Paul

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Knowledge makes others stumble!

It’s very easy to be “holier than thou”! The act of salvation just makes you feel so special – that God would take time and effort for you. Continue reading →

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Lift up Jesus and not yourself.

One day Paul and Barnabas entered a city and healed a man that had never walked.

Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Continue reading →

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Sickness and the Bible.

Sorry for the delay. I was sick all night with some kind of stomach ailment – perhaps food poisoning. It was enough to keep me from going to work and, later, sleep with socks on, both are unusual for me.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about sickness.

In the Law it says,

You shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. Ex 23:25

The Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, Deut 7:15

And while it seems that God wants to protect His people from sickness. For this to happen it appears the people would need to serve Him with all their heart, mind, and soul; to follow His commandments and statutes, which did not happen.

Sickness knows no bounds and affected kings, priest, and prophets alike.

Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. 2 Kings 13:14

Elisha did die.

Hezekiah was sick and near death. Isa 38:1

Hezekiah did not die at this time but would fifteen years later.

Jesus was well known for preaching and teaching the Gospel to the people and

healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matt 9:35

And while there is a gift of healing through the Holy Spirit, it is evident that not everyone receives healing.

There was the infirmity of Paul, which he sought three times for God to remove. And there was a man that Paul also did not heal.

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 2 Tim 4:20

Sickness is a part of life and I believe sickness is a result of bacteria, viruses, impurities, and sin.

My sickness was through violating some food law and eating spoiled meat. Did I know this at the time? No, had I, I would never have eaten it.
Yet I feel that God has delivered me from this sickness.

by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Probably the best part about being sick, if there is one, is my wife anointing me with oil and praying over me for healing.

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Apologetics – Part 5

Paul’s entire set of epistles seem to be nothing but Christian apologetics – he defends the faith.

Each letter is written to a group, region, or church that seems to be going through problems, questions, or false teachings.

For instance to the Corinthians Paul defended the resurrection, spiritual gifts, Communion, marriage and divorce, hair length, and law suits just to name a few.

To the Galatians, Paul had to defend against Judaizers that came with a different gospel of following the Law.

In Ephesians he defended the family.

And I could go on but you can read each for yourself and experience what Paul was saying.

Probably one of the best lines from Paul on apologetics is given in Colossians –

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Col 4:5-6

Apologetics demands wisdom and patience. It demands grace in what you say and how you say it so that the answers you give will be received.

Abba, I want grace and salt in my speech today. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Apologetics – Part 4

Over three years had passed since his conversion to Christianity from Judaism. He had visited Arabia, Damascus, and finally the birthplace of the church – Jerusalem. Continue reading →

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Apologetics – Part 3

Christian apologetics did not come easy for Paul. After his salvation and conversion he was now going to need to build up what he previously had been tearing down.

You will have to do the same. Continue reading →

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Apologetics – Part 1

My church gathered to watch God’s Not Dead on New Year’s Eve. Many told me it was the best movie they have ever seen.

It is an excellent movie.

I think about how the student defended his Christian faith against the college professor. That’s called Christian apologetics. While I am a Christian and I will defend my faith, I’m not sure I would or could do it in the same method as the student in the movie.
He did a lot of reading to find out the belief of different philosophers and scientist in order to defend the faith.

I, on the other hand, prefer not to cloud my mind with antichrist thoughts and ideas. I prefer to read the truth that is God’s word.

I found in the Bible one of the first Christian’s to get into apologetics – Saul, who became the apostle Paul.

After his salvation, he turned his attention to preaching Jesus as the Son of God. How did he do this being such a new Christian and freshly converted from Judaism?

This verse gives the key.

But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. Acts 9:22

He increased!
I believe that means in knowledge and strength of the Holy Spirit.

He confounded!
This increased knowledge of the scripture gave him the ability to confound the knowledge of others.

He proved!
By using the scripture he was able to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s word.

This is Christian apologetics and it’s something you need to do also.

The church can no longer shrug when people question the faith or have questions about the Bible or doctrine. You must know what you believe and why you believe it.

Next time I will reveal through the scripture how Saul (Paul) was able to do this.

Abba, use me today to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and the only Way of salvation. YES&AMEN

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Persevere

Yesterday morning three women answered phone call after phone call to sign up thirty-one children to sing Christmas carols on the radio.

It took a couple of minutes with each caller to get the needed information. It took over an hour to sign up all thirty-one.

After it was over I checked the call logs and there were over 1,500 phone calls during that time. That’s not 1,500 individuals – it’s 1,500 calls with many parents calling over and over trying to get through.

In checking the logs one individual called 146 times!

I could tell from the time line that he called, got a busy signal, hung up, and tried again.
His persistence paid off. He did get through and signed up his children.

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Likewise, God blesses perseverance! It shows commitment as a strong characteristic.

In fact the Bible says,

tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; Rom 5:3-4

These days there are not many people that can persevere, endure, and commit – whether it’s going to church, holding down a job, or being married.

You will be rewarded in any situation for your moral and ethical perseverance. Do not give up. Keep pushing, reaching, and moving forward!

Paul gives his own example for you to keep going.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Phil 3:12

Abba, I press on in Jesus name. I put one foot in front of the other and keep going! I know You will bless me as I keep going. YES&AMEN