Fill Me Jesus

Acts 13:48-52

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Look now what draws the children of the desolate. For have not those without the house of faith yet of the same house psychically caused much trouble and drama. It is even these same distant of the family told of in Matthew 15:21-28. The same begged Jesus to come heal her very ill daughter who was filled with a spirit of self-harm. If you remember, she came to Jesus and said, 'Lord do not "even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master's table.'" Here she is so hungry for the affection and attention of the Lord. Imagine how the rest of her people also felt. How many of you know what it is like to have nothing. How many of you know what it is like to see your neighbor's house filling, blessing, but living any kind of way. See, God is not like some of us. Nor will be do his house of faith this way. Some of you really do need to continue in the grace of God. So, the grace of God had come unto the Gentiles. It came with power as it had been preached; for so they also received it. Be glad, my friends. He is calling all of you lost and found, little or not in the house to walk with him. It is a gospel call like no other. For so this grace also gives his name glory.

You cannot be miserly and stingy with your grace yet expect God to extend the same only to you always. That is why the excellence of the power in 2 Corinthians 4:7 was never of you anyways. Even from him it was for such is his message and his word. Now, I know a few of you might hear the word 'ordained' and become much afraid. It has been a Word that has frightened many others into doctrinal strongholds impenetrable by any but God himself. My, the word ordain in our language today means to appoint someone to a priestly office or to decree to them eternal life. See, to put it simply, what God has promised will even come to pass. When he says, whosoever will of Revelation 22:17, he means whosoever will. When he says the house of faith of Abraham's seed, he means exactly what he says. Now, I know there were a few smart people among the audience who took down pen and paper or quill and parchment and recorded the Words of God. For this cause was the Word published throughout the region. As we will see, God will cause this Word to be spoken to all the regions very shortly.

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

My, these Jews just do not seem to stop do they. They ought to be content with the grace so received. They should be happy with their newly extended family of the house of faith. Rather, they are like the false prophets of 2 Timothy 3:6; such worm their way into silly women's houses to carry them off laden with sins. See, their target was "the devout and honorable women." Imagine being so messed up that you are not content with doing bad yourself; instead, you go find some more to do it with you. Then they went to "the chief men of the city" with the once "devout and honorable women." The purpose of this is to bring down the house all at once together. See, the Word always is faced with some opposition. There are a lot of people who hate his grace and mercy. Even more seek to follow the ways in John 8:44 of their father, the devil. Then, there are just some silly people in the house who will go along with whatever. The effect of these Jews was to raise a persecution. See, Paul raised a message, a church, and a household of faith. He could have listened to the temptation to preach only a half a message. He could have been content with not unifying the two houses of faith. He could have just let some go and fend for themselves. Then the Lord would have sorted them all out at the end. Yet, he preached nothing but the Word of God. He preached not himself even when he had the opportunity to do so. It makes no sense to go minister unto those who seek to persecute the church or take some captive by the devil away from their homeland. But because the apostles were filled with the Lord, they withstood the test and the trial. For their faithfulness unto Christ, God was also faithful unto them. So were they safely delivered from the trial. The dust was shaken from the feet as a testimony against the ones who had done such. It told of where they had been. There is neither revenge sought nor aid to rescue the rest of the church from the situation. Rather, the results were left for God to sweep up. For is it not his house.

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

It should be seen that the situation tore neither them nor the early church apart. I would imagine the Word of power continued also in that area long after they were gone. For this cause was the disciples in all places "filled with joy." Not only that, but they also had the one who made it all possible, the Holy Spirit. They would walk in the grace they so received with Jesus that day. Some of you need to be filled less with revenge, faithlessness, and yourself and more with Christ. Oh, to have a little more of Jesus today. Some of you need to open the door to your own house and let the Lord in. He has his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. He has places to go, things to do, and people to witness to. Be filled with the Spirit today. You will not be the same for very long. You would be so filled with joy that if we did not call you disciples, none would even recognize you. You too might find yourself dwelling in your own house with God. You might, like the apostles, find yourself walking down every street with Jesus.