SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/11/2018 7:32 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2
“Boldness”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 14:1-7
Message of the verses: “1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.”
I have mentioned in earlier SD’s that I like the word
“therefore” as it is used 904 times in the Bible, that is the NASB. We see it used in verse three and perhaps at
first glance it may seem puzzling. What
this word implies is a logical connection with what precedes it, but as we look
at verse two it is difficult to see what the therefore is therefore. John MacArthur writes that “Because of that,
some have argued that verse 2 was not part of the original text of Acts, or
that it belongs in another location. In
their view, it interrupts the logical flow of the text from verses 1to 3. Such a view is shortsighted, however, as John
Polhill explains:
‘Verse 3 is a deliberate
tension with the preceding and emphasizes the power of the Christian witness
and the divine enabling behind it. Even
though there was strong resistance to the Christians (v-2), still they were
able to maintain their witness. The two
apostles were not about to back down.
They had the power of the Holy Spirit to speak ‘boldly’ for the Lord
(cf. 4:29-31). Far from being
intimidated, they were inspired to even bolder witness.’
“The mounting opposition
did not intimidate Paul and Barnabas but energized them to speak out ‘boldly.’ Nor did it deter them from spending ‘a long
time’ ministering at Iconium.”
It is necessary for believers to be bold in their witness
about the Lord Jesus Christ, for all believers are living in a world that
naturally disagrees with the gospel. Why
is that true? Well we are all born
spiritually dead. God told Adam and Eve
that in the day that they eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they
would die. Once they ate of it the
immediately died spiritually, and would later die physically. Because of their sinful act all people who
are born are spiritually dead and want nothing to do with God in the way that
He wants them to. Jesus Christ came to
make a way of salvation to those who will accept what He did in His death,
burial, and resurrection as this was done to pay the price of sin for all those
who will realize that they are born sinners and in need of salvation. Yes the gospel will always be offensive when
it is talked about in the way it is supposed to be, the way that Paul and
Barnabas witnessed to it in Iconium as we see in Acts 14.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: To be bold in
telling the good news of the gospel.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord as I teach about Revelation
chapter four this morning in Sunday school class this morning.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Miletum” (2 Timothy 4:20).
Today’s Bible
question: “Who hid 100 prophets in caves
and fed them?”
Answer in our next SD.
3/11/2018 7:55 AM
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