Commended to God, offer goodwill to the weak, and embrace our eternal inheritance.

Acts 20:32-38

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are entrusted to God and to the Gospel of His grace and mercy. His grace is filled with forgiveness and mercy that is able to build us up through all of our failures and short-comings. That is part of the process of sanctification and in Him we are given the inheritance of eternal life. “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”2 Timothy 1:8, 12 “That Day” is the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word of God’s grace can be found in the pages of the Bible and are able to build us up, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The guarantee of our eternal inheritance is given through the Holy Spirit within us, “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 possession”, purchased by the blood Jesus shed on the Cross to atone for our sin. The redemption of our body comes when we are resurrected from the grave into eternal life.

“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” Acts 20:33-34

Paul did not use the Gospel of Jesus Christ to solicit money or any material thing. He did not crave for possessions but craved for souls to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Like Paul, we do not want any earthly thing to stand between the testimony of Jesus Christ and those hearing His word. It’s a tragedy when people associate the preaching of the Good News with money or some other material thing. The testimony of Jesus should be associated with the giving of a life-changing message.

One thing for sure, I will never ask money as a requirement for people to read these blogs that I post, nor will I ever solicit money through these blogs. The spreading of the Gospel of Jesus is meant to be free of any financial gain. Personally, I don’t have a penny to my name. I do have this blog to glorify the name of Jesus Christ and to spread the Gospel, and I have clothing with wording to lift up the name of Jesus. Other than that, I’m living in a type of earthly hospice with the IV lines being SNAP benefits, housing assistance, and a minimal amount of social security for retirement. In the past, I have been homeless, yet I continue living for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During homelessness, I continued posting blogs, but never ever asked for money or spiritual contributions, and never will!

“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

Paul was not asking for any earthly reward for himself but was encouraging fellow Christians to help those who were not able to help themselves. Paul showed an example of this by using his own hands to earn provisions for those traveling with him, and for himself. Paul emphasized this by saying, “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Jesus was sent from God to help the weak, to support not to break, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust.” Matthew 12:20-21 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.” Matthew 12:18-19

We know how low a person becomes when they start feeling like it is more important to have and receive than to give with kindness and goodwill. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:1-3

“And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:36-38

We may not think that the Living God hears our prayer in today’s world, but we can be assured of one thing, God has already heard the prayers of every Chrisitan on this earth, and He is keeping them in a bowl in Heaven as he prepares to bring His judgment on this world, “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelations 5:8

From there in Miletus, Paul would sail for Jerusalem, where he would be arrested and eventually executed at the command of the Roman Emperor Nero.

---

“….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