In a just a week or so I will wrap an in depth study of the book of Acts. If it's been a while since your eyes touched those pages of Scripture, let me just remind you of the incomprehensible movement of the Holy Spirit to fill God's people and carry forth Christ's kingdom & church. If you don't leave the text eager to share the Gospel with a small country you may have missed the point. I say that with a grin.
The kingdom of God has come & is coming. Therefore there are few greater works than that of unfolding the mystery of the Gospel to those who have yet to hear it or are hardened to it. It takes faith to share. It takes faith to believe that God can move in the hardest of hearts and in the deadest of souls. We tend to give up so easily in our culture so bent toward instant gratification. This is not the model we see in Scripture. There is perseverance, suffering, & even, for some, death as a result of having faith that led to sharing Jesus. It's our faith in Jesus that keeps us going in the most dire of circumstances. The Apostle Paul stands out as noteworthy example of a believer who lived in faith & hope in Jesus everyday. On trial before a King even, his faith still did not wane. Listen to his words to King Agrippa. Paul says this after sharing of his testimony and of his conversion on the road to Damascus. This account takes place in Acts 26.
19"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
24And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." 25But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." 28And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" 29And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains." (ESV, emphasis mine)
Even as Paul stood before a King, he did not shrink back. He had a faith that compelled him to speak, but also a faith that caused him to believe that there are NO lost causes. It would have been relatively easy for Paul to shrink back and lose heart thinking that there was no way on God's green earth that King Agrippa could see the light of the Gospel, but Paul knew full well that if God wanted even the likes of King Agrippa could be saved. God saves whomever He pleases, whether we believe He can or not. The Scripture, here in Acts, does not tell us conclusively whether or not King Agrippa accepted Jesus, but based on Paul's proclamation it seems that Paul believes it's possible King Agrippa could be saved. Paul's faith spurred him on to obedience. I pray that our faith would do the same. I pray that we could believe against the odds that lost people that seem so out reach MIGHT be saved.
Be encouraged as a leader of women to share Jesus boldly and have increasing faith to believe that He can save those you love most as well as the ones you barely know, no matter how near or far from the kingdom they may seem.
