Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 20:13-24.  Let’s go!

Acts 20:13-16 (NIV)
13  We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot.
14  When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15  The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.
16  Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

On verses 13-16:  When I read these verses I get the sense that Paul is engaged in a race against time, as if every second counts and every moment matters.  As he travels from place to place, he doesn’t take the scenic route.  Nor does he stop to veg out.  Instead, Paul goes from Troas on foot to Assos, then takes a ship to Mitylene.  The next day he sails to Kios (v15), the day after to Samos, the following day to Miletus.  He skips past Ephesus so that he can get to Jerusalem as soon as possible.  It’s as if Paul is trying to find the quickest route he can to get to Jerusalem.

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 19:13-27.  Let’s go!

Acts 19:13-17 (NIV)
13  Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”
14  Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15  [One day] the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16  Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17  When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

On verses 13-17:  Throughout Acts we see the power of Jesus’ name to heal sickness and to drive out demons. So why in Acts 19:13-16 were the seven sons of Sceva unable to drive out an evil spirit even though they invoked the name of Jesus? Why instead did the evil spirit jump on them and overpower them? It’s because they were not Christians who believed in Jesus personally. Rather, they were exorcists who did not personally believe in Jesus but just tried to use Jesus’ name as if it casting a magic spell. They would say “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out” (v13) and this shows us that they were quite removed from a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 18:12-28.  Let’s go!

Acts 18:12-17 (NIV)
12  While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court.
13  “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14  Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you.
15  But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law–settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”
16  So he had them ejected from the court.
17  Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.
 
On verses 12-17:  In the past, in virtually every city where Paul preached the gospel, Paul faced persecution and harassment.  But while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid…I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (see Acts 18:9-10).  Here in verses 12-17 we see the Lord making good on His promise that no one would harm Paul.  Some Jews start legal proceedings against Paul and bring him to court before the proconsul Gallio, all with the hope of having Paul imprisoned or otherwise punished.  But nothing happens to Paul.  In fact, in court, Paul doesn’t even need to speak to defend himself, for before Paul is able to speak, the proconsul Gallio dismisses the claims of Paul’s opponents and ejects them from the court.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 17:16-34.  Let’s go!

Acts 17:16-17 (NIV)
16  While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
17  So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

On verses 16-17:  Because Paul was distressed to see so many idols being worshiped in Athens, Paul decided to do something about it.  He begins to preach about Jesus in the synagogue and marketplace of Athens.  When you are distressed by something that you see, don’t just complain about it or be frustrated by it.  With your time and your talents, do something productive in light of it.

Acts 17:18 (NIV)
18  A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 16:25-40.  Let’s go!

Acts 16:25-36 (NIV)
25  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.
27  The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
30  He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31  They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”
32  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
33  At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God–he and his whole family.
35  When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.”
36  The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

On verses 25-36:  Here we see why God allowed Paul and Silas to be flogged and imprisoned. It wasn’t because God was cruel, distant or indifferent. Rather God allowed this painful situation so that Paul, Silas and everyone in the prison with them could witness God’s incredible saving power. Not only did God save his servants from prison, but even more God used the situation so that a jailer and his family could receive Jesus and be saved from hell.  (By the way, notice also that the jailer and his family got baptized immediately after they placed their faith in Jesus. They didn’t wait or delay to obey Jesus’ command to get baptized. Have you gotten baptized in obedience to God’s command?)