May 13, 2015
You might have heard the story of the preacher who preached the same message every Sunday. Anticipating something different, an annoyed congregation grew weary of hearing the exact same message week after week. Finally, someone confronted the repetitive preacher. His response was that they would move on to something else once everyone put into practice what they had been hearing.
Some things are worth repeating. If we take our cue from Jesus and the apostle Paul, there is a key theme and message we will never veer far from. "And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God." (Acts 19:8)
If we don’t know the kingdom of God, we really don’t know Jesus, Paul, or the gospel message. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to truly know the King apart from His kingdom. The life of the servant who served and suffered loses its vital meaning if not framed against the backdrop of his present and future kingdom reign.
Coinciding with Paul’s three-month emphasis on the message of the kingdom of God is this riveting statement: “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul” (v.11). Validating proof of Paul’s message were “extraordinary miracles.” In a city steeped in superstition, the message and the miracles were a powerful one-two punch to the enemy and his domain. Many there practiced sorcery and witchcraft, and, in repentance, a great number of books were burned (Acts 19.18-19).
A recent survey indicates that the number of professing Christians in America has dramatically dropped in the last seven years. Many are rejecting the traditional beliefs and practices of the modern church. Against this spiritual climate, it is high time the people of God returned to the original message and focus of Jesus, Paul, and others. Bold and convincing declaration of the message about the king and the kingdom (Acts 8.12) may yet be validated to a skeptical society with “extraordinary miracles”.
Today’s thoughts come to you with the hope and prayer that you will find incredible energy for living and overcoming as you embrace the biblical gospel concerning the king and the kingdom.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
Some things are worth repeating. If we take our cue from Jesus and the apostle Paul, there is a key theme and message we will never veer far from. "And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God." (Acts 19:8)
If we don’t know the kingdom of God, we really don’t know Jesus, Paul, or the gospel message. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to truly know the King apart from His kingdom. The life of the servant who served and suffered loses its vital meaning if not framed against the backdrop of his present and future kingdom reign.
Coinciding with Paul’s three-month emphasis on the message of the kingdom of God is this riveting statement: “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul” (v.11). Validating proof of Paul’s message were “extraordinary miracles.” In a city steeped in superstition, the message and the miracles were a powerful one-two punch to the enemy and his domain. Many there practiced sorcery and witchcraft, and, in repentance, a great number of books were burned (Acts 19.18-19).
A recent survey indicates that the number of professing Christians in America has dramatically dropped in the last seven years. Many are rejecting the traditional beliefs and practices of the modern church. Against this spiritual climate, it is high time the people of God returned to the original message and focus of Jesus, Paul, and others. Bold and convincing declaration of the message about the king and the kingdom (Acts 8.12) may yet be validated to a skeptical society with “extraordinary miracles”.
Today’s thoughts come to you with the hope and prayer that you will find incredible energy for living and overcoming as you embrace the biblical gospel concerning the king and the kingdom.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2015
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 8:23 AM
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