Acts 20 Study - Day 7 "Finish the Race and Complete the Task"

Hello Everyone,

Keep praying for the makeover we discussed on day 6.  Watch for to change you from the inside out.  

Let's begin day 7.

"Finish the Race and Complete the Task"

SCRIPTURE

Acts 20:22-24

New International Version (NIV)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

OBSERVATION

There is so much to pull out of these three verses.  We will go over a few points but I encourage you to study on your own and meditate on the word.

1.  Paul says that he was compelled by the spirit to go to Jerusalem.  Back in Acts 20:2, 3 and 19, Paul says that he was being plotted against by the Jews and he was trying to avoid them, so you know it had to be the Holy Spirit that was compelling him to go to Jerusalem because he was not going to go.  Let's take a moment to look at Paul's obedience to God. The very place Paul was trying to avoid going to God said go!  Do we obey God when he wants us to do something we have purposely avoided or feared doing?  Paul's obedience when he doesn't know what will happen to him is amazing to me.  For those of us who are planners at heart, we struggle with not being able to know what is to happen next. (We have to rest in Jeremiah 29:11)

2.  Paul then talks about how the Holy Spirit warns him of what is to come.  (Acts 20:23) The Holy Spirit will warn you as well.  How you ask?  All I can say is that He will and you will defiantly know it is Him.  You must stay plugged into God through prayer and fasting to keep the lines of communication open between you and God.

3.  Knowing full well the dangers before him, Paul said his life is worth nothing as long as he, "may finish the race and complete the task..." (Acts 20:24)  WOW!!! Are we that committed to God and the task that He has given us to do? Regardless of the dangers, ridicules and misunderstandings we have a job to do.  The task Paul had, we still have to this very day, we are to "testify of the gospel of God's grace." (Acts 20:24)

If you are not sure of how to describe grace to someone here is an acronym by the late Pastor Adrian Rogers;

G - gifts

R - received

A - at 

C - Christ 

E - expense 

When we testify of God's grace we are testifying of the gifts of redemption, salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

APPLICATION

We know that all Believers in Jesus Christ have the purpose of sharing the gospel of God's grace.  Also each one of us has an individual task that God created us for.  Ask God to reveal yours to you.    

Look for opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone each day. Let them know that if they repent of their sins God will forgive them.  Then they confess that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. Then they can ask Jesus to come into their hearts to be their Lord and Savior and they will be saved.  Hallelujah!

PRAYER

Dear God our Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ.  Thank You for sending Him to save us through His death, burial and resurrection.  God help us to live for You and witness to others about Your grace.  Help us to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God, help us to "finish the race and complete the task." (Acts 20:24) In Jesus' Name.  Amen. Thank You God. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Hello and Merry Christmas Everyone,

The Acts 20 Study is on hold until December 26th.  

There is no better time to accept Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior then today.  Just pray this prayer.

Dear God, I am a sinner.  I please forgive me of all my sins.  Lord, Jesus please come into my heart and save me.  Jesus I believe you are the Son of God.  I believe that God raised you from the dead and that You are alive and in Heaven.  Thank you Jesus for saving me.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

If you just prayed that prayer your name is now written in the Book of Life in Heaven.  Stay close to God through prayer, reading the Bible and joining a Bible believing church.  

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Happy Birthday Jesus!

Love you so much,

Jamison

All Things New!!!

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: behold old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Happy New Year!!!

Before I go any further in this post let me ask you a question.  Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?  What better way to start 2013 then by asking Jesus Christ into your heart at this very moment.  You can simply say this prayer.

"Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son.  I believe He died on the cross for my sins.  I repent of my sins, and ask you to forgive me.  I believe You raised Jesus from the dead, and I receive Him now as my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank you that my name is now written in the Lambs Book of Life, and I know that when I die, I will be with you in Heaven for all eternity. In Jesus name I pray.  Amen"

If you just prayed this pray we believe you are saved.   You are now my brother or sister in Jesus Christ.  Here are a few steps for you to get closer to God as a new believer in Jesus Christ.

Get baptized as commanded by Jesus Christ.

Tell someone else about your new faith in Jesus Christ.

Spend time with God each day through daily prayer and reading the Bible.

Seek fellowship and friendships with other followers of Jesus Christ.

Find a Bible believing church to attend regularly.

Wow!  There is no better way to start 2013 then as a new believer in Jesus Christ.  Praise God!  Can you believe that we are now in 2013?  Where did the time go?  The beginning of a new year is a special time.  You start the new year with a blank page ready to be written on.  What will your 2013 story consist of.  Maybe God put on your heart a task to do in 2012 (or 2011) that you have been waiting or hesitating to start.  What better time then now to get started!

My advice to you (and to myself) is to ask God what does He want you to do this year and then follow His leading.  Proverbs tells us to commit our plans to the Lord.  Yes we can make plans for this new year but we must commit them to God so that ultimately His will is done. 

May God bless you this year.  And may those blessings be exceedingly and abundantly more then you could ever ask or think.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen. 

Much Love,

Jamison