Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 6

January 6;   Acts 22:21;   6/260(II);   ‘The Word & Religion ’

Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'"

Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem.  Roman soldiers had been alerted and they came and rescued Paul before he was torn apart by the Jewish mob.  The soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks when he spoke to the Roman commander in Greek.  Paul asked the commander if he could speak to the Jewish people who had assembled and the commander gave Paul permission.  Paul shared his testimony to the Jews in Hebrew and they were very attentive.  When Paul shared how the Lord told him to preach to the Gentiles, the Gentile hating, religious Jews became agitated and cried out their intentions to kill Paul.  At this point, the Roman commander took Paul into the barracks for his safety.  When Peter had ministered to Cornelius, a Gentile Roman centurion, the apostles in Jerusalem listened to Peter and confirmed that the Bible taught that the Gentiles would be saved, just like the Jews.  The religious Jews never taught their congregations this, so the hatred that they did teach against the Gentiles is what the Jews believed.  Those who attend a local church, basically only know what they are taught from the pulpit.  Very few ‘investigate’ the Word to see if what they are taught is so.  This is why Christians who are taught in denominational churches, have a difficult time receiving teaching on things like healing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Religious people, who are taught the Word and doctrines of men very often miss out on the fullness of life the Lord intended for them. Religion does not know or rejects the truths of the Word, hurting those it teaches. Refuse this.