AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor trusts in God’s promises when discouragement attacks. Paul’s fellow missionaries Silas and Timothy came to Corinth when their work in Ephesus was completed. As usual they found Paul busy presenting and defending the Gospel to the Jews in the city, occupied with the Word. These Jews responded by opposing and reviling Paul and his message. Paul took his message of salvation in Christ to the Gentiles of Corinth.
Paul grieved over the difficulty his kinsmen had in receiving the Gospel, as evidenced in his writings. (Romans 9-10) God came to Paul in a special way and said: Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you and, no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. Knowing that God was faithful to his promise, Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half teaching the Word of God.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God as you rely on His promises today.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor uses personal skills to provide for basic needs while taking the Gospel to others. Paul’s travels took him away from the areas where churches had been planted. His needs had been met by the Christians in these communities where he travelled. Now he was in territory that was foreign to the Gospel.
God provided for Paul’s needs in Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila had just moved to Corinth from Rome because the emperor had expelled all the Jews. Paul found Aquila who just happened to be a tentmaker like Paul. During Paul’s time of ministry in Corinth he had Christian friendship, a place to live, and a job; all because the Roman emperor commanded the Jews to leave Rome. That’s providence!
Paul established a model for ministry known as tent making. He was not dependent on anyone for his personal needs. These were met from the income of his work.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you live out the vocation in which He has placed you.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor knows that the Gospel is superior to manmade philosophies. Paul found himself on the podium at the Areopagus in Athens. He was surrounded by professional philosophers including Epicureans and Stoics. Presenting the Gospel in logical terms, Paul argued that God can be known; God is the creator and sustainer of man; God is not served by human hands and does not live in temples made by man.
Paul’s summary statement presented human accountability to God.
All men will face God’s righteous judgment the outcome of which is based on faith in Christ for salvation. There were various responses to Paul’s presentation. Some mocked. Others wanted to listen to him again. Then there were those whose hearts were changed by the message.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you faithfully present the Gospel.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor responds to false worship systems. Athens was full of idols and philosophers when Paul arrived. He was stunned at the level of knowledge that was meaningless without the fear of the Lord. So, Paul started teaching in the synagogue; then he went to the marketplace where he was discovered by members of specific schools of thought on life.
These philosophers took Paul to the Areopagus, the think tank of the city. This was the place where philosophers discussed their knowledge, and they were always open to new ideas. Paul certainly brought a novel way of thinking to the group. What an opportunity Paul had to present the Gospel to this bunch of self centered idol worshipers.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God as you take the Gospel into the marketplace of ideas today.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor knows that God prepares hearts to receive the Gospel. Paul and his team are scurried away by night from Thessalonica to Berea, because of the anti-Gospel persecution in Thessalonica. They were sent to Berea, a town that was very receptive to the Gospel. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Paul presented the Gospel in the synagogue and those who heard him were hungry to hear, searching the Scriptures to see the truth in what Paul taught. Many became believers, creating a new church.
The Jews who made trouble in Thessalonica felt they had to protect the town of Berea from the Gospel. These anti-Gospel activists came to Berea and stirred up the people against Paul and his team. The Christians helped Paul sail away to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy stayed behind to strengthen the new church.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you faithfully present the Gospel despite opposition.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor has the reputation of turning the world upside down. Expelled from Philippi, Paul and Silas moved on to new territory. They visited a synagogue in Thessalonica and Paul spent three Sabbath days reasoning, explaining, and proving who Christ was and what He did. Many became believers.
Once again the Jewish opposition created trouble for Paul and his team. They attacked the house of Jason in order to find the men who have turned the world upside down. The Christians of Thessalonica protected the visitors from the angry mob. The attackers dragged Jason out of his house and made him pay a fee for the damages caused to the community by Paul and his team.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you turn your world upside down with the good news of the Gospel.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
NEW EVERY MORNING
The awe factor holds governing authority accountable for its treatment of Christians. After the earthquake occurred, and the prisoners were freed, the officials who jailed Paul and Silas sent the police to set them free. The prisoners refused to go unless the magistrates came and freed them.
Roman law was very specific as to how Roman citizens were to be treated justly by local officials. So when the officials were told that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens saying they were treated unjustly, the magistrates were concerned about the legal trouble they had brought to themselves. They responded by apologizing to Paul and Silas, and requesting that the two men leave Philippi.
After visiting Lydia, and encouraging the brothers Paul’s team left the city. Lives were changed in Philippi because Paul was faithful to God’s calling. Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer (along with their households) became the foundation of the local church. Philippi’s officials thought they had removed their ‘problem’ by asking Paul Silas to leave.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today by praying for those God has placed in the government of our country.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor praises God when persecuted for being faithful to the Gospel. Paul and Silas were locked up in a Roman prison because they freed the slave girl of the spirit/demon, causing a loss of income to her owners. In prison they worshipped God by praying and singing hymns.
They had an attentive audience of prisoners. The worship was disrupted by an earthquake that opened the stock locks and the doors.
Filled with fear of the consequences for losing his prisoners, the Roman jailer was going to take his life. Paul prevented this from happening by reassuring the jailer that all his prisoners were still present. Then the jailer asked a life changing question: what must I do to be saved? The answer: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household. The result: and he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you worship God in the good and bad circumstances of life; there might be an imprisoned heart listening that needs the Gospel.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor uses spiritual resources to free enslaved hearts. The evil of exploiting people for personal gain is a part of the fallen world. This passage gives the account of a young girl possessed by a spirit/demon that told fortunes. She was enslaved by ruthless men who were becoming rich from her condition.
The girl would follow Paul and his team crying: These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.
The words she spoke were true but, the tone was mocking and Paul did not need a person enslaved to evil as a spokes person for his ministry. Paul invoked the name of Jesus to remove the spirit that enslaved the girl. She was freed and her owners lost their source of income.
The loss of money caused by Paul’s action did not please the owners and they filed a complaint with rulers of Philippi. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison where they were put into the inner prison and their feet were fastened in the stocks.
Nothing more is said about the young girl who was no longer of value to the men who used her. Knowing how the church works, the girl was probably introduced to people like Lydia, who met her physical needs
while caring for her spiritual needs.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you use your spiritual resources to bring people to Christ.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
AWE FACTOR LIVING
The awe factor takes care of others with prevailing hospitality. Paul and his team travelled to the city of Philippi in Macedonia. Since it was a Roman colony Philippi probably did not have a synagogue, the place Paul would usually go on the Sabbath in cities without churches.
Looking for a place to worship on the Sabbath, Paul and his team went to the riverside where they met women who were doing their chores that required water. Lydia was one of these women; described as a worshiper of God from Thyratira and a business woman, seller of purple goods. She had relocated in Philippi and her heart was ready for meeting Paul.
Paul baptized Lydia and her family. Then God used this gracious lady to provide for the needs of Paul and his group of visitors to Philippi. Lydia didn’t just ask them to stay at her home while they were in town, she prevailed upon us. They could not say ‘no’.
In a letter to the church at Philippi, Paul wrote this: I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Lydia was part of that first day.
What is God telling you about Himself and how should you respond?
Glorify and enjoy God today as you take care of others with prevailing hospitality.
HAVE A BLESSED DAY!
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