"and so spake..." |
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Elder
Robert Willis (dec) |
As the
Apostles went about preaching the gospel, it was not unusual
to run into opposition. In fact, it was more the norm than
not. Entering into Iconium, Paul and Barnabas made
their way into the local Jewish synagogue and began to speak
of the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. In Acts 14:1 it
says, “and so spake”, meaning they preached the gospel in
such a way that it was easily understood by those whom the
Lord had born again of His Spirit. What manner then did they
speak? Paul, in I Corinthians 14:19, said it this way - “Yet
in the church I had rather speak five words with my
understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also,
than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” Simply put,
they preached in a manner in which those who had ears to
hear, would be able to understand their teachings.
While Paul and
Barnabas spoke plainly, they spoke boldly in the Lord (Acts
14:3). What then was the result of their preaching? Did all
who heard them believe and become all fired up and ready to
serve the Lord? No! That was not the case. “A great
multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed”
(Acts 14:1), and many did not as the city was divided
between the Jews and the apostles.
There were
those Jews who did not believe the truth even though they
heard it with their own ears. Have you ever noticed that
disbelief goes hand in hand with disobeying? On the other
hand, Faith and obedience go together. Hebrews 3:8-13
reminds us of the time when many of God’s children allowed
their hearts to become evil in unbelief, and departed from
the living God (vs. 12).
When we hear
the truth, we then need to become doers of the word, and not
just hearers (James 1:22). Paul said in Hebrews 3:18-19,
“And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his
rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they
could not enter in because of unbelief.” Those unbelieving
Israelites were not allowed to enter into the Land of Canaan
and receive the rest their were looking for.
We pray
that we will never harden our hearts (“as in the
provocation”), and therefore fail to enter into the rest
which God has provided for us while we live on this earth.
Jesus declared the following unto His children who were in
need of rest, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). What
peace, and joy, and rest for our weary souls can be found in
serving our Lord and Master. Praise be unto His Holy Name.
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