The Book of Acts

Paul Preaches in Corinth

Acts 18:1-17 _NLT

“Then Paul left Athens & went to Corinth.”- Acts 18:1

Things had not gone at all as Paul had hoped in Athens, so it is a fairly certain possibility that he travelled to Corinth in a rather dejected mood. In his first letter to the Corinthian believers, he stated that “I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.” This was no doubt why God spoke to Paul one night in a vision saying, “Don’t be afraid. Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city (Corinth) belong to me.”Still, being human, Paul battled with depression. His 2^nd letter to the Corinthian church speaks of a “thorn in the flesh”. There are many theories as to what this thorn might be. It sounds like it might have been the depression that weighed him down during his travels. My guess comes from the portion of scripture in 2 Corinthians 2:7-10, where in the latter part of verse 7 Paul says of the ‘thorn’ that it was, “a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.” Being depressed would definitely keep a person from becoming proud.

                  Corinth was the political & commercial center of all of Greece, surpassing Athens in importance. It had a reputation for great evil and immorality. In the city there had been built a Temple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and war. The people worshipped the goddess by giving money to the temple and performing sexual acts with the temple male and female prostitutes. Corinth would not only be a challenge for Paul, but also a great ministerial opportunity. According to scholars, Paul wrote a series of letters to the Corinthian church, although only 1^st & 2^nd Corinthians were placed in the Biblical canon.

                  Each Jewish boy was required to learn a trade. Both Paul and Aquila, a believing Jew he had just met when he arrived in Corinth took the same trade: tentmaking or perhaps more accurately, a leather worker. The thing about Paul’s trade was that he could take it wherever the Lord were to lead him. Due to being in the same trade, Aquila and his wife Priscilla became friends with Paul.

                  Following his customary plan, Paul once again spent time in the local synagogue, trying to convince the Jews there that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah. Though some believed, many did not, causing Paul to cast them off, by shaking the dust off his clothing and saying to them, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” (v.6) Some of the Jews tried to have him arrested by taking their case to the Governor of the region, but the Governor wasn’t interested in dealing with the religious matters of the Jews. 

                  Paul stayed with Priscilla and Aquila for a year and a half preaching the gospel to whomever would listen. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament, Copyright 2004.

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

"If you believe in a God who controls the big things, you have to believe in a God who controls the little things.  It is we, of course, to whom things look 'little' or 'big'." - Elisabeth Elliot*

* Ms. Elliot (Dec. 1926 - June 2015) was a Christian author & speaker.

 

Word for the Day

 

Word for the Day

 

The Book of Acts

Paul Preaches in Athens

Acts 17:16-34 _NLT

“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.” - Acts 17:16-17

            Athens is five miles inland from its port of Piraeus, which is on an arm of the Aegean Sea. Paul had traveled there at the behest of those believers in Berea. Once there he was troubled by the number of idols that were displayed in plain sight. The Greek word for ‘troubled’ is ‘paroxysm’ which means “sudden, violent emotion”. This tells you Paul was deeply offended by this paganistic display, yet he contained his emotions and proceeded to preach to those present in the synagogue. He also debated some of the philosophers in Athens. These men took Paul to the “high council of the city”, not to seek punishment, but rather to have him speak to the councilmen about this “new religion” he spoke of. 

            In speaking to the councilmen, he pointed out one of the altars that had an inscription: “To an Unknown God”.  Paul told them this Unknown God is the One he is speaking to them about. He proceeded to tell them about Jesus & His death and resurrection to which some scoffed. God had been patient with the ignorance of men, but now was the time when He instructed Paul to preach with boldness that NOW was the time to repent and accept Jesus as their Lord & Savior. While the Greeks were very interested in the latest thing philosophically or spiritually, some were finding what Paul was sharing to be beyond belief. But not all did. Some left with Paul and converted to Christianity. In the end the councilmen, somewhat interested, stated that they wished to hear more about all that Paul had been saying later. 

            What lesson can we learn from this portion of scripture? First of all, when we present the gospel to someone, we are being a witness to what God had done for us. Secondly, it is not our responsibility to push them or insist on their conversion. That’s the Holy Spirit’s responsibility. We witness, He draws them in, and God provides redemption. Even though we know that a person isn’t promised tomorrow, we cannot force someone to believe. We must do our part by witnessing to that which God has done for us and then let God work. If they want to wait till another time to hear more or discuss more, so be it. Leave it in God’s hands. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

The Book of Acts

Paul & Silas in Berea

Acts 17:10-15 _NLT

“That very night the believers sent Paul & Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.”- Acts 17:10

            All present were aware that the bail bond that was posted for Jason’s release would be forfeited if the authorities found Paul in his home, so they sent the apostle on to Berea. Now Berea was approximately 50 miles SE of Thessalonica. It was in the foothills of the Olympian mountain range. Though the city had no historical or political importance, it’s population was quite large.

            When Paul preached in the synagogue, the Jews there were far more open-minded and tested what was being preached by combing thru the scriptures to verify what Paul was saying. Upon corroborating that which was taught them, they became followers of Christ. Even some of the more prominent Greek woman and some of the Greek men converted to Christianity.

            Once some of the troublemaking Jews from Thessalonica heard Paul was in Berea they went there to stir up trouble. The new Berean converts immediately sent Paul to the coast to Achaia and Athens. It is supposed that he was given the offer to stay with relatives of the converts. It is apparent that Silas and Timothy weren’t in the kind of danger Paul was in, so they were simply told to go to Paul in Athens the following day. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 lets us know that Silas and Timothy were sent back to be with Paul. In the very next verse (3:2) Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica. Acts 18:5 reveals to us that Silas went back to Philippi in Macedonia, where he received monetary support for their missionary trips.

            What can we learn from today’s lesson? In spite of opposition, we must push forward with the task God had given us, regardless of what it is. Do not be afraid of the unknown, for it is known by God who has promised in His word to protect you. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” [Deuteronomy 31:6] “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” [2 Thessalonians 3:3] Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

The Book of Acts

Luke’s Story

            We know from scripture that Luke was a physician. How do we know that?  Colossians 4:14 tells us, “Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas.” Apparently scholars have corroborated this fact thru their research. Having a doctor on their missionary journeys was an incredible blessing for Paul & Silas, in that we were getting beaten up for preaching the gospel of Christ and needed medical attention. Doctors are supposed to be known for their compassion and Luke was very compassionate both for the sick and the unsaved that he encountered while on the road with the apostles. Luke was not only highly skilled as a physician but was incredibly faithful to the cause.

                  Being the author of both the gospel bearing his name and the book of the Acts of the Apostles, he was obviously a proven historian as well. He was dedicated to telling the truth about everything that they encountered on their journey. As a matter of fact, his first words in his gospel point that out. “Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.”

                  What lessons can we learn from Luke’s life: First of all, the words we speak tell others much about our character. They will leave a lasting picture of who we truly are. Secondly, it will become easy to see what level of integrity we have by how we work when no one else is around to see what we’re doing. Luke was highly respected by all who knew him and a vital part of Paul’s missionary journeys. That is Luke’s story in a nutshell. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

The Book of Acts

Paul Preaches in Thessalonica

Acts 17:1-9 _NLT

“Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.” - Acts 17:1

                  As I read the associated commentaries, I marvel at the distances that the apostles traveled on foot to preach the gospel. Paul’s mission was to go from Philippi to Thessalonica, a mere 100 miles away. For us by car that would take perhaps an hour and a half, depending on the way we went and the speed with which we were traveling. It doesn’t tell us in scripture how long their trip took, but it no doubt took many days. And remember, this was after Paul & Silas were given quite a beating with wooden rods. So physical pain was involved in their travels. Amazing.

                  Now Thessalonica was a major commercial hub in the area which was made the capital of one of the Roman provincial districts. Paul bypassed several other large cities to reach Thessalonica feeling it could be a spiritual center for the region. With an estimated 200,000 inhabitants living there, Thessalonica had a very diverse citizenry. Within the city was a large contingent of Jewish people.

                  It was Paul’s practice to find the local synagogue and preach there for several days. The law in most cities was that if there were at least 10 Jewish men within the city limits they could start a synagogue. With that many Jews in one place Paul knew there would be a public place of meeting, so they went there and did was he always does; he spoke about how Jesus Christ was the long awaited Messiah. He wisely began speaking about Old Testament writings and how the Messiah fulfilled them. The Jewish leaders took no issue with the theology imparted; however some were jealous of the popularity readily achieved by the apostles and the many conversions to Christianity.

Many of his listeners were converted, but some driven by jealousy, rather than doctrinal differences, went out in the public square and rounded up some troublemakers to start a riot against the apostles. As they sought them, they went to a man named Jason’s house. Not finding them there, they dragged Jason before the city council simply because he was housing the two apostles. He was required to post bond (pay money for his freedom ... apparently the same as bail).

The Roman authorities were disinterested in theological disagreements; however, treason was a much more serious office. The Jews told the council that Paul & Silas were professing allegiance to another king other than Caesar, namely Jesus Christ. 

While Paul was unable to return to Thessalonica for the time being, he did write to the believers there. Only after the current authorities had passed on or were unseated could he return. It seems talk of Jesus was causing quite a stir throughout the region. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Life Application Study Bible; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.

Word for the Day

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot*

* Philip James Elliot (October 8, 1927 – January 8, 1956) was an American Christian missionary and one of five people killed during Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador.

The Book of Acts

Paul & Silas are put in prison...

Acts 16:16-40 _NLT

“One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes.”- Acts 16:16-17

                  Here we have an interesting story of a demon-possessed slave girl whose unfortunate state was gleaning for her owners a lot of money. The point can be made that this was ill gotten gain and even though the girl was shouting out the truth, it originated from a demonic source within her. What she said as she followed Paul & Silas was, “These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.” After enduring this for a few days (the exact number isn’t given), Paul finally lashed out at the demon saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” The evil spirit immediately left the slave girl. She was perfectly whole, possibly for the first time. However, this event infuriated the owners of the girl, who grabbed the apostles and dragged them before the local authorities. Her masters lied to the city officials stating that the entire city was in an uproar over what they were saying, teaching customs that the Romans were forbidden to practice. This was untrue. Regardless, the officials had Paul and Silas stripped and beaten badly with wooden rods and thrown into prison. The jailer was told to secure them so they could not escape. So he placed them in the inner dungeon and shackled their feet.

At around midnight, the apostles were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an immense earthquake that shook the prison to its foundation ... all the doors flew open & all the shackles of the prisoners fell off. The jailer, seeing all the open doors and the dungeon in ruins assumed the prisoners had all escaped, so he was prepared to take his own life as a consequence. He drew his sword, but just then Paul shouted in a loud voice that all the prisoners were there, and the jailer called for lights, ran into the dungeon and visibly shaken, fell to his knees before the two apostles. He wanted to become saved. Paul declared, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your whole household. 

Dispute the late hour, the jailer tended to Paul & Silas’ wounds and led everyone to his home where they were all baptized. The authorities found out the apostles were both Roman citizens and at Paul’s insistence apologized for their rough treatment, then begged them to leave the city. Since they serve no one but the Lord, they first went to Lydia’s house to encourage the believers there, then left town. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.                      

The Book of Acts

Lydia’s Story

 

            The amazing thing about Paul & Silas’ travels were that wherever they went they found people open to the gospel message that they were presenting.  In Philippi they met such a person in Lydia, a gentile businesswoman. 

Lydia was a dealer in fine purple cloth & dye, which more than likely means she was wealthy. No husband is mentioned, but she does have a home ^{(Acts 16:40)}. She was one of the gentile women who met outside Philippi on the Sabbath to pray by the river with the Jews. That is where the Apostles met Lydia ... at one of their prayer sessions. 

The fact that Lydia partook in these prayer meetings revealed her desire to learn more about God. The Lord honored her spiritual hunger by providing more truth for her to digest. Once she heard the truth about Jesus, she readily believed. Lydia is remembered as Paul’s first European* convert. 

Lydia’s thirst for God was quenched by the Apostles teaching, therefore she didn’t hesitate to get baptized and have the rest of her household come to hear & believe the gospel that was being preached. Apparently they were all saved & got baptized as well.

We can tell by Lydia’s actions that she understood that which was preached & taught & as a result, received the gift of salvation.  This verifies the verse in Matthew 7:16, “...you will know them by their fruits.” Lydia was bearing fruit from the very beginning of her relationship with the Lord. 

Is your life with Christ bearing fruit for the kingdom? Are you asking God to open doors of opportunity to share your faith in your neighborhood, at school or at work? Are you praying for the souls in your circle of influence? It’s a start. We all have gifts. We all need to find out what they are & begin to cultivate them with the help of the Holy Spirit who resides within us. These things are readily available & ours for the asking. God doesn’t need us, but in spite of ourselves, has chosen to use us. That’s His plan, He has no other. Allow yourself to be used by the Lord for His kingdom. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

* Philippi, an important port city in Macedonia, was considered a part of what could be referred to as Europe at that time.

Word of the Day

 

The Book of Acts

Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus

Acts 16:11-15 _NLT

“We boarded a boat to Troas & sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, & the next day to Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia & a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.” - Acts 16:11-12

            First thing I should point out is the use of “We” starting in verse 10 & continuing. The author of Acts is none other than Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke. It is fairly apparent that he accompanied Paul, Silas & Timothy on their journey. That would make him an eyewitness to most of the remaining incidents chronicled in this book.

            Secondly, Philippi was a key city in the Macedonian region, which would be northern Greece today. Paul founded a church there during his visit in A.D. 50-51. His letter to the Philippian church was more than likely written from a Roman prison on around A.D. 61.

            Philippi didn’t have enough Jewish males to form a synagogue, therefore the Roman authorities didn’t allow unauthorized religious groups to meet in the city. The women actually went outside the city limits to pray as a group by a river. 

Since Paul took his orders from God & not the Roman Empire, he naturally started a church & in his aforementioned letter admonished them to solve any problems of disunity that existed. Paul also encouraged them all not to submit to any persecution, but rather stand strong in their faith as a body. Among those who turned their life over to Christ, was an influential merchant named Lydia. 

            It has often been said that women are more spiritually minded than men ... that they take their beliefs much more seriously then men. This was in evidence back in the early church as God often worked thru women in the earliest churches. 

            What lesson can we learn today? That unity within the church is of paramount importance for a church. Sadly, it seems to be a struggle today to keep a congregation together. As if we didn’t already know, women played & still play a vital role in many foundational aspects of today’s churches. We must begin once again to function as one body & not a fractured body with multiple controverses & issues that will split apart any church if left unchecked. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible 

            

Thoughts from a Random Mind

NOTE: You may be wondering what happened to the Book of Acts series I had been doing. Every once in a while I feel compelled by the Spirit to interrupt what I’m doing and redirect my posting temporarily to accommodate what I feel the Holy Spirit be saying to me regarding my blog. In this case I felt I rec’d several clear topics that I ended up posting at the direction of the Spirit. I’m thinking I’ll be back on the Book of Acts starting Monday again. At least that’s the way it looks to me now. Have a blessed day!! Rlk

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

STOP!

            “To change a course of action.” *  That is just one of many definitions of the word STOP.  There are many times that we are asked to stop in our lifetime. STOP signs on the road tell us to change our course of action from propelling forward to coming to a complete stop so as to avoid a potential accident with another oncoming vehicle. We might be told to “STOP” saying or doing something because it is annoying to the other individual in the room. Police yell “STOP or I’ll shoot” in an effort to keep a criminal from getting away. In scripture, the word STOP is used in the very same way. The most important use of the word STOP is so that people will STOP sinning. 

            We are bound for an everlasting hell unless we do something: Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’  ^{[John 3:3-6 NLT]} Therefore, we all have a decision to make in this lifetime. If we reject Christ by living as we please, never receiving & applying God’s gracious gift of salvation to our lives, we shall go to hell. God didn’t send you to hell, you voluntarily went all on your own thru disbelief.  

                  STOP & think it thru. Are you so arrogant and/or ignorant to think that you can handle this life without the help of the One who created you in the first place? You cannot change the path you are on by yourself, or thru shear will.  You need God’s help; help He is more than willing to give you.

STOP delaying.  No one knows when their time on this earth is up, as I pointed out in my last posting. It’s time for a spiritual inventory to be taken. It’s time to allow God to reveal to you your shortcomings. STOP procrastinating. Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today...right now.

The Holy Spirit has been showing us a clear message this week with these last few writings. Receive a spiritual cleansing by God’s own Spirit & be made anew. It’s yours for the taking. Allow the Spirit of God to mold you into the likeness of Christ a little more each day. 

 

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

*American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing 

Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

 

Thoughts from a Random Mind

Rest in Peace

 

            This morning on my way to work I spied a sticker on the rear of a car in front of me that said “Rest in Peace” over a State Policeman’s badge number. He had obviously been killed in the line of duty. What does “Rest in Peace” actually mean? The Holy Spirit said to my spirit, “Find out for yourself & share it,” so I did…

                  After the rigors of this life, Christians from the early church would wish those who pass on from this earth rest.  The phrase “Rest in Peace” was found in the catacombs of the early Christians and indicated that "they died in the peace of the Church, that is, united in Christ." * I thought to myself, ‘what lasting peace can be found aside from Christ? Is there another peace that passes all understanding outside of knowing God?’ I know I’ve never found it, have you? 

The peace of this world is fleeting at best, largely because the one who controls this world is God’s chief adversary and he is the creator of chaos and distress, not peace. Therefore, any peace found this side of heaven is temporal. It cannot last based on the atmosphere created on the earth.

                  So when someone says, “Rest in Peace”, it is only meaningful if that person had a relationship with the God who made them. Aside from that there is no peace. Make peace with God and watch your disposition change. Make peace with God and find rest from your troubles in the here and now. We lose our peace and inner tranquility when we take our eyes off of the Lord. This is what happened to Peter when he attempted to walk on the water to Jesus in the gospels. 

                  So find peace thru a personal relationship with God now. Why wait? Ask for it, expect it & bask in the glow of it. God loves us ... “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” ^{(Psalm 84:11)}.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

* Tuker, Mildred Anna Rosalie; Malleson, Hope (1900). "Introduction to the Catacombs". Handbook to Christian and Ecclesiastical Rome: The Christian monuments of Rome. A. and C. Black. p. 411.

Thoughts from a Random Mind

The Frailty of Life

 

                  This last night I heard a story about someone who died unexpectedly. This morning at work the Holy Spirit said to me, “write on the frailty of life”. I said “alright”, so here it is.

                  While I don’t remember all the details, like names, ages, etc., I do remember that the victim was a woman. I remember she was sitting in her car at the exit of a local McDonalds. She either just ate breakfast or just picked up breakfast and was heading to work or back home. I’m guessing when she woke up that morning she didn’t think she’d be dying that day. The story goes that while she sat innocently waiting to pull out onto the main road, the driver of a pick-up truck lost control and T-Boned the woman’s car, killing her instantly. I’m guessing she didn’t think she’d be dying that day.

                  Scripture tells us we do NOT know what tomorrow will hold for us. Frankly, we don’t even know if we’ll wake up in the morning. A certain mild arrogance boastfully says, at least internally, that ‘nothing bad ever happens to me’. I was related to someone who used to say that all the time. I wonder if that woman ever said that to herself. Are you aware that your life, the one God gave you, can end in a split second without warning. To think otherwise is foolhardy. I’m not advocating living in fear of dying, not at all. But we must respect life...our own and the lives of others. Look at what the Bible says: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” - James 4:13-15 Also, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” - Proverbs 27:1

                  “Life is fragile, handle with pray” is a slogan I’ve seen before. It’s so true. Time flies and that’s a fact. Seems like yesterday I was in school. I’m now 67 years old and I am astonished at how quickly my life has gone by with a whoosh. And I have no idea when my life on earth will end. 

                  All this begs the question: Have you made your peace with God? Going to church / mass every day wouldn’t make you a Christian. Scripture tells us we must be Born Again of the Spirit of God. Jesus came and died for all our sins. When we receive Christ into our hearts we become a new creation. Our lifestyle is supposed to change. We are supposed to begin an exciting journey to become more like our Savior and Lord. Are you a Christian in name only, and have done nothing with your faith? God doesn’t need anyone of us, but instead has chosen to use us to spread His gospel to our portion of the world. Believing in Jesus and God mean nothing if it hasn’t profoundly changed your life. Scripture says behold, old things have passed away and all things have become new. You are a new creation. You’ve died to self and should now be living for Him. Are you? If you arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence for a conviction? 

What if your last day on earth was tonight ... do you know without question or hesitation that you’d spend eternity with the Creator of the Universe?? You can absolutely know that for sure. Ask the Lord to do with you whatever He wishes and watch the sparks fly. Watch God’s will manifest itself in your life. Have you made your peace with God? If your answer isn’t a resounding YES, then search your soul and take a spiritual inventory of yourself. This is important and is to be taken seriously. God loves you and died for you ... He’s asking you to live for Him. To borrow Nike’s marketing slogan ... “JUST DO IT!”

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO READ THIS, BY ALL MEANS, PASS IT ON!!!

Thoughts from a Random Mind

            I’ve felt the Holy Spirit gently prodding me to write about this yesterday & today. Then the word came louder and more pronounced: “Do they not know how dangerous it is?” Was what ended up ringing in my ears.  “Apparently not”, I said back. So I said in a low, but audible voice, “Okay, I hear you. I’ll address it tonight.” What is IT? 

            It’s come to my attention that folks are not taking that which is inherently evil seriously ... not at all.  Witches, warlocks, ghosts, the devil, demons ... These are REAL ... they DO exist. They are not “cool” or anything of the kind. People don’t know what they are trifling with. Satan wants you to think it’s all just fun and entertainment. Folks, you need to do some research on some things. Look into Satanism, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking, and that’s just for starters. Hey, they are grimy subjects, but when you dabble in the supernatural, you enter into a whole new realm that we are not needing to be a part of. God wants to protect you from all that, but you have to take this threat seriously and seek His help or else the consequence of your actions will be ON YOU. 

            Now God loves us and because of that He gives each of us a FREE WILL to think, say and do as we please. His desire is that we will accept His gracious offer of forgiveness for all our sin, thanks to the blood Christ shed on the cross, and follow Him all our days on this earth, but that is our choice. If you want to dabble in evil things thinking there is no harm in it, you have no idea what you’re dealing with.  Does it sound like I’m trying to scare you? Good, because I am. There is no eternal benefit to messing with occultic, satanic, supernatural things that you know NOTHING about.  LEAVE IT ALONE!! In Jesus name, amen!

 

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

PS - I wrote this out of love & concern for the hearts & souls of innocent men, women & children the world over. Trust me, leave it alone. rlk

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM READING THIS...PASS IT ON!!

The Book of Acts

A Call from Macedonia

Acts 16:6-10 _NLT

“Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.” - Acts 16:6

                  Verses 6-10 are very interesting in that they deal with a topic that is very pertinent to us today. First, we find that Paul is being directed by God thru His Holy Spirit to avoid Asia at this time. We are not given a reason. Then the “Spirit of Jesus” (another name used for the Holy Spirit) directed the Apostle & his companions to avoid Bithynia, north of Asia. Paul didn’t question these changes in his plans for they were obviously not where God wished them to go for the time being. Secondly, that night, we find that Paul had a vision from the Lord which showed a Macedonian man crying out to the Apostle saying, “Come over to Macedonia & help us.”

                  We have no way of knowing by what means the Spirit diverted their path; however, this vision made crystal clear to Paul exactly where he was to go next to preach & teach the gospel. No prodding was needed, for Paul readily obeyed the Lord and lead his group on to Macedonia.

                  It is intriguing to me that God not only reveals His will by any number of ways, He also reveals what His will is NOT, as shown in these verses. When you are seeking the will of God, make sure that you are looking to embark on is in line with God’s Word. If necessary, seek the council of mature Christians. Take a candid look at your own motivation. Is what you’re looking to undertake what God wants or what you want? Finally, ask the Lord in prayer to open & close doors as He so wills to help you determine which direction to go & exactly what you are to do.

                  Remember, God doesn’t need our help, but rather has chosen to use us for some unknown reason, to present the gospel, among other things. “God pulled you out of the pit so you could reach back in & get more people out...NEVER forget that.” *  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

* Quote - Unknown 

Word for the Day

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. - Augustine

The Book of Acts

Paul’s 2^nd Missionary Journey

Paul & Barnabas Separate

Acts 15:36-41 _NLT

“After some time Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.’”- Acts 15:36

            Paul was intent on beginning his 2^nd missionary expedition and wished to take Barnabas with him again, but Barnabas wanted Mark to go with them. Paul considered John Mark a deserter since he abruptly left them in Pamphylia and didn’t return. Barnabas sharply disagreed with Paul therefore, they went their separate ways. There is no indication they had anger towards one another. It was simply a difference of opinion, albeit a strong one.

            Barnabas ended up inviting John Mark, with him to present the gospel across the region, while Paul invited the prophet Silas, mentioned in the last posting, to go with him. The believers in Antioch, Paul’s launching point, turned their care and protection over to the Lord as they left.        

Their intention was to travel throughout the entire region of Syria & Cilicia, reinforcing the faith of the churches there. Scholars say this 2^nd journey began roughly 3 years after the 1^st one ended, indicating that Paul & Barnabas stayed with the believers in Antioch of Syria for those 3 years. Paul’s choice of Silas to partner up with indicates a sense of unity between the Antioch and Jerusalem churches, as Silas was a part of the latter church and involved with the 1^st council.

            What we can take from this writing today is that just as Mark needed a 2^nd chance to prove himself, at times so do we or someone we know or even do not know. We need to be discerning regarding God’s will with such things, tempered with patience, compassion and mercy. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible

The Book of Acts

The Letter for Gentile Believers

Acts 15:22-35 _NLT

“Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul & Barnabas to report on this decision.”- Acts 15:22

            As you will recall, many Jewish believers felt grace was way too easy a way for gentile converts to become saved, so they sought to make them adhere to the Jewish law in addition to God’s grace. Paul & Barnabas travelled to Jerusalem to attend the first Jerusalem council where the apostles, leaders, and elders would discuss the matter and decide, based on scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, which way the teaching should follow.

                  After the council, based on the apostle James statements, decided which direction to take, the apostles, elders, and the entire Jerusalem church body chose delegates to accompany Paul & Barnabas to report the final decision to the church in Antioch of Syria. The men chosen were two church leaders among the brethren. They were Judas, also known as Barsabbas, and Silas, who were known to be prophets. Below is the letter they sent with them to the church in Antioch.

            “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” ^{[Acts 15:23-29]}

            The brethren at the Antioch church in Syria rejoiced at the proclamation as it’s message brought them great joy.  Prophets Judas Barsabbas & Silas encouraged and strengthened the faith of the body of Christ there, while Paul & Barnabas, who stayed on in that town, taught and preached the word of God to the people there. This would be recognized as the official end of Paul’s first missionary trip. 

                  The lesson to be learned here is that whenever there is a dispute among the brethren, they are to gather together, consult scripture, and pray, seeking the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit to attain the mind of the Lord in the matter. Well respected men of God are to coordinate the gathering and the final decision, based on God’s Word, is to be accepted. Should there be an interpretive disagreement, such a decision should be solved thru diligent & earnest prayer, considering regional and cultural information which may have some bearing on the scriptures interpretation. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

Word for the Day

“God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.”— Tony Evans

The Book of Acts

The First Church Council

Acts 15:1-21

“As long as most of the first Christians were Jewish, there was little difficulty in welcoming new believers; however, Gentiles (non-Jews) began to accept Jesus’ offer of salvation. The evidence in their lives & the presence of God’s Spirit in them showed that God was accepting them. Some of the early Christians believed that non-Jewish Christians needed to meet certain conditions before they could be worthy to accept Christ. The issue could have destroyed the church, so a conference (council) was called in Jerusalem, & the issue was formally settled there, although it continued to be a problem for many years following.” ^[1]

            There were 3 points of view shared at the conference: The Judaizers (some of the Jewish Christians) viewpoint, the Gentile Christian viewpoint, & Peter and James’ viewpoint. 

The Judaizers felt the Gentiles must become a Jew first to be eligible for salvation. Their reasoning was as follows: They were devout, practicing Jews who had a problem setting aside the tradition of following God’s Law. They thought grace was too easy for the Gentiles. They were afraid of appearing too non-Jewish in the practice of their new Christian faith. Placing these ritualistic demands on the Gentiles was a for them to control these new believers & the movement as a whole.

The Gentile believers saw faith in Christ as Savior as the only requirement for salvation. Here’s why: They felt that if they submitted to the demands of the Jews, it would be the same as doubting what God had already done for them through grace alone. The Gentiles were resisting exchanging their former pagan rituals for Jewish rituals. They desired to obey Christ through baptism instead of circumcision to show the world their new faith.  

Peter & James felt that only faith was required, but there must be evidence of a change in their behavior by replacing their old lifestyle with their new, godly behavior. They also wanted to preserve unity within the body of Christ. Lastly, the Apostles didn’t believe Christianity would survive as just a sect of Judaism. 

James stood & addressed the conference with their judgment regarding the matter. “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.” ^{[Acts 15:19-21]}

What can we take from all this for today? Salvation is by faith through the grace of God & purchased for us by Christ’s blood. That’s it & that’s all. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.

^[1] “The first church conference” as seen in the footnotes from Acts 15:1-21 in the Life Application Study Bible, p. 2423.