Unhindered

 

Theme:  Unhindered

 

un·hin·dered:  adjective: unhindered - not hindered or obstructed

 

Read:  Numbers 9:15-23 and Acts 28

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they kept the Lord’s charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses.  Numbers 9:23

 

O:  We end our study of Acts today (sadly).  I have so enjoyed reading and studying the life and ministry of Paul, but as our passage in Numbers says, sometimes we camp and sometimes we move on.  Tomorrow we will be going back into the gospels and studying through the book of Mark.  I feel like I know Paul a little more after our month long study through the book of Acts.  I have so enjoyed getting to know the characters of the book and seeing the story come to life!

 

In today’s reading, Paul and the other passengers found themselves on the Island of Malta where Paul did many great works of healing.  After winter they sailed from Malta to Syracuse, to Rhegium, to Puteoli (what is known as modern day Sicily and Italy) and finally to Rome.

 

 

 

An interesting side note is that Malta today has a day they celebrate Paul’s Shipwreck on February 10^th of each year.  In Malta, it is called 'San Pawl Nawfragu'.  The day is a time for family gatherings and it is observed by religious ceremonies and processions, particularly at the the Church of St. Paul Shipwrecked in Valletta.

 

After Paul arrived in Rome it says he was there two years preaching with openness and unhindered.  Nicole Querido says this, “Isn’t it amazing and so like our God, to take the very thing that from our human perspective would seem to cause the greatest hindrance to Paul’s ministry, turn it around, and cause it to remove all hindrances instead?  Here is Paul, a prisoner for two years, continuing to preach and teach about Jesus without all the difficulties he faced during his time traveling.”  She goes on to say this, “We too are called to an unhindered life, called to be a testimony, a convincing proof that Jesus is alive and powerful.”  As Beth Moore once said, “We don’t have time for bondage;” let’s “do what it takes to be free!” 

 

A:  What hinders you from being an unhindered testimony?  As Nicole Querido states, “Let’s throw off all that hinders and surrender whatever life circumstances we are in right now to our all loving God.  It just may be the perfect place to proclaim the kingdom unhindered and show the all surpassing power of a life lived for God.”

 

P:  Dear Jesus, Thank You for this study on the life of Paul.  Thank you that we have this example of how Paul shared the gospel “unhindered”.  What a beautiful picture of what we are called to be.  LORD, so often we (I) have lived hindered and weighted down with things I should never be carrying.  God I pray that all who are reading this today, including myself, would surrender anything that is hindering our testimony and that we would move past those things and be FREE to share about Your Kingdom through words, but also through the visible example of our lives.  In the Freeing Name of Yeshua our Messiah I pray, Amen & Amen.

Two steps forward, one step back

Read Leviticus 10:1-3 and Acts 16

 

“…the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word.” ~ Matthew Henry

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  Acts 16:31

 

O:  Timothy joins Paul in his missionary journeys.  As a result of the journeys many people including Lydia and the Philippi jailor and his family were brought to salvation, but not without opposition.  The people who began the revolt against Paul and his fellow missionaries were those who were angry at losing their income, but the Bible tells us we do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities that rule this earth.  Paul and his friends were fighting against a very real enemy who wanted to thwart the true teaching of the gospel.  It’s as if Paul would make two steps forward seeing Lydia and her house coming to salvation and being baptized and then make a step back into a beating and jail, but then he would make two more steps forward and the jailor and his family would come to know Christ through that ordeal and then he would make another step back by having to leave that region.  But still the gospel was making headway and even with his one step back they were still experiencing victory in sharing the gospel.

 

When Paul and Silas were "one step back" notice what they did in verse 25, "But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them ..." Notice, it was in the darkest part of the night and they were "praying and praising" ... It is in praying and praising (even in the darkest moments we face) they were able to move two steps forward again ... something to ponder! The song "I will praise you in the storm" comes to mind ...

 

A:  Sometimes I feel like Paul doing this “two step dance”.  I feel like I make headway and then fall back and make a little headway and then fall back.  I am encouraged by the accounts of Paul because it shows me that even when I seem to be going backwards God is using it to work out his good will and pleasure.

 

P:  Dear Jesus,  Thank you for Your WORD!  Thank you for the examples of the real lives of people like Paul, Timothy and his family dynamics, Lydia and the jailor and all those who we read about today.  LORD, these stories encourage me in my personal walk with You.  They help me to be reminded that even when it seems like I’m going backwards that as long as we continue to stick with You that we are still in “the game”.  We are still fighting the good fight and as long as we are with You then WE ARE on the winning “team”.  God You are the Victorious One!  Strengthen us and encourage us today as we continue to keep our eye on the mark of our high calling in You.  Thank you for calling us and for letting us be a part of something much bigger than sometimes we realize.  In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Yeshua the Messiah I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  Paul was beaten and thrown in prison, but God used that situation for good to bring the jailor and his family to salvation.  What are you willing to go through, endure or suffer in order that one person or one family will come to the saving knowledge of Christ?

 

“…do not sin, for nothing but that can hurt thee [and] the Lord will make [you] more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by [your] sufferings, [let them] become comforters [to your] brethren.” ~ Matthew Henry

Persevering through Persecution

 

Read Leviticus 5:1; Acts 14

 

“If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “… they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them and how He had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith …”  Acts 14:27

 

O:  Paul and Barnabas had a great success in preaching the gospel, but not without difficulties (see verse 2, 4, 5, 18 and 19).  Paul even stated in verse 22, “ … it is through many hardships and tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God …”  But because of the Holy Spirit being with them they were able to have much success.  Paul and Barnabas persevered and kept telling people about Christ in the strength that was given to them by the Holy Spirit. 

 

 

(Paul's first Missionary Journey)

 

My kids and I watched a movie yesterday called, Paul the Apostle, on Amazon Prime.  It was a pretty good movie, but it did show some of the horrible things that the early church had to endure; James the brother of John being executed by Herod and the stoning of Stephen, and all the things we have been reading about together.  It was hard to explain to my kids why God’s people had to suffer the way they did.  We do not fully grasp the idea of persecution the way others do perhaps.

 

A:  Persevere.  We may not face the persecution that Paul and others in the early church suffered, but that certainly is a possibility in days to come.  I do believe however there are things we are called on to endure and to persevere through that we might enter the kingdom of God.  Here are a few verses to meditate on:

 

James 1:12 - Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

Revelation 3:21 - To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

James 1: 2 Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.  3 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

P:  Father in Heaven, I know that You are working in us Your will and pleasure.  I also know that sometimes that requires us to endure trials or tribulations or even persecution.  Father I lift up those reading this now who are enduring hard things for Your Name’s Sake.  I pray that they would endure and overcome through this situation or trial knowing You are with them to help them and give them strength.  Father I pray when this life is said and done that we would be counted as those who overcame by the Blood of the Lamb.  In Jesus’ name, Yeshua the Messiah, I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion questions: 

1.     What trial(s) have you or are you enduring?

2.     When you read about people being stoned and the persecution of the early church, how do you relate that to our present day events?