Satan Works In The Church

LINDA SPARKS, Director of Adult Ministries/Assimilation/Worship

• BIBLE VERSE

  Acts 17:10-12 “As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men .”

• INTERPRETATION

  Paul and Silas had been preaching the Gospel of Jesus throughout different cities and in different synagogues. When they got to the Berean’s they actually humbly listened to Paul’s message and investigated the truth of his claims in the Bible. As they were researching if the man of Jesus was consistent with who the Bible professed about they believed and accepted Christ.

• BREAKTHROUGH

  God is not trying to hide Himself from examination. Paul commends these people because they took their faith seriously enough to examine it before making an impulsive decision. These people were humble though. The main difference is the humility in truly searching for God. These people truly wanted to know God, and searched for Him with their heart and their mind. God rewarded their smart search and revealed himself to them.

• LIFE APPLICATION

  Not everything has to be impulsive. God rewards those who seek Him and search for him with their mind. He let’s us wrestle with Him, but graciously gives us what our heart really desires. The character of the Berean Jews was noble, and their hearts were willing to humble their previous thoughts and change the direction they were going, if they found evidence for God. God rewards those who examine and look for Him. He isn’t asking me to have an illogical faith.

• ENTREATY

  God, thank you for allowing me to wrestle with You. Thank you for being bigger than my questions and bigger than my fears. I am humbled by the fact that You are such a consistent, yet surprising God. You’re not afraid of my inquiry and You’re willing to let me wrestle with You to reveal aspects of you I may not have known yet. I am grateful for the fact you encourage me to use my mind. Give me a humble posture when wrestling with some of the big issues in my life. I trust you and I love You. Amen.