Good Wednesday April twenty ninth as we open God’s word to learn God’s will.
The meeting with James-
Paul has come to Jerusalem and has been welcomed by the brethren. Staying at the home of a disciple from Cyprus, the team begins to settle in as Paul prepares to meet with the full council including James the brother of Jesus, an apostle who was respected by all because he made sound judgments according to the scriptures. Paul and Barnabas had come and presented once before to this same counsel that gentiles needed not be circumcised or follow the traditions of the Jews to be saved, and it was James after hearing from Peter who made this statement, Acts 15:19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” Paul and Barnabas were sent out with a letter signed by the elders including James that gentile believers needed not be made to follow the traditions of the Jews. Acts 15:28-29 “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” Paul is ready to meet the counsel members, and remember he has with him the collection from the churches from Asia to present to the elders, let’s read together from Acts 21:19-22 “When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.” Are you not just a little confused with what James just said to Paul? I am, so let’s see if we can make sense here. James says Myriads which means diversities; James says we all have different feelings how followers are to follow the Lord. If I was Paul I would have pulled the letter signed by this counsel and ask, has God changed His mind? It appears some are having trouble with the work of the Holy Spirit that it does not line up with what they want? Jesus was questioned by John the Baptist, Matthew 11:2-6 “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Is not the spirit’s evidence what brings glory to God? The word of God is the final answer not men, and because everyone believes they are right, too many opinions weaken the foundation. James says we will discuss this and win those to see the glory of God. Already the foundation has weakened in Jerusalem. Are you standing on firm foundation? Remnant
