Guys,
The Acts readings for our fasting has been very very inspirational for me. Here are just a few of the insights that I gained for us:
Acts 22
Paul was able to leverage his mother tongue for testimony and for the gospel...so should you and I. We need to take advantage of our Hmong.- Paul was a Jew, but he went to the Gentiles. He was able to weave in and out of both cultures for the sake of the gospel. Not everyone can do you...but you and I can!! This is a gift from God for the sake of the gospel.
Acts 23
Paul was smart and was able to cut to the heart of their accusations against him...the controversy centered around the Resurrection of Christ. We need to center our lives around His resurrection and allow that to motivate us. (I'll be talking about this at YexComm Wednesday night.)- Mission and truly preaching the gospel to hard places (sometimes even in your own backyard) is not a safe ministry. But that's what we are called to.
Acts 24
We never twist Scripture to say what we want it to say...but we need to reason out of Scriptures. Jesus is in perfect harmony with Moses and the Prophets- Prison for 2 years was not a small price for Paul to pay in order for him to make it to Rome...what's the price God's asking us to pay so that we can make it to our mission field?
Acts 25
The secular government is often used by God to give us freedom to do gospel work. We need to take advantage of this in America...because the window for religions freedom is truly truly shrinking in America!
Acts 26
Paul was a very strong intellectual person that believed in the resurrection. People thought he was foolish and that he wasted his intellect. The resurrection is our hope to defy many intellectual challenges that come our way. Jesus vindicates all doubts by resurrecting from the dead.
Acts 27
Paul was a leader among a disasterous situation that involved mostly unbelievers. Will you allow yourself to serve an unbeliving community without hesitation...even seek the good of those who work against you and who are considered unrighteous? Paul did. It was his nature.- Paul's strategic partnership saved his life. Be smart in the partnerships that you make.
Acts 28
Paul completed the mission of Acts 1:8. God had his sites set on Rome and Paul completed this Phase of The Mission. There was much struggle and it was not glamourous at all...but when you align with God's mission, he makes it so only He gets the glory in the end. As a missionary, you have to want to be an unsung hero like Paul.
I love you guys and I value our partnership. I can't wait to worship and fellowship with you next week. Keep laboring and praying towards God's goal for YexComm.
Daniel
