Self sacrifice

Remember the song, “Standing on the promises of God.”

Here the scripture teaches that Christians, either Jews or Gentiles are one in Christ. They should study the scriptures and live in unity.

We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Salutations

Remember the song, “Just a closer walk with thee.”

Paul had several encounters during his missionary journeys. One of those was remarkable. But before then Paul and his team were zealous to preach the gospel in Asia and Bithynia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach there. Today, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know when we are led to minister in a place or not. Paul with all his anointing obeyed the Holy Spirit. But, shortly after he had a vision of a man from Macedonia, saying to him “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” That was God’s directive.

Paul and Silas cast out the spirit of divination from a young lady. Whose masters got offended because they made a living from her divination. They raised an uproar and the apostles ended up being beaten and cast into prison.

At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s bands were loosened. This led to the salvation of the jailor and his household. The triple fold miracles of God that came by persecution, prayer and praises. Paul and Silas were set free with apologies from the magistrates, and begged them to depart from their city. Jailor saved with his household, unbelievers witnessed it all; the power of prayer and praises to God.

Acts 16:30-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

The preaching of Christ

Remember the song, “Only Believe.”

Paul in his missionary journey came to Thessalonica, Berea and to Athens. He suffered serious persecutions from mainly the Jews. Many of them contended with Paul who preached boldly and faithfully that Jesus was the Christ, and who came and was crucified, died and rose from the grave, and ascended into heaven. That this confirmed the hope of a resurrection for all who believe in Christ.

In Athens, a city given over to idolatry, Paul preached against it. And said that in times of ignorance, God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent,(verse 30). Because God had appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead.

Paul here was in grief over the wrong teaching going on in the churches at that time. Paul spoke and wrote with authority knowing the source of his calling to the ministry. Jesus Christ met him and had a discussion with Paul. He also told Paul his name, while Paul was on his way to Damascus. He told him I am Jesus whom thou persecutest, (Acts 9:4-6).

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among he heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. What was and has been your reaction to the word of God, your salvation and your calling. Think about this seriously. Time is short, and you need to make your calling and election sure.

Justification by faith

Remember this song,

“Draw me nearer.”

At Corinth, Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. In a vision of the night the Lord told to preach on that He had much people in this city.

Paul met Apollos who was baptised under the baptism of John. Who also met Aquila and Priscilia who took him in and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Yo may be saved but someone else may help you attain the way of God more perfectly.

Gal. 2:21

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Rebaptized

And power.

Remember the song, “Where could I go.”

Galatians

3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Heirship

Remember the song, “There is a great day coming.”

Paul, was preaching to his brethren a touching sermon because he doubted if he would see them again. Prophecies came that told of his life being in danger especially in Jerusalem. As he preached late into the night a young man slept off and fell down from a third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, trouble not yourselves for his life is in him. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. Supernatural power of God. What if you were faced with this situation what would you do. How great is your faith, can you really do like Paul, a man of like passion as you are. Remember Mark 16: 15-20.

Paul in verse 24 said, “None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

This chapter by Apostle Paul was to draw our attention to the great design and purpose of God in our lives. How God made us heir and sons of God through Jesus Crist our Lord. To lapse into legality is to go back to elementary religion and bondage of sin. Legalizers

would bring into bondage and sin again.

Paul said, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. Remember that he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise, by supernatural renewal of youth he Isaac was born. So by faith in Christ Jesus we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free.

In defense of the Gospel

Remember the song, “Oh how I love Jesus.”

Paul was determined to fellowship at Jerusalem despite warning from brethren by the Holy Spirit. At Tyre the Spirit forbade him one more time not to go to Jerusalem.

Also, at Caesarea, Agabus the prophet, warned him him one more time; But he was made up and willing to take the risks. Some times we may find ourselves determined to do a thing but we must make sure we know what and how God is leading us; which may be contrary to others, revelations. Their revelations were correct; but all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). Paul was not afraid to suffer and testify for Christ.

In verse14, And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

In Jerusalem Paul went into the temple for to worship. A few days later Paul was mobbed and beaten and thrown out of the temple and were about to kill him when the chief captain of the Roman army came and rescued him. They bound him in chains and took him away for his own safety. He was allowed to address the mob for a brief period.

In this chapter Paul was warning about going into bondage again by the deeds of the law. Justification by law makes Christ and grace of no effect. If you are justified by the law you have fallen from grace.

Paul talked about victory over sin. Stand fast in the liberty of the gospel and and renounce all law keeping for salvation. Keep justification in grace and obey the truth. Walk in the Spirit, Be led by the Spirit. Crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts. Live and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life and live in the Spirit for against such there is no law.

Remember Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”