Advancing in Trials & Testing

“From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” -Acts 20:17-21

Paul faced severe trials and significant tests because of the Jews that opposed him. Despite these obstacles, he was able to still make massive progress in building God’s Kingdom. Many people lose ground when the trials come, but there’s a way to advance in the trials and Paul seized those opportunities!

First, Paul said that from the moment he arrived in Asia he lived in a God-honoring way. He served with humility and passion. He kept His eyes on Jesus and lived with integrity. He said they knew how he lived and it was clear that he was living to please God. He did all of that despite the trails and testing he faced from his opposition.

When we face trials, there’s temptation to alleviate the pressure by giving ourselves a break from the high standards we would normally keep. Short cuts and greener grass seem more understandable and even deserved after all the difficulties. However, Paul said that despite the trials, he didn’t lose ground through his personal choices. Instead, he walked the path of God regardless of pain. Don’t lose ground when things are hard. Stand your ground and trust that your foundation is stronger than the hard things you’re going through in the moment.

Paul also continued to preach the Gospel publicly and privately in homes. He did not allow the opposition to cause him to cower into a corner. He chose to advance the mission no matter the cost. When you experience testing and trials, do you back down and take an extended break from the work or can you keep moving forward?

If you can only advance when gravity is on your side, you’ll never be able to reach the great mountaintops of ministry and life. Paul was able to live with integrity and continue the mission even through radical opposition. Spiritual maturity and strength are both grown and displayed in the trials and testing of life, so keep pressing on!

Right on?

Read/listen to Acts chapters 19-21

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Joy In The House

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” -Acts 16:31-34

When Paul and Silas shared the Gospel with the jailer, he gave his life to Jesus! The cascading result of that decision brought massive joy to his home! They had been saved through God’s grace!

If you want more joy in your house, Jesus can deliver! However, He must become more than ancillary decoration or religious entertainment in your home. Jesus must be Lord and Savior of your life and the center of your home! Anything less is not enough. He is not content to remain on the fringes and dwell in the margins. When Jesus comes, He comes to save, but also to rule and to reign over every area of your home.

When He is in His rightful place, other things begin to come into place in your house. The changes only begin with salvation. Relationships then start to improve, wisdom grows, clarity increases, peace is present, and so many other positive changes emerge. Yet, the one thing God’s Word notes that this man was filled with was joy! When Jesus shows up, joy is in the house!

He had joy because of Jesus! He had found his faith. His family had found their way. They were saved and now joy was in their home!

How can a believer increase their joy? We reflect back on all that Jesus has done for us! We consider the cross and the reward awaiting us in heaven! We think about His Spirit that has been deposited inside us and the presence of the Lord all around us! We consider the purpose He has brought into our lives and the order He delivered in the chaos. All things have been made new!

When you deeply consider all that Jesus has done for you and your household, how could you not have joy? No matter what problems you are facing now, Jesus has conquered your biggest problems of sin and death. We were once separated from the Father and now through Jesus we are reconciled! We’ve been saved by faith through God’s grace! How could we not smile big and take a deep breath of satisfaction?

There’s joy in the house!

Right on?

Read/listen to Acts chapters 16-18

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Worship While You Work

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'. So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.” -Acts 13:2-3

As the believers in Antioch were worshipping and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. While they were worshipping, the Spirit was working! When we labor only in the natural, we neglect the more productive supernatural possibilities in our work. Your spirituality must always have priority over the practicality of your work. That doesn't mean you lessen your progress or lower your standards for the actual work. After beginning with prayer, we then move forward like Saul and Barnabas, but now with even greater intensity and strength. In worship, prayer, and fasting we find God's heart for the work and gain passion for the mission!

While we worship and experience the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit in our work, we open the door to much greater return on effort and more lasting results. We realize we are not just working for God, but we get to work with God! Do you worship while you work?

After they fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on these leaders and sent them off into the Kingdom work ahead. The movement on earth happened after prayer and fasting first moved heaven. The spiritual laid the foundation for the practical! Your practical results will be empty containers if not first filled with the presence of God!

Do you pause to pray and commit your way to the Lord before you run forward with the work? Walk in the Spirit as you partner together in His greater work! He wants to work all around you, but He also wants to work with you!

Is it time to begin some new work habits? Have you considered praying over the work before you set out? Could you increase your worship while you work? How about occasionally fasting over the most consequential aspects of your work? There's joy while you do the job when you partner with the Holy Spirit! What you do together will be far greater than what you would have accomplished alone!

Right on?

Read/listen to Acts chapters 13-15

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