The Courage Driven Purpose

by ricks 27. January 2010 12:07
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You've heard of the Purpose-Driven Life. But what drives the purpose?

My reflections on Acts 22-25 focus on how Jesus actually speaks to Paul, after Paul is arrested and faces his enemies with a faithful testimony of Jesus, and says in Acts 23:11: ". . . the Lord stood by (Paul) and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome." Paul's purpose was to witness to others for Jesus. That is what God calls us to, also (Acts 1:8). But the Lord Jesus knew the Paul needed a boost. So he appears to Paul and encourages him to "take courage." Do you ever feel as though you need encouragement from the Lord to accomplish your purpose?

I'm at a pastors' conference this week. Together we're talking, thinking, praying about how to lead our churches. One thing is obvious about all these leaders -- they are looking for encouragement and direction from the Lord. So am I. Will you pray with me this week that God will give me courage and direction?

How about you? How does the idea of engaging our communities and world affect you? Do you need some encouragement? Let's pray for one another.

Remember the Lord said, "I am with you always."

 

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1/27/2010 5:59:30 AM #

Pastor Rick -

I'll be praying along with you this week for encouragement and direction.  

Here's my thoughts on Acts 22, 23.

1 - What ingredients are necessary for spiritual transformation?
- Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see a lot of spiritual transformation in these chapters.

2 - How were followers of Christ engaged?
- Paul did not refrain from sharing his testimony, even before an angry mob.
- Paul had wisdom in how he interacted with the different groups:  Speaking in Hebrew to the Jerusalem mob, claiming his Roman citizenship before being scourged.  This had the desired affect of getting their attention (in both cases)
- Paul must have had an effect on those in charge of the prison in Jerusalem through his behavior.  The centurion trusted Paul enough to listen to his nephew and took him to the commander, who trusted him enough to assign hundreds of soldiers to an overnight mission to protect Paul.

3 - What is God saying to our church and me?
- Our Christian testimony should be clear to all, including our accusers and our authorities.

And here's my thoughts on Acts 24, 25.

1 - What ingredients are necessary for spiritual transformation?
2 - How were followers of Christ engaged?
- As with the previous two chapters, I did not observe that these chapters summarized spiritual transformation. However, Paul was bold in proclaiming the Gospel even before the high authorities.  To the point that he was preaching about “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come” before Felix, whose wife Drusilla (likely under 20 years old) he had lured away from her husband.  Interestingly, Felix continues to have Paul brought before him.

3 - What is God saying to our church and me?
- There are times when it will be very uncomfortable to share the Gospel, but we are still called to do it.

- Brett

Brett H United States |

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