Converts (Acts 17:4, 12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/10/2018 8:35 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                                  Focus:  Converts

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                       Reference:  Acts 17:4, 12

            Message of the verses:  “4  And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women….12  Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.”

            Let me begin with a quote from John MacArthur’s commentary as he begins his thoughts on these two verses:  “Those who would influence the world for Christ must recognize that they cannot do it alone.  Discipling others, who in turn disciple still others (cf. 2 Tim. 2:2), causes exponential growth and magnifies Christianity’s impact on the world.  Such spiritual reproductively was a key element in Paul’s ministry.”  I have heard that as a believer shares his faith, it is like one starving man telling another starving man where he can find bread.  That is what Paul was doing, and that is what those who Paul led to Christ are doing and that is what has been going on since the church age began.

            As we look at these two verses, one representing those in Thessalonica, and one in Berea we see very similar results.  We have spoken about the fact that the Bereans were more diligent than the Thessalonians in that they studied from the Old Testament to see if in fact that Paul was telling them the truth, and they found out that he was indeed telling them the truth.  As a result both in Thessalonica and also in Berea that many were saved and many had the desire to tell others what happened to them.

            We see in Acts 20:4 the following “And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.”  I want you to notice the highlighted portion of this verse telling us a lot about the Thessalonian church in that in a short time these men desired to be following Paul on his missionary trip.  One of the verses that I use in my prayer time comes from 2 Thessalonians 3:1, and this verse tells me much about what happened in Thessalonica after Paul left there:  “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you,” again notice the highlighted portion of this verse as Paul desired for the same thing that happened to the Thessalonians, which was spreading the Word of God, to continue to happen to Paul and his missionary friends.

            Once again as we compare these two baby churches we see that similar things happened in Berea as happened to the Thessalonian church.  “Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.”  John MacArthur notes “The Thessalonians had to be persuaded; the Bereans were ready and believed.  Their hearts were more open to the truth, as evidenced by their eager searching of the Scriptures…The Word of God can persuade the closed and the open; the obstinate and the pliant; because of those who seek the truth, and those who do not.”  I have to say that I was certainly one of those who was not searching for the truth when the Lord saved me, but then again as I look back on when the Lord saved me I have to say that the Spirit of God was working on my heart so when the gospel was presented that I was ready to accept it.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This series of lessons on this section of Acts has been an eye opener to me, and I am thankful that the Lord has caused me to study this wonderful book from His Word.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I have asked the husband of one of my neighbors to allow my wife to go and pray for his dying wife who chose not to come to a Bible study I had at my house about 10 years ago.  My prayer is that the Spirit of God will work on this dying lady so that she would be open to having us come to talk to her.  I will not force my way into their house to talk to them, but my prayer is that the Spirit of God will give her the desire to want my wife to come and pray with her.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “God” (2 Corinthians 5:5).

Today’s Bible question:  “With how many loaves did Jesus feed the five thousand men?”

Answer in our next SD.

5/10/2018 9:05 AM