Paul knew if he went to Jerusalem, he was going to be captured by the Jews. God told him to go. Paul arrived in Jerusalem and greeted the saints. He told them about his missionary trips, how God had moved and built churches in every city. Everyone was concerned for Paul’s safety. Paul knew that he was supposed to do this. He didn’t care what was going to happen, because God had a plan. Sure enough, Paul went to the temple. People recognized him and threw him out of the temple. They tried to kill him. The Romans stopped them. Paul on the steps of the Roman fort, spoke to the people. He gave his defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The people tried to take Paul from the Romans. The Romans moved Paul inside the fort. That is when they found out that Paul was a Roman citizen. As bad as it got, Paul was still ready and willing to defend the gospel. He would go anywhere to preach the good news. Jesus’s last command to the disciples was, go into all the world and preach the gospel. All the apostles did that very thing, including Paul. What does that say to you?

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637@juno.com

Acts20:13 “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Everyone can talk a good game, but how many are ready? Several times in Paul’s letters, he talks about being dead in Christ. But like Paul it became real in his life when he had to face it. Self preservation is a strong desire in us. We don’t want to die. This is why the Children of Israel didn’t want to met God in the Sinai desert. They were going to die to themselves and live for God. Every person in this world has to face their mortality and know that they will die. Paul wrote, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ who lives in me. Jesus had to come to grips with His own death. In the garden of gethsemane, He asked God to let it pass from Him. When He accepted God’s will, Jesus was able to face the cross with joy. Paul knew that this was the will of God. He was going to Jerusalem, whether or not he died.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Luke 12:48 “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Paul sailed from Ephesus to Miletus. He called for all the elders from Ephesus. He meet with all of them to tell them goodbye without any disturbances. Paul told them,

Acts 20:19 “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Paul didn’t know what the future would hold, but God was directing him to go to Jerusalem. And he was going, no matter what happened. Everyone was telling this man who lead them to the Lord and care for them, goodbye. They cried and couldn’t stop. They hugged his neck and didn’t want to let go. Finally, Paul got on the boat.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Paul knew what God was expecting. He was revisiting the churches he had started. They were having problems that needed to be resolved. For those churches that Paul couldn’t get to, he wrote letters. Paul wrote most of the New Testament. Again remember that Paul didn’t have the New Testament to refer to. He was writing from the Old Testament. Every book in the bible was written by an orthodox Jew, both new and old testament. Paul left Philippi for Corinth. The Jewish leaders were still looking for Paul. He had to be careful about where he went and said. But Paul was there to encourage the church. He left Corinth with the leaders from Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth. They sailed to Ephesus. He was teaching the leaders how to teach and run a church. At Ephesus, the churches gathered to hear Paul. The bible calls Paul long winded. So much so, that a young man fell asleep in the third loft and fell to his death. They brought him to Paul. He prayed and the boy came alive. Paul said his goodbyes and left with Luke and Silas headed to Jerusalem. How many people do you know that have purposed in their hearts to follow God unto the death? This is the only way to serve God.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

In the winter of 57AD, Paul was in Philippi. He was headed to Corinth next. Paul wrote to the Roman Church to tell them he was coming. Just in case he didn’t get there, he wrote as complete an explanation of the gospel as he could. Jewish believers were trying to turn the Christians into Jewish believers. It is the story of how we are justified by faith. Paul used Leviticus as his point of reference. This was so the Jews and Christians could understand that from the beginning we were all justified by faith. Faith is what pleases God. Without it we can do nothing. With it we can with the help of God do all things. It’s funny how each church had a different crisis that Paul needed to address. Remember the cannon of the bible or the books in it, didn’t come together until the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. So each church had a letter from an apostle and the Old Testament to read. God kept the saints in the first century as well as He keeps us. Faith in God is how to reach God. You must first believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Wherever Paul went the Holy Ghost went. Paul preached the gospel to everyone. Some accepted Jesus, some didn’t. And the reaction was just as great for both sides. Paul had been chased out of every city he had preached in. Some sooner rather than later. Paul was back in Ephesus. The same thing happen again in Ephesus. This time it was the idol makers that started a riot. They didn’t catch Paul, but they caught several disciples. They beat them with whips and let them go. The church at Ephesus pleaded with Paul to leave. Paul told everyone goodbye and left for Macedonia. Paul was in Macedonia. He heard that Judaizers had convinced the Galatian church, mostly Gentiles, that they were not believers unless they were circumcised. Paul wrote to the Galatian church about being justified by faith and Christian freedom. When you have accepted Jesus as the Christ, the enemy will come in like a flood to steal, kill and destroy. We stand by faith and trust in our Lord Jesus. Your salvation is personal. It belongs to you and doesn’t depend on what anybody says that you have to do. It depends on what God has to say. And He said it over 2000 years ago. It doesn’t change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Paul left Corinth and sailed to Ephesus. Peter went to Rome. While in Ephesus, Paul hears that dissention has erupted in the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church split 4 ways. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to correct the situation. Actually, 1 Corinthians is the second letter Paul wrote to them. Paul stayed in Ephesus for a while. There came to Ephesus the 7 sons of Sceva, vagabond jewish exorcists. They tried to cast spirits out of a man possessed. The devils spoke to them. He said, Paul we know and Jesus we know. But who are you? The man possessed jumped on them and chased and wounded them out. The bible said that fear fell upon the community and the name of Jesus was magnified. Paul went to Philippi. Then he met Titus and asked about the Corinthian church. He said Paul’s letter helped some what. They were questioning Paul’s authority. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. It is about Paul’s authority as an apostle. There is no authority but God’s. When God has someone to do His work and we know it. To come against that person is coming against God. And no one fights God and wins. Paul is still heading to Jerusalem. Acts 19.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Cr

Before Paul left for Ephesus, he wrote his first letters to a struggling church. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and sent Timothy to find out how they were doing. They were suffering great persecution. Paul wrote to encourage and comfort these saints. The Thessalonians had questions that were disturbing them. What happens to those who die before Christ comes again? Paul explains the day of the Lord and the dead in Christ. Paul wrote his second letter a few days after the first letter. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians this epistle shortly after the 1st. Some Thessalonians thought that because of the great tribulation they were going through, that Jesus was coming right then. Many quite working, went upon their rooftops and waited for Jesus to show up. Paul explained the Day of the Lord wouldn’t happen until the great falling away. Paul was now going to check on the churches he helped start. He sailed for Ephesus. No Matter how good something starts, we must be diligent about the work of God. The devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Paul arrives in Ephesus.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Paul,Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila sailed to Ephesus. Paul wanted to check on the church there. God had spoken to Paul. He knew what he was going to do. He didn’t tell anyone else. He took a vow that he would fulfill this vow. He shaved his hair off, which was a sign of his vow. Paul was going to Jerusalem for the feast. God provides what we need. Paul was leaving, God sent a man named Apollos to teach the word of God. Paul was finding many disciples of John the Baptist. He began to preach Jesus and they received the Holy Ghost. Many times God will tell you what is about happen and what He expects of you. But no one else will know. This is to see if you will obey. Obedience is greater than sacrifice. Paul was headed to Jerusalem and all the Jews that chased him out of every city will be there. Paul knew this, but was going anyway. It isn’t about what will happen to you. It is about obedience, faith and works.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul preached in the synagogue in Corinth. Many people believed, including the leader of the synagogue. Many Greeks also believed. Paul baptized them. Paul, Silas and Timothy were in Corinth for a year and 1/2. A new governor came to Corinth and the Jews who didn’t believe wanted Paul gone. When people are faced with the decision to accept Jesus or not, it shakes everything they believe. And most people don’t like it. I didn’t. But the truth won out. We are sinners separated from God. Then we can make the right choice, Jesus. Paul worked with the Corinthian church. He preached in the synagogue as long as they let him. The Corinthian church grew strong in the Lord. Paul stayed as long as he could, building the church on the word of God. Then the persecution came. And Paul, Silas and Timothy had to leave. Priscilla and Aquila left with them. They sailed to Ephesus. Acts 18.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com