totallylovedbygod65
Member
- Mar 12, 2024
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ACTS 21
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
BOUND BUT FREE
Paul was a very focused man, he was never disobedient to the heavenly vision that he had seen on the Damascus road all those years before.
Jesus said that he would have to suffer greatly for his names sake, and he had suffered beatings and imprisonment on several of his missionary journeys.
Agabus, a prophet came down from Judea, this was the same one, who had prophesised that there would be a famine fifteen years earlier.
Now he was telling them, that their beloved Paul, was going to be arrested if he went up to Jerusalem.
They were shocked, they were going to lose their beloved leader, the man who had built the church.
They tried to persuade Paul not to go, but Paul would not be moved, his words in verse 13, should stir us, they stir me.
What Paul said in verse 13, is Don't stop me!
Why this weeping, this is God's will for my life. God is going to use this as never before, he is going to unlock the doors to speaking to kings and even to the emperor himself.
You see sometimes, we don't see the big picture, God does.
Sometimes, we have people in our churches, who will go to dangerous places, we will say, why are you going there, it's so dangerous.
The words of Paul in verse 13 are the cry of every Christian:
I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Although Paul was bound by chains in Jerusalem and in other places, he has greater opportunities to share the gospel with influential people, who probably would have never had the chance to hear it, if he had remained a free man.
Paul saw this as an opportunity not an obstacle to the spread of the gospel.
Let our cry by always that of verse 13, I am ready not only to be bound but to die for the gospel.
Every day, someone is killed for the gospel, people are killed because of the name of Jesus.
Am I/you prepared to say the words of verse 13?
God bless you
kk
ACTS 20
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
WHY ARE WE HERE ON EARTH?
Paul is here talking to the elders of the church at Ephesus, he is giving them a farewell address, he will see them no more.
This is a sad time for all, Paul is sharing all that he has done, he is warning them, encouraging them.
Paul is like his saviour, he is focused. Jesus set his eyes to go to Jerusalem, so did Paul, both of them knew what to expect at Jerusalem, Jesus suffered death on the cross, Paul will suffer persecution and imprisonment but to both of them, this meant nothing.
They were completely focused on what they had to do, Paul did not count his life of any consequence.
Constantly, we hear people ask, what is your purpose in life?
You must have a reason for living, well for Paul it is summed up in these words in Galatians 2:
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So why are you here n earth?
So that Christ can be seen in you and be glorified both in death and in life, your life is not your own. Paul has given his whole life joyfully to Christ, because he knew what Christ had done for him.
Our purpose is to testify of Christ, in the final words of this verse, we have our commission to testify the gospel of the grace of God, this is our purpose.
Our focus, should be on two things:
Giving our lives solely unto Christ in joyful and heartfelt surrender and testifying of the glorious gospel of the grace of God, then like Paul, we will be able to say these wonderful words, that he said in 2 Timothy chapter 4:
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I hope and pray all of us, will be able to say these words.
God bless you
Keith
THE BOTTOM LINE
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/tbl-china
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/tbl-china-prayer-requests
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/teens/page/35
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/teens/page/53
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
BOUND BUT FREE
Paul was a very focused man, he was never disobedient to the heavenly vision that he had seen on the Damascus road all those years before.
Jesus said that he would have to suffer greatly for his names sake, and he had suffered beatings and imprisonment on several of his missionary journeys.
Agabus, a prophet came down from Judea, this was the same one, who had prophesised that there would be a famine fifteen years earlier.
Now he was telling them, that their beloved Paul, was going to be arrested if he went up to Jerusalem.
They were shocked, they were going to lose their beloved leader, the man who had built the church.
They tried to persuade Paul not to go, but Paul would not be moved, his words in verse 13, should stir us, they stir me.
What Paul said in verse 13, is Don't stop me!
Why this weeping, this is God's will for my life. God is going to use this as never before, he is going to unlock the doors to speaking to kings and even to the emperor himself.
You see sometimes, we don't see the big picture, God does.
Sometimes, we have people in our churches, who will go to dangerous places, we will say, why are you going there, it's so dangerous.
The words of Paul in verse 13 are the cry of every Christian:
I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Although Paul was bound by chains in Jerusalem and in other places, he has greater opportunities to share the gospel with influential people, who probably would have never had the chance to hear it, if he had remained a free man.
Paul saw this as an opportunity not an obstacle to the spread of the gospel.
Let our cry by always that of verse 13, I am ready not only to be bound but to die for the gospel.
Every day, someone is killed for the gospel, people are killed because of the name of Jesus.
Am I/you prepared to say the words of verse 13?
God bless you
kk
ACTS 20
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
WHY ARE WE HERE ON EARTH?
Paul is here talking to the elders of the church at Ephesus, he is giving them a farewell address, he will see them no more.
This is a sad time for all, Paul is sharing all that he has done, he is warning them, encouraging them.
Paul is like his saviour, he is focused. Jesus set his eyes to go to Jerusalem, so did Paul, both of them knew what to expect at Jerusalem, Jesus suffered death on the cross, Paul will suffer persecution and imprisonment but to both of them, this meant nothing.
They were completely focused on what they had to do, Paul did not count his life of any consequence.
Constantly, we hear people ask, what is your purpose in life?
You must have a reason for living, well for Paul it is summed up in these words in Galatians 2:
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So why are you here n earth?
So that Christ can be seen in you and be glorified both in death and in life, your life is not your own. Paul has given his whole life joyfully to Christ, because he knew what Christ had done for him.
Our purpose is to testify of Christ, in the final words of this verse, we have our commission to testify the gospel of the grace of God, this is our purpose.
Our focus, should be on two things:
Giving our lives solely unto Christ in joyful and heartfelt surrender and testifying of the glorious gospel of the grace of God, then like Paul, we will be able to say these wonderful words, that he said in 2 Timothy chapter 4:
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I hope and pray all of us, will be able to say these words.
God bless you
Keith
THE BOTTOM LINE
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/tbl-china
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/tbl-china-prayer-requests
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/teens/page/35
https://www.tblfaithnews.com/category/teens/page/53