbling block to weak Jewish Christians. The command to abstain from sexual immorality had never been revoked in the Bible, and it applies to all humans as well.
Father, there have been times in our own church's business meetings where discussion had become intense about matters that would have seemed trivial to the apostles. I pray that the Holy Spirit will rule over our meetings, giving wisdom to all of us, helping us to not let the trivial become roadblocks to fellowship. Don't let us major on the minors.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 16 -- They Must KNOW That They Are Lost
A poor jailer was just punching the clock and doing his job in the Roman colony of Philippi - one of the jumping-off places the Roman empire had established leading from Europe into Asia. Paul and Silas had been preaching in that city and had b
A poor jailer was just punching the clock and doing his job in the Roman colony of Philippi - one of the jumping-off places the Roman empire had established leading from Europe into Asia. Paul and Silas had been preaching in that city and had been ordered to jail without a trial for having cast out an evil spirit from a girl. This good deed had resulted in their arrest because in performing it, they had robbed her owners of their livelihood, for she foretold the future. When they'd arrived in the city, she'd begun to follow them around, led by the evil spirit, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God. They are telling you how you can be saved." What was wrong with that? My commentary said the devil will try false friendship to get us off track, and Christians should not consort with the devil.
It seems wrong from them to have gotten beaten and put in jail for casting out a demon. This just goes to prove the need for God in that area! The government was corrupt.
Now the jailer, unsuspecting of their mission I suppose, does his duty and places them in stocks in the farthest reaches of the jail. A God-sent earthquake opened every door and their stocks as well, but did not destroy the building! The poor jailer assumed that every prisoner had escaped and that he'd pay for it with his life! So he decided to kill himself before others did. But Paul called out to stop him, showing him that every prisoner was accounted for. The jailer was so shaken up by this that he became convicted of his own sin and asked, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" Paul's simple reply was, "Believe in the Lord Jesus ..."
My commentary says that the jailer's question must be asked by everyone seeking conversion. "A man must know that he is lost before he can be saved. It is premature to tell a man how to be saved until first he can say from his heart, "I truly deserve to go to hell."
Father, Satan can cause us to think we are better than we are. When he does, he's keeping us from You. Help me to be able to convey in a loving way this truth to others - that but for Your grace, we are all hell-bound. Then allow me the privilege of introducing them to Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
It seems wrong from them to have gotten beaten and put in jail for casting out a demon. This just goes to prove the need for God in that area! The government was corrupt.
Now the jailer, unsuspecting of their mission I suppose, does his duty and places them in stocks in the farthest reaches of the jail. A God-sent earthquake opened every door and their stocks as well, but did not destroy the building! The poor jailer assumed that every prisoner had escaped and that he'd pay for it with his life! So he decided to kill himself before others did. But Paul called out to stop him, showing him that every prisoner was accounted for. The jailer was so shaken up by this that he became convicted of his own sin and asked, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" Paul's simple reply was, "Believe in the Lord Jesus ..."
My commentary says that the jailer's question must be asked by everyone seeking conversion. "A man must know that he is lost before he can be saved. It is premature to tell a man how to be saved until first he can say from his heart, "I truly deserve to go to hell."
Father, Satan can cause us to think we are better than we are. When he does, he's keeping us from You. Help me to be able to convey in a loving way this truth to others - that but for Your grace, we are all hell-bound. Then allow me the privilege of introducing them to Your Son.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 17 -- Paul At Mars Hill
Paul preached in several cities, often hurried out of town by trouble from the Jews residing there. He came to Athens, though, and spent enough time there that he was able to find a "hook" to reel them in. The city probably had
Paul preached in several cities, often hurried out of town by trouble from the Jews residing there. He came to Athens, though, and spent enough time there that he was able to find a "hook" to reel them in. The city probably had more idols than residents and prided itself on its intellectual advancement and open-mindedness.
When Paul heard some of the residents discussing his preaching and saying that he seemed to be telling about other gods, he found a point of contact he could use to initiate discussions about God and about Christ.
The sidebar in my Bible, by Charles Colson, used the illustration of taking to a Hindu, for instance. It helps immensely to know something about Hindus and their beliefs in order to establish a dialogue with them. At Mars Hill, Paul spoke about walking through their city, seeing all the idols, and then finding an altar "To a God who is not known." He said, "This is the God I've been telling you about!" Their interest was piqued. He also complimented them on being "very religious in all things." This further served to cause them to have heightened interest in what Paul was saying.
God showed me this same thing years ago, and I always try to begin any teaching session with some new "hook" that I know those listening will be familiar with and that will pique their interest. God designed our minds to engage a subject that we have an interest in, and after all, it is God who places the desires within our hearts which will both lead us to him and eventually lead us to areas in which He wants our service.
Father, thank You that this isn't a marketing pitch, as the world might say, but instead a method of tapping into what You already know is in the hearts of those You desire to draw to Yourself. Continue to help me understand those hearts and draw them closer to You. I treasure this work You have me doing!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
When Paul heard some of the residents discussing his preaching and saying that he seemed to be telling about other gods, he found a point of contact he could use to initiate discussions about God and about Christ.
The sidebar in my Bible, by Charles Colson, used the illustration of taking to a Hindu, for instance. It helps immensely to know something about Hindus and their beliefs in order to establish a dialogue with them. At Mars Hill, Paul spoke about walking through their city, seeing all the idols, and then finding an altar "To a God who is not known." He said, "This is the God I've been telling you about!" Their interest was piqued. He also complimented them on being "very religious in all things." This further served to cause them to have heightened interest in what Paul was saying.
God showed me this same thing years ago, and I always try to begin any teaching session with some new "hook" that I know those listening will be familiar with and that will pique their interest. God designed our minds to engage a subject that we have an interest in, and after all, it is God who places the desires within our hearts which will both lead us to him and eventually lead us to areas in which He wants our service.
Father, thank You that this isn't a marketing pitch, as the world might say, but instead a method of tapping into what You already know is in the hearts of those You desire to draw to Yourself. Continue to help me understand those hearts and draw them closer to You. I treasure this work You have me doing!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 18 -- Knowing When To Quit
Despite all that Paul was given to say to the Jews in Corinth, they refused to accept his teaching about Christ. He finally said to them, "If you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do!" Some
Despite all that Paul was given to say to the Jews in Corinth, they refused to accept his teaching about Christ. He finally said to them, "If you are not saved, it will be your own fault! I have done all I can do!"
Some might criticize Paul for giving up too quickly on those who needed to hear the Gospel. In my commentary, I read of blood-guiltiness: "The Christian is a debtor [owes something] to all men. If he fails to discharge that debt by proclaiming the gospel, God will hold him responsible. If, on the other hand, he faithfully witnesses for Christ and meets with stubborn refusal, then he himself is free from guilt, and the responsibility rests with the Christ-rejecter."
Paul had done all that he could do, and the Holy Spirit had shown him that the Jews there were not going to change their minds. I've seen that happen several times over the years, where we'll lose a youth who we've tried desperately to lead to Christ. It is never a good feeling to, in effect, write someone off, but God tells us that our responsibility is to plant the seed. Others may later water it.
My commentary did make this observation about the one who refuses to believe: "To reject the gospel is ultimately to oppose ONESELF. The unbeliever harms no one so much as himself."
Father, help me to do my best to pay my debt to my fellow man by telling them about what You have done for me through the death of Your Son on the cross. Help my story to lead others to You. When someone absolutely refuses, let me know when it's time to move on.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Some might criticize Paul for giving up too quickly on those who needed to hear the Gospel. In my commentary, I read of blood-guiltiness: "The Christian is a debtor [owes something] to all men. If he fails to discharge that debt by proclaiming the gospel, God will hold him responsible. If, on the other hand, he faithfully witnesses for Christ and meets with stubborn refusal, then he himself is free from guilt, and the responsibility rests with the Christ-rejecter."
Paul had done all that he could do, and the Holy Spirit had shown him that the Jews there were not going to change their minds. I've seen that happen several times over the years, where we'll lose a youth who we've tried desperately to lead to Christ. It is never a good feeling to, in effect, write someone off, but God tells us that our responsibility is to plant the seed. Others may later water it.
My commentary did make this observation about the one who refuses to believe: "To reject the gospel is ultimately to oppose ONESELF. The unbeliever harms no one so much as himself."
Father, help me to do my best to pay my debt to my fellow man by telling them about what You have done for me through the death of Your Son on the cross. Help my story to lead others to You. When someone absolutely refuses, let me know when it's time to move on.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 19 -- The Quiet Time Satan Didn't Want Me To Write
Spilled coffee, a bad headache, a son who didn't want to get moving this morning ... Satan sure didn't want me to have time to write this. God had empowered Paul to perform some very special miracles. While meant to draw people
Spilled coffee, a bad headache, a son who didn't want to get moving this morning ... Satan sure didn't want me to have time to write this.
God had empowered Paul to perform some very special miracles. While meant to draw people to Christ and to validate Paul's apostleship, they invariably caused some people to want to be able to perform miracles themselves for fame or profit. Several Jews had begun to cast out demons, most likely in an effort to prevent the loss of their own believers to the Gospel. Seven sons of a leading priest were trying this, saying, "By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!" They didn't know the Savior, but they attempted to invoke His authority anyway. On one such occasion, one evil spirit said to them, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but WHO are YOU?" Then the man possessed by that spirit attacked, beat, and stripped them.
In my commentary, that short question was fleshed out and made very revealing:
"You little dwarfs ... who are YOU? I know Paul! I don't know you. I have never heard about you before; your name has never been talked about down in Hell. No one knows you ..."
"That's the question," my commentary said. "Does anyone know of me down in Hell? Do the devils know about us? Are they scared about us? Or do they turn upon us? When we preach... or teach ... does the devil say, "I don't know you; you are not worth my powder and shot; you can go on doing your work. I'm not going to upset Hell to stop you."
Does the devil see me as a threat? A nuisance? Or not worth his time? I hope it's the first, because anything less means I'm not being effective for God.
Father, I want to be strong in You to the point that I'm a target for Satan. I don't want to be someone he knows he can ignore because I don't threaten his livelihood. Grow me in You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
God had empowered Paul to perform some very special miracles. While meant to draw people to Christ and to validate Paul's apostleship, they invariably caused some people to want to be able to perform miracles themselves for fame or profit. Several Jews had begun to cast out demons, most likely in an effort to prevent the loss of their own believers to the Gospel. Seven sons of a leading priest were trying this, saying, "By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!" They didn't know the Savior, but they attempted to invoke His authority anyway. On one such occasion, one evil spirit said to them, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but WHO are YOU?" Then the man possessed by that spirit attacked, beat, and stripped them.
In my commentary, that short question was fleshed out and made very revealing:
"You little dwarfs ... who are YOU? I know Paul! I don't know you. I have never heard about you before; your name has never been talked about down in Hell. No one knows you ..."
"That's the question," my commentary said. "Does anyone know of me down in Hell? Do the devils know about us? Are they scared about us? Or do they turn upon us? When we preach... or teach ... does the devil say, "I don't know you; you are not worth my powder and shot; you can go on doing your work. I'm not going to upset Hell to stop you."
Does the devil see me as a threat? A nuisance? Or not worth his time? I hope it's the first, because anything less means I'm not being effective for God.
Father, I want to be strong in You to the point that I'm a target for Satan. I don't want to be someone he knows he can ignore because I don't threaten his livelihood. Grow me in You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Acts 20 -- Knowing I've Said All I Am To Say
Paul was telling the elders from the church at Ephesus that he would never see them again in this lifetime. Paul said something that caught my eye: "So today I tell you that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible..."
Paul was telling the elders from the church at Ephesus that he would never see them again in this lifetime. Paul said something that caught my eye: "So today I tell you that if any of you should be lost, I am not responsible..."
At first, that almost seems cavalier, but if we put our guard down for just a minute to let him finish, we learn an important truth: " ... because I have told you everything God wants you to know."
Paul stayed in close communion with God. His every move appears to have been directed by the Holy Spirit. So he had the assurance from God that he had withheld nothing of God's teaching from them. If anything had needed saying twice, he'd done that. He'd never hedged on anything. God had directed him to teach everything he'd said to them, and human responsibility had to kick in at some point.
So what is God telling me through this? He was showing me this very morning the importance of doing the same thing with my sons and their friends and classmates while they are with me. As I looked back to the time when I was their age, I felt almost sorrow for the fact that I'd had no one pouring God's teaching and wisdom into me and investing in my life on a regular basis - even a daily basis - beyond my parents. Someone whom I could feel comfortable with asking the tough questions, and someone who wouldn't have been afraid to broach subjects that I needed to hear to keep me obedient to God. Because I experienced that void at that time, God has produced an urgency within me not to let history repeat itself. Thankfully He's been doing that for many years now. And until He tells me that, like Paul, I have told them everything He wants them to knows, I cannot stop.
Father, if I ever hesitate to speak about anything You are wanting me to tell them, please give me a push and remind me of what I wish I would have heard and how differently MY life might have been if only someone had heeded Your call back then.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
At first, that almost seems cavalier, but if we put our guard down for just a minute to let him finish, we learn an important truth: " ... because I have told you everything God wants you to know."
Paul stayed in close communion with God. His every move appears to have been directed by the Holy Spirit. So he had the assurance from God that he had withheld nothing of God's teaching from them. If anything had needed saying twice, he'd done that. He'd never hedged on anything. God had directed him to teach everything he'd said to them, and human responsibility had to kick in at some point.
So what is God telling me through this? He was showing me this very morning the importance of doing the same thing with my sons and their friends and classmates while they are with me. As I looked back to the time when I was their age, I felt almost sorrow for the fact that I'd had no one pouring God's teaching and wisdom into me and investing in my life on a regular basis - even a daily basis - beyond my parents. Someone whom I could feel comfortable with asking the tough questions, and someone who wouldn't have been afraid to broach subjects that I needed to hear to keep me obedient to God. Because I experienced that void at that time, God has produced an urgency within me not to let history repeat itself. Thankfully He's been doing that for many years now. And until He tells me that, like Paul, I have told them everything He wants them to knows, I cannot stop.
Father, if I ever hesitate to speak about anything You are wanting me to tell them, please give me a push and remind me of what I wish I would have heard and how differently MY life might have been if only someone had heeded Your call back then.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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