Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 54

February 23;   Acts 20:32;   109/260(VI);   ‘To Build You Up’

Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Paul was at Miletus, and called for the elders of the church at Ephesus, and taught them.  Paul was going to Jerusalem and told them that they would never see him again.  He knew the Lord, and the Holy Spirit must have shown him that he would never be that way again.  Paul shared many things about ministry, its challenges and incredible importance.  In verse 32 Paul stresses the importance of the Word of God.  He teaches that the Word of God will build them up spiritually and give them an inheritance.  If you think about this, it has to be evident that the Word cannot build you up if you choose not to read it.  It also cannot give you and inheritance that is legally yours, if you are a Christian, if you do not take time to know what the inheritance is that the Word is giving you.  People spend billions of dollars to stay in shape physically and surely that is important.  How much more vital is staying in shape spiritually is.  Knowing who you are spiritually, the authority you have been given to protect yourself and help others, is vital to you and vital to others who desperately need your help in a mixed up, dangerous world.  Refuse not to be built up by the Word spiritually.  Growing in the things of the Lord, realizing who you are because of the Lord Jesus’ provisions and then actively ministering to others by sharing the Word and praying for them, opens your eyes to the life you were created to live. Our role in changing this world cannot be overstated.  No one and nothing else can change the hearts of those who do not know Jesus.  It all starts with God’s Word and what you decide to do with it.