Today I finished the book of Acts, and my goodness, such an awesome read. The life of Paul is an exhortation in and of itself, and though I have read and been encouraged by his letters, it was equally as inspiring to read about and be encouraged by his life. So today I will talk about a few of the things I have learned in observing Paul’s life. “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Acts 14:15 Some context: Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra, “speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders” (Acts 14:3). The people of Lystra, upon seeing the signs and wonders, have begun to call Paul “Hermes” and Barnabas “Zeus”. They were even planning to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they tore their clothes and shouted to the people about God, starting with Acts 14:15 (quoted above). “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:16b-18 Think of all the stories in the Bible where followers of Jesus did incredible things: resurrecting the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons, signs and wonders and miracles galore. We are so quick to put these followers of Jesus on a different level than us (like those in Lystra did with Paul and Barnabas), when in reality, they had no spiritual advantage. The only difference between us and them is that they prayed fervently and went wherever the Spirit led them, speaking boldly for the Lord and closely listening to and following His instructions. I’m not saying that if you’re not a miracle-performer, you’re not a true Christ follower. Not everyone who follows Christ can perform miracles. Personally, I think we are too prideful of a generation. In a world where people seek the praise of other people, how cool would it be to heal sicknesses and resurrect the dead? Yet these signs are not meant to bring glory to ourselves, but to God. What I am saying is that you are praying to and listening to the same God to which these people prayed and listened. You are being led by the same Spirit by which these people were led. Your sins were atoned for by the same Jesus. And if we’re going to believe this message, we’ve got to believe it. Do you really believe that your prayers are powerful and effective? James seems to think you should (James 5:16b). “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:22-24 Paul was a man who obediently followed the Spirit. Wherever the Spirit would take him, whatever the Spirit wanted him to say, whatever suffering he had to go through for this message, Paul was relentlessly committed. He submitted his entire life to the Lord, considering it worth nothing to himself. As he left his friends Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he parted with the promise, “I will come back if it is God’s will” (Acts 18:20). So many of us go where we will. We base all our life decisions off of what we want and where we want to go and the job we want to have. But what is the Spirit telling you to do? Where does the Spirit want you to go? I’ve talked about being led by the Spirit in a previous post, but this is so important, because look at what the people who stay in step with the Spirit get to experience: "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10 “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” Acts 23:11 “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Acts 27:22-25 Did you catch that? The Lord spoke to Paul. The Lord stood near Paul. God Himself exhorted Paul, directed him, guided him, comforted him, encouraged him. And all Paul had to do was follow and serve. “God wants the praise for what we do in our lives. But if we never pray audacious, courageous prayers, how can He answer them? If we never follow Him to positions where we need Him, how can He show up and make His presence known?” - Francis Chan, Forgotten God Reader, I am so disheartened. I speak of these things and write these things to exhort myself. Even as I write this post, I know my website has no readers but myself as I have not yet shared it with anyone. I am talking to myself. Yet I am disheartened because I do not think people look at my life and glorify God. I am not walking closely with the Spirit. I am still afraid of the opinions of others. Pray for me, reader, that I may be bold in my faith and I will pray the same for you. This is absolutely everything. Nothing else matters. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
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AuthorFighting complacency and advocating change in myself for the world around me. Posts by Date
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