People Are Listening

17 Now it happened that after three days, he called together those who were the most prominent of the Jews. And when they had assembled, he said to them, “Men and brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, from Jerusalem I was delivered as a prisoner into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, were wanting to release me, because there was no basis for an accusation worthy of death with me. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar (not as if I had any charge to bring against my own people). 20 Therefore for this reason I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for because of the hope of Israel I am wearing this chain!” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters about you from Judea, nor has any of the brothers come and reported or spoken anything evil about you. 22 But we would like to hear from you what you think, for concerning this sect it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.” 23 And when they had set a day with him, many more came to him at his lodging place, to whom he was explaining from early in the morning until evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and attempting to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what was said, but others refused to believe. 25 So being in disagreement with one another, they began to leave after Paul made one statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through the prophet Isaiah to your fathers, 26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say, “You will keep on hearing and will never understand, and you will keep on seeing and will never perceive. 27 For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” ’ 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They also will listen!” 30 So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance.

Pray

Paul has finally made it to Rome he is a prisoner and will be eventually killed for his faith but here we see that Paul is continuing in his preaching of the truth of Jesus Christ. And is unhindered in his faith even after all that he has been through. Maybe because of it, I don’t know, But Paul is a strong man of God.

Let’s look at this passage

These Jews or the Jewish leaders may be more correct, Arranged to meet with Paul. Even though he is known as a persecutor of Jews and that the Jews in Jerusalem had sought to kill Paul for preaching Jesus. They hear about this new sect of Judaism.

What was it all about, And they meet from morning to night. And speaking from the Hebrew scriptures what we would call the Old Testament. New wasn’t compiled yet, Tried to explain and show that Jesus was from God, of God and God in flesh, And the kingdom Jesus was proclaiming. That’s still good advice if your witnessing to a Jew don’t use the New Testament because they don’t believe in it.

Some believed and others were not convinced. So they started to argue with each other. And slowly the group started to break up. But before they did Paul quotes from Isaiah and relates it to the Jews there.

Isaiah 6 - The call of Isaiah.

Their hearts became Calloused, so they didn’t hear, So they didn’t see. And because of this God won’t heal them. Salvation is then sent to the Gentiles.

And there is a warning in that. We don’t want to be the ones who have become the unhears, the ones who don’t hear. Which I sometimes wonder and feel that the Church as a whole has become the unseers and unhearers. We who are the ones who are suppose to be listening to God. Have forgotten who he is. Forgotten how to listen to him.

He is just something that we do, Or something that we have accepted with no real understanding, Or something.

But not a creator God-king who we have absolutely fallen in love with. Completely enamored with.

In love with

When we are in love with someone we want to be with them, We want to see them. Listen to them. We don’t want to become the Dull ones who have grown hard and callous to God.

But there is another side to this.

Is that as the Jews were hardening their hearts and were unable to see the Gentiles could hear the truth, There are many out there who have become hardened don’t know why you have but you have. They Stopped listening to God, Stopped praying, Stopped being in love. You can tell by your actions. May be deceived.

The thing about being deceived is you don’t know. Otherwise you wouldn’t be deceived.

Ask God.

Need good close friends who aren’t afraid to tell you when you are being deceived. You may be one of them.

Ask God

Father (insert name of God most personal to you)

Show me where I have been deceived by the great deceiver

Show me where I need to grow

Bring me closer to you and fill me with your love

I love You (hard for us to say sometimes seems especially hard for men (manly men))

Grow Me as I seek to Grow

People are Listening

But in this there is the flip side of this story.

There are people listening. We started in Acts over a year ago. Got through it faster than I originally thought we would but that’s OK. All in God’s time not mine.

We started and there was a challenge. To witness to more people then you had the year before. For some of you that meant witnessing at all. And for some of you that still does. But have been working through acts and seeing all the wondrous things that God has done though his apostles. Now it is time that we carry on. It is out turn to go and spread the world to all who will listen. Because we love God and because we love others and wish no one to spend eternity in hell.

And people are listening.

Yes there are those who will never listen

There are those who will never take a step of faith

Those who have been deceived so far and will never recover

But others are listening

And it is our responsibility as ones who love to tell them. Of the saving Grace of Jesus Christ

Next Step

Will you go and tell those who are listening?

Maybe you have been deceived

Become hard

Pray

Maybe you have forgotten love

God show me how to Love

Show me who you wish me to tell about

You love

Protect me and give me strength to stand firm against spiritual attack as well as attack from those who have been deceived