Murmuring, Discord and Division

We read in the Scriptures of the spiritual prosperity of the early church. A great love prevailed in the believers so that they “had all things common” (Acts 5:32). The apostles gave “witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 5:33). As a result, the “number of the disciples was multiplied” (Acts 6:1). Even the fierce opposition of the Jewish high priests and council could not hinder their advance. Rather, “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:41-42).

The church was growing. Satan, having failed to impede its progress by raising opposition from without now leveraged legitimate concerns within to strike at its unity and cripple its advance. Luke records “there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1). The “Grecians” were Greek-speaking Jews most likely born in the Roman provinces but now living in Jerusalem, whereas the “Hebrews” were those Jews who spoke in their native tongue and had not embraced the Greek culture. It is important to note that these Grecians and Hebrews were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet culturally distinctive.

The early church had recognized the importance and embraced the responsibility of caring for their widows. But an inequality in how the “daily ministration” was carried out prompted a “murmuring” against the Hebrews by the Grecians. Discord and division began to take root fracturing the body and becoming a distraction from the most important thing, the proclamation of the gospel.

It was Satan’s goal to impede the proclamation of the gospel. Believers consumed with infighting would lose their burden for the community of lost souls around them. By the grace of God, the apostles saw the need for a God-honoring remedy and acted accordingly. They gathered the “multitude of disciples unto them, and said, it is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:3-4). Other capable men were selected to care for the widows while the apostles continued to pray for and seek the advance of the gospel.

The church has continued to face opposition throughout the centuries, but it still endures and moves forward. After all, Jesus promised “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Undergirding that purpose is his omnipotent power. He told his disciples before going back into heaven, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19). Dare we be a hindrance to this great work with petty murmurings and disputes? Rather, “let us…follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).

Known by Our Doings

Before the Apostle Paul was converted, the Scriptures record that he was “a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious [to the church]” (I Timothy 1:13). He sought and received authority from the high priest in Jerusalem “that if he found any that were of the Way [Christians], whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). His reputation was very well known in this matter for even Ananias resisted at first the Lord’s command to restore Paul’s blindness answering “I have heard from any of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem” (Acts 9:13). In fact, even after Paul was converted and preached that Jesus was the Christ, many would reluctant to believe him. “And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26).

Paul’s past reputation clouded his present testimony. Solomon wrote that “even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right” (Proverbs 20:11). Paul’s previous “doings” were well known not to be pure or right! Those who knew of Paul in his past had not yet come to know Paul in the present. Many believers find themselves in the same situation. Their past is colored by many sinful practices and those who know them well, particularly family members, have difficulty believing the testimony of their newly found faith. What can we do if this is our lot? We do the only thing we can do. We follow Christ!

No one can argue with a changed life. Barnabas related to the disciples in Jerusalem how Paul “had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). Instead of persecuting Christ, Paul’s life was characterized by preaching Christ. We, too, show others by our lives how the Lord has called us “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Paul wrote to the believers at Philippi “only let your conversation [manner of life] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The gospel of Christ is a life transforming gospel in that it delivers us from the power of sin and conforms us to the image of Christ. A life that “becomes” the gospel of Christ is a life that shows itself delivered from past sins and now reflects truth and light in its choices and pursuits.

Believers have this testimony, that they follow God “as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). Furthermore, the Apostle John reminds us “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (I John 1:5-6). A life in Christ is a new life, a changed life, a life marked by truth and light. No one can argue with a changed life. To reconsider thoughtfully Solomon’s proverb, for what is your life known? In other words, how are your “doings”?

It is Better to Give

The Apostle Paul declared unto the Ephesian elders “I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:33-35). Paul ministered the gospel at his own expense. He was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) and used this vocation to cover his expenses as well as those who assisted him in the gospel ministry.

Paul refused to give any opportunity for others to think that he was profiting from the gospel. He acknowledged to the Thessalonians that he could have made himself “burdensome” to them since he was an apostle and could have expected their financial and material support. However, he and his co-workers labored “night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you” (I Thessalonians 2:6-9).

In so doing, Paul exemplified one of the earmarks of genuine Christianity: giving instead of receiving. This was both the example and exhortation of Christ during his earthly ministry. He ministered wherever he went, giving of himself unto others. Consequently, he taught his disciples and all who would follow him afterwards to do likewise. Jesus testified “whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man [Christ] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

Giving is at the heart of Christianity because it is the heart of God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; emphasis added). When we become children of God through faith in Christ, it is natural that the love of God would flow through us unto others. John wrote “we love because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). Paul connected the idea of giving and loving together when he wrote to the Corinthian believers about his love for them without expecting return. “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Corinthians 12:15). When it comes to how we deal with others, Christians are to be givers, not takers.

This giving mindset is to govern every area of the Christian’s life. For example, Paul told the Ephesians “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28). As believers, we should not think  of our livelihood as the acquisition of material things for self-indulgence. Instead we should care for our own needs with simplicity so that we may help others in their need. To be ready in this fashion mandates that we hold loosely that which God has given us and not count it dear to our hearts. Rather, as Paul told the Philippians, we are with balance to “look not every man on his own things [only], but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4).

Does a giving spirit characterize your life? If we are controlled by his Spirit, we can be sure that it does.

I Am With Thee

In Acts 18, the Apostle Paul comes to Corinth to minister. The Scriptures relate that “he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath…and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:4-5). Evidently, the resistance of the Jews was so intense they not only “opposed” him, but “blasphemed” as well, v. 6., that Paul became fearful. As a result, the Lord himself spoke to Paul in a vision by night. “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee” (Acts 18:9-10; emphasis added).

Perhaps, for the child of God, the Lord’s presence is his greatest promise. Throughout the Scriptures we read of God testifying and assuring his people that he is with them. When the Lord delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and led them through the wilderness, he “went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light” (Exodus 13:21). He is with his children to lead them and to give them light in darkness.

When the children of Israel came into the promised land, God promised Joshua “there shall not any man be able to stand before thee: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5). God’s presence enabled Joshua to lead his people in victory over the foes of Canaan. He gives us the same power to fight and overcome our spiritual enemies today. Paul built upon this truth when he told the Philippians “work out your own salvation; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12).

God’s presence gives courage and power to present a faithful witness for the LORD in the midst of an antagonistic society. The prophet, Jeremiah, was bolstered in his charge to make plain Israel’s waywardness and failure to keep the covenant made with the LORD when they were delivered from Egypt. Jeremiah was told the people of the land “shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:18-19).

When the people of Israel returned to Judah from captivity, God instructed them to rebuild the temple that Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed. The work languished from opposition and their own indifference. Yet the LORD sent his messenger, Haggai, to admonish and encourage them, saying, “I am with you, saith the LORD” (Haggai 1:13). The people responded and “they came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 1:14).

And for 2,000 years, the promise of Jesus’ presence emboldens his children to go forward, proclaiming the gospel and making disciples. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Finally, even in death, the Lord is present with us. The 23rd Psalm, one of those well-known passages, assures us that he will be with us even then. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

Take comfort, child of God, “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

God Answers Prayer!

Have you ever been tempted to give up on your prayers? Have you ever thought “What’s the point? Does God even care?” Every believer has been in that place and probably more than just once. Yet God throughout his word gives frequent encouragement to pray. We find such an instance of prayer in the record of Peter’s miraculous deliverance from imprisonment. We do well to rehearse these and exhortations from the Lord so that we don’t lose heart, but continue in our prayers.

We read in Acts how “Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take Peter also” (Acts 12:1-3). As providence would have it, this event occurred during the days of unleavened bread, one of three main Jewish feasts that occurred in the Jewish calendar. Therefore, Herod chose to “put him in prison…intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people” (Acts 12:4). No doubt, Herod fully intended to kill Peter after the feast days were passed. To this end “Peter therefore was kept in prison” (Acts 12:5).

What happens next is for our example. While Peter was in prison “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:6). The people of God immediately went to the throne of grace. There were no intermediate steps. All too often we try to solve our problems ourselves only to fail time and again. We seem to go to Christ in prayer only as a last resort, when it should be our first course of action.

Note, too, that they prayed “without ceasing”. Their prayers were persistent, without interruption from weariness or indifference. Be assured, God hears the first time we pray. It is not the frequency of our prayers that captures his attention, but our earnestness. Our hearts are shaped unto his will by our persistent prayer.

Furthermore, their prayers were specific. They prayed for Peter’s deliverance. We are challenged to pray specifically so that we may see God’s answers in response to our specific prayers and know, indeed, that he has answered our prayers. In fact, if the prayers of the church on the behalf of Peter were for our example, then God’s answer to their prayers is for our encouragement.

We read that “when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains…” (Acts 12:6). That night an angel of the Lord appeared to Peter and led him out of the prison delivering him “out of the hand of Herod, and from the expectation of the…Jews”. God had amazingly and immediately answered their prayers! Peter went straight to the house of Mary “where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:11-12). God emphatically delivered Peter to their very presence!

God hears prayer; God answers prayer; don’t give up.

Finish the Course!

The book of Acts gives us the record of Stephen’s martyrdom. We know little of him apart from what Luke recorded. He was one of the deacons appointed to care for the widows in the church in Jerusalem by the apostles because he was “full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:1-6). The Scriptures further relate that he “full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Though nothing is recorded about his spiritual training, his testimony for Christ was evidently powerful. Luke records that many from various sects disputed with him, but “they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10).

Consequently, these opponents made up lies about Stephen accusing him of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people…seized him…brought him to the council, and set up false witnesses, which said…we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us” (Acts 6:11-14). The high priest then invited Stephen to respond to his accusers.

Drawing upon the writings of Moses and the Prophets, Stephen testified that those of his audience were the guilty ones. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7:51). Their fathers persecuted the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ and now they have “now become betrayers and murderers” of that Righteous One. “When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart…and rushed upon him with one accord, and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him” (Acts 7:54, 57-58). So Stephen became the first martyr for the cause of Christ.

Since the time of Stephen’s martyrdom, many have likewise had the privilege of giving their lives for the cause of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Perhaps, among the more well-known is the apostle Paul. As he awaited his coming execution under Nero, he wrote to Timothy “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7). As he anticipated his own home going (“departure”), he expressed for us the heart of every martyr for Christ.

He counted his death as an offering or sacrifice unto God, a final act of worship to the Savior of his soul. From the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul fought to expose and dispel darkness by proclaiming “the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).  He kept the faith expressed in the word of God and preached it wherever he went and to whomever would listen. The course he finished was that appointed by his Savior. Though he stumbled and fell many times, he remained true to the path God had appointed. This is the testimony of the martyrs. Is this your testimony? How will you finish your course?

False Teachers Bring False Messages

Near the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, he “determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost” (Acts 20:16). Nonetheless, he desired to meet with the Ephesian elders to encourage them and bolster their faith. So when he arrived in Miletus, “he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” to come unto him (Acts 20:17).

Paul’s final thoughts to these beloved church leaders amounted to a warning in the context of his ministry unto them and their ministry to those under their charge. He reminded them “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:27-28). Paul had been faithful in ministering the word of God unto them and now it was their God-given calling and responsibility to minister this same word unto their own flocks.

The word of God is the only safety net for the child of God. Paul warned “that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that…I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:29-31).   False teachers (“grievous wolves”) would come with “perverse” messages not according to the word of God nor the gospel of Christ.

These false messengers speak words that appeal to itching ears, but bring damnation because there is no truth in them. There is no warning against sin and judgement, no appeal for repentance and faith in Christ. The power of God is absent from their preaching because the word of God is missing from their text. Is that not the case with the modern church in America? How many who call themselves pastors actually preach the word of God week after week from their pulpits? These ones would do well to heed Paul’s counsel to the Ephesian elders. “I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Peter warned his audience that the key to discerning and denying falsehood is to grow spiritually. Listen to his admonition, “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

We grow in grace by responding in faith to the ministry of God’s word to our own hearts. Paul charged Timothy “preach the word…reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:1-4). What is the message from the pulpit in your church? Is It the word of God, which saves, builds, exposes, and warns? To whom are you listening?

Christ Builds His Church – the Ethiopian Eunuch

Jesus told his disciples “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Have you ever wondered what he meant by that? He obviously was not speaking of a building as we often make use of the term today (e.g., did you go to church?). What then exactly is he building? How is he building it? Consider the following:

We read in Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers about the “body of Christ”. “And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18; emphasis added). This body is a living organism comprised exclusively of those made spiritually alive through the new birth and added to the body by the Lord himself. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).

Those who are saved are those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ having believed the gospel of God’s grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). This faith comes through believing God’s word. “In whom [Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13).

Summarily, Christ adds to his body (builds his church) those who are given spiritual life through receiving the gospel. This new life is the work of the Spirit of God through his word. “Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…being born again…by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (I Peter 1:22-23). Such are added to the body one person at a time.

We have a perfect illustration of Christ building his church in the record of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. The angel of the Lord initiated this work of salvation by first directing Philip to a desert in Gaza (Acts 8:26). There Philip found “a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority…sitting in his chariot” (Acts 8:27-28). The eunuch was reading the word of God from Isaiah, the prophet. Philip was then instructed by the Spirit to join the man in his chariot.

The Lord opened the door for Philip to explain the Scripture to the eunuch. “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth…for his life is taken from the earth” (Isaiah 53:7-8). Then Philip “began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35).

The Ethiopian eunuch then put his faith in Christ. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:37). His salvation came about by the work of the Spirit through the ministry of the word of God resulting in faith in Jesus Christ. This is how Christ builds his church – then and now. Have you believed? Are you a part of Christ’s body, the church?

The Resurrection of Christ

In Acts 4 we have the record of the lame man healed through the ministry of Peter. The chief priests and elders, moved with envy against Christ, examined the apostles as to how this miracle was performed. Peter responded “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, and God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Acts 4:8-10).

The central point of Peter’s response was the resurrection of Christ. In fact, we are told that it was for this very reason the “priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (Acts 4:2; emphasis added).   

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the fundamental truth of the gospel and Christianity. It is Jesus’ resurrection that separates Christianity from every other religion or belief system. Speaking to this unique testimony, Peter declares to his audience though they had rejected Christ, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; emphasis added). They had rejected the only one that could save them from their sins. In response to his message, “many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of the resurrection to the Corinthian believers. “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain…ye are yet in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:14,17; emphasis added). The resurrection of Christ is the central theme of the preaching of the apostles throughout the early history of the church recorded in the Book of Acts.

Jesus Christ is, indeed, risen from the dead and is alive forevermore. In spite of the threats made by the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem, the Bible records that the believers “were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness…And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:31,33).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ by virtue of its unique claim separates all mankind into just two categories. One group are those who have received the witness of his resurrection testimony and accept him as Savior. The other group are those who reject the claims of Christ and are yet in their sins. The question that Jesus posed to Martha still merits consideration. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26; emphasis added).

A Salvation for All

Early in Paul’s first missionary journey, he and his company came to Antioch in Pisidia. Luke records for us that upon arriving they “went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Acts 13:14). We read later in Acts that ministering the gospel first to the Jews was his custom. “Now…they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: and Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead: and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:1-3; emphasis added).

In Antioch Paul preached as he did elsewhere that “God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus” (Acts 13:23). The Christ (Messiah) that Israel was seeking came as their Savior, but they “knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day” (Acts 13:27). Israel was looking for a king to deliver them from Rome, not a Savior who would deliver them from their sins. They were blinded to their need, though the scriptures they read in their synagogues testified to such. We, too, can miss the message of God’s word because we come to it with a predisposed bias of what we want to hear instead of a ready mind to embrace its teaching.

Paul had confirmed through the Scriptures that Jesus was indeed their Messiah, the Son of David, because God had raised him from the dead. Prophecy had long ago testified “Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption…but he, whom God raised again [Jesus], saw no corruption” (Acts 13:35-37). The message of Christ’s resurrection was the glad tidings that Paul preached. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39).

We could have wished for a better response from his Jewish audience. Luke writes “And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul (Acts 13:44-45). What happened next is significant for us today who are not of Jewish descent.

“Paul and Barnabus waxed bold, and said, it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). God used the Jews’ resistance to the message of Christ to open the door wide to the Gentiles. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

Israel’s rejection of their Messiah when he came the first time swung the gospel door wide open to any and all who believe. Our own country has been blessed by the advance of the gospel since its founding. Even so, many are in churches that no longer preach the gospel and all too often we, like those Jews in Antioch, sit under the proclamation of God’s word blinded by our own desires.