Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Shalom,


Acts 17:1-5:


1 NOW AFTER [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned and argued with them from the Scriptures, 3 Explaining [them] and [quoting passages] setting forth and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, Whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ (the Messiah). 4 And some of them [accordingly] were induced to believe and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy, and getting hold of some wicked men (ruffians and rascals) and loungers in the marketplace, they gathered together a mob, set the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people.


Verse 2 says that Paul "reasoned and argued" with the Jews to try to get them to believe. We must understand that we CANNOT "argue" someone into the Kingdom! They must be drawn by the Holy Spirit because the Word is "spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14)! What WE must do is spend time in prayer for those we desire to minister to, that the Holy Spirit will give them eyes to see, ears to hear and the understanding of their NEED for a Savior! THEN when we present the simple, powerful Gospel of Jesus, THEY will be ready to receive! Amen! Another reason we need to pray, especially when ministering to Jewish people, is found in Romans 11:25:


25 Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [ to last] until the full number of the in-gathering of the Gentiles has come in. 


Only the LORD knows if a person's heart is hardened or not! OUR responsibility is to "preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)! When we precede it with the priceless privilege of prayer, we can have confidence that they will hear and understand and see their need for HIM! Amen! Let's not just DO IT, but let's DO IT RIGHT! Hallelujah!


Here is Hillsong United with "Tell The World":




Shalom in Him!