Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 48

February 17;        Acts 14:4;         103/260;        ‘Our Job is to Share’

Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

Many times believers are reluctant to share the gospel because they fear that their message will be rejected.  Mark 16:15 tells us to share the gospel with everyone.  Whether the person accepts the Lord or does not do so, our directive from Jesus is to preach the Word of God to them.  Very often it takes someone being witnessed to more than once before they will accept the Lord.  I Corinthians 3:7-8 teaches that some plant the seed (the Word) and some water the seed that was planted, but the Lord gives the increase.  In other words if we share the gospel and it is rejected, we still have planted the seed.  If we share with someone who either we or someone else has already witnessed to, we have watered the seed that was sown.  Then the Bible clearly tells us that it is the Holy Spirit who opens the person’s heart to be born again.  Praise the Lord for the privilege of playing a part in the salvation of others.  Paul and Barnabas powerfully shared the Word in Iconium and a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed.  Verse 4 tells us that the city was divided some accepted the Lord and some did not.  Paul and Barnabas had done what the Bible commands us to do, preach the Word.  When Paul finally arrived in Rome, he was allowed to dwell by himself with a Roman guard.  Paul called the leaders of the Jews together and many people came to listen to Paul preach about Jesus.  Acts 28:24 tells us that some were believed and some did not.  Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel, so are we.  The Holy Spirit give the increase.