ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

It's Sunday!!  Praise the LORD, I'm so looking forward to being in Church today!  Jesus founded the Church, and today, I get to enjoy it!  So wonderful.  I'm in the book of Acts.  It is called the Acts of the Apostles, but it could easily have been called the Acts of the Holy Spirit.  It is a wonderful book about the early church and its development.  Here are a few thoughts I would like to share: 1) MISSIONS- In Acts 13, we see the start of Missions.  Notice this:  They were called by the Holy Spirit.  vs. 2 "the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."  and vs. 4, "So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost,.."   So the Holy Spirit calls Missionaries, not men.  But, here is the churches role:  vs. 3 "And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away."  So, the Holy Spirit calls the Missionaries, and the Church prays for them, sends them, and supports them.  2) FICKLE FOLLOWERS- The same people who will sing your praises, can one day sling mud at you and despise you.  Oh yes, this can and does happen.  It happened to Paul and Barnabas as well.  In Acts 14:18-19  "And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them."   Now in verse 18, the people had to be persuaded not to worship Paul and Barnabas, but just one verse later look what happens:   19  "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."   Whao!  From being worshiped (this is wrong), to being stoned and left for dead (this also is wrong!) the same people are persuaded.  Let us put our faith and trust in the LORD, and not in men.  Thank God for those who believe in you and love you, but also realize that people do indeed change. 3) PASSING ON TRUTH-2 Timothy 2:2, says:   "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."   We have a passing on of truth:  Paul to Timothy to Faithful men to Others.  Now we see this practiced in the Book of Acts.  Paul (Acts 18:1) meets Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2) and spends time with them no doubt teaching them more about the Gospel and the teachings of the LORD Jesus Christ.  Then they in turn teach Apollos (Acts 18:26) who in turn teaches the people of Achaia (Acts 18:27,28).  So again we see this passing on of truth.  We too should pass on what we have been preached and have learned. 4) JESUS!  In Acts 23:11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."  Jesus talked with the apostle Paul here and encouraged him.  No one can encourage us like Jesus!  Praise God, He still speaks to us today through His Holy Spirit.  We can delight in His Word and His voice to our spirits.  Thank you Jesus! Well, so much for today... time is going on and church awaits!  Praises!  Have a blessed day!   Pastor Mike Mutchler