2020-06-12
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We all know that Paul and his entourage went on three missionary journeys. These are some of the events of the first mission, where Paul and Barnabas would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That changed the course of Christianity by spreading it. The Jews in Antioch in Pisidia went on Sabbath to hear Paul and Barnabas speak. (The name Antioch was used in other places, as it was necessary to indicate this was the one in Pisidia and not Antioch of Syria. Pisidia was on the southern coast of Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey). Nearly everyone in town went to hear what Paul would say. I’m sure some of these Jews remembered the zeal with which Saul of Tarsus had persecuted Jewish believers in Jesus Christ and were curious to see what he was teaching, now that his conversion had taken place. When hearing what Paul said, they insulted and belittled him in their jealousy. To his detractors, Paul’s bold response was, “Since you reject what we say and don’t think yourselves worthy of gaining eternal life, we will carry this message to the Gentiles!” These Jews had totally forgotten that long ago, God had said to them, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, so that all the world may be saved” [IS 42: 6; IS 49: 6]. Paul and Barnabas knew that the Gospel was meant “first for the Jews and then, for the Gentiles” [RO 1: 16]. The Gentiles in this audience felt differently. They were glad to hear this message and welcomed the decision Paul and Barnabas were making. Those chosen by God to believe came to faith.
As faith in Jesus Christ spread quickly among the Gentiles of that region, the Jews began persecuting Paul and Barnabas, even to the point of finally forcing them to leave the area. It’s ironic that those once persecuted had turned against other and became persecutors. The same things happened again in modern day Israel. That homeland for the Jews was established as a result of the Holocaust, and now traditional Jews are acting against Messianic ones in that country. Paul and Barnabas went on to Iconium, which was further inland but still in southern Asia Minor (Turkey). At Iconium, these two apostles spoke in the synagogues. While many Jews believed along with the Gentiles, those that didn’t planned to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas. The apostles learned of the plot in enough time to leave the cities of Lystra and Derbe to the surrounding territory before it happened. God had enabled the two apostles to do miracles and wonders.
In Lystra, there had been a crippled man who sat and listened. Paul and Barnabas could see this man was becoming a believer. Paul shouted, “Get up on your feet and walk!” The man did just that, causing these former believers in the Greek gods to nickname Paul “Hermes” and Barnabas “Zeus.” The priest of the Greek temple and others brought sacrifices of bulls and flowers to the gate for people to offer. Paul and Barnabas struggled to let their audience know that it was to God and not to them that sacrifices should be offered. They explained the need for people to humble themselves before God, Who had instructed them to bring the Good News of the Gospel to others. They preached the same in all the cities they visited and appointed some believers to be elders, encouraging them to remain true to the faith and to teach that we must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God. [AC 13: 44-14: 23].
In addition to the history of these first mission events, we can see how human foibles impact what happened and learn of longstanding persecution of women, which has gone on until very recently. Women didn’t have paying jobs in those days, nor did they have any decision-making power. They were relegated to tasks that men didn’t want to do. They were expected to go along with their husband’s decisions. Women of high social standing were persecuted right along with men who were city leaders, who believed in God [AC 13: 49-50]. We can see from all of what I’ve written this morning that logic, common sense, and decision based on other than one’s emotions is often absent in such times. Consider if anything has changed in today’s time.
PRAYER: Dearest Father, we review these events and this human behavior, so that we might better understand what pleases You and what doesn’t. You take on an enormous task in Your efforts to civilize mankind. We are often disobedient and stubborn. We reject teaching You give us and do not treat our neighbor as we ourselves would want to be treated. We often seek the help and advice of other humans before coming to the end of ourselves and turning to You. How often we find ourselves in predicaments of our own making. All too often we neglect to prepare ourselves to know and apply Your didactics. Now is the time for us to openly admit our sins to You and to acknowledge Your superiority and the blessings you give us. We offer You our sincerest sorrow for our thoughts and behavior. We ask You, the only One Who can guide us to gaining eternal life, for Your pardon. Admitting openly our sinful behavior and letting You open our hearts to the Holy Spirit is what we should have done long ago. If it is Your will, please accept our apologies with the cleansing forgiveness that only You can give. Guide and lead our lives, so that we may use the skill sets You give us to do Your work. Then and only then will our lives be distinguished and our legacies valuable. We utter this prayer in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: It may seem strange that in this overview, I have yet to offer citations from the book of Galatians. However, it is necessary to see the state of affairs in which mankind had gotten when this book was written (somewhere between 48 and 53 AD) and their consequences. In IS 46: 10, we learn about God’s omnipotence. [God speaking] “From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail; that I would do everything I intended to do.” God never lies and has no evil in Him [1 JN 1: 5]. A man making such a statement would be considered outrageous, but God making it is Biblical truth. Next week, I’m led to write about how we can allow the influence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on us to influence others.
This series of messages will be about what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and how to use them to their best advantage. I do not in any way believe I’am perfect, because I, like most believers, still have human foibles and still am a sinner. However, the Lord Jesus has had a huge impact on the choices I have made since coming to faith in Him at the age of 25. The direction my life has taken has, by His power to do good, changed the course of my life and my attitudes/practices. He retains this same power, which can be used on anyone to “pull them out of the slimy pit and set them on a Rock which is solid” [PS 40: 1-2]. Two things happened to me. I became a listener, and I gave leadership of my life over to the Holy Spirit. These were the best decisions I ever made. He can do the same for anyone willing. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2020. All Rights Reserved.
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