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3. Silas begins and ends his Bible career as a faithful messenger, a leading man locally, willing togo abroad to be of service4. the work of the gospel emissary is not exclusive to full-time gospel preachers, but is open toanyone who has proven his honesty and who is willing to serve (Romans 12:4-8)5. moreover, it should be our privilege to receive such messengers and evangelists withhospitality and honor (Hebrews 13:1-3 and Third John 5-8)B. Hearing the Macedonian Call1. when Paul and Silas heard the Macedonian call, they were quick to answer, having beenforbidden to travel to Asia and Mysia, “concluding that God had called [them] to preach the gospel tothem” (Acts 16:10).2. we seldom hear the gospel call much anymore from western Europe, for so many there in theAmericas have wearied of the ancient messagea. that of course, only makes it more necessary, but today the Macedonian call is more likelyto issue from places where it has enjoyed less scrutiny–eastern Europe, Africa and Asia–“Come over hereand help us,” they sayb. like Silas, we are sometimes prevented from sharing the truth where we would prefer orwhere it is more convenient or according to our plans, but then God raises an opportunity elsewhere3. we need to be ready to answer the call whether that means answering an opportunity at home,traveling abroad to meet an urgent need, or funding such an effort by another faithful messenger(Philippians 4:14-19)C. Persecution1. Paul would later conclude that, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will bepersecuted” (Second Timothy 3:12).2. he learned that axiom while with Silas, among so many other occasions; the reason that Silasand Paul were persecuted was that their convictions were on display in a way that shook things up3. we should never doubt that our faith is going to bring us into derision if exercised publicly, butneither should we fear sharing truth with the lost and standing opposed to immorality whenever asked(Second Timothy 1:7)4. if we are not suffering persecution–physical, verbal, emotional, professional, etc.–it is probablya signal that we are either not really living a godly life or that we are doing so in such a discrete mannerthat no one can tell, and that just might be because we have grown afraid; “Do not be afraid, but go onspeaking and do not be silent” (Acts 18:9)D. Faithful Brother1. the epilogue on Silas’s life is that he was a faithful brother and messenger, an exemplar of theexhortation Peter sent to the dispersed brethren of first century persecution, standing firm in the true graceof God (see First Peter 5:12)2. we must be proven faithful–in answering opportunities to proclaim the Lord, in standing fastfor the truth, in enduring persecution (First Peter 4:19)ConclusionSilas is what most Christians can be, simply a good and faithful person, ready to answer the call toservice.226
1 Hugh Thomson Kerr, Ed., A Compend of Luther's Theology, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press, 1943, p.1352 Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'CENTURION'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.3Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'PILATE; PONTIUS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.4Josephus, Ant, XVIII, iii, 1; BJ, II, ix, 2, 35 Josephus, Ant, XVIII, iii, 2; BJ, II, ix, 46 Ant., XVIII, iv, 1, 27 Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on John 18". "Barnes' Notes on the New Testament". .8Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'NEBO (cf. 1)'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.9"Nabu." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 1 Dec. 2005 .10Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'NEBO (cf. 1)'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.11Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MATTHEW'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". . 1915.12http://www.bible-history.com/taxcollectors/TAXCOLLECTORSMatthew.htm13Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'TAX; TAXING'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.14Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MATTHEW, THE GOSPEL OF'". "International Standard BibleEncyclopedia". . 1915.15Ibid.16Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Magos". "The New Testament Greek Lexicon"..17Ibid.18Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MAGI, THE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.19Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'STAR OF THE MAGI'". "International Standard BibleEncyclopedia". . 1915.20Butler, Trent C. Editor.. "Entry for 'ASTROLOGER'". "Holman Bible Dictionary".. 1991.21Website (http://biblia.com/jesusbible/prophecies.htm. Aug. 3, 200622Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'EPAPHRODITUS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".. 1915.23Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Epaphroditos". "The New Testament Greek Lexicon"..24Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for 'Tekoa, Tekoah'". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".. 1897.25Brown, Driver, Briggs and Gesenius. "Hebrew Lexicon entry for y(cf. wqt". "The Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon"..227
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CharacterStudiesby Jeff S. Smith
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Character StudiesThe goal of these
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2. she points backward to his defea
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2. Jesus knew he was not an oversiz
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6! Jeff S. Smith
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2. when the local church is involve
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D. No Luther1. it fell to the apost
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c. is the antithesis of Diotrephes
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2. and then he rebukes him for his
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2. before gaining his victory over
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II. Practical ApplicationA. A Lesso
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a. we are all bending over so easil
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ConclusionJoseph was faithful to Go
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a. that, I think, is the great maje
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a. he had to leave his home, where
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3. when Isaac became old and blind,
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II. Man’s New BeginningA. The Old
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1. every time the gospel is preache
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4. Elijah now has his turn, once th
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a. we, like they, are strangers and
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D. Deliverer Appointed1. when God s
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. those with little would be moved
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. in one fell swoop, he takes out a
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3. it is not that some earn God's f
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C. The Pleasures of Sin Are Passing
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3. reaching our land of milk and ho
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1. he believed, but he was not yet
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1. we must know the Bible and be ab
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2. David took care to respect the p
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a. if he complains about having to
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. later in life, we see Herod Antip
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2. this Aaronic priesthood executed
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4. that more acute, more spiritual,
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D. His Defense (cf. Acts 7:1-50)1.
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A. Concern For Others, Even Servant
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II. Some ApplicationsA. Their Chara
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8. afterward, Pilate permitted Jose
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D. A Student1. the eunuch is in fac
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a. it was no more a blessing to dwe
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D. His Palace1. Nebuchadnezzar’s
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language, creating different tongue
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4. Naomi returns in deep bitterness
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. it is not hard to imagine that th
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C. Pointing at The Antichrist1. a f
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Sufficient cause for the unpopulari
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2. and so the wisdom of the magi wa
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courier it to Paul and it became to
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illions of souls from benefiting is
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17:15-21)2. the birth was announced
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. Thomas insisted that he would onl
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2. first, he becomes the epitome of
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esteem, wondering what we will do w
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its soothing aroma and pain-relievi
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3. this is the last that we hear of
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