The thorns of division and conflict choke out the hearing of the testimony of Jesus.

Acts 28:23-29

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“So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.” Acts 28:23

A time and date were scheduled for Paul to explain the kingdom of God, by the testimony of Jesus Christ, to the Jewish leaders who were in Rome. Many came to hear what he had to say about the “sect” [Christianity] that was spoken against everywhere. Paul used the Law of Moses and the words of the Prophets to reveal Jesus as the Christ and Son of God.

In those days, there was no New Testament Bible like we have today because Jesus Christ is the New Testament. In those days, the Old Testament was used to reveal how our Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of the coming of the Christ. In fact, those who were teaching the kingdom of God plainly talk about Jesus being present in the Old Testament. Jesus Himself said, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.” John 5:46 Paul also said that Jesus Christ was present in the Old Testament, as quoted, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

For us today, the Old Testament and New Testament is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we realize that all we need to be right with God is Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of eternal life, as quoted “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 We are the “purchased redemption“, purchased by the blood of Christ and will be redeemed when resurrected from the grave and into the New Jerusalem.

Like Paul, we will present the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the morning of our born-again experience to the evening hours of within this atheistic culture of today.

“And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved…And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.” Acts 28:24, 29

When teaching about Jesus Christ to the Jewish people, there was always those who believed and those who did not. This resulted in a lot of turbulence within the Jewish culture, within the territory of the Roman Empire. Today, if we did have a chance to share our born-again experience [the Gospel of Christ written on our heart], there is always going to be conflict and division, as if by design. Those who instigate conflict are the thorns choking out the planted Gospel seed, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4

Criticism is the last thing those of today’s culture wants to hear about themselves. When we say we are all sinners in need of Jesus Christ, they take offense to that and become defensive, argumentative, and even combative.

“So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and will not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”’ “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.” Acts 28:25-29

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11