* Because these priests couldn’t trace their ancestry they were disqualified to do their job.

* Heritage was extremely important to the Jews because only certain family lines could do certain jobs, especially in regards to the Temple service.

* Only descendants of Aaron could be high priests.

* Only descendants of Levi could be priests.

* Without a genealogy they couldn’t be certain they were pleasing God.

* Identity was tied to their work.

* They couldn’t complete their work if they didn’t know who they were.

* Acts 17:28 - If you don’t know who you are in Christ you won’t be able to complete the work He’s called you to do.

* KEY - Knowing your identity as God’s kid gives you the PULL rather than the PUSH.

* When you’re “pushed” to do something you do it because it’s right and you know you should be doing it - born out of guilt and fear.

* When you’re “pulled” to do something you can’t help but do it because it’s fueled by your nature - you were born to do it, so it’s fueled by gratitude and faith.

* Ask yourself - “Do I feel more energized the more I do the thing?”

* If not, you’re operating out of the push and not the pull.

* There may be a time for that, but ultimately you should be in the pull.

* Being pulled means you’re operating out of your identity.

* Breakthrough is an issue of mindset.

* If I need to make a free throw in basketball and I point my feet away from the basket, will I be able to hit the shot?

* Only if I’m lucky. My feet aren’t set properly.

* The same is true with our mind.

* Asaph is talking about mindset in Psalms 73.

* He found himself comparing himself to others and how successful they were compared to him.

* This was causing him to be anxious, worry, and doubt God.

* vs 16-17 - but then He got his mind set on God and everything changed.

* vs 28 - the foundation of a breakthrough mindset is trust in God!

* Asaph’s breakthrough was a result of his eternal mindset.

* The people Paul ministered with were of the same occupation - Acts 18:3.

* The people Paul ministered to were of the same occupation (or at least in the same industry) - Acts 17:17.

* The people he was “called to” were those in the context of his work.

* Our work defines our context for worship.

* It gives us the environment in which we are to be God’s ministers.

* Why are you not at a shopping mall right now witnessing to the people there?

* Because there’s no context for that.

* You’re supposed to be at your job or wherever, and be God’s minister there.

* Context gives you the ability to communicate clearly.

* Sometimes you can do an outreach effort with no context, but our everyday lives are to be lived within the context for ministry, and that is our work.

* Paul was always looking for a bridge to present the gospel.

* A bridge is something you hold in common or something that would get them to listen to you.

* When he arrived he “carefully observed” their objects of worship.

* He saw the “unknown god” and found his bridge.

* He’d use this as his bridge to connect them with the true God.

* We need to be like Paul, always looking for a bridge to bring the gospel.

* But we'll need to look intently for it, which will require us to listen intently.

* When you’re at a crossroads and don’t know which way to go, just pick one and move forward.

* If your heart is to please the Lord He will check if you picked the wrong one.

* This is what happened to Paul and Silas.

* The Holy Spirit prevented them - God said, “No.”

* They heard God’s “no” because they never stopped listening to Him.

* A bad day for us would be our hearts are bent on what we want and we can no longer hear God’s checks.

* If you went to Donald Trump’s favorite restaurant with him what would you order?

* If you’re smart you’d say, “I’ll have what he’s having.”

* Why? Because he knows best.

* The same is true with our faith - we need to “order our ways before the Lord.”

* We find out what He likes and we order what we know He wants.

* This is why we need to be in Scripture every day.

* It keeps us ordering off the same menu.

* That is how we grow in power.

* This verse shows a great way to respond to riches.

* His abundance fueled his appreciation toward God.

* How was he able to maintain this mindset?

* By recognizing that God was the One who gave it to him in the first place.

* And by being grateful for what God was doing.

* It was circular:

* His gratitude fueled his humility and his humility fueled his gratitude.

* The message of this verse isn’t preached today.

* All of life points to the truth of this verse - hardship leads to healing.

* If you want to lose weight, is it easy?

* If you want a good marriage, is it easy?

* If you want to make money, is it easy?

* The same is true with our faith - it’s with hardship that we enter the kingdom.

* We receive Jesus by faith but we possess eternal life by faithfulness.

* Key - if we expect it to be hard wele prepare ourselves properly.

* Notice the change of heart these people had toward Paul.

* They went from offering sacrifices to throwing stones.

* On both occasions, they overreacted because they believed a lie.

* This is why it’s important to not concern ourselves with the reactions of people.

* They often think too highly or to negative of us.

* In either situation we shouldn’t let it affect the way we think of ourselves.

* When I was a kid I didn’t like people leaving their shoes on when they came over.

* I wanted them to stay a while.

* In this verse Peter was in prison and had planned to stay for a while.

* The angel came and told him to put his clothes on and get moving!

* The angel could’ve pulled him out of the situation, but God doesn’t force people to do things - it has to be voluntary.

* If I’m at my house and I put on all my clothes - pants, shoes, jacket - I’m expecting to go somewhere.

* To be set free Peter had to move forward in expectation of being set free.

* Satan wants to keep us bound, and even if we’re struggling right now, move forward in expectation that you’re not going to stay in that cell any longer.