At the end of Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas continue to do the work God has given them to do. They travel from city to city to plant trees of life. Despite the intense opposition and persecution wherever they go, believers are raised to life in Christ, and churches are established.
They go to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. Many Jews believe, but it is the Gentiles who begin to accept Jesus as the Messiah who has come to die for their sins and reconcile them to the one true God.
Paul and Barnabas become our role models for living a life of greatness in Christ. This life of greatness is meant for every believer. Wherever they go, signs and wonders happen; souls are saved; people are baptized in the Holy Spirit; healings and miracles manifest; and churches are planted.
I love what it says at the end of this chapter. They completed the work God gave them. They reported to the church all God had done. Wouldn’t you have loved to be there to hear that report! The emphasis was on the fact that God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Now, most people would just continue reading into Acts 15 without stopping to grasp that what has been reported will dramatically change the course of human history. Jesus’ plan to make disciples of all nations works. No one will be able to stop it, and it will go forth across the globe until He returns.
For us today, we have a call from God to complete the work He has given us. For me, that call is to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus. I am to do that until He tells me to stop or until He comes.
As we do our work to build God’s kingdom, we need to report to our local church and friends what God has done. I am doing that through my podcasts, writing and speaking. I am to wake up the church and unbelievers of the season in which we live and how we should live in this time of preparation.
We have God’s work to do until Jesus returns. Do not fear or be confused. Keep your eyes on Jesus and hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Let us complete our call and report all of God’s work to the church. These are times of greatness in Christ. Rejoice and stand strong in the Lord. You are called to greatness in Christ.
Tune into the podcast Awaken with Blake Lorenz three times a week at cpnshows.com to explore the wonders of Jesus’ teachings on His return and how we can live a life of hope, love and joy as we apply the principles He has given us for this special season. {eoa}
Once a professional baseball player with the Chicago Cubs Organization, Blake Lorenz was called to Asbury Seminary after a radical encounter with Jesus, where he received his master’s degree. He has pastored in the Orlando area for 33 years and has been blessed with the opportunity to evangelize globally, visiting five continents and preaching the gospel to tens of thousands. Blake has also helped plant 500 churches. He has been working in Israel for the past 20 years, includes serving on the board of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast in connection with the Knesset. In 2020, blakelorenzministries.com and the Awaken podcast launched to teach and challenge others to join him on a journey of anticipating the return of Jesus. He has used the three books he’s written in his seminars and conferences. He and his wife, Beverly, share three children and six grandchildren.
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