Bible Study February 19, 2024
Acts 11:20 – 24 (ESV)
“20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
I read a joke the other day that went like this “I didn’t realize husbands came with unattached ears.” Sometimes I miss something that is being said because my mind is thinking about something else. If I am spoken to I should listen to the speaker. should listen to the Word of God.
The above passage was written to the church in Jerusalem and when they heard the good news they immediately dispatched Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas encouraged those in Antioch to remain faithful to the cause of Jesus.
God sends ministers to churches to speak His Word and He has given us the scriptures that people will grow in their faith and the Body of Christ will grow and flourish. We find in the scriptures what He has spoken to the church. Will the church of 2024 and beyond follow His Word or will it fall away? We must accept the scriptures as God’s word for the day. We may not agree with everything but He has given it to us for a purpose and that is to bring us into the fullness of His image.
If we accept “In the beginning God” from Genesis 1:1 and we accept “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all” from Revelation 22:21 then we must accept every word found in between. He did not say you can be selective.
“Unity is necessary among the children of God if we are going to know the flow of the power … to see God do wonders.” A. W. Tozer.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 