marty mclain podcast

Once Paul reaches Rome, he begins to share Christ with his fellow Jews. Unfortunately and predictably, his proclamation of the Gospel brings immediate division to the Jewish community.

Sometimes, life can be really hard and we need a break. God knows our limits and He has a way of refreshing our soul. At Malta, Paul is given a time of rest and encouragement as he makes his way to Rome.

Sometimes in life, people in authority make unwise decisions that put the lives of others in jeopardy. Paul was in such a dilemma on his voyage to Rome. His unwavering trust in God gave him confidence when everyone else had given up hope. 

When we give our personal testimony, it helps to establish some common ground with those we are trying to reach with the Gospel. Like King Agrippa, the Apostle Paul had a lot of regrets in life. However, the forgiveness and purpose he found in his relationship with Jesus Christ changed everything. 

Sometimes in life it pays to know how to work the system. The Apostle Paul used his knowledge of the Roman legal system in order to avoid certain death and to assure his safe arrival in Rome. 

Sometimes our lives are put on hold because of the inactions of others. The Apostle Paul spent two years in prison because the Roman Governor Felix was a first class procrastinator. 

God uses both the good and evil intentions of humanity to accomplish His will. The Apostle Paul’s life was constantly redirected by the ill intentions of others. However, in His sovereignty, God was still able to accomplish His purpose in Paul’s life. It’s really amazing how that works!

When was the last time you shared your personal testimony of how you became a Christian? A personal testimony is a powerful tool. Just ask advertisers who are trying to sell a product. When you share your personal testimony, however, you need to be prepared because not everyone will be excited. It might make some people mad. 

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, he discovered that the Jewish Christian community was having a hard time maintaining their identity as Christians. In spite of his good intentions, Paul is caught up in mob violence and his life and ministry is forever changed.

Have you ever disagreed with someone over God's will for your life? Sometimes, well-meaning people may try to prevent us from following God's will because they see potential danger. It happened to the Apostle Paul in Acts 21:1-14.