More Than Repentance

September 21

(Acts 19:3-6 NIV) “So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. {4} Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." {5} On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. {6} When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”

(Romans 8:5 NIV) "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

(Galatians 5:16-17 NIV) "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. {17} For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want."

The disciples in Ephesus had repented of their sin and been baptized. They were following God to the best of their knowledge. But Paul taught that there is more to being a Christian than just repentance. Christianity is about a new life and a new Spirit. It’s about receiving the gift of grace and forgiveness, but also about coming under the Lordship of the Gift Giver. It’s about the living Christ moving into our lives and making changes -- changes that we could never make on our own. It’s about receiving power for ministry through the Holy Spirit of God, and living by the Spirit rather than by our old nature. It’s about receiving spiritual gifts that equip us for ministry. Two spiritual gifts are mentioned in today’s verses, but there are many others. Each one is given so that we can serve as a part of Christ’s body here on Earth. Discover your gifts and use them to glorify the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Incomplete Disciples

September 20

(Acts 19:1-2 NIV) "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples {2} and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

(2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV) "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. {4} Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. {5} For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; {6} and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; {7} and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. {8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

When Paul arrived at Ephesus, he found some disciples. Someone had taken the good news of Jesus there, and a few had put their faith in the Lord. They had accepted God’s grace and had become followers of Christ, but there was something missing. Paul asked if they had received the Holy Spirit. They replied that they had never even heard of the Holy Spirit. They had been convicted of their sin and turned to God for forgiveness through Christ, but no one had taught them about God’s Holy Spirit. Their faith was not yet complete. There was a page missing from their book. We can be disciples of Jesus and yet be incomplete. Peter encourages us in Chapter One of his second letter to “make every effort” to add to our faith some qualities that come with the Holy Spirit. Look at his list. Ask the Lord to help you complete your faith and to become more like Jesus every day. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Letter of Recommendation

September 19

(Acts 18:27-28 NIV) “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. {28} For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

(Romans 16:1-2 NIV) "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. {2} I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me."

(1 Corinthians 4:17 NIV) "For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church."

(2 Corinthians 8:16-18 NIV) "I thank God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. {17} For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. {18} And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel."

Apollos grew in strength and wisdom, becoming a great apologist for Jesus. God eventually called him to go somewhere else. He had come to Corinth as a “walk on”. He left Corinth as an official member of the team, with letters of recommendation from the church. Apollos now had references. This is an important step in becoming a Bible teacher. Seek the blessing of the elders of the church. Don’t take off on your own and become a Lone Ranger for the gospel. Anybody with a computer and a blog can claim to be a “Bible teacher” these days. But Apollos submitted himself to the wisdom of the church. He sought their counsel, their blessing, and their endorsement. They responded by writing him reference letters to take with him. If the church watched your walk over a period of time, would they write you a letter of recommendation? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Continuing Education

September 18

(Acts 18:25-26 NIV) "He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. {26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately."

(Colossians 3:16 NIV) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

(Proverbs 18:15 NIV) "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out."

Even though Apollos was a great preacher and apologist, he was missing one important aspect of the gospel -- he needed some instruction about baptism. Aquila and Priscilla invited Apollos to their home for a meal and some continuing education. This means that this great couple, who had supported Paul, were schooled themselves. They too had a thorough knowledge of Scripture and had spent some quality time with the apostle Paul in advanced learning. It also means that Apollos had one of the assets necessary to be a great Bible teacher -- he was teachable himself. He didn’t think he knew it all. With his level of popularity, it would have been easy for him to ignore Priscilla and Aquila. He was drawing big crowds in the synagogue. But he listened to them and learned from them. This is a trait we all need in our walk with Jesus. Christians, we must never stop learning! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

The Fear Factor

September 17

(Acts 18:26 NIV) “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.”

(Matthew 10:22-39 NIV) ““All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. {23} When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. {24} "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. {25} It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! {26} "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. {27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. {28} Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. {29} Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. {30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. {31} So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. {32} "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. {33} But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. {34} "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. {35} For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- {36} a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' {37} "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; {38} and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. {39} Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.””

We must be people of courage! Jesus spoke of this with His disciples more than once. “Do not be afraid…” is a common phrase in Scripture. Apollos had a “thorough knowledge of the Scriptures”, he had the training, and he had a story of faith. But he also had great courage. He had overcome the “fear factor” in ministry. This made him eligible to fill Paul’s shoes. He loved God more than anything, even more than life, and so he spoke boldly. He went into the lion’s den of the synagogue, and fearlessly proclaimed the truth. He “vigorously refuted” all arguments against Christ. As we’ve said before in this walk through the book of Acts, this is the missing piece of the puzzle for many Christians today. Too many believers live in fear, not so much for their lives, but for their status among peers. We fear what people will think if we speak of Jesus. Do not be afraid. Trust in God. Speak boldly! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

 

Great Fervor

September 16

(Acts 18:25 NIV) "He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John."

(Ephesians 3:10 NIV) "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,"

(1 Peter 1:12 NIV) "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."

Not only did Apollos have a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, he also taught accurately about the Lord Jesus. Many preachers are steeped in the Scriptures, but their teaching strays from the truth as personal bias creeps in. Not Apollos -- he was a straight arrow. Apollos had another quality that set him apart: he spoke with great fervor. He had more than just “head knowledge”. Jesus had moved into his heart and he burned with passion for the gospel. Apollos knew the answer to the greatest question of mankind. He knew the Lord personally and that caused him to enthusiastically proclaim that Jesus is the Answer. He wanted to make the wisdom of God known to everyone. Christians, we have all the tools that Apollos had. We have unlimited access to the Scriptures and to great Bible teachers. If we will supply the great fervor, we too can contribute to changing the world. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day       

Study the Scriptures

September 15

(Acts 18:24-25, 28 NIV) “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. {25} He had been instructed in the way of the Lord… {28} For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

(2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV) “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; {6} and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; {7} and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. {8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Most of us who call ourselves disciples would like to be counted among the faithful who stand up for Jesus. We can learn from a man named Apollos. The Bible says that Apollos was “a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures”. He had received instruction in the way of the Lord and became a force in the ongoing debate in Ephesus regarding Jesus being the Christ. What this tells us is that before we become teachers, we must become students. To become a good teacher, we must first be good learners. God’s people in the church have an obligation to know the word of God. We are commanded to add knowledge to our faith. We have been left here on Earth to be change agents for Jesus, and to be effective at this we will have to know more than “Jesus loves me this I know”. That’s a great truth, but we will need to go deeper than that if we want to be effective and productive in our knowledge of Christ. Study the Scriptures! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Strengthening Ministry

September 14

(Acts 18:18-23 NIV)  "Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. {19} They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. {20} When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. {21} But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. {22} When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. {23} After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.”

(Acts 14:21-22 NIV) ““They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, {22} strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.””

(John 8:31-32 NIV) ““To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

Paul was an evangelist at heart, but knew the importance of strengthening disciples. He gave much of his time to this task. When Paul left Ephesus, he went back to strengthen and disciple believers in those places where he had started churches. Christ’s Great Commission calls for the church to teach obedience along with preaching salvation. We must produce followers as well as converts. Teaching people to obey is as important as baptizing them. Discipleship and evangelism are two sides of the same coin. Jesus taught that we can’t really be set free by His truth unless we are His disciples. Many today will walk to the front of a church to be saved, but never walk into a classroom of the church to be discipled. The result is biblically illiterate believers with half-baked theology. If you have time for hobbies or recreational activities, you have time for discipleship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Religious Thuggery

September 13

Acts 18:17 NIV) “Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.”

(Acts 23:6-10 NIV) ““Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." {7} When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. {8} (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) {9} There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man," they said. "What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" {10} The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.””

Religion often turns violent when it is frustrated. Just ask Sosthenes! He had become the new synagogue ruler in Corinth, replacing Crispus, who became a Christian. Sosthenes eventually led an attack on Paul and took him to court, but after the proconsul Gallio dismissed all the charges, the crowd turned on Sosthenes and beat him. Religion often turns on its own when it doesn’t get its way. There are no spats as nasty as religious spats. Religious thuggery is never pretty. It destroys the church’s moral authority. This is why it’s important to move away from “religion” and toward a relationship with Christ. And notice here that Gallio did nothing to intervene. The state does not care if religious people tear each other apart. As the church grows weaker, the state grows stronger. Don’t go the way of the Corinthian synagogue. Christ will not bless thuggery in the church. – Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

God Keeps His Promise

September 12

(Acts 18:12-16 NIV) “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.”

(Psalms 140:1-5 NIV) “Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, {2} who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. {3} They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips. {4} Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet. {5} Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.”

(Psalms 46:10-11 NIV) ““Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." {11} The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.””

God promised to take care of Paul, and almost immediately Paul was detained and dragged into court by those hostile to the gospel. Paul may have been thinking, “I thought you said you’d take care of me, but here I am in danger again.” But before Paul could even open his mouth, the proconsul Gallio dismissed the charges. He told Paul’s accusers that he had no time to argue over “questions about words and names”, and ejected them from his courtroom. Of course, we know that those “questions about words and names” are life changing and have eternal significance, but on this day God told Paul, “Stand back and watch me move.” Paul didn’t even have to speak. It would not be his smooth speech that delivered him, but God’s Spirit moving on the heart of Gallio. It probably works that way far more often than we know, as God whispers, “Be still and know that I am God.” -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Conquering the Spirit of Fear

September 11

(Acts 18:9-11 NIV) “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. {10} For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." {11} So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.”

(Luke 12:4-5 NIV) “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. {5} But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

(1 Peter 3:13-15 NIV) ““Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? {14} But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be frightened." {15} But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,””

Even apostles need reassurance now and then. How many times must one be beaten up and run out of town before they consider changing their tune? Paul must have been dealing with some fear, because the Lord came to him in a vision, telling him not to be afraid, and to keep on speaking the truth. Paul believed God and obeyed the Lord. He never stopped sharing the gospel, even though he continued to suffer persecution for his faith. He shared Christ boldly wherever he went, at great risk to his personal well being. If we are going to be faithful disciples of Jesus and obey our calling, we too will need to conquer our fears. We must not allow fear to silence us. We must rise above our earthly anxieties. Conquer the spirit of fear that haunts you! Stop running from it. Turn and face it in the name of Jesus. Stare it down with the help of the Holy Spirit. Trust God and walk by faith. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Finding Our Niche

September 10

(Acts 18:6-8 NIV) “From now on I will go to the Gentiles. {7} Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. {8} Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized."

(Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV) “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, {7} to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

(Galatians 3:8-9 NIV) ““The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." {9} So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.””

Paul came to a fork in the road, and decided to target a different audience in Corinth. He would take the gospel predominantly to the Gentiles. He had found his niche. He didn’t leave town or head for a foreign land -- he went next door. God calls a few to take the gospel across the sea, but all of us are called to take it across the street. Most will never take the gospel overseas, but we can take it to our next door neighbor. We won’t be able to look God in the eye and say, “I never had a chance to take the gospel next door.” We can never say, “I was too poor to take the gospel across the street.” You don’t have to be a genius to find your niche. There’s a good chance that your “niche” is your neighborhood. Jesus says to all of us, “Take the gospel over there”, and our “over there” is very likely next door or across the street. Find your niche. You shouldn’t have to look too far. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

When Enough is Enough

September 9

(Acts 18:6 NIV) “But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.”

(Matthew 10:12-15 NIV) “As you enter the home, give it your greeting. {13} If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. {14} If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. {15} I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”

(Luke 9:5-6 NIV) “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." {6} So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.”

Sometimes in ministry, we must say, “Enough is enough.” Paul shared the gospel with the Jews in Corinth. He argued God’s case well, but still they opposed him and would not believe. Finally, Paul threw up his hands and said, “That’s enough. I have fulfilled my responsibility to you. I have shared the Good News and you have rejected the truth. I am not responsible for the judgment that awaits you.” Some may recoil at the thought of writing anyone off, and certainly we are called to have patience, love, and faith as we pray for and witness to unsaved family, friends, and neighbors. But there comes a time when we must decide how to best spend the limited amount of time and energy, we have as a disciple of Jesus. At some point, the Holy Spirit may prompt us to move from the rocky soil to a more fertile soil. Even Jesus instructed His disciples about this. Pray, and listen for the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Preaching Exclusively

September 8

(Acts 18:4-5 NIV) “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. {5} When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”

(2 Timothy 4:1-5 NIV) “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: {2} Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. {3} For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. {4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. {5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

When Paul arrived in Corinth, he worked all week making tents and preached every Sabbath. When Silas and Timothy arrived, he was able to return to preaching the word every day. We don’t know if they both got jobs to support Paul’s ministry, or if they brought an offering along with them from Macedonia. What we do know is that they made it possible for Paul to devote himself full time to preaching and testifying about Christ. This was Paul’s passion. Knock him down -- he gets back up. Run him out of one town -- he moves on to the next one. Take away his funding -- he gets a job and preaches whenever he can. There was no stopping this guy! Paul lived to preach that Jesus is Lord. He was also very good at it -- the record speaks for itself. What are you good at? What are you passionate about? Use it to advance the gospel in some way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Tent Makers for Jesus

September 7

(Acts 18:1-3 NIV) "After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. {2} There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, {3} and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”

(1 Corinthians 1:2-6 NIV) "To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours: {3} Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {4} I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. {5} For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- {6} because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you."

Paul moved down the road again, ending up in a city called Corinth. We know that he succeeded in planting a church there because we have two letters written to that church in the Bible. While Paul was in Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla. They had recently moved from Rome to Corinth, after being expelled by the Emperor Claudius for being Jewish. They could identify with Paul as they shared the common experience of being persecuted and run out of town for your faith. They also connected in that Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers by trade, as was Paul. This led them to team up in the trade in order to put food on the table while Paul preached the gospel in Corinth. Thus we get the term, “tent making ministry”, describing those who work in the marketplace to fund their work in the church. Where there is a will, there is always a way. Use all your gifts to do the work of the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Sneering Crowds

September 6

(Acts 17:32-34 NIV) “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." {33} At that, Paul left the Council. {34} A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others."

(Luke 16:13-15 NIV) “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." {14} The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. {15} He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.”

(Luke 23:33-35 NIV) ““When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. {34} Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. {35} The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.””

The Athenians had been accommodating many gods -- Paul called them to worship only one. Even today, many live with altars to unknown gods in their hearts. Jesus calls us to replace those gods with his Name -- the Name above all names. Christ wants us to know Him personally. Ask the Light of the world to illumine all of the shadowy idols that hinder your relationship with Him. Ask Him to reveal the Unknown God to you. Then, through your life and speech, share Jesus with your family, friends, and neighbors. Just remember… whenever and wherever the truth of Jesus is shared, some will believe, and some will sneer. Some will want to hear more, and some will try to shut you up. We are not called to win the world -- we are to witness to the world. Be faithful, patient, and persistent. Ignore the sneering crowds and look for those that God has called to new life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Ignorance Is No Excuse

September 5

(Acts 17:30-31 NIV) “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. {31} For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."

(Matthew 25:31-34, 41 NIV) ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. {32} All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. {33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. {34} "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world…. {41} Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.””

(Psalms 98:1-9 NIV) “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. {2} The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. {3} He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. {4} Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; {5} make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, {6} with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the Lord, the King. {7} Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. {8} Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; {9} let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.”

As Paul wrapped up his message to the Athenians, he played his ace. The attributes that separate the Unknown God from the false gods are the incarnation and the resurrection. Unlike the many gods of Athens who had never lived in the first place, the Unknown God came to earth as a living, breathing man. He was crucified for our sins and died, but He rose from the dead and will come again to judge all people. The Unknown God is Jesus Christ the Lord. In His grace, God has overlooked much of our ignorance and rebellion. But today God commands all who hear these words to repent. Christ is coming to judge all people. He will separate the sheep from the goats. There will be no middle ground. There will only be the lost and the found, the forgiven and the unforgiven, the saved and the unsaved. Which group will you be in? There is still time to believe. Trust in Jesus! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Homemade Idolatry

September 4

(Acts 17:29 NIV) "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill.”

(Isaiah 2:7-9 NIV) "Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. {8} Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. {9} So man will be brought low and mankind humbled -- do not forgive them."

(Jeremiah 10:3-6 NIV) "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. {4} They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. {5} Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good." {6} No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power."

(Jonah 2:8-9 NIV) ""Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. {9} But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.""

Idolatry is nothing new. Mankind has been drawn toward idols since Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden. Whenever we place anything ahead of the interests of God, we have drifted into idolatry. Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many other prophets confronted it in their day, and when Paul got to Athens, he dealt with it there. Believers must continue to confront the idolatry in our world with God’s truth, and the place we should start is in our own lives. What are the idols that demand your time, attention, and money? What steals your affection and allegiance? What is it that holds you back from serving Jesus fully? Idols don’t have to be made of wood, stone, or gold -- they can be thoughts or activities that distance us from Jesus. Destroy them! Abandon them! Remove them from your homes and your lives. Worship the Living God! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Perhaps

September 3

(Acts 17:27-28 NIV) “God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. {28} 'For in him we live and move and have our being. 'As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'”

(Matthew 19:11 NIV) "Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given."

(Luke 13:23-24 NIV) "Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, {24} "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

(Romans 11:13-14 NIV) "I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry {14} in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them."

 When we speak of Jesus in the way Paul did, God uses our words to win some. When we speak the truth in love, the Unknown God can become the known God. Some will realize that we “live and move and have our being” in Christ. Some will seek the Lord, and “perhaps reach out and find Him”. He is near… but don’t miss the word “perhaps”. Not all will accept God’s offer of grace. Even Jesus did not win everyone when He was here. He was the perfect Son of God, and yet many did not believe. All humanity has a free will. Every individual can choose to accept or reject Christ, and there will always be those who will refuse to believe. But we must not focus on the refusals. We must continue to be faithful in praying for the lost, reasoning with them, and lifting up our risen Lord Jesus. Our hope is that “perhaps” some will be saved. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Knowing the Unknown God

September 2

(Acts 17:23b-26 NIV) “Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. {24} "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. {25} And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. {26} From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

(Philippians 3:10-11 NIV) “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, {11} and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

At the beginning of his presentation to the Areopagus, Paul told the highly educated Greek philosophers, “I know something you don’t know. I know who the Unknown God is. In fact, I know the Unknown God personally. I have met the Unknown God.” Paul then began to make known to them this Unknown God. He started with the truth of Genesis, telling them of the Creator God who gives life and breath to all things. This God is Spirit and does not live in manmade temples, nor does He live in idols made by human hands. From one man, this God made all nations. This God determines the length of our lives and where we live out those lives. This God is the sovereign Lord of all things. Paul went on later to proclaim that this God is the risen Christ. This is our calling, Christians. Our God, who is unknown to many, wants to be known, and we are called to make Him known. Share the truth. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Covering Our Bases

September 1

(Acts 17:22-23 NIV)  “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. {23} For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”

(John 14:6 NIV) ““Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.””

(Deuteronomy 4:23-24 NIV) “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. {24} For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

In the minds of the highly educated philosophers of Athens, it was wise to embrace every idea and every god. They celebrated the diversity of their culture and built altars to all the gods. Everybody’s god was seen as equally valuable. The Athenians were so concerned about being inclusive that they even had an altar to the “UKNOWN GOD”. They didn’t want to risk leaving anyone out. This is called pluralism and it is still popular among the sophisticated and enlightened of our day. The inclusiveness of the Athenians would have been lauded by our contemporary culture. But Paul knew it was wrong. His Judaism told him that there was but one God, and his newfound faith in Christ had convinced him that there is but one Messiah and one way to salvation. His wisdom holds true today. There is but one covering for all of the bases. His name is Jesus. Let Him cover you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day