WHAT MATTERS MOST

Posted on November 26, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Goodbyes to people you love and love to be with in good times and through bad times are hard.  Tears come and flow freely with long hugs.  Loving words are whispered in ears.  What matters most is what is said.

This next passage is all about what matters most in loving God and loving His people.  Paul is leaving Asia and is Spirit-led to go on to Jerusalem.  We can learn much from Paul’s affirming and encouraging words at his departure.  The love of God, the love and devotion to Jesus in Paul drenches every word with care through the tears for the people he leaves behind.  Spirit-led, passionate words encourages leaders he developed over the past three years to now carry on the work God began through Paul and his associates.  These are God’s actions through His apostles and disciples, followers and leaders.

God still acts through us today as believing followers, shepherds, leaders, servers–passionate lovers of Jesus for what He has done in and for us.  Our obedience to God reflects the depth of our love for God.

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 20:17-38, The Message

On to Jerusalem

17-21 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the leaders of the congregation. When they arrived, he said, “You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in. I didn’t skimp or trim in any way. Every truth and encouragement that could have made a difference to you, you got. I taught you out in public and I taught you in your homes, urging Jews and Greeks alike to a radical life-change before God and an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus.

22-24 “But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

25-27 “And so this is good-bye. You’re not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God’s inaugurated kingdom. I’ve done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God’s will for you.

28 “Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.

29-31 “I know that as soon as I’m gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.

32 “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

33-35 “I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”

36-38 Then Paul went down on his knees, all of them kneeling with him, and prayed. And then a river of tears. Much clinging to Paul, not wanting to let him go. They knew they would never see him again—he had told them quite plainly. The pain cut deep. Then, bravely, they walked him down to the ship.

WHAT WE LEARN…

Paul reminds servant leaders what matters most:

  • Jesus saves us.  God leads us through His Holy Spirit. We love, trust and obey.
  • No matter what—Preach the Truth of Jesus Christ.
  • Laying our lives on the line, as Jesus did for us, is the cost of discipleship and our blessed privilege.
  • Radical life-change before God with an equally radical trust in our Master Jesus is living with eternal purpose in the Kingdom of God.
  • “What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.”
  • Give your best to the Master Jesus, holding nothing back of God’s will.
  • Leaders, “Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God’s people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for.”
  • Vicious wolves of evil will come to draw the sheep away.  “So, stay awake and keep up your guard.”
  • Life is ALL about God!  “God, whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.”
  • “Work on behalf of the weak and do not exploit them.” 
  • Don’t worry about wealth or fashion, God will take care of our basic needs. “You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”
  • PRAY – Pray to God for each other.  Pray when life hurts.  Pray in goodbyes and hellos.  Pray for God’s leading.  Pray through the tears. 
  • Pray for God’s will for this is who matters most in life.

Lord,

Goodbyes are hard when you send us to other places to share your Truth.  Paul’s example of passionate serving leadership is not only inspiring but necessary for our own maturing in your work of grace and mercy in us.  Thank you, Jesus for being the Perfect example.  Thank you for teaching Paul how to be fully devoted to You and the Truth of salvation with eternal life.  May we always remember Who and What matters most in this life as we prepare for eternity with you.  May we live passionately and truthfully.  May our authenticity, because of You in us, speak volumes to those seeking what is real and what matters most to them.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BE A GIVER

Posted on November 24, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Tomorrow is thanksgiving in our world.  Most families will gather to give thanks to God, praising Him for all He has given to us and done in us over the past year.  Most of us will gather over a huge meal. But some will be alone.  Some of the human race will line up for a meal at a local mission.  Some will gather to heavily drink, judge, assume and fight with each other and call it day of endurance. 

Some will be grateful for life in hospitals across the nation as they live another day fighting diseases of all kinds.  Some will plan for getting the meal over with so they can shop for all the things they think people want so they can spend more than they’ve got to please those in their inner circle and to please themselves with the “bargains” they will find.  Some will just pause to be truly grateful for another day on earth. 

Some will give life, hope, joy and peace.  Some will extract life, deflating the lungs of breath from those around them with words that maim, tear down, discourage, with devaluation of others’ character and very being.  Some are merely takers with “give me” as the mantra of their lives.

Are we givers?  Who is a giver?  I have learned that the best givers are grateful to God.  Extreme givers, who give without thinking about it, seem to be those who have lost everything this world has to offer it is okay.  They are soulfully grateful because of losing the world.  The best givers have turned all their attention to seek, find and follow Jesus, the Giver of Life.  The best givers have seen troubles most of us cannot imagine and have lived through it all with the Giver of Life by their side.  The deeper the pain, the more grateful they are, it seems.

Paul is a giver.  He loves and is tenaciously devoted to Jesus.  Saul/Paul used to be the taker of life until Jesus changed his life.  Saul took life by harassing, maiming, beating, and jailing those who believed in Jesus until Jesus stepped in and transformed a radical Saul to a determined Paul.  Paul went from Taker to Giver almost overnight.  Being a Giver in the truest sense is being like Jesus who gave His life for ours.  Jesus was obedient to God, His Father, giving life to all who believe. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why are my thoughts going in this direction?  What readily leaps from the page is giving life.  Paul, because of Christ in Him, is consistently giving encouragement and fresh perspectives of hope in Jesus.  He lifts their spirits everywhere he goes.  He walks the “less traveled road” to give encouragement along the way.  Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

Who wants to be like Paul…who wants to live like Jesus?

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 20:1-16, The Message

Macedonia and Greece

1-2 With things back to normal, Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work in Ephesus. Then, saying his good-byes, he left for Macedonia. Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

2-4 Then he came to Greece and stayed on for three months. Just as he was about to sail for Syria, the Jews cooked up a plot against him. So he went the other way, by land back through Macedonia, and gave them the slip. His companions for the journey were Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, both Thessalonians; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and the two from western Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5-6 They went on ahead and waited for us in Troas. Meanwhile, we stayed in Philippi for Passover Week, and then set sail. Within five days we were again in Troas and stayed a week.

7-9 We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.

10-12 Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

13-16 In the meantime, the rest of us had gone on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we planned to pick up Paul. Paul wanted to walk there, and so had made these arrangements earlier. Things went according to plan: We met him in Assos, took him on board, and sailed to Mitylene. The next day we put in opposite Chios, Samos a day later, and then Miletus. Paul had decided to bypass Ephesus so that he wouldn’t be held up in Asia province. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem in time for the Feast of Pentecost, if at all possible.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Dear Friends, I don’t know about you, but encouragement from anyone breathes new life in me, causing me to work all the harder to help others know Life.  I love hanging around encouraging people, don’t you?  It’s refreshing, life-giving, soul lifting and heart strengthening. 

God’s actions in and through Paul give life and encouragement spiritually and literally to all the believers he meets.  Read on!

Yes, that’s not all!  Did the boy falling out the window amuse you a bit like it did me?  Paul is a preacher who, given a willing audience, will preach Jesus until…someone falls asleep and tumbles from the upper room window.  Who knows exactly if the breathe of life was knocked from him or if he literally died but what we do know is that it was Paul who stopped immediately, laid his body on the young man, hugged him and prayed life and breath back into the boy’s lungs.  Yes, Paul is a giver.

“No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

Pause to reflect and pray…

How do we leave people when we walk away?  Full of life and hope?  Or less than hopeful and discouraged about themselves?

Lord,

You are the Giver of Life for eternity.  You are coming back again someday.  In the meantime, we must learn to be givers like you.  We must learn to give up ourselves and what we think we need, lay our lives before you in grateful obedience for what you have done for us and receive all you want to give us.  Lead us not from the temptations of discouragement, wanting to tear others down in hopes that would lift us up, but instead lead us to grow in your character of giving life to others through the encouraging words you consistently give to us.  Your work in Paul is a constant reminder that words and actions of encouragement and hope gives life to the those who think there is no hope.  Thank you for teaching us truth this morning.  Now, help us live it so well it becomes our habit of giving back to you by giving hope to others.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE GODDESS OF MAKING A BUCK

Posted on November 23, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Our next passage brings to mind several implications for life.  How far will we go to protect our business?  Who or what do we really believe to be really real?  Who guides our daily lives?  Who do we call on for decision making and problem solving?  How low will we stoop in making a buck, protecting our business, along with who will be used and abused who get in our way?   

Who is God and who is not?  Our lives will always reflect who we believe and follow.

As I read our passage for today, I would guess that Demetrius didn’t believe in any god or goddess but the making-a-swift-buck god.  He didn’t really believe in the local goddess, Artemis.  He believed in gaining wealth through making hand craved images to sell to those who did believe.  He shamelessly incited a riot only to save his business with hopes that the disciples work could be stopped…so God would be stopped.  But God is unstoppable.  Read on…and watch God at work.

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 19:21-41, The Message

The Goddess Artemis

21-22 After all this had reached its peak, Paul decided it was time to move on to Macedonia and Achaia provinces, and from there to Jerusalem. “Then,” he said, “I’m off to Rome. I’ve got to see Rome!” He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on to Macedonia and then stayed for a while and wrapped things up in Asia.

23-26 But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as “the Way.” A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, “Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here—and you’ve seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we’re doing by telling people that there’s no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.

27 “Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter—the whole world worships our Artemis!”

28-31 That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, “Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!” They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul’s associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn’t let him. Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: “By no means go near that mob!”

32-34 Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there. As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms. But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: “Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!”—on and on and on, for over two hours.

35-37 Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, “Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn’t know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. These men you’ve dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.

38-41 “So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want. If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there. There is no excuse for what’s happened today. We’re putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters.” With that, he sent them home.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Inciting a riot for personal gain does not get solve problems.

Truth always will rise to the top.  Cowards lie when threatened by Truth.

God is unstoppable.  He worked through a town clerk who did not believe in Him to protect His work and calm the rioting to protect His people. 

We are reminded of the Ten Commandments, written by God upon two tablets of stone and then given to Moses on Mount Sinai. (The record of the Ten Commandments can be found in the Bible, both in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.)  Number One is:  “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  The second one clarifies God Alone: “You shall make no idols”—no hand-graven images of any kind to be exact.  (Read Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) The commandments of God have not changed.  God has not changed in His love and care for us.

As believers we know that God was, is, and always will be God.  His Son, Jesus is alpha and omega—beginning and the end—the One and Only who reconciles us to God in a holy relationship that is eternal.  This is real life.  This is who we really believe to be really real. 

CONSIDER THIS…

The story of our favorite place of business to fill our tummies is relevant to consider. 

Chick-fil-A franchises are closed on Sundays. The founder, Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant on a Tuesday, and he found that by Sunday he was “just worn out.” He noted that, like himself, many of his customers preferred to observe the Christian Sabbath and not eat out on Sunday. He’s kept his restaurants closed on Sundays ever since, as much to honor the religious beliefs of his customer base, the evangelical Southern U.S., as his own. Truett put his day off to good use, teaching Sunday school for over 50 years.

Did closing on Sundays to honor the Sabbath, (another commandment), hurt his business?

Have you ever waited in line lately at your local Chick-fil-A?  Truett Cathy’s chain continues to thrive with consistently opening new locations. The Chick-fil-A restaurant, for example, on the Auburn University campus set a record in June 2017 with $3 million in sales, at this location alone, earning an award.  So, there you have it.  God honors those who honor Him.

Lord,

Thank you for reminding us who is always in control.  You are God, the One and Only God—and we are not.  I worship You with all that is in me with grateful praise for all you are, all you have done and will do.  There is no other like you!  I believe. 

When I am afraid, dissolve my fears with ever developing trust in you.  When I am perplexed, lead me to your wisdom.  When I take a few steps from under your protective wing, draw me back in.  When filled with confusion, calm my soul with your truth.  I’m yours, Lord—imperfections and all, I’m yours.  Continue to grow and mature your character in me.  I’m not there yet. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BUT WHO ARE YOU?

Posted on November 22, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Why and how we serve brings evidence into the light of day of whom we serve.  Who are we, really?  Do we love and serve Jesus as our Master and Lord of our lives?  Do we allow Him to enter into our thinking, walking around ordinary lives and give Him free reign to do the extraordinary in and through us?  Or do we love and serve Jesus because of what it does for us?  Do we serve to get the “feel good” feeling? 

How can we tell the difference?  The difference is in the consistency of obedience in serving God alone, not ourselves, by loving and serving tirelessly, led by His Holy Spirit, even when we don’t feel up to the task on any given day, or when we are attached by the enemy, or when we feel less than adequate.  It is serving and loving like Jesus loved—knowing our love might not be reciprocated but loving just the same. 

Yes friends, sometimes (daily, actually) we need to pause and evaluate who we are and why we do what we do.  Who am I?

God did amazing acts of healing, loving, protecting along with leading people to open their hearts to hear Him through Paul and his associates.  GOD did those acts, not Paul.  Paul was the vessel through which God worked.  Paul would be the first to tell you this truth.  Paul wrote this truth throughout his writings to the churches.   Paul’s “game”, as the pretenders called it, is being fully devoted to His Master, Jesus, preaching that the One and Only is who brings us into a right and holy relationship with God!  Let us not get confused.  Paul is human, imperfect with flaws who was perfectly forgiven by Jesus.  Jesus changed everything for Paul.  Now Paul is preaching Jesus to everyone he meets, led by God’s Holy Spirit.  Paul is on a journey with Jesus, the one who heals, restores, renews and reconciles us to God.

“But, who are you?”, says the evil spirits who have possessed a man and have free reign over his heart, mind and soul.  People come along and think they can play what they think is Paul’s “game”.  They want to be popular like Paul, gain notoriety like Paul for personal gain without knowing where Paul’s power comes from or who Paul serves with all his heart, mind and soul.  They don’t know how Paul thinks or how he begins each day.  But we do.  Paul later writes to the churches in Rome about how to begin each day fully devoted to Jesus allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in each of us.  

Place Your Life Before God, Romans 12:1-2, The Message

So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”  (Emphasis mine)

So, friends, we must ask with prayerful thought, who are we?  Pause, reflect, pray, repent, love more and more like Jesus loves us.  We are not perfect but we are surely perfectly forgiven by Jesus who loves us still.

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 19:11-20, The Message

Witches Came out of the Woodwork

11-12 God did powerful things through Paul, things quite out of the ordinary. The word got around and people started taking pieces of clothing—handkerchiefs and scarves and the like—that had touched Paul’s skin and then touching the sick with them. The touch did it—they were healed and whole.

13-16 Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul’s “game.” They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!” The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: “I know Jesus and I’ve heard of Paul, but who are you?” Then the possessed man went berserk—jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.

17-20 It was soon news all over Ephesus among both Jews and Greeks. The realization spread that God was in and behind this. Curiosity about Paul developed into reverence for the Master Jesus. Many of those who thus believed stepped out into the light and made a clean break with their secret sorceries. All kinds of witches and warlocks came out of the woodwork with their books of spells and incantations and made a huge bonfire of them. Someone estimated their worth at fifty thousand silver coins. In such ways it became evident that the Word of the Master was now sovereign and prevailed in Ephesus.  (Emphasis mine)

Lord,

You are Lord and Savior to me.  You give life and you give purpose to each one of us.  You are who we are.  May all I think, say or do be evidence of you living in me, showing me what you want with where, when, and how to do it.  Work out your salvation in me.  Mature and grow me into all you created me to be.  I am your child.  That’s who I am.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.

Playing in the background is the song, “Way Maker” by Leeland

You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You
I worship You

You are here, working in this place
I worship You
I worship You

You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You
I worship You

You are here, working in this place
I worship You
I worship You

You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are

You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are

You are here, touching every heart
I worship You
I worship You

You are here, healing every heart
I worship You, Jesus
I worship, you turning lives around

You are here, oh, turning lives around
I worship You
I worship, You mended every heart

You are here, mending every heart
I worship You
I worship You

And You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are

That is who You are
And that is who You are
And that is who You are
(That is who You are) my Jesus

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
(Light in the darkness, my God) hey
(That is who You are)

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working, c’mon

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are, eh, yeah

Light in the darkness, my God
That is… Sing “That is who you are”, ohh

You are
Way maker (miracle worker, promise keeper)
Light in the darkness, my God
(That is who You are)

Oh, I know that is who You are
(That is who You are)

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GOOD FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE?

Posted on November 20, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Learning about God and the relationship God has with His Son coupled with the realization of God’s Holy Spirit can get muddled in living an ordinary life in this world of anything goes.  We want to be “good for goodness’s sake” as the Santa song goes, but we need to “watch out”, not for Santa, but for Truth.  God’s Word holds His Truth—all of it—from Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word leads us to know and worship the Author, God Himself.  God is our creator.  God’s Son is the Way, Truth and Life to a holy relationship with our Creator.  God’s Holy Spirit lives with us to build God’s character within us.  The Three-In-One—Truth and Life!  Ooh, this is good!

Paul was schooled in God’s Word.  He knew what the prophets said.  Paul became so zealous in knowing all the details of The Law and man’s additions to that law, that he rose to leadership as the persecutor of anyone who did not adhere to The Law.  He had a relationship with The Law, but no relationship to God who wrote the original Law.   He didn’t have the full picture until he met Jesus.  Jesus changed everything about Saul who is now Paul.  A repentant, now saved by grace, Paul is driven, just as strongly, but now with a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, His Son.  His heart, mind and soul have a new commander, God’s Holy Spirit, who lives in Paul. 

Paul is now compelled to teach others of the saving grace of the Master, Jesus Christ with the joy of a new relationship mankind can have with God because of what Jesus did—just as the prophets foretold!  Paul now sees the big picture.  His mission is to make sure others see it, too.  God’s Holy Spirit guides every step Paul makes.  As Jesus only did what the Father did and told him to do, Paul works hard to say and do what God’s Holy Spirit says to do, where to go, and how long to stay. Paul admits he is not perfect, but he is perfectly forgiven.

What a great example of how to live our lives!  We are not “good” on our own.  We never will be “good” no matter how hard we try.  No one is good.  Only Jesus.  Jesus is the One and Only who is good for goodness’s sake.  Believe and be saved from the pretense of being good alone and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives.  This is good.  Very good.  Jesus sent a helper from God—His Holy Spirit, who guides and helps us to see what is good with how to live good lives in relationship with the Three-In-One.

This is the Paul who is traveling about the province of Asia with REAL Truth—Jesus!

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 19:1-10, The Message

1-2 Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in Corinth, Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. The first thing he said was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?”

“We’ve never even heard of that—a Holy Spirit? God within us?”

3 “How were you baptized, then?” asked Paul.

“In John’s baptism.”

4 “That explains it,” said Paul. “John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you’ve been baptized in John’s baptism, you’re ready now for the real thing, for Jesus.”

5-7 And they were. As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God’s actions. Altogether there were about twelve people there that day.

8-10 Paul then went straight to the meeting place. He had the run of the place for three months, doing his best to make the things of the kingdom of God real and convincing to them. But then resistance began to form as some of them began spreading evil rumors through the congregation about the Christian way of life. So Paul left, taking the disciples with him, and set up shop in the school of Tyrannus, holding class there daily. He did this for two years, giving everyone in the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, ample opportunity to hear the Message of the Master.

EPILOGUE

Paul, knows when to “hold them, fold them and walk away” from resistance.  Choose your battles and know that God will take care of those who believe. 

Led by the Holy Spirit, Paul sets of a “seminary” of clarification in the school of Tyrannus for TWO YEARS, “giving everyone in the province of Asia, Jews as well as Greeks, ample opportunity to hear the Message of the Master.”  Paul taught who was REAL.  Paul introduced all people to a real relationship with the Master, Jesus Christ!

Friends, aren’t we glad Paul, Peter, John and the other apostles and disciples obeyed the Holy Spirit?  I am convinced that God’s actions in His disciples brought generations into a growing relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, His Son.  The Holy Spirit assures me of this truth.  God is STILL on the move among His created.

Lord,

Thank you for this message of hope today.  Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for teaching me daily, letting me see more of the bigger picture.  Thank you for forgiving this imperfect soul with your ever perfect forgiveness.  When I am down, you pick me up and set me right to what is real and who is good.  Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE PHENOMENON OF MUTIPLYING EXPONENTIALLY

Posted on November 19, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When powered and nurtured by God’s Holy Spirit, exponential growth happens in all kinds of miraculous ways.  Like wildflowers in the middle of a field, their seeds windblown take root and quickly take over the whole field.  When God is in it, His will be done, in Jesus Name, nothing is impossible and no one can stop His work.  I am so grateful for the willingness and driven dedication of Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Peter, John, and all the other apostles who passed on to other “reliable people” to go and do whatever the Holy Spirit of God said. They did this with driven intentionality led by God.

Because of God’s Actions in these willing men and women, filled with His Spirit then, we are free to be the church today in a world that desperately needs a Savior.  Can we pause and give thanks to God for them?  Yes, and Amen!

God’s prophets told us this would happen.  “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28, NIV

These words of prophecy were repeated at the start of the early church!  Go back to Acts 2, as this same Spirit the Holy Spirit of God fell over the disciples.  Peter, led by God’s Holy Spirit, stood to speak to thousands of people from different languages for the first time in his life with these words from Joel to explain what was going on in God’s people who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior,

“No, this is something which was predicted by the prophet Joel, ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”  Acts 2:17 Phillips

ALL – God’s Holy Spirit is poured on ALL of us who believe and call on the Name of Jesus!

In our passage today, we pick up Paul’s journey in Ephesus.  He brings along his new friends Priscilla and Aquila with whom he lived with for a time making tents for a living to fund the ministry.  Let’s go back to the time Paul stayed with them.  Can we imagine for a moment those Spirit led, Godly conversations about Jesus as they leaned over the canvases they were sewing?  We sometimes only see Paul as a rough and tumble kind of guy because of his drive and tenacity, not so much as a seamstress.  But this was a former trade which he knew well. This was not a quilt making clack of women over a loom but another “make the most of every opportunity” time for Paul to teach them, disciple them and soon they were leaders who Paul trusted.

Paul doesn’t stay long in Ephesus, God led him to retrace his steps and encourage the new churches.  He is able to do this because of Priscilla and Aquila.  Paul poured what He knew and believed about Jesus into this couple.  They are now going to pour the Truth about Jesus into Apollos who doesn’t have “the whole story” but has been gifted with the ability to speak.

Friends, do we see what is going on here?  There is a story within the story!  We are learning about how God and His Spirit multiplies His work exponentially through His people who love, believe, and live for Jesus, His Son!  Whatever God has given to us, we pass on to others ready to hear with Spirit-led reliability to pass the Truth on to others.  Wow. 

ACTS—God’s Actions Through His Disciples

Acts 18, The Message

Next Stop:  Ephesus

18 Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken.

19-21 They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn’t. But after saying good-bye, he promised, “I’ll be back, God willing.”

21-22 From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey.

23 After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

24-26 A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story.

27-28 When Apollos decided to go on to Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God’s immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah.

THINK ABOUT IT…THIS STORY IN A STORY PACKS A PUNCH!

How does this exponential multiplication of passing it on in really work in our lives?  It begins with careful, prayerful thought.

Who am I mentoring?  God, who do you want me to mentor or help?

Who is mentoring me?  God, who needs to mentor me?

What do I know about Jesus that needs to be passed on to someone who is ready to hear it?

As a leader, who can I teach to lead?

As a servant, who can teach to serve well?

Of course, we don’t know it all, none of us do, but what we do know needs to be told.  There will always be someone behind us who needs to know what we know and someone in front of us that we need to know what they know.  Seek Truth.  We are promised we will find Him every time we seek Him. 

Know God.  Learn about Him through His Word.  Decide to Know Each Other.  See what they know.  Ask for the Spirit to lead us.

Love God.  Decide to Love Each Other enough to share what God has given to us.  Ask for the Spirit to lead us.

Lord,

Lead us out our puny, single focus minds of thinking only of taking care of ourselves to your bigger, expanded, exponentially focused bigger picture!  We know this:  ALL have sinned, (including me) and in need your salvation.  We have our own story of salvation to tell.  We also know that salvation comes to those who repent and believe.  On top of all that we now know that Your Holy Spirit is poured out on ALL of us to help us tell your Truth.  Oh Lord, give us boldness, right words, right time, in the right Spirit to pass on what you have given to us—even today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TOO SOON TO QUIT?

Posted on November 18, 2021 by randscallawayffm

A man was shoveling snow from his driveway when two boys carrying snow shovels approached him. “Shovel your snow, Mister?” one of them asked. “Only two dollars!” Puzzled, the man replied, “Can’t you see that I’m doing it myself?” “Sure,” said the enterprising lad; “that’s why we asked. We get most of our business from people who are half through and feel like quitting!”

Dr. V. Raymond Edman used to say to the students at Wheaton (Illinois) College, “It’s always too soon to quit!” And Charles Spurgeon reminded his London congregation, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”

Corinth, with its 200,000 people, would not be the easiest city in which to start a church, and yet that’s where Paul went after leaving Athens. And he went alone! The going was tough, but the apostle did not give up.  Why?  Because Paul was driven, guided and nourished by God’s Holy Spirit. 

One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.”

God knows exactly when we need encouragement and strength from Him and He delivers His words with such love and compassion that we cannot help but be lifted up in our thoughts, renewing our mind with fervor, leaning into HIS strength in our weakness.  We get back to the work, God’s work, that HE has invited us to be and do in Jesus Name, for HIS glory.  God has done it in me and for me time and time again. 

“I am weak, but you are strong” was Paul’s testimony written later to this very church. Did Paul, who is so driven and strong, articulate and gifted feel like quitting at times?  Apparently so.  Paul was an imperfect human who was perfectly forgiven—just like you and I.

Here is the full personal testimony of Paul’s weakness account:  Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV 

We learn that in those times we are weak and want to quit, God’s power and strength is readily available.  Not only that, God is teaching us character in these times. Paul learns and passes on what he learns.  He teaches that it is only by God’s strength that we rise above all the difficulties.  Taking this teaching to an even higher level, Paul even “boasts” in his weaknesses because at that point, Paul realizes that God takes over and proves where true strength lies.  For when I am weak, then I am strong—in the Power of the Lord!

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 18:1-17, The Message

Next Stop:  Corinth

1-4 After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus.

5-6 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. “Have it your way, then,” he said. “You’ve made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.”

7-8 He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.

8-11 In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.

12-13 But when Gallio was governor of Achaia province, the Jews got up a campaign against Paul, hauled him into court, and filed charges: “This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal.”

14-16 Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio interrupted and said to the Jews, “If this was a matter of criminal conduct, I would gladly hear you out. But it sounds to me like one more Jewish squabble, another of your endless hairsplitting quarrels over religion. Take care of it on your own time. I can’t be bothered with this nonsense,” and he cleared them out of the courtroom.

17 Now the street rabble turned on Sosthenes, the new meeting-place president, and beat him up in plain sight of the court. Gallio didn’t raise a finger. He could not have cared less.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

  • Don’t quit in the middle of it all. 
  • Don’t quit until God leads us out.
  • Don’t quit when it gets hard.
  • Don’t quit while being nourished.
  • Don’t quit too soon for there are those who are watching you and believe with you.
  • Don’t quit.  Move at God’s command. 
  • All we need is God’s word of command and assurance to stick it out.

Lord,

It is easy to pick up our toys, stomp off in disgust and leave the play area.  But that is as childish as it sounds.  Lord, be my strength when I am weak.  Lead me every hour of this day and every day.  Teach me your ways and I will walk in them.  And when it gets harder still, step in with your strength, your plan, your tenacious grace, unconditional love and unending mercy.  Fill me with all that and more.  And may the peace of you, dear Lord, abide in me.  Show me when to stay and when to move on.  I want what you want.  Always.  You are God…and I am not.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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KNOW GOD, KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, KNOW HIS MESSAGE

Posted on November 17, 2021 by randscallawayffm

As teachers we are taught to begin with what the student already knows and build on that foundation of information as we lead them to learning more to expand their knowledge and thinking.  

Later, I learned as teacher of the gospel, the idea is pretty much the same.  Know your audience.  Know your message of the Good News of Jesus well so that you can begin where they are, as they are, without diluting the Message, for the purpose of expanding what they think they know about Jesus.  Paul obviously learned from the Master, Jesus and His Disciples and from God’s Holy Spirit, then fine-tuned the message so that he could lead the community of the city of gods, who did not know the One and Only God, to new, higher thinking with greater understanding.

Paul was angry at first at seeing all the statutes and edifices to all kinds of gods.  Sin gives us all a righteous anger when it is so blatantly clear that God is not a priority in the lives of people.  But Paul had learned to bridle that anger and be wiser in his approach.  In this passage, Chapter 17, Paul’s presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ is nothing short of brilliant!  Maybe the previous beatings, help him change his strategy but more likely it was the power of the God’s Holy Spirit in Paul to “read the room”, know your audience, then use words in ways they understand and will be persuaded to really hear…and believe!

Paul will write later to the Colossian church what he probably learned from this “opportunity” while waiting on Silas and Timothy to arrive.  He taught:

“Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth, I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

Know your audience. 

Know Your Message. 

Know God and His Holy Spirit’s power.

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 17:10-34, The Message

Next Stop:  Berea

10-12 That night, under cover of darkness, their friends got Paul and Silas out of town as fast as they could. They sent them to Berea, where they again met with the Jewish community. They were treated a lot better there than in Thessalonica. The Jews received Paul’s message with enthusiasm and met with him daily, examining the Scriptures to see if they supported what he said. A lot of them became believers, including many Greeks who were prominent in the community, women and men of influence.

13-15 But it wasn’t long before reports got back to the Thessalonian hard-line Jews that Paul was at it again, preaching the Word of God, this time in Berea. They lost no time responding, and created a mob scene there, too. With the help of his friends, Paul gave them the slip—caught a boat and put out to sea. Silas and Timothy stayed behind. The men who helped Paul escape got him as far as Athens and left him there. Paul sent word back with them to Silas and Timothy: “Come as quickly as you can!”

On to Athens!  The city of all kinds of gods

16 The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.

17-18 He discussed it with the Jews and other like-minded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: “What a moron!” But others, listening to him go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: “That’s a new slant on the gods. Tell us more.”

19-21 These people got together and asked him to make a public presentation over at the Areopagus, where things were a little quieter. They said, “This is a new one on us. We’ve never heard anything quite like it. Where did you come up with this anyway? Explain it so we can understand.” Downtown Athens was a great place for gossip. There were always people hanging around, natives and tourists alike, waiting for the latest tidbit on most anything.

22-23 So Paul took his stand in the open space at the Areopagus and laid it out for them. “It is plain to see that you Athenians take your religion seriously. When I arrived here the other day, I was fascinated with all the shrines I came across. And then I found one inscribed, to the god nobody knows. I’m here to introduce you to this God so you can worship intelligently, know who you’re dealing with.

24-29 “The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?

30-31 “God overlooks it as long as you don’t know any better—but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he’s calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32-34 At the phrase “raising him from the dead,” the listeners split: Some laughed at him and walked off making jokes; others said, “Let’s do this again. We want to hear more.” But that was it for the day, and Paul left. There were still others, it turned out, who were convinced then and there, and stuck with Paul—among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

KNOW THE MESSAGE…HERE’S HELP…

Paul lays out a simple path to the Romans and to us that helps us to know The Message in simple terms of Truth that helps us explain Truth to others.  It’s has been dubbed many years ago as “The Roman Road” to salvation of our sins.  This begins the “radical life-change” Paul has just taught the philosophers and leaders of Athens.  Our lives are never the same when Jesus comes to live in our hearts. 

The Romans Road to salvation is a way of explaining the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans. It is a simple yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided salvation, how we can receive salvation, and what are the results of salvation.

The first verse on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing to God. There is no one who is innocent. Romans 3:10-18 gives a detailed picture of what sin looks like in our lives. The second Scripture on the Romans Road to salvation, Romans 6:23, teaches us about the consequences of sin – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!

The fourth stop on the Romans Road to salvation is Romans 10:9, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins – and we will be saved! Romans 10:13 says it again, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rescue us from eternal death. Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, is available to anyone who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The final aspect of the Romans Road to salvation is the results of salvation. Romans 5:1 has this wonderful message, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Romans 8:1 teaches us, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we will never be condemned for our sins. Finally, we have this precious promise of God from Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Friends, there you have it—”The Message of God’s Good News!”.  Know His Message and make the most of every opportunity.  Pray and be alert!  

Lord,

You teach us well from your Word.  You taught me from others who took the time to make the most of the opportunity, led by You, for me.  Help me to know You, know when the opportunity comes and to be bold enough to speak.  Give me the words to say as promised.  You are the One and Only I trust completely. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.

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“GUILT BY ASSOCIATION”

Posted on November 16, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What is this charge, really?

Guilt refers to a feeling of having done something bad or a perception that you did something wrong. Guilt by association means that you personally didn’t really do something wrong but that people who you are associated with did. You are judged by the company you keep, so you can be viewed as guilty because of your association with wrongdoers.

In the continuing journey of Paul and Silas, to go where God’s Spirit led them, many believed the Truth of Jesus as the Messiah the Jews had been reading about all their lives.  Then there were those, the hardline traditional Jews, who vehemently opposed the testimony of Paul and his associates about Jesus.  This is one of those episodes. 

But friends, all of a sudden in the middle of the story, we read about Jason.  We have no previously information about Jason.  We learn quickly that he is charged with harboring Paul and Silas.  He and his family are roughed up and hauled off to jail.  “Guilt by association” is the only charge logged against Jason and his household. 

Whoa, Jason!  That is so unfair!  But life is not fair.  Truth is not always accepted.  Truth can actually anger those who would rather continue living the lies of evil to satisfy their present circumstances. 

I wonder about Jason and his family and I think:  If in today’s world, if Truth was hunted down with clearly driven goals to destroy Truth, would I and my family be charged with “guilt by association”?  Would you and your household?  Who or what do we really believe to be really real?  Who are we associate with today?  Do our associations bring life or…

Let’s pause, taking all the time we need, to think this through for there is coming a day (and is already here for some around the world) where believers will be and are persecuted for following Jesus with all their hearts, minds and souls.  Are we like Jason and his family, guilty by association with Truth, fully absorbed with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives?

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 17:1-12, The Message

Thessalonica

1-3 They took the road south through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where there was a community of Jews. Paul went to their meeting place, as he usually did when he came to a town, and for three Sabbaths running he preached to them from the Scriptures. He opened up the texts so they understood what they’d been reading all their lives: that the Messiah absolutely had to be put to death and raised from the dead—there were no other options—and that “this Jesus I’m introducing you to is that Messiah.”

4-5 Some of them were won over and joined ranks with Paul and Silas, among them a great many God-fearing Greeks and a considerable number of women from the aristocracy. But the hard-line Jews became furious over the conversions. Mad with jealousy, they rounded up a bunch of brawlers off the streets and soon had an ugly mob terrorizing the city as they hunted down Paul and Silas.

5-7 They broke into Jason’s house, thinking that Paul and Silas were there. When they couldn’t find them, they collared Jason and his friends instead and dragged them before the city fathers, yelling hysterically, “These people are out to destroy the world, and now they’ve shown up on our doorstep, attacking everything we hold dear! And Jason is hiding them, these traitors and turncoats who say Jesus is king and Caesar is nothing!”

8-9 The city fathers and the crowd of people were totally alarmed by what they heard. They made Jason and his friends post heavy bail and let them go while they investigated the charges.

10-12 That night, under cover of darkness, their friends got Paul and Silas out of town as fast as they could.

WHAT WE LEARN

Jason and his family had to pay a high monetary price for believing.  They were humiliated in front of their friends in the community as they were dragged into the street for all to see.  They were roughed up and probably spat on as they faced the town leaders.  Fear probably crept into their minds as the manipulated mob grew angrier by the second.  Then the investigation began.  When guilt by association didn’t quite hold up they were let go.  Does this sound familiar to what Jesus went through before He died for our sins?  He pronounced guilty for our sins!

No matter what we go through, Jesus has already gone through it before us in victory.  He has already won the war; we merely and humbly experience the last-ditch skirmishes provided by the limited evil prince of this world.  His only goal is to use us up and throw us away to get even with God as he works hard to win us back from God.  So, who are we associated with in this life?  The Liar or the Lover of our Souls?

I sticking with the Victor.  How about you?  If the charge is guilt by association, then I am guilty as charged.  I am not only associated with Jesus; I am one of His branches attached to His Vine with roots of Truth deeply embedded within me.  I’m redeemed.  And I’m not going back.

Lord,

Our “association” goes much deeper.  We have a growing, intimate, loving relationship that fills my soul, makes we whole, rids me of all guilt that stands between You and myself.  You are Lord as well as Savior.  You cleanse me, Your Spirit washing over me as I completely surrender to you.  You restore the joy of your salvation while renewing the power of Your Spirit who lives in me.  You love me like no one else can.  You teach me and keep me on solid, level ground.  Why would I trust anyone else? You protect me under your outstretched wings.  When I take steps away from your protection, like a hen over her chicks, you draw me back in.  Yes, you are God and I am not.  I am guilty of loving you with all my heart, mind and soul.  I’m Yours.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

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JAIL HOUSE ROCK!

Posted on November 15, 2021 by randscallawayffm

The closest I have ever come to someone being jailed for preaching Jesus is the time I went with others to teach and preach in a small province in the USSR…yes, this was a long time ago.  When we arrived for our work, we learned that the lead pastor had been put in jail for boldly preaching Jesus and asking for a decision.  You were not allowed to ask for a decision.  In that time, in that place, the “secret police” were always watching and judging every word that came from the mouths of believers. 

So, there was a fine line to follow and you could not cross that line in that province.  You could tell the story but you could not make disciples.  You could speak Truth but not call it the only truth.  You could read the word but you could not suggest to anyone under the age of 21 to follow Truth/Jesus.  No one was allowed to help or “make disciples” of anyone coming to follow Jesus or with suggestions of how to do that.  Free will was judged and meticulously measured.  People under the age limit were drawn to the pastor’s message of Hope in the Person of Jesus Christ, many were saved and hence he was jailed.

But that did not stop the church from growing!  The pastor’s son and his family stepped up and kept the work going.  He received us with great hospitality and had organized the event of learning, bringing in many who had to literally “sneak” across borders to get there to learn.  As teachers, we were translated into Russian and Romanian.  Yes, there were a lot of pauses in our teaching!  Telling a joke was not worth the effort!  But they didn’t come for musings, they came for encouragement and truth.  They had fought hard to get there, risking their own lives to be there.  I was humbled immediately and prayed for God to sift the words of the training presentation to fit what these servants of God needed most.  God provided.  He always does. 

I will never forget this time in my life with these people who loved God greatly and risked their lives to boldly tell the story of God’s Redemptive Plan through Jesus Christ, His Son.  After the training events were over, these youth leaders and pastors slipped back into the crowded city and I never saw them again.  The pastor was released later as the people prayed and rejoiced.  As I recall, he was let go with a warning.  The family was reunited and praises to God were lifted up.  The smiles never left their faces.

What we have in our country is not the same as everywhere else. Sometimes, I think we feel that church life, the learning and growing with others, the encouragement through worship and learning, while seeing others find and follow Jesus is not essential.  We take for granted the privileged blessing of being able to speak freely about Jesus and His saving grace. We can say anything we want at any time, but we don’t.  All of us could use a bit more discretion as we speak, however.  Just because we can say something doesn’t mean we should.  We must be led by the Holy Spirit for He will guide us to make the most of every opportunity. 

Paul knew this well.  Paul and Silas experienced the first jail house rock!  Read on.  It’s awesome how God worked in and through these men devoted to Jesus Christ.  God’s Holy Spirit led them to rocking the jail with praise music to God while God responded with rocking the depths of the earth with a good shaking!  Paul and Silas made the most of this opportunity to tell the Redemptive Truth to a great captive audience!  Even the jailer, had the opportunity to “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!” 

Friends, aren’t you wondering how many prisoners heard and received Jesus’ salvation?  I wonder how many prisoners souls were set free by Jesus than day?  Wow!  Luke doesn’t give us the details, but it is possible that some of them were also born again through the witness of Paul and Silas and the jailer!  Why not?  Some of these prisoners may have been waiting for execution, so imagine their joy at hearing a message of salvation! Paul and Silas thought nothing of their own pains as they rejoiced in what God did in that Philippian jail!

The jailhouse experience was brought to Paul and Silas, courtesy of our enemy who thought he could hinder the work.  Yeah, the enemy cannot win for Jesus has already won the war!  Hold that thought as you read…

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 16:16-40, The Message

Beaten Up and Thrown in Jail

16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

35-36 At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, “Release these men.” The jailer gave Paul the message, “The judges sent word that you’re free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!”

37 But Paul wouldn’t budge. He told the officers, “They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight.”

38-40 When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn’t please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia’s house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.

EPILOGUE, BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

Paul and Silas took the beatings and jail time, witnessed with praises to the other jailers, while God did His acts of power in and all around them.  God literally “rocked” the place and filled the dark, dank prison with the Light of Jesus’ saving grace for all.

Paul decided not to sneak out the city but to boldly tell his judges what they had done to one of their own citizens.  We might ask why Paul took the time to do this, but knowing Paul’s driven personality style of leadership, and extreme devotion to Jesus, it may have been show the glory of God to those who him judged harshly and to assure the new church that they had been absolved of all wrong.  People would have asked, “Who were those men? Were they guilty of some crime? Why did they leave so quickly? What do their followers believe?” Paul and Silas and their associates wanted to leave behind a strong witness of their own integrity as well as a good testimony for the infant church in Philippi.  All for God.  In Jesus Name.  All to the glory of God! 

Lord,

What you teach us is always amazing, perfect and good!  How you lead us, sometimes kicking and screaming, is humbling.  Lord, forgive us for taking advantage of all you provide in our lives.  You gave us Your Son.  You keep giving daily as you love us enough to rock our thinking with all of you and less of us as we grow in your love and character.  I praise you for your patience with me.  I love you for loving me.  I pray for those who don’t know your love—yet.  May your acts of power work in and through me so others will know You. Continue to rock our world!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Let’s rock
Everybody, let’s rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock!

(Now, this song is stuck in your mind…but for different reasons, Amen?)

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