Blood Poisoning
Acts18:1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. 4 Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”
Paul goes to Corinth, one of the most corrupt cities of his journeys, and meets Priscilla and Aquila, who have just arrived from Italy. They, like Paul, were tentmakers, so they worked together in their trade and in the ministry. Their connection through their same trade caused them to become co-workers in making tents. Their newfound faith drew them together even closer and Paul lived with them there. This timely friendship would be a great boost to Paul later in his life and in another journey. Perhaps you made a friend with a co-worker who also proved to be a believer in Christ and that friendship ended up being a friendship for life. Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives when making life-long friends.
I just got home from my 50th class reunion and the fellowship was so awesome because of the lifelong friends I got to rekindle at this event. After I surrendered to the ministry I got so busy following and going wherever God led that I lost track of those friends who were so important in my life. At the reunion, I felt like we had never been apart and the encouragement they were to me was priceless. I have made a commitment to never stay apart so long without keeping in touch with each other. This trip was a boost to my mental health and their remaining friendship gave me such an encouragement to stay the course and finish strong. Priscilla and Aquila apparently became that kind of friends to Paul and God gave him a boost at just the right time. Only God would do that for him.
Each Sabbath Paul continued going to the synagogue trying to convince the Jews and Gentiles alike. Then Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia and Paul continued to preach the Word. Paul's message was always the same "Jesus is the Messiah." If they opposed and insulted him, which happened quite often, Paul would shake the dust from his clothes and then say "Your blood is upon your own heads-I am innocent. Paul then said that from then on he would go preach the message to the Gentiles, a willing audience. Where are those who still preach that Jesus is the Messiah today? They are fading into the fog of mediocrity and half-hearted commitment we see in many churches today. This should not be!!
Believe it or not. There is a force that hates this message so much that he has been polluting this message with other messages and half-truths. Our adversary the devil is continuing to try to pollute the blood message of Jesus by making the conclusion that there are no absolute truths. He tries to use the apathy we now see in our world to preach this deceptive message as though he were the Lion of Judah. 1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. So many times I have read this verse and thought "satan is trying to devour me and act like he is in control." There is some truth in thinking that way about this verse, there is another approach I would like to submit that I believe is fairly evident in the condition of church fellowships today. Might satan be trying to disguise himself as the "lion of Judah" also to come across like he is Jesus? I believe he is doing just that. If he can convince anyone that the blood of Jesus is not enough for our sins he will Poison the Blood with his lies and deceit.
Jesus said this in Matthew 26:28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. The blood that Paul left on those who did not believe was the tainted blood that sent them to eternal hell and it was poisoned because of their sin and their rejection of the message Paul was preaching. Satan's lies were convincing enough for those people to miss the kingdom of God. No born again. No life change. No eternal life in glory. Poisoned Blood! For those who believed in the message Paul was preaching the blood meant something else as written in 1 John 1:28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. This is the pure blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. Remission (def) - the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty.
Paul believed so much in the right blood message that he wouldn't the time of those willing to listen by spending any more time on those not willing to listen and he moved on and left them in their unbelief. This urgent heart caused Paul to share the gospel at a record-breaking pace and God truly multiplied His church. Don't let the message of the gospel be slowed or left unshared. If you have Jesus you have a testimony of pure truth about the real blood that was shed for the sins of the world and how God offers that to all who will receive it. Here is the promise from the one who shed His blood for us. John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
His blood is pure, undefiled blood. Share His message today and thus overwhelm the false teachings of a lost world about where the real truth is.
The Pilgrimage Continues
David Warren