Daily Bread 11-25-17
Acts 19:8,9
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
ref. - Ac 1:3 - To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
2Ti 1:15 - This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
2P 2:2 - And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Ac 9:2 - And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Ac 20:31 - Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
In the Acts of the Apostles we learn of the many things that the Apostles went through and performed in order to further this wonderful gospel to the people. In these writings we also see an example of how God used men to persevere into the spreading of the truth. Saul, a very devout man, and faithful to the synagogue, was called by God in Jesus Christ to turn from his ways. He was renamed Paul. He was not on a wrong path as he knew it, he was very devoted and dedicated to it. But Christ stopped him and gave him a better way. The surety of a new testament in Jesus Christ. As he went along to continue this work he met some believers but a number of men in higher positions would not agree with what Paul brought. He would spend much time proving the scriptures and showing them the way but they would not only discount what Paul was preaching, but they would also speak evil of him and the men that traveled with him. Even though what he was bringing was filled with the Spirit of God and absolutely supported by the scriptures they still would not let go of the traditions and rituals, and sometimes even pagan beliefs, that Paul, through the gospel, was showing to be ineffective. He spent three months convincing these men and they still remained hardened. As they would not change Paul left them and he and his men split up and continued for two years to bring this gospel to the people in this region. Essentially he left the "holy" ones who were speaking against him and the gospel which he represented and went to the people. Today we have much the same going on and if we do as we are shown in these examples, the Acts of the Apostles, we will still come out of it triumphant. Let us break this down into the Church rather than a whole country. There are men who are supported by the scriptures and backed by the Church that go about and spread the pure, clean gospel. Not out of perfection, but out of a search for perfection through Jesus Christ. They bring a message of hope, salvation, gifts of the Spirit, and these things which are promised by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Acts of the Apostles. But as they teach and are proven by not only the scriptures but also a performance of the Spirit, there are still those who are driven by the devil to debate, discount, and eventually try to get the people away from these good men. They dig around and find scriptures to twist to their liking and to try to abolish what has been taught, mostly in the Old testament by the way, and eventually turn to evil speaking of them. In turn, these good men, called of God, that have the pure clean gospel and the power in the Holy Spirit as the gift of God allows, no longer will come around. They will depart from them and use their disobedience and stubbornness as a testimony to God against them. These good men of the Church will still spread the gospel wherever the Spirit leads them, but it will no longer be brought to those who keep opposing what God has called in and given them in Jesus Christ. But have no fear children, if this is occurring where you are just remember, there is a good pure gospel being taught and spread by these Apostles and their men. Look for men who are in good standing with the Church in which they are ordained to, ones who support what has been taught when the leadership of the Church is present. Ones who do not discount or debate what is taught or who has been put in order, and follow them. If you know that you are in a position where this disobedience is occurring and that the leadership of the Church no longer has communication or comes around any longer, start looking and praying. God will bring you help. Also contact the government of the Church, the leader, and ask him where to go where you can go to hear the true gospel of Jesus Christ. You have been drawn to great place, a Church that is named specifically in the word of God in Hebrews 12:22-23, and this call will never fade. This scripture is not given to us to hurt holy men, but to show us who those men are. It also reveals who those who are in opposition are. Are they men of the Church, or have they created their own "synagogue"? Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Have a great day!!!