Changi Chapel

Here are some of the special nuggets we gleaned from our last Bible study:

1. Why do spiritual things seem like madness to non-spiritual people?

In Act 26:24, when Paul was intensely sharing his testimony to King Agrippa about how he encountered Christ, Festus responds by saying “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad”.

Why was Paul’s testimony dismissed as madness? Why was Festus not able to connect with the sincere testimony that Paul was sharing? Can this happen to you and me?

Yes, indeed! In John 10:20, we also see Jesus himself being dismissed as a mad man! Why does this happen? Because the carnal man cannot connect with spiritual things.

1 Cor 2:14 reveals the secret: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness (or madness) unto him”!

So do not be surprised if you are not understood (or often misunderstood) when you speak of spiritual things to a carnal person.

2. Can we experience freedom yet while being imprisoned?

In Act 27:3, we see how “Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself”. As we all know that Paul was a prisoner at this time and as a prisoner he did not have freedom of movement. But yet the centurion Julius gave Paul a freedom that was not extended to other prisoners.

What do we learn from this? When we suffer for righteousness sake or when we were falsely accused, God gives us favor even with our captors.

We see a similar situation in the life of Joseph in Gen 39:22 ” And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison”

Can you believe that? Joseph became the ASSISTANT PRISON WARDEN overnight! That is the favor God gives those who suffer for righteousness sake – and to those who suffer because they are wrongly accused!

3. When push comes to shove, will you believe the prophet or a professional?

In Acts 27:10, we learn about an interesting dilemma that the Centurion faced. Do I believe a prophet or a professional?

In this passage we see Paul warning the Centurion about the impending danger and disaster.  In Acts 27:10 Paul tells the Centurion “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives”.  He was speaking prophetically!

But in the next verse we see, the Centurion chose to believe the owner of the ship more than the words of Paul. The owner of the ship was a professional sailor and felt it would be better to start the voyage. And the Centurion chose to believe the professional more than the prophet!

And what a disaster that journey was! What do we learn from this? Will we listen to the words of a prophet or will we lean on human understanding?  There is a place to listen to professionals but not when God clearly speaks about a matter.

In such situations, it is better to obey God rather than rely on professional wisdom. Because we as believers are called to (like Abraham) “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).

Will we?

John B. Samuel