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Living the Kingdom

Living the Kingdom
Words of Faith 8-26-16
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2016
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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Acts 28
[23] They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. [24] Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. [25] They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
[26] " 'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." [27] For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'
[28] "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

The final recorded ministry of Paul was to the Jewish community in Rome but has a great deal to say to Jew and Gentile alike. A large group came to Paul’s apartment and he reasoned with them from morning to night. It is interesting to note the content and method he used.
1) Paul proclaimed the Kingdom of God. This is often missed. We will often attempt to argue and convince without declaring and demonstrating the Kingdom. The Kingdom is the rule and reign of God in our lives. The Kingdom is marked by remarkable peace and knowledge that God is in charge. The Kingdom is also marked by the “Kingdom teaching” of Jesus which was mostly opposite to the ways of the world.
2) Paul also tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. When dealing with Jewish people, there is a rich heritage not available in a conversation with Gentiles or pagans. Gentiles and pagans must be convinced simply by the power and presence of God. Here, Paul was able to carefully prove through prophecy over hundreds of years and through the actual Law of Moses that Jesus was the Christ.
As usual the results of this effort were mixed. Some believed while others did not. As they prepared to leave Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah to them. Isaiah had predicted that the chosen people would come to a time when they would be ever seeing but never understanding. Because of calloused hearts and a refusal to hear there will be those who do not see the truth of Christ.
Paul quoted the prophecy here not just to explain Israel's stubbornness but to make the point that, in the providence of God, redemption was now being offered directly to Gentiles and they were responding.
There is powerful truth in this prophecy. It is that if a person will refuse to be calloused, see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and TURN (repent), God will heal them. Jew or Gentile, slave or free, if we will open ourselves to the truth of Christ, He will revolutionize our lives.
This is the call upon our lives every day. Allow God to revolutionize your life so that He may proclaim His Kingdom through you every place you go.

Lord, give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that understands. Give me courage to turn toward you not once but again and again. Rule my life. Proclaim Your Kingdom through me. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2001, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.