God Desires for ALL to Know Him

Photo by Roo Reynolds

Scripture: Acts 13:44

The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord.

Insights: Visualize this week leading up to today’s verse.  We learned last week that some of the people who had heard Paul preach asked him to return the following week.  Verse forty-four picks this story up and in this verse we learn that nearly the whole city had assembled to hear Paul.  Let me walk you through the process I believe took place that week.  Remember it started the previous Saturday.  Paul preached and those who heard him were convicted by the Holy Spirit.  It is highly probable that those who would not leave Paul and Barnabas came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Now, let’s keep walking the process out.  Guess what those who had heard the previous week did throughout the week leading up to this current Sabbath?  They were talking with people.  They were going around and saying something like, “You really need to come to church this week and hear what this man has to say.”  They were creating energy and excitement in the city.  They had been so impacted by the Holy Spirit that they could not help but share with others about what Paul had been telling them.  The key factor I want you to walk away with regarding this verse is the crowd.  God desired for this entire city to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.  He used the people who had heard Paul the previous week to draw on new people.  The Holy Spirit then convicted those people to come to church and then on the Sabbath, they came.  This process is the very same process God uses today.  It makes us evaluate our lives.  We need to be willing to ask ourselves hard questions about our intentionality of sharing Jesus with others and our inviting them to church.  I am amazed at how many believers are unwilling to even invite someone to church.  I always am reminded of my backdoor neighbor Jim.  He asked my parents every week for almost a year to come to church with him.  I am so grateful for Jim.  I shutter to think what my life would have become if he had gotten tired of the consistent no week end and week out.  If he had given up on my parents, I very well may have never had the opportunity to meet Jesus.  Because Jim never gave up and for almost fifty-two times experienced a no, he finally one day got a yes and that made all of the difference.  Beloved, never give up.  Always be consistent.  If you don't know what to do, ask them to come to church with you.  Continue to invite and watch the Lord move.  He desires for all to come to know Him.

Questions:

1. What does the knowledge regarding God’s desire for ALL people to know Him do to the way you experience life?

2. What are ways in which you are helping people who do not know the Lord to enter into a relationship with Him?

Prayer: Father, grow my sensitivity to the lost state of humanity and then grant me boldness to share Jesus with them.  Amen.

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