GRINDIT podcast

We think our world, our society is in such bad shape today and it is, however it’s nothing new. When Paul walked into Corinth he saw the same things you and I see today but it wasn't spread all over social media since it didn't exist. Corinth was a major city on a trade route that allowed people to bring and sell their goods there at the Agora, or marketplace. Perhaps this is where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla who, just like Paul, were tent makers. They hit it off so well that Paul stayed in their home for a year and a half and when he left Corinth, they left with him. Serving God isn’t difficult so why do we make it that way? Like Paul, just take what you know, what talents you have, and strike a conversation with like minded people. During the conversation find a way to work Jesus in and let the Holy Spirit do the rest! On down the road, Aquila and Priscilla would literally save Paul’s life so it was a good thing he met these two godly people! Just think of the people that God has allowed in your life and how encouraging they have been to you. Be sure to return the favor!

Paul hung out in Athens for some time because he had to wait for Timothy and Silas. This would be a perfect time for Paul to take a break, to get some much needed rest from all the persecution he has been facing, but nope...not Paul! He makes great use of his time by walking around Athens and checking things out. When he runs across some idols to the false gods, he reads one that says, "To the Unknown God." Paul starts talking to some philosophers that were near and he tells them, "This Unknown God is the very God you all should be worshipping and I'm going to tell you all about Him!"

Have you ever seen water that was clear but yet you step in it or stir it and dirt and trash that had settled to the bottom rises up and the clear water has now become dirty, nasty looking? That’s what these people are saying about Paul and Silas. “Our city was calm, settled, peaceful, but these men have stirred the water and has made it nasty. The people called Paul and Silas "troublemakers" which is odd because they weren't violent and they were telling people about Jesus, the Prince of Peace! They are the ones that were out of control, yelling, berating Paul and Silas, and not only that, they go to Jason's house and rough him up, dragging him and other believers to the city council all because Jason let Paul and Silas stay in his house stay at his house! I'm thankful I live in the United States where we can worship with the absence of persecution but even today, there are many countries that will still persecute those who follow Jesus and they have to do so underground. Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters and pray for the church in America for she is beginning to come under some fire from the world.

Paul received the Macedonian Call from a dude in a vision. He told Silas that he felt like hey needed to hurry on to Macedonia to help spread the gospel there so they immediately headed that way. One would think that since Paul had the vision that there would be a huge crowd just waiting on them, eagerly waiting to hear the message about Jesus but what they find when they get there is crickets. They go to the river and meet some women there and in a conversation, Paul shares the gospel with a woman named Lydia. She and her friends are obedient to the message and she invites them over. Lydia was a business woman who was probably rich because she was a seller of purple which was very expensive. She is a great example for women today because she is a picture of what women say they want: equality and rights. Lydia was independent, owned a business, wealthy, and owned a house, and now her sins are forgiven and she has freedom in Christ! In fact, there are many women in the New Testament that show similar characteristics:

As Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled they would start to leave for a certain city and the Holy Spirit would sometimes say "No," so they would go in a different direction. When they are in Troas, Paul has a vision of a man in Macedonia asking him to come help there so one would think since Paul has this "Macedonian Call" that things would be rockin' and rollin' but that's not the case. When Paul arrives at Philippi there's not even a synagogue to visit, there's no huge crowd welcoming him, and they didn't roll out the red carpet for him. What he found was a few women that had gathered by the river so he shares the gospel with them as they carry on a conversation. How many times have you said, "If God would just show me what I need to do I'd do it?" Would you really? Procrastination should never exist in the vocabulary of a Christ follower!

Barnabas decides to take John Mark with him to revisit the churches he and Paul started on their first "Missionary Journey." As Barnabas rides off into the sunset Luke turns his attention to Paul and begins to now focus on his ministry. But before we turn loose of Barnabas, we can take a great lesson from him: Just because we don't hear from him again, he is just as important as Paul or any other apostle. Even though we don't have the details from his traveling, Barnabas did a great work for the kingdom of God and we can be encouraged by him. We don't have to be in a pulpit or in a place where all eyes are on us to be effective for the kingdom, we just have to be obedient to the will of God and use our talents for Him! We are introduced to a new worker named Timothy who gets circumcised and travels with Paul and Silas while on the local scene. This young man was introduced to the Lord by his grandmother and mother! So in this podcast I give a shout out to all the women who share their faith and work for God's kingdom! Thank you ladies!

Can people who follow Christ have a disagreement? Can they be mad at each other? If the answer is yes, then what about "love"? Where did the "love" go? The answer to the question is yes. Just because someone has been washed in the blood of Christ and has had their sins forgiven doesn't mean they stopped being human. We still have opinions, feelings, and emotions and many times we feel as though ours count more than others! In fact, two of the strongest Christians that ever lived had a huge argument and it got so heated, they decided to part ways and do their own thing! That's right! Paul and Barnabas, both love God, both gave their lives to serving God, had an argument over John Mark and, because of their disagreement, decided to go their separate ways. Did they stop being a Christian? Did they quit "loving"? No! In fact, they continued to serve God and love one another, but they did decide it was best for both to do their own thing. It's all in how we act and react when a disagreement happens...because trust me, it WILL happen!

In Acts 15 a very debatable topic has been brought to the forefront. Now that Gentiles are being saved some Jews have a little something they want to add to grace...circumcision. Circumcision is the removal of a piece of skin on the male sex organ. Why would these Jews tell the Gentiles they have to be circumcised to be saved? The answer will surprise you! It's actually a covenant given to Abraham from God way back in Genesis 17 and God said it was an "everlasting covenant." They actually have a good case...

Paul and Barnabas travel to Iconium and they get chased out of town. From there they go to Lystra where things get really tough. Paul was in the middle of a sermon when he noticed a man who had been crippled his entire life and Paul calls him out right there on the spot and heals the man! The people who were listening and witnessed the miracle thought Paul and Barnabas were gods, Zeus and Hermes, in human form. After some Jews arrived from Iconium they persuaded the crowd against Paul and Barnabas and they stoned Paul dragging his lifeless body out of the city. The brethren gathers around Paul and prays. He immediately gets up and the very next day starts sixty mile trip to Derbe as if nothing ever happened! After preaching in Derbe for a while the two return to the cities they had visited and started churches. They appoint elders and strengthen the faith of the brethren. Hey...church work ain't for wimps!

When the church leaders at Antioch were in a time of prayer and fasting the Holy Spirit gave clear direction, "Set apart Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work which I have called them to do." In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus talks about fasting as if he assumed we would be people who fast. Do you fats? Why or why not? We know from Acts 9 the work the Lord called Paul to do was take the gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 13 is the start of what we call the "First Missionary Journey" and as we go through the rest of this chapter we discuss some highlights and one of the things we see real quick is this "church" stuff isn't going to be easy for Paul and Barnabas. Persecution starts almost immediately!