KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 25:7 ” And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.”

In Luke 21:12 the Lord Jesus spoke about how his disciples would be treated before His coming. It reads, Luke 21:12 ” But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake”.

In Paul’s story these Jewish zealots left Jerusalem to go and accuse Paul so he would be killed. The bible said, they laid grievous charges against Paul, but they could not prove it. This is a demonstration of hatred. It is an antichrist spirit which started during the lifetime of our Master and is still in operation.

People under the spell of the spirit of antichrist have said all kinds of lies and abominable things about Jesus. The Frenchman Francois -Marie   Arouet known also as Voltaire attacked Christianity so much and even said after his death there would be no bibles and Christianity would be extinct. Surprisingly his own house became a printing press for printing bibles after he died. John Lennon of Beatles fame said he was more popular than Jesus. This man was shot and killed by an unknown assailant.

In recent times some have attacked Christ by saying He was a myth. This is rather amazing. Which myth do you have the people spoken of to be in the story ,to be active people who came to testify of their participation in the story? Apostle Pater wrote 2 Peter 1:16 ” For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. “He said we were eye witnesses of His majesty on that holy mountain. This man died for what he saw, preached and defended. Jesus is never a myth but a man of history. It is the very spirit of the antichrist that has led men to ignorantly attack Him. Every attack or persecution of Christians is a direct attack on the person of Christ. (Acts 9:4)

This antichrist spirit has waged a relentless war by attacking Christians, giving some to lions, burning many at stake, burning bibles, raising abominable teachings, burning churches and what have you? In spite of all these Christianity remains the most populous faith on the earth now. There are about 2.4 billion professing Christians, followed by Islam 1.4 billion. The bible remains the most read book. This antichrist spirit is defeated and will forever be defeated. Dear reader, if you are not born again, then please accept Him today to partake of eternal life and escape eternal damnation. (Read Romans 10:9&10)

SONG

Jesus shall reign wherever the sun.

That His successive journeys run.

His kingdom stretches from shore to shore.

Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 24:9 ” Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

John 8:37 ” I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you”.

KEY SCRIPTURE Acts 24:26. “He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.”

Our key scripture said Governor Felix had wanted Paul to give him some bride, so he would have set him free. It seems corruption is not a child of these day but a ‘mother’ who has lived through human history

Bribery is a means where people make payments either in cash or kind in order to influence justice. It has become so normal with our societies that almost all persons are caught up in the web of it. I am informed certain schools charge special fees for the school to buy leaked out examination questions to be given to their students. A driver told me of an event in which a police officer whose wife came to see him at the station, and demanded some money from him. The only way out for this officer was  to go to the road side arrest a few drivers who had broken road regulations to get some bribe from them to be given to the wife.

In certain pastoral circles enquirers have to pay some fees before meeting the man of God for prayers. How do you call this act, since prayers are to be offered free of charge? Dear pastor, you and the man who had to collect some bribe before rendering his services are all in the same waters. Don’t call it emergency, it is bribery. You and the government official who take kickbacks are all corrupting the system. God will judge everyone of us- Job 15:34 ” For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery”.

If Paul had succumbed to the bribery demands of Governor Felix and had been set free, he would have walked out of the will of God for his life. He was to preach the gospel in Rome. Many of us have jumped out of God’s plans for our lives because we decided to pay some bribe to make our way out.  The grace of God would not assist lies

CONFESSION

In the name of Jesus, I have received the ability to be truthful to the God and His word. I always live in obedience to God, bringing glory to his name.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Samuel 12:3. ” Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you”.

Psalms 26:10 ” In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 24:25 ” And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Paul had a personal audience with Governor Felix. He wanted to know more about the Christian faith.

Apostle Paul who was an ever ready vessel gave him very good answers. He fulfilled the scripture in 1 Peter 3:15, that says “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Paul an experienced presenter of the gospel knew what he had to tell this man of influence. He majored on three areas.

1. Righteousness

2.Temperance or self-control

3.The judgement to come.

Most people of influence are normally careless about their morals. Righteousness. which is a gift from God gives them a door to come out of their lousy lifestyle. With the gift of righteousness, a man must live right.

He also talked about self-control. This part hits the nail on the head by revealing the real life of that individual to him or her. Self-control deals with the act of disciplining oneself to do what is required. In the case of most influential people they lack self-control. The powers they have drives them to satisfy their appetites with ease. One major sin of such people is immorality

Finally, he talked about the future judgement. After showing the man his shortcomings, he takes him to God’s ultimate judgement for all mankind.  2 Corinthians 5:10 ” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

 He reveals to him how this judgement would be. He would judge in absolute righteousness. Revelations 19:11 ” And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. “All those without Christ shall be cast into the lake of fire.  Revelation 20:14 ” And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

Governor Felix trembled at hearing this but did not yield to the truth. Do not be like governor Felix if you have not yielded to Christ.

We can all learn some.  clues from Paul’s presentation, about how to speak to men of influence.

PRAYER

Father, I pray for divine wisdom to always have the right message for whosoever I encounter.May the Holy Spirit work on the hearts of my enquirers to receive His word.

FURTHER STUDIES

2 Timothy 4:2 ” Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

1 Peter 3:15 ” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

KEY SCRIPTURE; Acts 24:16 ” And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

The High Priest, Ananias hired an orator called Tetullus to speak to accuse Paul before Felix the governor. This man was very good at his job by presenting his accusation against Paul. He said lies mixed with insults, yet truth shall forever remain sacred.

He started with showering praises on the governor Felix, in an attempt to win his favour. He came very hard on Paul. Apostle Paul also had his turn to make his defense. Paul made his defense in the light of his philosophy as depicted in our key scripture. This reads “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and men.”

He made his defense without attacking his accuser in anyway. Tetullus in his prosecutions against Paul said Paul was a Pestilent fellow (comparing him to a plague). He said Paul is a mover of sedition and a ring leader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Paul maintained his point that, he believes in the resurrection of the dead and that was the reason he was being held in chains. Most people would have equally attacked the orator, Tetullus with similar insults. Paul says he has made it his policy to have a conscience devoid of offence towards God and man

Most homes would have enjoyed a great amount of peace and harmony if couples would adapt this principle or philosophy. Many people act and speak with a motive to cause pain to their other parties. Insults are psychological arrows and spears that people shoot at one another. The end results are wounded souls who cannot get along with such parties. Divorce, severing of relationship and friendship proceed from hearts that are careless about the effect of their words and actions on the second parties. Apostle Paul admonished the brethren in Colossae to ” Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”. (Colossians 4;6)

CONFESSIONS

I thank you Lord for making me a partaker of your nature. I always express love, respect and fear for God when I relate with all men. My words may correct but would not destroy others.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 12:14-15 ” Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

1 Corinthians 13:5 (Love) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 23:24. “And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.”

The spirit of religion is a very wicked spirit. Religious people always fight for their God. They kill and terrorize in the name of defending their faith. During the Jewish people’s attack on Paul, some of them bound themselves with a curse not to eat for forty days till they have killed Paul. Acts 23:12 “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.”

These Jews bound themselves with a curse not to eat nor drink for a period as long as forty days, until they have killed Paul. Under the new covenant, no one is to physically attack or kill anyone who holds a contrary view to ours. The message of the new covenant is love for all men and hatred for none. The bible said when these people were cooking this evil plan, the nephew of apostle Paul got hint of it and managed to get to Paul and reveal it to him. Paul told the captain that the young man had a message for him. He revealed the whole plot to the captain. Dear child of God the wicked would never succeed with their wicked scheming. Please behold the plan of God concerning your safety. Isaiah 54:15 “Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.”

Dear child of God, do not be worried about threats against your life. The bible says they would gather, but it shall not be of the Lord and they shall fall for your sake. If their plans prevail then the Lord allowed it for the ultimate glory to His name. In Paul’s case the Roman centurion asked that two hundred men be made available to escort Paul, while a horse be made available for him to personally ride on. Paul was on a divine program to go to Rome and preach the gospel there too. Dear child of God, please know that God’s plans for His children are always the best. Listen to what God says about His plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11 ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. “Stop worrying about anything and everything. All you have to do is to entrust your life and life agenda into Him and His agenda. God has not gone to sleep. His eyes are passionately on you.

 CONFESSION

My life is for His glory. I do not live for myself. I live solely for His purpose. He gives me only the best, therefore only the best comes to me.

 FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 121:3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Psalms 121:7-8 ” The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 23:6.  ” But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”

In Matthew 10:16 the Lord JESUS told His disciples the following “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”. The dove and the serpent have extreme characteristics that the Lord commands his disciples to possess the two. A dove is amazingly harmless, but are not so wise.

Serpents are exceptionally wise but can be very harmful. The wisdom of serpents can make them survive very adverse conditions. They can change themselves by shedding off the old skin. Even lions as ferocious as they are can be easily killed by some pythons. In the attack and trial of Apostle Paul, he exhibited the wisdom of the serpent. From our key scripture when he noticed the Jews were made up of two sects, that is Pharisee and the Sadducees. (The Pharisee believe in angels, resurrection and life after death. The Sadducees were more liberals who did not believe in the supernatural). Paul said I am a Pharisee who believe in the future resurrection of the saints. This brought a sharp rift between these two sects. Every child of God must understand we live in the midst of wolves. We must be very wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The Holy Spirit imparts wisdom if we will ask Him for it. Secondly, wisdom is a function of proper knowledge and understanding. Don’t be ignorant about what goes on in the world.

On the following night the Lord appeared to Paul and said the following to him Acts 23:11 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” Dear child of God serving the Lord in various capacities, must be fully assured of the Lord’s presence. This is one fact you must never lose sight about. The Lord has promised never to leave nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This fact should be one of the strongest motivations for serving the master and doing it with all your heart. You can also practice the presence of the Lord. This is done by taking some moments to imagine the presence of the Lord with you. You follow up with a moment by moment acknowledgement of His presence. As you do this you would instinctively have that consciousness of his presence

CONFESSION

I am harmless as a dove and as wise as a serpent, I live in the midst of wolves yet I always live above all the schemes of the devil, by my awareness of the Lord’s presence with me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Psalms 23:4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 22:1 “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you “

Apostle Paul gave his defense to the Jewish rioters and the Roman. soldiers who were present. His defense was a way of preaching Christ to the people. His message was a testimony of his personal life and conversion.

One powerful way of communicating the gospel is to share your life testimony. Paul on this occasion gave an elaborate account of his life. Giving life testimonies have three main aspects. The first part is the period before one was converted. In this part you talk about the kind of things you used to do. The challenges and difficulties you faced. You can also talk about various ways you tried to get satisfaction and peace. In Paul’s testimony he talked about his life as a zealot Jew, who studied under Gamaliel a very respected Jewish lawyer. He made mention of his zeal in persecuting Christians and the fact that he supervised the stoning of Stephen.

There is a second part of the personal testimony, which majors on the process of conversion. In Paul’s case, he spoke about his encounter with the Lord Jesus who called him and commissioned him to carry his message to those in darkness. He mentioned the blinding effect of the light from heaven. He spoke about Ananias who prayed for him to see. All these were undeniable evidences which are not some psychological state that could be easily explained away.

The final part of the personal testimony is about the effect of conversion. In Paul’s case he talked about the change that resulted. He no longer persecuted the church. He identified with them and started preaching about the grace of God.

You also have a personal encounter with God. So long as you have been converted, you have a personal testimony, share it as often as you can, and many lives will be saved and blessed. If you don’t know how to present the gospel, don’t worry your personal testimony can do a lot.

CONFESSION

The Lord saved me from the grips of sin when I was dead and lost in sin. By his grace I became part of the kingdom of God. Now my life is free from the power of sin. Praise the Lord

FURTHER STUDIES

John 4:29 ” Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

Luke 19:8 ” And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:31. “And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.”

Apostle Paul had been captured by the Jews who started beating him. There was a great uproar in the city. They were in an attempt to get him killed, when the centurion got hold.

Paul had purposed in the Spirit to get to Rome through Jerusalem and share the word of God there too.

Acts 19:21 ” After these things were ended Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome”. Apostle Paul. had purposed in the spirit to go to Rome which. When the people took a hold of Paul, there was no way his life would be terminated because by divine program, he had to preach in Rome also. This was a divine verdict and nothing was going to stop it. This was the reason the Lord made the Roman soldier to intervene and stop them from killing him. Dear child of God every divine calling or assignment that Good has given to you would surely come to pass.

God is faithful and would bring to pass whatever He has said concerning you especially if it has to do with his work.

After Paul was taken over by the Roman soldiers, the Jewish zealots kept following calling for His death. Acts 21:36 ” For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him”. Over the years it has been only religious people who have called for the death of those they consider apostates or heretics. If you call yourself a Christian and you are calling for the death of apostates or heretics, then you never had the Spirit of Christ.

Every form of hatred for anybody in the name of Christianity is of the devil If you have a loved one who claims he is persuaded to leave Christianity for another faith, don’t call for his head. Show him love, talk to God about him. Trust God to save him. The Lord will ultimately save him. Let every. hatred against any man cease.

PRAYER

I am born of love. I have no hatred for anyone. I seek the salvation of all men and even those who blatantly oppose the faith.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 13:10. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Matthew 5:44. ” But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:24. “Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law”.

In Jerusalem the leaders of the church, knowing the kind of Jewish animosity that was against Paul suggested to him to join some brethren who were going to perform the ordinance of purification so that the Jews would be convinced that Paul was not against the law of Moses, but observed the law. This act was an attempt, (well not consciously,) to change what the Holy Spirit has been saying throughout Paul’s journeys across the cities. Acts 20:23” Save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me”.

The brethren in Jerusalem were attempting to change the word of the Holy Ghost that He spoke concerning Paul’s persecution in Jerusalem. Please note; no human effort can change what the Spirit has said and confirmed. My question is, since Apostle Paul knew what the Spirit has been saying all through his travels, why did he accept the suggesting of the elders at Jerusalem. I don’t believe Paul accepted to do it to please the elders at Jerusalem. I believe that this is a case of human weakness that might have set in at that occasions. My next question is why didn’t the elders who were the overall leaders of the church discern what the Spirit has been saying throughout his journeys? My answer is, God does not favor anyone. Everyone or anyone who avails himself to the Spirit could be used by the Spirit. God never dealt with people on the bases of their titles. He always deals with people on their level of faith, and submission to His word.On the flip side,the Holy Spirit might not have revealed it to them,because He just didn’t want to.

In Acts 21:27” the bible said and when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,” Despite Paul’s attempt to win the sympathy of the Jews they still laid hands on him and started beating him just as the prophecies said.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, I pray that I may daily be circumspect to walk according to the leading of the Spirit always. May I be alert to always hear the voice of the Spirit.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 5:18. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:15. “And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem”

Apostle Paul did not make empty words only to abandon his commitments but acted his on words. Our key scripture says he and his team took their carriages and went to Jerusalem.

Many people are empty talkers. They say very high sounding words only to forsake their vows, commitments or pledges. Apostle Paul quickly acted on his pledge. There are some of us who make pledges of various sums of money during fundraising programs, only to fail to honour our pledges. There are also occasions that church members promise to make themselves available for evangelistic activities, yet when time is up you only find a handful of people present. Please note what the Lord says about vows or pledges. Num 30:2 “If a man vows a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth”. This is what the Lord says to all those who make vows, make sure you honour your words. A man who honors his words would be able to trust God no matter the challenge that rises. He will always have the confidence of people

These days many marriages are under stress because parties are dishonoring their vows. One of the biggest challenges many marriages are facing is trust, this is most unfortunate. Infidelity abounds all over. This should not be said about the Christian. The Lord is always the ever present witness to your pledges or vows to your spouses. Malachi 2:14 “Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant”. God is not only a witness to the vows made, but a third party to that union. The marriage of Christians is a threefold chord. Ecclesiastes 4:12 “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. The marriage of the Christian is a threefold chord and our Father is the third party. Your vows are to him as well. God is the one who would come against your unfaithfulness.

Honour your pledge always and life would be simpler and fulfilling for you.

CONFESSION

I have the spirit of faithfulness in me. I honour every vow ,pledge or promise I make. My life is very fulfilling because God is pleased with me and blesses me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Job 22:27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Psalms 61:5. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.