puttin' the time in

Acts 19:8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.


2 years...

Paul went every day for 2 years to the hall of Tyrannus to talk to people about Jesus. Some translations say he preached, some say he led discussions.

but he went every day for 2 years

so much for quick fix evangelism ;-)

we live in an instant society

for decades now we've had revivals & crusades - nothing wrong with those.

but it seems that the most lasting effects of evangelism seem to come from situations like this one with Paul.

A day to day contact with people, letting them into our lives, talking with them, & talking them through, all kinds of stuff. That's the kind of evangelistic effort that seems to take hold & last.

think about it

open your life up to people, & tell them about the effect Jesus has had on it.

that's all evangelism really is...

promises

Joshua 23:14b Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!

Psalm 81:1 Sing praises to God, our strength.
  Sing to the God of Jacob.
2 Sing! Beat the tambourine.
  Play the sweet lyre and the harp.
3 Blow the ram's horn at new moon,
  and again at full moon to call a festival!
.
6 "Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
  I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.
7 You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;
  I answered out of the thundercloud
  and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.

10b Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.


Yeah......

our place

Acts 17:28 For in Him (God) we live and move and exist.

Unless we've abandoned ourselves to Him, we really can't know fully the truth of this statement.

promises

 Joshua 21:43 So the LORD gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD helped them conquer all their enemies. 45 Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.


Not a single promise was left unfulfilled.


So, here's what God's given me to hold on to in these days...

1 Thess 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful; for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Pro 3:5 (The Message)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
   don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
   He's the One Who will keep you on track.


Pro 4:25 Look straight ahead,
      and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
      stay on the safe path.
 27 Don’t get sidetracked;
      keep your feet from following evil. 


Heb 10: 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. 


Is 41:9b For I have chosen you & will not throw you away.
   10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
   Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
   I will strengthen you.
   I will help you.
   I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. 


So... it's gonna be interesting how all this shakes out

now, for later

Psalm 78:70 He chose his servant David,
  calling him from the sheep pens.
71 He took David from tending the ewes and lambs
  and made him the shepherd of Jacob's descendants—
  God's own people, Israel.
72 He cared for them with a true heart
  and led them with skillful hands.


My Life Application Bible says this about this passage...


"Although David had been on the throne when this psalm was written, he is called a shepherd & not a king.

"Shepherding, a common profession at the time, was a highly responsible job. The flocks were completely dependent upon shepherds for guidance, provision, & protection. David had spent his early years as a shepherd.

"This was a training ground for the future responsibilities God had in store for him. When he was ready, God took him from caring for sheep to caring for Israel, God's people.


"Don't treat your present situation lightly or irresponsibly; it may be God's training ground for your future."

resilience

Acts 14:8 While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting 9 and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed. 10 So Paul called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up!" And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.

  11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form!" 12 They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. 13 Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles.

  14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, 15 "Friends,* why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, 17 but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts." 18 But even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could scarcely restrain the people from sacrificing to them.

  19 Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20 But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.


Notice at one point the crowd wanted to sacrifice to Paul & Barnabas as if they were gods.

The shortly thereafter, they stoned Paul & left him for dead.

When I was reading this section this morning, I wondered if that happened to me, or to you, if we'd still be willing to be public (or private) Christ followers?

just a thought...

what to tell them

Acts 13:28 In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes n Him is freed from all guilt & declared right w/ God

There's a lot of talk these days about whether there's a hell or not - Time magazine even talk about it in a cover story.

There's a lot of talk about God's love & how "love wins"

I think in all this talk lately we've overlooked one every important fact...

God is not only the essence of love, but is so holy beyond imagining that we would vaporize just looking at Him.

We are not holy.

Holiness & sinfulness cannot co-exist - it like oil & water, to the infinite degree.

It is through Jesus' sacrifice we are made wrtie with God - we are forgiven of our sins - He doesn't see them, doesn't remember them.

And He is "faithful & just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

There are those of us who believe in Jesus as the God-provided One who makes all this possible. Therefore, it makes it possible for us who are not holy to co-exist with Him who is infinitely holy.

There are those who don't - so their sins & sinfulness remain intact. Sinfulness & holiness can't co-exist. God does not condemn us to hell. We, through our unbelief, don't make it possible for us to live in the same place as God because we are still antithetical to Him & His persona.


So?

We need to tell people that God has made a way! Because of Jesus, we can be "declared right with God" - iow, we connect with God, because of Jesus.


(Is any of this making any sense? I hope so. Sometimes I think I sink into "christianese" & don't speak plainly enough.)