Bible reference:  Acts 20:24;  Acts 2:3-8; Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:8 Acts 2:3-8, Acts 4:31; and Ephesians 5:18 Acts 2:3 and there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? Acts 4:31 After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message. Ephesians 5:18 Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit

Bible References: Acts 16: 11-15; Philippians 1-2 The Message Version: 11-12  Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days. 13-14  On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed! 15  After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitat

Bible Reference:  2 Timothy 4:7-8; Acts 20:24 We must first recognize and understand that God has given us a ministry  - reconciliation. If you want to do something with your life - meet God, your Father in heaven. We are not volunteers,  we are conscripts.   Volunteers choose.  Our enemy works 24/7.  We are conscripts in the army of God.   We are called to stand firm.  Paul did.  He went with and without.   He was flogged,  shipwrecked,  stoned.  He said he was blessed.   It's not all about getting 'blessed' with stuff. Jesus was so 'blessed ' he was crucified...for us. To finish the course we need to feed upon and claim the whole gospel of God.   Paul didn't shirk anything that was hard.  Recognize the battlefield. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 What is the sense of fighting the good fight for nothing?  We're there to win the crown of righteousness. Ephesians 6:11-18 Our fight is not against circumstances.  It's against the spiritual realm.  The biggest probl

Bible Reference:  Acts 20:34-38; Ezekiel 33:1-9; Ezekiel 3: 17-21 Each and everyone has a ministry - reconciliation. Every person with potential.   The potential to know Jesus Christ.   While we were sinners,  Christ died for us.  Once we are saved, God calls us to serve.  Sometimes we look at people and think how can they come to know Jesus?  But someone may have thought that about me. We are conscripts in God's army.  We don't have the choice to say the food isn't good or we don't like what we've been asked to do.  We are called to obey and serve. We are to hear God's Word and then we are to speak out His Word.  If we don't warn those who don't know Christ,  they will die in sin.  To finish the course,  Paul said he had to testify to the truth of the Gospel.   We are not all missionaries,  we are not all 'Paul's ', but we are to testify to the truth.  If we don't tell our nation about Jesus, they will wander , lost. I

Bible reference:  Acts 20:24 In life, it's easy to start something new.  A new diet, an exercise program,  a new job, new relationships,  a new beginning.   But life isn't a 50 yard dash, but a marathon.   There are lots of good starters, but poor finishers.  I  have known many who have started well with a bang, but finish with a whimper. People start with a bang, then get hit with criticism.   There are lots of people who say things that put you down.  Sometimes the stress spills over into marriage and cause problems.   People sometimes leave ministry with a broken heart.   Paul did not want this to happen to the elders in Ephesus.   He wants us to reach the finish line.   Paul was sharing from his own life the trials and perseverance.  2 Timothy 4:7 Paul in Acts 20:24 had a difficult task.  Paul did not consider his own life more important than what Jesus called him to.  He put his trust in Jesus.   God is in control,  that's all we need to know.   God is most importan