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The Pilgrim Path (8-11-2021)

The Pilgrim Path---Acts 17: 10—15

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

“THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL EAGERNESS…”

---Brothers in the Gospel: Paul and Silas were solidly methodical in their labors. Right to Berea. Right to the synagogue to explain how Jesus is The Christ…

---Berean Jews were far more interested in the Scriptures of the Old Testament than their counterparts in Thessalonica. They were ready to study the sacred texts to see if this, “Jesus of Nazareth”---was in fact the long-awaited Messiah. The Holy Spirit moved among them---and within them---and they believed!

---Berea’s Reception of the Good News of Jesus---was soon “heard” of in Thessalonica. The unbelieving Jews---who were a “problem” for Paul and Silas---in Thessalonica---just had to send agitators to Berea! Those who preach and teach the Gospel---rarely do so without opposition of some kind. Many are the hindrances that people want to place in the way of the proclamation of the truth. Please pray regularly for all those who convey the message of the Gospel---the attacks are “real” and constant.

---Be aware of Bible intake in your life. Has something “overtaken” the importance of the Word of God in your life? From John Owen: “The Word is the rule of our holiness. What we are and what we do; all is answerable to the Word of God; and so far are we holy and no further…”

From George Swinnock: O consider what love the saints have had for God’s law! Luther said that he hated the books he made if they hindered the reading of the Scripture. The godly have meditated in it day and night and have esteemed it above the sweetest honey and the finest gold. The martyrs in England have given much of their estates for a few leaves of it and have laid down their lives before they would lose the precious fruit in it. O let this Book of books be often before you, and your meditation all the day! If you know and believe the contents of the Word, you would hardly ever let it out of your hand. You would lay it up as the tables in the ark, in your heart. God reveals his eternal good in it. It is the copy of his everlasting love, of which his eternal decree is the original. It contains his precious thoughts before the foundation of the world of redeeming miserable man with the blood of his Son, and making him an heir of the eternal weight of glory. These gracious and mysterious purposes of his, which were hidden in the night of many ages, have become visible to every eye in the Word of God. Here upon the stage of the Word, his grace and favor to mankind is fully displayed. Take heed how you hear. Like the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures daily.

From John Duncan: All the communion we have with God on earth is maintained by means of the written Word.

HYMN

Blessed Jesus, at your word, we are gathered all to hear you;

Let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear you,

By your teachings, sweet and holy, drawn from earth to love you solely.

All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded,

Till your Spirit breaks our night with the beams of truth unclouded.

You alone to God can win us; you must work all good within us.

Glorious LORD, yourself impart, Light of light, from God proceeding;

Open now our ears and heart, help us by your Spirit’s pleading;

Hear the cry your people raises, hear and bless our prayers and praises.

Tobias Clausnitzer, 1663

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason