Grace Community Church of Ramona Podcast

The question to ask yourself is this - "Am I rich toward God in what I give financially to the work of His Kingdom?" Only you can answer that question and it's not in comparison to others. You must answer that question in the context of your personal finances. Some of us live close to the bone; our income barely covers our needs. The widow was rich towards God when she gave her two mites. On the other end of the spectrum, some of us have barns that are overflowing. Most of us are in the middle. Regardless, if we are committed to obeying and serving Jesus, we need to take seriously what He teaches here: be rich toward God.

As we have seen in our study through Acts, the Apostle Paul (along with many others) proved himself to be a faithful servant of Jesus the Messiah, devoting his life to disciple-making in "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth." As Paul neared the end of his life, he deeply desired to see those 1st-century believers remain faithful.

It is through testing that our character is revealed. What do we yell when we are cut off on the highway? How do we talk about the boss who overlooks us for the promotion? What is our attitude toward others when we are sick, exhausted, and beaten down? God can and will use these and many other difficult situations to bring about His kingdom and our transformation.

From June 57 A.D. to July 59 A.D. the Apostle Paul remained under guard in Caesarea in the palace of Herod the Great. Finally, in July 59 A.D. it began to look like Paul’s case would be revisited.

As chapter 24 opens Paul has been a prisoner in Caesarea for five days. During that time the Roman Governor Felix awaited the arrival of the prosecution team from Jerusalem. That prosecution team included Ananias, the corrupt high priest, several members of the Sanhedrin and an attorney named Tertullus.

Jesus is teaching there comes a time when we stop talking to another person (or persons) about spiritual things. When is that time? It is time to stop talking to a person about spiritual things when they clearly demonstrate they have no interest in spiritual things. They show themselves to be like dogs and pigs in their lack of capacity to discern what is holy and valuable. This does not mean we reject that person or that we stop praying for them; we just stop talking to them about spiritual things until they’re interested. In our story today, Paul himself will put this parable in practice.

Learning to love our enemies is hard in large part because we most often feel justified in hating them for what they have or are doing to us. If ever there was a man who faced that internal struggle, it was the Apostle Paul. We pick up the story in Acts 21:27.

Paul wraps up his third missionary journey by coming to Jerusalem and delivering the financial gift from the Gentile churches. Four years have passed since Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem. Paul should have been celebrated by the Jerusalem Church, but instead he was met with hostility. We pick up the story as Paul and his companions conclude their visit with the Elders of the Ephesian Church in Miletus and continue their journey to Jerusalem.

As Paul wraps up his third missionary journey, he delivers a moving challenge to the Elders of the Ephesian Church.

The "church" is most often cast in a negative light in modern literature and entertainment. But historically, wherever the gospel and the true church has spread, she brings blessing. Marriages and families are strengthened. Schools are established and people are taught to read. Hospitals are built and the sick are treated with compassion. Social morals improve. Fair business practices lead to prosperity. But wherever the gospel and church spread, there will be a fight. Satan doesn’t give up territory easily.