Paul employs two keys to open doors as His Missionary journeys continue. KEY ONE He reaches out to the Jews of the community first and then shares the Gospel with the Gentiles. KEY TWO He preaches and opens the Scriptures Some believe and some do not. Some become so incensed that they seek to destroy Paul and Silas. Their fanaticism is no less than it was when Saul/Paul was persecuting the first Christians. The Lord uses the persecution to move Paul, Silas and Timothy to the city of Berea. The Church Thessalonica has ongoing problems from fanatical Jews who are outraged by the Gospel of Jesus. Berea was much more accepting and many Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews in Thessalonica heard that there was an awakening going on in Berea, so they assempled and mobbed together against the Apostle Paul. paul slips out of town in the middle of the night and his associates stayed behind. Paul sends for them from Athens and is almost overcome by their idolatry... Athens brings Paul to street level ministry... the Holy Spirit reveals the power of Jesus through the wisdom of Paul's polemics. we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. SEVENTEEN The Message Jesus is visible to those who believe in the preaching and scriptures KEY VERSE: 2-4 preach, open scriptures, turn to believe Messiah and some rebel KEY VERSE: 10-12 Synogog, preaching teaching and conversion of many KEY VERSE: 30-31 some convinced including a judge and gentle woman +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Color Code The Ongoing Ministry of Jesus in around and through the Church Yellow/gold = Seeing Jesus continued ministry Teal/blue = Seeing the action of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus Burgundy/red = Seeing the ongoing and evolving mission/witness of the Church to the Testimony of Jesus
0 Comments
|
From Bob BonnellCommunionFire commentary on the Book of the Archives
January 2017
Categories |