Building on my last blog I think it important to help us all realize that the gospel message of Jesus is received in many different ways. Let me narrow that down to two ways- ACCEPT OR REJECT! When Paul was in Thessalonica, the message was received with mixed reviews in that the Jews rejected it, and the conviction was so great they lashed out against Paul and anyone who was associated with him. Namely, a man named Jason, who welcomed Paul and his companions into his home. Acts 17: 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
Protecting the message was important, as well as preserving the messenger, Paul the Apostle. Here is what happened next in verses 10-15. Acts 17: 10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. Ah, the people of Berea!!! Receptive minds and receptive hearts. What a difference a receptive mind makes, and when that person reads the living Word of God, it is easy for them to see the pure truth of the scriptures. Paul knew this and relied on the power of the Word of God, and boy, was it ever powerful. Lives were changed, and here is the kicker in Acts 17: They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
All of this helps us realize if we genuinely search in God's Word we will find pure truth that changes our minds and changes our hearts. I listen to Billy Graham almost every day on my Sirius XM and he never fails when sharing scripture to say first, "The Word of God says" and then proceeds to share that word. Why? Because the power of the message is in the Word of God and our Words are an empty shell without the Word of God to fill in the meat! I hear several preachers say words that make me cringe when they say something like, "I think what this scripture is saying." What I think doesn't mean a lot, and that is why Paul's message was strong and the effects were wide ranging. Paul relied on the Word of God; however those minds received it, it had a cause and effect. The effect was conviction and salvation, and the cause was the Holy Spirit!! Bereans were a different group of people than the Thessalonians, and the gospel was well received, and the result was many converts.
Good things happen and it awakens satan and his angels. Then he attacks, and we see those troublemakers in Thessalonica travel to Berea to attack Paul and Silas. They had heard what was happening, and their hatred for the message drove them to follow the messengers to Berea, and they caused trouble. The believers in Berea act at once and escort Paul to the coast and put him on a ship to Athens. Silas and Timothy stay behind, and when Paul and those escorting him get to Athens, Paul sends those with him back to Berea to tell Silas and Timothy to come to Athens.
Those troublemakers who traveled from Thessalonica to Berea traveled 45 miles, which shows to what lengths those against the gospel message will go to snuff it out. May we who share this message continue to share it and be so committed that we will go to great lengths to make sure it is protected and preached! This message must be heard from our pulpits every Sunday and every day of our lives. We are the only Jesus some may ever see. There is an old song sung by the group the Imperials that has some very poignant lyrics, and they are as follows: If not in You I wonder where will they ever see
The One who really cares. If not from You how will they find there's One who heals the broken heart. Gives sight to the blind? 'Cause You're the only Jesus some will ever see
And You're the only words of life some will ever read. So let them see in You the One in whom is all they'll ever need. 'Cause You're the only Jesus some will ever see
If you find receptive minds you will find receptive hearts as the message convicts and the Holy Spirit does the drawing. The Word of God says in John 6:44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. It is still their choice to accept Jesus, but they won't have the chance if we do not share the life changing message of the gospel. Paul held to the message to the end, and as he heads to Athens, he is about to be confronted by so-called educated elites. Do you think he is intimidated? Tomorrow, I will share what happened in Athens, and it will surely encourage us all to be courageous and unswerving in our commitment to Jesus. C.S. Lewis said this about courage. “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality. ”
Vesselogical Out,
David Warren
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