227 - Les Feldick Bible Study Lesson 3 - Part 3 - Book 19 - Acts 17

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 3 * BOOK 19 ACTS 17 It thrills us to see folks studying the Word of God, like the Berean Christians in Acts who searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Barnabas said was so. Now in Chapter 14 they are going to stop at the little city of Iconium which is in the central part of Asia Minor. Verse 2: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Turn to II Corinthians Chapter 12. Because the timing is identical, I like to think that while Paul was unconscious, after being stoned and dragged out for dead, that God gave him an even greater experience: Paul got a glimpse of glory. I envy him, but God never let him share it. II Corinthians 12:1,2 Scripture has three areas called heaven. So Paul now is caught up into the very abode of God. The Heaven of the heavens. Now verse 3: II Corinthians 12:3-6 "And I knew such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth), How that he [Paul is speaking of himself] was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter [he heard the language of Heaven]. Of such an one will I glory [Paul would have liked to share it, but God wouldn't permit it]: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. Paul often put himself down. Contemptible and the least, was the way Paul wanted to be remembered. God didn't heal him of whatever it was. Because God said in verse 9: It carried Paul all the way through his ministry. God's Grace was always sufficient. When Paul said, "for my strength is made perfect in weakness," this is why God chose never to use the great men of the world. In Genesis, Moses, the second man in Egypt, bless his heart, thought he was going to be God's man. So God sent him to the back side of the desert to herd sheep for forty years. Let's briefly go through Chapter 15. It is in this chapter that Paul and Barnabas are called to Jerusalem, after their missionary endeavors throughout Asia Minor, and they are back at Antioch. More Gentiles are coming into that congregation and the news of it reaches Jerusalem. Peter, James, and John and the rest of them, just can't comprehend that God is doing this with Gentiles. The multitude of Jews quieted down and gave Paul and Barnabas audience. "Simeon (or Peter) hath declared how God at the first (now when was that? Well just the chapter after Saul's conversion. They were the first Gentiles that were approached) did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name." The Church, the Body of Christ is now going to be called out of that mass of Gentiles. A calling out of a sampling of the masses of the Gentile people. The calling out of the Church, the calling out a people for His Name in verse 14. Then God can start working with the Nation of Israel once again. God's going to finish what He started with Israel. "That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Know unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." When the Jewish leaders at Jerusalem gave an agreement that they would recognize Gentiles could be saved by Paul's Gospel, aside from Judaism in adhering to the Law of Moses, they agreed to it provided that these Gentile believers were taught as in verse 20.: Acts 15:20 God has mandated that man not partake of the blood of anything. Acts 15:21 "For Moses of old time hath in every city (throughout the Roman Empire) them that preach him (the Law of Moses), being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. " Now verse 28: Acts 15:28 Now verse 30: Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still (God knew that Paul and Barnabas were going to have a falling out, so He caused Silas not to go back to Jerusalem with the rest of them). Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also." Now from verse 36 to 41 we have the falling out between Paul and Barnabas, because of John Mark. Barnabas slips off the scene and Silas takes his place with Paul, and in Chapter 16 we are going to come all the way over to verse 6. Acts 16:6 Paul has plans to go back through Bithynia and I imagine back through Asia and then to Antioch where they had started from. God had something else in mind. God had long before ordained that this Gospel of Grace should not go east of the Orient, but to the west and Europe. And I've told my classes for twenty-five years now, that in your prayer time, you thank God that He sent Paul over to Europe rather than back to Asia. Christianity is what set everything free. #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible