Acts one

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Colossians Chapter 2

- Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge!

- What can of Wisdom is it?

- What kind of knowledge is it?

- It is no human philosophy!

- Even if men usually forget it!

- It is not for philosophers!

- You don’t need to go to school for that!

- But you must read the Bible and look for it carefully and daily!

- Remember that Jesus taught his disciples progressively!

- But yet they didn’t understand anything!

- He was with them all the time and they couldn’t understand anything!

- They needed him to die to start to understand!

- And then they became pillars!

- On the contrary, Jesus chose Paul personally and he understood he was wrong all at once and never turned back to his former faith but went straight away to fulfill his mission!

- And all his letters are evidence of his work!

- He would strengthen the disciples with his presence and also his absence by writing them letters and encouraging them!

- So simple and so efficient!

- Like a war machine!

- Simplicity is unbelievable and so powerful!

- That’s the real world!

- God’s world not man’s world looking for illusions!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Thessalonians Chapter 2

- You well know that we kept exhorting and consoling you and bearing witness to each one of you, just as a father does his children,

- Is it possible to say things simpler?

- Paul encourages us as a father does his children!

- Is there a better and simpler way to teach others?

- Or is it necessary to make things more complicated than they are?

- God’s way is so different from man’s way!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

1 Timothy Chapter 2

- For the purpose of this witness I was appointed a preacher and an apostle - I am telling the truth, I am not lying - a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth.

- Paul a preacher!

- Paul an apostle!

- Connecting faith and truth!

- Simple words but when you put them together they mean so much!

- No truth no faith!

- Thus if you want to have faith you must build it on the search for the truth!

- And there is no limits to such a search!

- Carefully and daily to make it more powerful and strong and alive!

- And opening doors leading to opening more doors!

- In all directions!

- Nonstop!

- When you eat!

- When you drink!

- When you breathe!

- When you sleep!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Titus Chapter 2

- It trains us to reject ungodliness and worldly desires and to live with soundness of mind and righteousness and godly devotion amid this present system of things!

- Soundness of mind!

- Sound mind and memory refers to a person's state of being at the time of the making of their will. A sound mind and memory means the person has sufficient mental capacity to understand their actions!

- Sane or rational!

- Is that simple enough or too complicated!

- Righteousness!

- The quality of being morally right or justifiable!

- Godly devotion!

- Reverence, worship, and service to God, with loyalty to his universal sovereignty. The Scriptures use the Greek word eu·seʹbei·a and related adjective, adverb, and verb forms. The noun as used in the Bible may be translated literally as “well-reverencing” and applies to reverence or devotion toward that which is genuinely holy and righteous. (Compare 2Pe 1:6, Int.) The antonym of “godly devotion” is “ungodliness” or “irreverence” (Gr., a·seʹbei·a).

- Simple words meaning so much!

- And also action!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Hebrews Chapter 2

- For both the one who is sanctifying and those who are being sanctified all stem from one, and for this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, as he says: “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you with song.” And again: “I will put my trust in him.” And again: “Look! I and the young children, whom God gave me.” Therefore, since the “young children” are sharers of blood and flesh, he also similarly shared in the same things, so that through his death he might bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil, and that he might set free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

- Are we ready to be set free by Jesus?

- Do we want to get away from slavery?

- Do we want to get away from the fear of death!

- Well, we need to open our Bible!

- We need to read it daily!

- We need to understand it!

- We need to speak about it!

- We need activity!

- We need action!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Romans Chapter 2

- And he will pay back to each one according to his works: everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and anger.

- The power of simple words!

- Pay back!

- To each one!

- According to his works!

- There is always a price to pay for action or inaction!

- It depends on what we do or not!

- It’s up to us!

- Of course, religious leaders are responsible!

- But what about us?

- The Bible is at hand!

- Of course, we have to open it or not!

- It’s a personal choice!

- And we have to open our hearts and minds!

- We need a condition of heart!

- Righteousness vs unrighteousness!

- Endurance vs impatience!

- Jesus never said it was going to be easy!

- On the contrary!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

- For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God. Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.

- We must choose between the spirit of God and the spirit of the world!

- We can’t follow both!

- Personal choice with personal consequences!

- The spirit of the world is the easiest way!

- But it has a dead end!

- And to understand the Bible we need the spirit of God!

- We need to get into what seems to be too simple!

- Because from what is simple there is a lot to learn!

- And it is kindly given us by God!

- But we must show that we are worthy of it!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?


Galatians Chapter 2

- On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the good news for those who are uncircumcised, just as Peter had been for those who are circumcised - for the one who empowered Peter for an apostleship to those who are circumcised also empowered me for those who are of the nations - and when they recognized the undeserved kindness that was given me, James and Cephas and John, the ones who seemed to be pillars, gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the nations but they to those who are circumcised.

- Peter for the circumcised!

- Paul for the uncircumcised!

- The pillars first recognized the undeserved kindness that was given to Paul!

- Then they gave Barnabas to help Paul!

- Two different missions!

- Several apostles for one mission!

- One apostle for another mission!

- In the first case, a small territory!

- In the second case, a huge territory!

- In the first case, a big number of disciples!

- In the second case, a small number which was going to become much bigger!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Ephesians Chapter 3

- To me, a man less than the least of all holy ones, this undeserved kindness was given, so that I should declare to the nations the good news about the unfathomable riches of the Christ and should make everyone see the administration of the sacred secret that has been hidden through the ages in God, who created all things.

- Think of that: to me, a man less than the least of all holy ones!

- He was fighting against Jesus!

- And Jesus chose him personally!

- Unbelievable!

- But for God and Jesus, nothing is impossible!

- And he gave him an incredible mission!

- No one could expect such a choice!

- But Jesus did it!

- Once again we see God’s vision vs man’s vision!

- Jesus and God working together according to God’s will!

- A Father-Son relationship to think about in our lives!

- And this choice and this relationship are so difficult to understand that many need to make things more complicated!

- Man’s tradition vs God’s word!

- Poor humanity!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Philippians Chapter 1

- Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ, so that whether I come and see you or I am absent, I may hear about you and learn that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul, striving side by side for the faith of the good news, and in no way being frightened by your opponents.

- In a manner worthy of the good news!

- It is not only acting, it is also how we do it, how we behave!

- Like ambassadors of a foreign country!

- They must behave properly because they represent their country!

- We have to do the same!

- We can’t speak about God’s word and behave differently otherwise it is good to nothing!

- Standing firm in one spirit!

- Once again we represent God not a country with human leaders!

- Striving side by side!

- It means we need to make many efforts!

- It is not a game we play when we have time!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Colossians Chapter 2

- I am saying this so that no one may delude you with persuasive arguments.

- And for this we must check by ourselves all the time like the Bereans!

- Daily and carefully!

- We must do our part!

- We can’t let others think for us!

- We need action!

- We need to demonstrate our faith!

- A living faith not a dead one!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Thessalonians Chapter 2

- So that you would go on walking worthily of God,l who is calling you to his Kingdom and glory.

- Go on walking worthily of God!

- Walking is one thing!

- Go on walking is another one!

- And go on walking worthily is another one!

- Which way do we walk?

- Because God is calling us!

- And it is not a mere man!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

1 Timothy Chapter 2

- So I desire that in every place the men carry on prayer, lifting up loyal hands, without anger and debates.

- Carry on prayer!

- Is that an invitation to action!

- Is that an invitation to develop a strong relationship with God!

- A kind of Father-Son relationship!

- In this kind of relationship both parts need to participate!

- To make it strong or not!

- Loyal hands!

- No anger!

- No negative debates!

- But always to develop our personal relationship to God!

- An indestructible one!





___________________________________________________

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Titus Chapter 2

- While we wait for the happy hope and glorious manifestation of the great God and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to set us free from every sort of lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people who are his own special possession, zealous for fine works.

- WHILE we wait for…!

- Meaning we are invited to ACTION!

- It is no time to sleep but to act!

- And demonstrate our faith!

- Remember the harvest is huge!

- And they are few workers!

- We must demonstrate that we have been set free!

-We must demonstrate that we have been cleanse!

- We must demonstrate that we are his own special possession!

- We must demonstrate that we are zealous for fine works!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Hebrews Chapter 2

- For it is not really angels he is assisting, but he is assisting Abraham’s offspring. Consequently, he had to become like his “brothers” in all respects, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people. Since he himself has suffered when being put to the test, he is able to come to the aid of those who are being put to the test.

- Jesus did his part of the job!

- And he is able to help us!

- Those who are being put to the test!

- Do we keep demonstrating such a faith?

- Are we being put to the test?

- Does it mean anything to us?

- Or nothing?

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Romans Chapter 2

- There will be tribulation and distress on every person who works what is harmful, on the Jew first and also on the Greek; but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

- Tribulation and distress on the one hand and glory and honor and peace on the second hand!

- But patience is necessary!

- In the meantime, we all suffer the consequences of man managing the earth!

- And we will suffer more and more!

- When you know you are not afraid!

- When you don’t know and you see things getting worse and worse you are more and more afraid!

- And it is only the beginning!

- You need to live a situation to understand what’s going on!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

- These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we explain spiritual matters with spiritual words. But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines all things, but he himself is not examined by any man. For “who has come to know the mind of God, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.

- Human wisdom is nothing compared to God’s wisdom!

- Spirit, spiritual matters, spiritual words!

- It comes from the Bible!

- So we need to study it carefully and daily again and again!

- There is always something to learn!

- It is necessary to open our eyes and ears!

- And ask for God’s spirit to help us understand!

- But we need to do our part!

- And speak about the Bible and God’s word!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Galatians Chapter 2

- They asked only that we keep the poor in mind, and this I have also earnestly endeavored to do. However, when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him face-to-face, because he was clearly in the wrong. For before certain men from James arrived, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself, fearing those of the circumcised class. The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Barnabas was led along with them in their pretense. But when I saw that they were not walking in step with the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all: “If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do and not as Jews do, how can you compel people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?”

- It is interesting to think that Paul had to correct Peter because he was influenced by the Jews and stop eating with the people of the nations!

- Paul was younger as a follower of Jesus but he was a better follower not being influenced by others to do what is wrong!

- Once he was told the right way he would keep it as much as possible!

- And Jesus knew it!

- And Paul kept correcting those who tried to deviate from the truth!

- We can learn a lot from him, from his teaching and from his attitude!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Ephesians Chapter 3

- This was so that now, through the congregation, there might be made known to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places the greatly diversified wisdom of God. This is according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord, by means of whom we have this freeness of speech and free access with confidence through our faith in him.

- Freeness of speech!

- And free access with confidence through our faith in him!

- Yes, we must feel free to speak about God and Jesus and God’s word!

- That’s the way to demonstrate our faith!

- In fact, if we don’t do it, it is dead!

- And we must feel confidence in doing it!

- The more we do it, the more fluent we become and the more natural it is!

- It is by doing that we acquire experience!

- Then we will get access to the greatly diversified wisdom of God!

 

[JLG]

Looking for Paul
Where does it come?
How does it grow?

Philippians Chapter 1

- This very thing is a proof of destruction for them, but of salvation for you; and this is from God. For you have been given the privilege in behalf of Christ, not only to put your faith in him but also to suffer in his behalf. For you are facing the same struggle that you saw me face, which you now hear that I am still facing.

- For Paul, it was a privilege to put faith in Jesus!

- But also to suffer in his behalf!

- He was also ready to die for his faith!

- Every aspect of his life was connected to his faith!

- And it was a powerful connection!

- But he needed to be told by Jesus himself to know he was wrong!