Circumstances Can Lead to Open Doors!
Acts 24
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
One of the interesting things about Paul being brought before several governors and commanders, was that he got a chance to testify about what they call in this chapter called "The Way". This is what the early church was called the people of the "Way". This meant they were people who followed the "Way" of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Secretly Felix was interested in what Paul had to say and checked it out with his Jewish wife, perhaps thinking she would understand the nature of the argument, since she was Jewish. When Paul talked about subjects such as righteousness, self control and judgment, Felix got nervous. He was coming under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Though it made him fearful, he also kept asking Paul to come and talk to him. There was something in Paul's message that struck a chord with him. He wanted Paul to offer him a bribe, so he could dismiss him, but Paul was more interested in Felix than his own freedom.
This is a classic case of God's using Paul's circumstances to promote the gospel. Even when he was in prison, it gave Paul a chance to testify about his God. When he and Silas were in prison, they were freed supernaturally, as they sung hymns to God. The Philippian Jailer was about to kill himself for letting them go. But when Paul reached out and told him about Jesus he said, "What must I do to be saved?"
Paul could have easily bemoaned his circumstances, but he saw it instead an opportunity to witness to his captors. Paul's motto was, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." While he knew a treasure awaited him in heaven, he knew that as long as he was here God had plans to use him wherever he went.
How often do you look at what God could be doing in your circumstances whether good or bad? Often the way we handle these circumstances create open doors for others to see what we really believe in? After all it is easy to believe in God when things are going well. Let's pray that we might be more like Paul, who saw everything that happened to him good or bad, as an opportunity to bring Christ to more people.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
One of the interesting things about Paul being brought before several governors and commanders, was that he got a chance to testify about what they call in this chapter called "The Way". This is what the early church was called the people of the "Way". This meant they were people who followed the "Way" of Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life."
Secretly Felix was interested in what Paul had to say and checked it out with his Jewish wife, perhaps thinking she would understand the nature of the argument, since she was Jewish. When Paul talked about subjects such as righteousness, self control and judgment, Felix got nervous. He was coming under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Though it made him fearful, he also kept asking Paul to come and talk to him. There was something in Paul's message that struck a chord with him. He wanted Paul to offer him a bribe, so he could dismiss him, but Paul was more interested in Felix than his own freedom.
This is a classic case of God's using Paul's circumstances to promote the gospel. Even when he was in prison, it gave Paul a chance to testify about his God. When he and Silas were in prison, they were freed supernaturally, as they sung hymns to God. The Philippian Jailer was about to kill himself for letting them go. But when Paul reached out and told him about Jesus he said, "What must I do to be saved?"
Paul could have easily bemoaned his circumstances, but he saw it instead an opportunity to witness to his captors. Paul's motto was, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." While he knew a treasure awaited him in heaven, he knew that as long as he was here God had plans to use him wherever he went.
How often do you look at what God could be doing in your circumstances whether good or bad? Often the way we handle these circumstances create open doors for others to see what we really believe in? After all it is easy to believe in God when things are going well. Let's pray that we might be more like Paul, who saw everything that happened to him good or bad, as an opportunity to bring Christ to more people.
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