Paul’s Message Acts 19 and 20 Paul had a message from his Master and was faithful in giving it. His message was sixfold in its substance. 1. “The Kingdom of God” (19:8). The laws of the realm of grace are “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17), and this realm is entered by the new birth—John 3:5, 8. Life to live is obtained by receiving Christ. “Righteousness” is doing right because it is the right thing to do. “Peace” is the calm of God which comes as the result of obedience, and “joy” is the plant that grows in the soil of holiness. 2. “That Way” (19:9, 23) indicates God’s method of doing things. His way is away from sin, according to His Word, personal faith in Christ, obeying His commands, following Christ, ceasing from self, and consecration to God. 3. “The Word of the Lord Jesus” (19:10). This is a concrete sentence denoting the sum total of His teaching. Ponder seven of those words: the “come” of invitation (Matt. 11:28), the “take” of identification (Matt. 11:29), the “ministered” of substitution (Matt. 20:28), the “love” of compassion (John 15:9), the “whatsoever” of prayer (John 14:13), the “peace” of bestowment (John 14:27), the promise of “power” (Acts 1:8), and the “again” of return (John 14:3). 4. “Repentance towards God” (20:21). Repentance is a change of mind wrought by the Holy Spirit and shown in the action. The Prodigal not only said “I will arise,” but he did it. We may be sorry because we suffer the consequence of sin, and not be sorry for the sin which brought the consequences. 5. “Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (20:21). Faith is the act of the will in receiving Christ—John 1:12, the attitude of the life in resting in Christ—Rom. 1:5, R.V., and the response of the heart to the commands of the Lord. The trend of the will leads to the track in which we walk. 6. “The Gospel of the Grace of God” (20:24). A preacher once defined grace as “Receiving everything for nothing when we don’t deserve anything.” This is good news. See what a beautiful illustration is found in the parable of the prodigal son. THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL QUICK STUDY. IT IS FILLED WITH LIFE CHANGING INFORMATION. PLEASE RECEIVE GREATLY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
There are three things to remember about “our sins” 1. We Have Sinned. There are sins called “transgressions,” which are goings beyond God’s law—Num. 14:41; there are sins of trespass, which mean unfaithfulness to a trust, and slipping away from God’s requirement—Matt. 6:14; there arc sins of iniquity, which denote the perversion of that which is good, and making it bad; hence, being unrighteous—Rom. 6:13; there are sins of rebellion, which signify the act of self-will and the clenched fists of opposition—Job 34:37; there are are sins of treachery, which signify an under-current of hypocrisy—Hosea 6:7, R.V.; there are sins of omission, that is, neglecting to do what we ought to do, and very often through ignorance—Lev. 4:13; there are sins of debt, failing to do our duty, and paying what we owe—Matt. 6:12; there are sins of disobedience, failing to respond to God’s word of direction, and generally through unbelief—Col. 3:6; and there are sins of failure, that is, missing the mark of God’s Word; hence, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). 2. We Deserve to be Punished Because of our Sins—Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28. Anyone who breaks the law has to bear the consequence. Frequently we are reminded that the one who sins has to “bear his sin” (Lev. 20:20; 24:15; Num. 9:13; 18:22). 3. All Sin is Against God. David’s confession—Psa. 51:4; the publican’s cry—Luke 18:13; the prodigal’s lament—Luke 15:18; and Saul’s exclamation, all recognize sin is against God—1 Sam. 15:24. There are several passages in the New Testament where the words “our sins” occur. I HOPE YOU RECEIVED GREATLY FROM THIS QUICK STUDY. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM PayPal.me/donatetochurch
1 Peter 1:14–17 Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. But because the God who called you is holy, you must be holy in every aspect of your life. Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” So if you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth in fear. He is the God who judges all people by what they have done, and he doesn’t play favorites.
HOW ARE YOU LIVING, CHECK YOURSELF. NOW MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES.
Psalm 29:2 Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves. Worship the LORD in ⸤his⸥ holy splendor.
Exodus 20:7 “Never use the name of the LORD your God carelessly. The LORD will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.
Psalm 86:9–11 All the nations that you have made will bow in your presence, O Lord. They will honor you. Indeed, you are great, a worker of miracles. You alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, so that I may live in your truth. Focus my heart on fearing you.
LET US BE SURE TO RESPECT GOD’S NAME AT ALL TIMES.
Matthew 21:21–22 Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “It’s impossible for people ⸤to save themselves⸥, but it’s not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God.”
There is a worldly proverb, dear Christian reader, with which we are all familiar. It is this: “Where there is a will there is a way.” If this is the proverb of those who do not know God, how much more should believers in the Lord Jesus, who have power with God, say: “Where there is a will there is a way.”
1. Receive the Word of God with Meekness. “Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Receive it as servants, for it is the voice of the Master; receive it as saints, to cleanse from all defilement; receive it as subjects, for it is the command of the King; receive it as soldiers, to equip for the warfare of evil; receive it as sons, for it is the Father’s will; receive it as saved ones, as the direction of grace; and receive it as surrendered ones, as the rule for life. 2. Let the Word of God Dwell Richly. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16). Let it dwell in the heart, as a preservative from evil; let it dwell in the soul, as the propeller in service; let it dwell in the mind, as the plan for direction; and let it dwell in the affection, as the power for conflict. 3. Keep the Word of God Tenaciously. “They have kept Thy Word” (John 17:6), Christ could say of His disciples. We should keep it as a treasure—securely; as our teacher for instruction, as a tower for protection, and as our trust, we should keep it faithfully and well. 4. Continue in the Word of God Untiringly. “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Continuance in the Word is the mark of true discipleship, the manifest evidence that we are true followers of Christ.
LET US RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD CONTINUOUSLY. LET US ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO DWELL IN OUR HEART, SOUL, AND MIND. LET US BE SURE TO TREASURE THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP THE WORD OF GOD. AS WE GO ABOUT OUR DAILY LIFE, WE MUST CONTINUE IN THE WORD OF GOD ALLOWING THE WORLD TO SEE AND KNOW WE ARE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF GOD.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS QUICK REFRESHER TO BE HELPFUL.
1. Live Out the Word of God Faithfully. “Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ” (2 Cor. 3:3). The Christian is the world’s Bible, a living object-lesson. If we are not walking Bibles, then we are walking libels. 2. Hold Forth the Word of God Boldly. “Holding forth the Word of Life” (Phil. 2:16). As the man holds the lighted torch above his head in the dark night, to show himself and others the path in which to tread, so the Christian is to hold up the Word by his life, and its testimony with his lips, that others may be enlightened and benefited. 3. Muse on the Word of God Prayerfully. As the well-watered tree by the river’s side, grows and is fruitful, so the Christian who muses on, and meditates in, the truth of God, is prosperous in life, and profitable to others—Psa. 1:2.
LET US SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD AND WALK THE WORD OF GOD. WE MUST BE BOLD AND NOT TIMID AND LET US CONTINUOUSLY MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD. LET US MAKE SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE US THEY SEE GOD, AND WHEN THEY HEAR US, THEY HEAR GOD, GLOOORRRY!!! HALLELUJAH!!!
It’s in the Bible, Colossians 3:8, NIV. “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
REMAIN GODLY AT ALL TIMES. DON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO STOP YOUR GODLY WALK. DON’T ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. 1. “Continue following the Lord your God” (1 Sam. 12:14). 2. “Continue in My Word” (John 8:31). 3. “Continue ye in My Love” (John 15:9). 4. “Continue in the Grace of God” (Acts 13:43). 5. “Continue in the Faith” (Acts 14:22). 6. “Continue in Prayer” (Col. 4:2). 7. “Continue in Faith and Charity” (1 Tim. 2:15). I HOPE THIS POST IS HELPFUL TO YOU. PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM
