A Word from Jesus
Acts 23-24
Paul was a man on a mission. It's easy to read the stories of his travels and persecutions and view him as a Superhero of some kind. I read these stories and think, wow... all I have to do is take out the trash and mow the lawn today. But as I read the rest of the stories of Paul's journeys, I see that he responded to his trials in a completely human way. He was discouraged, he was angered, he had difficulty at times controlling his temper.
Every single one of us has gone through seasons of life where we were pressed to the point of breaking. If you haven't hit that yet, just wait, it's coming! In Acts 23 and 24 we see Paul in the thick of violence, plot, and controversy. Certainly in this period of time he felt immense stress and pressure. But Jesus was with him. Acts 23:11 - But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
In a night filled with the pressure of death threats and imprisonment, Jesus came and stood by Paul. His words were the fuel Paul needed to continue forward in the face of adversity.
God's words are not like human words. They have the power to create light and darkness, to heal and to destroy. The words of Jesus Christ never fail. You may never face a situation in which people are plotting to kill you, but you will face difficulty in this life. And the only thing you can count on for sure is a word from Jesus.
When you enter a time of stress and trial, seek God. He has already given His word to us via the Bible. He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. In your darkest hour, He will come stand by you and speak directly into your life. "Be of good cheer..." or "Take courage..." was the very thing Paul needed to hear. God can and will speak to you no matter how bad it gets.
Used by permission from NewSpring Church
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Upcoming Events
April 7 - Midway Community Easter Egg Hunt at Noon at the Midway Community Park at 304 Noblestown Road, Midway, PA, 15060. Egg hunt for kids 12 and under, bouncy houses, free lunch provided, live music, and drawing for one of many $25 Giant Eagle Gift Cards. Not a Midway resident, no problem, we hope to see you there!
April 8 - Easter Services
8:00 - Sunrise Service
9:00 - Breakfast
10:00 - Morning Worship Service
No PM Service
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Coming Soon:
Once Upon A Marriage
There's nothing quite like a juicy love story... the romance, the intrigue, and maybe a little scandal. We will be digging in to some examples of marriage from the Bible to see what we can learn. Travel back in time with us for Once Upon a Marriage beginning April 15. Click here for preview of this upcoming series.
Yesterday:
Yesterday, Chosen People Ministry representative, Rev. Jeff Kipp, shared with us how Jesus is pictured so well in the Passover meal.
Sunday's message is available on our website, just under the calendar, or you can listen by visiting us on iTunes. You can also listen to previous messages.
Next Week:
Come celebrate Easter with us as we celebrate the Ressurection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please notice that our service times are different for this Sunday. We hope to see you here!
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