”From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”“
Acts 13:13-15 NIV
This is what was highlighted as I opened my old NIV Bible randomly ( with excitement) during my #lunchtimedevotions yesterday. And no doubt why the Lord led me to post this message on Facebook last night:
FACBOOK
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life– gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.
Comment: Thought of my friend Jean Lowrie-Chin, who famously is “ breathlessly in love with God” , when I read this quote from the theologian Oswald Chambers tonight
My Devotional NIV Bible actually says “ word of encouragement “
So what Word of encouragement did Paul bring to the people in Antioch? A Word of prophecy at the end, which stayed with me. So yes, Paul shared the history of the Jewish people and how Christ came into the picture finally. Although He was there from the beginning: Co-substantial with God!
THE WORD
”Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country; for about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’“
Acts 13:16-22 NIV
Comment: And then Christ. And John the Baptist!
”“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’“
Acts 13:23-29, 31-33 NIV
And then at the end the prophetic Word, and warning for those who scoff at the idea of a Virgin Birth and the Resurrection from the dead, and thus deem Christianity to be foolishness. Or worse become guilty of being “ lukewarm Christians”.
”God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is also stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “ ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”“
Acts 13:34-41 NIV
Don’t ever forget “ Look you scoffers, wonder and perish”. For if we don’t believe and lead others to believe in this Word of Encouragement…word of encouragement in these troubled times …so that God may be glorified in all of this…..may God have mercy on us
May God renew his church beginning with those who “ truly believe”;May God renew his church so that the church may renew the nation(s) filled with “ scoffers” who do not believe in the Risen Christ.
In obedience
Shalom
LWJ
Random Thoughts 