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Acts 21:29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
What we assume about others can seriously damage their position and health!
When we go about believing our assumptions and judgements rather than finding the truth we are going to be walking on thin ice!
When we spread rumours based on those assumptions rather than telling people facts we are going to find out just how much we damage other people’s lives!
If you cannot say anything good and truthful, then stop speaking!
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Acts 21:21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
Why would the Jews complain about what Paul was doing to the people outside of Israel? Why should they care?
Because they had built up their following based on rules and regulations rather than on God, His Son and His Spirit!
We do not have to follow the old rules and regulations about offerings and sacrifices because Christ is our perfect and complete sacrifice.
Follow God and His rules. Follow Christ. Follow the Holy Spirit.
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Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Why would God choose virgin daughters to be prophets?
Society at that time was all about what men did and said. So, God chose women instead.
Society looked up to what the elders did and said because they should know with experience. So, God chose daughters instead.
They probably had more of an open heart than all the other leaders because they were listening to God and not man. God knows exactly what He is doing!
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Acts 21:4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem
Listening to God does not always mean you will hear directly from Him; sometimes it is what other people are going to be praying about which will trigger God’s words in you.
The Holy Spirit does not have a track record of standing on street corners and shouting to make people hear; rather the opposite, working from the inside with people.
God uses all manner of ways to reach us but we have to be open to those ways otherwise we will miss out on what God is saying to us.
Listen, in all ways, listen.
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Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
How many times have you heard people say “it is more blessed to give than to receive” and wondered why?
Christ was not talking about giving presents at Christmas time or Easter eggs or other presents we think of; He was talking about supporting the people who need it most!
Too often we ignore the things going on around us because we are bombarded by news stories which seem more like horror movies than actual news.
Open your heart toward those around who need it most – follow the example given by Jesus.
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Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
One of the hardest things I find as a Christian is leaving a place where I have been involved with the church for a long time.
I know God is in control but I also know I am leaving people who are vulnerable to other people and this verse comes to mind many a time…
We do need to watch out because the evil one is very clever and watches for any chance to come in to break open doubt, fear and anything else he can to gain a foothold.
Always keep on praying for people whether you are with them or not because God listens to your prayers!
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Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul had spent a long time going round many places spreading the gospel; but in almost every place he had the same message being given to him: chains and tribulations await him in Jerusalem.
Does Paul run the other way? No, he continues forward where the Holy Spirit is leading him!
Would you be willing to walk into an effective ambush just because Christ asked you to?
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Acts 20:12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
So many times we are expecting God to do things according to our timetable and according to our wishes!
Sometimes God just wants us to rest in Him and wait for the response with faith.
Christ taught the disciples to have faith in Him, God and the Holy Spirit. That faith does not have time limits and is not limited by man’s imagination or his requirements.
This is the time of us living in God’s Grace; allow Him to work according to His timetable and keep your faith in Him!
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Acts 20:1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.
And then, sometimes, it is time to move on to continue God’s work elsewhere…
God wants to be able to use us to the best of our abilities; it may be to get things going in a new area and pass on the baton to others. It may be staying for the long haul. We must listen to God carefully.
Listening to Him may not be easy because it may go against what we want and may even move us to a different area just when we think we are making a difference; we need to trust God because He does know best!
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Acts 19:38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
How often have you jumped in to try and settle an argument only to make things worse than before?
Sometimes it is hard not to get involved, especially when the people involved are close to you; but sometime it is only our job to stand by and offer support.
God does not want us to change the world – He is already doing that and trying to use us in ways we don’t quite understand sometimes.
Allow God to work – don’t cramp His ways!
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Acts 19:35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
How many of us have rushed into a situation and made it worse by telling people exactly what we thought should happen?
We need to be conscientious about our work for God but we also need to be tolerant of local customs.
Do not think you can change the world just by telling them God is real and they must all change their ways immediately; allow God to work in their lives.
Show compassion to people and find out about them and their beliefs too.
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Acts 19:34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
So how much do we put up with from others degrading or mocking us about Christianity? A lot!
How much should we be turning the other cheek? A lot!
Being patient and waiting for the right time, which God will show you, may take a whole lot longer than you anticipated!
Imagine waiting for over two hours whilst people chanted against you!
But God is faithful and just to deliver even if we grow weak and weary waiting.
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Acts 19:28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
When we come up against the local beliefs and habit of people, we are going to find opposition when we try to speak about God.
God is all powerful and is Creator of everything, including the local peoples belongings; but be careful you do not exclude yourself totally through pride.
Be patient, be kind and treat people as you want God to treat them and God to treat you.
Allow God the time to work in peoples’ hearts; be persistent.
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Acts 19:11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
Notice here it does not say that Paul did amazing and unusual miracles; it says God did through Paul’s hands.
It is God who is continuing to do miracles and He does so through human beings. He does so through those who are willing to give God all the glory and honour.
He is not withholding things just because we don’t have enough faith or because someone does not believe; it is God’s choice of miracles.
Pray hard to allow Him to do miracles through you!
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Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Just telling people about God and about the bible is only the first step of getting them to know Christ. Each of the disciples knew God and the scriptures before they came to know Christ.
When Christ showed them the truth that He is the Son of God, their Messiah and their Saviour, they fully believed and received the Holy Spirit.
Knowing all the right words is not the same as knowing Christ and having the Holy Spirit with you.
Fully believe and invite Christ and the Holy Spirit into your life to help you live for God properly.
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Acts 18:26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Have you ever heckled someone during a speech of some kind?
God teaches us a different way of doing things, and the apostles followed those teachings; they did not heckle, but they did take Apollos aside afterward and explain where he was wrong.
We need to encourage people to speak out about God and not discourage them through heckling.
If God wanted to stop us from ever telling a lie we would all be in a bad place; instead He encourages us to talk and then follows our mistakes with truth and discernment later.
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Acts 18:10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
God gave direction and encouragement to Paul as he sent him to tell the gospel to the gentiles; He never sends us out alone.
God will always send you out with someone. It may not seem like it at the time as you go forward to a new position or location, but He has often already put people in place for you.
Don’t just look at what God has given you to do. Don’t think you are alone. Rather look for the signs and people He has already put in place and take encouragement that He is with you every step of the way!
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Acts 18:6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Paul continued to try to reach out to the Jews with the Gospel message, but time and time again they refused to listen to the truth.
We need to listen to what God is telling us, especially when He is telling us something we don’t like because we are less likely to want to do that.
Paul was directed to reach out to all people and not just the Jews; at this stage the foolishness of the Jews was just too much and he dusted his feet for the last time on them.
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Acts 18:3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
No you don’t have to give up on the world, your job and everything you are just to become a Christian. We still have to pay our way just as others do and we still have to eat!
But changing your attitude toward your work, be in in school, college or out in the world as a professional, having a positive attitude toward your work will be noticed.
God continues to want us to be a light in our lives, shining for Him and being positive, honest and diligent in what we do is a good start!
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Acts 17:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
How do you describe God to people? How would you try and describe The Holy Spirit?
Many of us do have difficulty in describing our Creator because the only things we have to describe others with are the things we have around us.
Here we are warned about trying to describe God with earthly things. Try describe Him through what He has done in your life…