ACTS 13
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Salvation is not free, nor is walking in faith easy. Salvation comes at a great price. Your salvation could be seen as free to you, but it came at a great price to God through the death of His Son. The price of salvation is often missed by many who believe in God's existence.
In the same light of common misunderstandings, faith is not all rainbows and butterflies. In many Christian circles, there is a misconception that the "free gift" of salvation leads to a life of worldly comfort and happiness. If you read scriptures, this is a large misconception and what leads many to cry out, "Why God," when hardships come their way. Faith leads to salvation, joy in Christ Jesus, and the promise of Heaven one day, but it does not lead to a comfortable lifestyle of riches and popularity in this life. Faith leads to difficult challenges and hard work in situations that God will call us to that don't always end with happy endings in this world.
In this week's text, God leads Paul and Barnabas away from a place growing in faith, to a location that was trending in the opposite direction. The ministry that God was calling these faithful men to, was a ministry where they would experience conflict with a false prophet and persecution from many who said they were fellow believers. God led faithful men to a unfaithful place of hardship. The Lord led faithful and obedient men to challenge sin and be hated by many. Why would God led the faithful into such darkness?
On our walk of faith, it is often hard to understand exactly why the road can be so challenging. Many of us wonder why there seems to be so many potholes and dangers lurking in our journey. Well, what we read in scriptures this week and all throughout the Bible, is that not only does God use the valleys in life, but often calls us into them for greater influence and reasons. We are called in to valleys to grow and repent, but also to serve in the hard places where the light and truth of the gospel is needed most.
Just like the message last week centering on God, not Peter or James, this week mirrors the same truths. The hardships and valleys that these faithful men experience seems to be more about where God wants them than it does their own personal development in faith. For the spread of the gospel, God calls the faithful into the hard places of discomfort and challenges. Yes, these moments grow and even can correct us, but often we see that this is just simply what's promised throughout scripture.
The walk of faith is hard!
Instead of asking, "Why God" or "What are you trying to show me," seek to understand what He is calling you to do. The good news for believers is that Jesus has paid the price for our life, and God is always with us. There is nothing that this life can throw at us that Jesus has not already been victorious over. So if you experience the valley to grow you, or if the valley is your new mission field, find hope in the presence of God's calling and presence.
Stay faithful church.
In the same light of common misunderstandings, faith is not all rainbows and butterflies. In many Christian circles, there is a misconception that the "free gift" of salvation leads to a life of worldly comfort and happiness. If you read scriptures, this is a large misconception and what leads many to cry out, "Why God," when hardships come their way. Faith leads to salvation, joy in Christ Jesus, and the promise of Heaven one day, but it does not lead to a comfortable lifestyle of riches and popularity in this life. Faith leads to difficult challenges and hard work in situations that God will call us to that don't always end with happy endings in this world.
In this week's text, God leads Paul and Barnabas away from a place growing in faith, to a location that was trending in the opposite direction. The ministry that God was calling these faithful men to, was a ministry where they would experience conflict with a false prophet and persecution from many who said they were fellow believers. God led faithful men to a unfaithful place of hardship. The Lord led faithful and obedient men to challenge sin and be hated by many. Why would God led the faithful into such darkness?
On our walk of faith, it is often hard to understand exactly why the road can be so challenging. Many of us wonder why there seems to be so many potholes and dangers lurking in our journey. Well, what we read in scriptures this week and all throughout the Bible, is that not only does God use the valleys in life, but often calls us into them for greater influence and reasons. We are called in to valleys to grow and repent, but also to serve in the hard places where the light and truth of the gospel is needed most.
Just like the message last week centering on God, not Peter or James, this week mirrors the same truths. The hardships and valleys that these faithful men experience seems to be more about where God wants them than it does their own personal development in faith. For the spread of the gospel, God calls the faithful into the hard places of discomfort and challenges. Yes, these moments grow and even can correct us, but often we see that this is just simply what's promised throughout scripture.
The walk of faith is hard!
Instead of asking, "Why God" or "What are you trying to show me," seek to understand what He is calling you to do. The good news for believers is that Jesus has paid the price for our life, and God is always with us. There is nothing that this life can throw at us that Jesus has not already been victorious over. So if you experience the valley to grow you, or if the valley is your new mission field, find hope in the presence of God's calling and presence.
Stay faithful church.
SCRIPTURE TO GO ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Philippians 1 as Paul sees prison as a mission opportunity to spread the gospel.
Posted in Year One
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