When I hear a popular charismatic leader on television (who is revered by millions) telling an emotionally and spiritually troubled woman that her problems would have been solved if only she had prayed more frequently in tongues, I am listening to spiritual humbug without a scrap of biblical warrant or a shred of pastoral responsibility.

God had to make sure that the gospel was preached by Paul in order for those to be saved. There is no salvation without the sharing of the gospel.

If the law commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands then you must break the law. But the problem with that simple guideline is that much of the civil disobedience in history has involved doing things that are not clearly commanded by God.

THIS JESUS WHO DECLARES THE FATHER AND DOMINATES THE FUTURE IS ALSO THE PEACEMAKER, THE REDEEMER, THE ONE WHO DELIVERS THE FALLEN, RECONCILING GOD AND MAN.

Let your kids see God at work in your family—let them see God at work. The home is the classroom. The home is the laboratory. Let them see God at work.

Paul recognized that a search for God had been taking place in the Greco-Roman world, but condemned the result—the idolatry which was everywhere present and the ignorance of the true God which it betrayed (vv. 22–25). In short, he indicated that the search had been ineffective because of human blindness and stubbornness

Paul’s presentation of the gospel was so compelling that some of the Thessalonian Jews, though resistant, were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas. The Thessalonians were not as open to the truth as the Bereans, yet Paul’s convincing exposition of the Old Testament, coupled with the work of the Holy Spirit led to their response.

We need to understand that “closed doors,” are nevertheless true guidance. Negative guidance merely keeps us from where we are not called in order that in God’s time we might come to where God is calling us and will provide blessing.

It is to keep us from getting into a work to which we are not called in order that we might be saved for a work to which we are.

We should all seek wisdom. We should bend all our efforts to become wiser tomorrow than we are today.

Formal education is only one stage in the process of becoming a wise person.

The wholesale entrance of Gentiles into the church was very disturbing and threatening to some of the Jewish believers. Many believed that Gentiles who wanted to become Christians had to first become Jewish proselytes. They saw Christianity as the culmination of Judaism.