Thursday, April 28, 2016

Talking non-stop (Acts 20:1-12, Matthew 10:14)


"Jesus gives us all we need to be strong and have faith."
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.
These verses take place after Paul had a bad experience with the Diana idols...

1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
It's nice to see that wherever Paul went, he met a lot of new friends.
And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  (Matthew 10:14 NKJV)
I don't recall the Apostle Paul ever being rude or trying to force his faith on anyone after he became a Christian.  Jesus asked us to leave behind anyone who isn't interested in the gospel.   He wants us to be polite and leave an opening for someone else to share Christ.

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
Paul kept preaching even after he saved the young man... until daybreak!  He was so driven and motivated to share the Lord.

My Pastor is pretty good about not talking so long we fall asleep : )
(Acts 20:1-12 NKJV)

Here's a song by Jonny Diaz, "Breathe, link"