If you follow the apostle Paul to chapter 18 of Acts, you will see a response that marks the move of God in his life. Sometimes, you really have to say, ” I have had  enough!”

Paul had argued throughout synagogues everywhere with Jews about the person of Jesus, but in Corinth, he said,” I had enough with you.” He left the synagogue and  went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. It says in Acts 18:7 that the synagogue ruler believed and all his household, and many Corinthians believed and were baptized.

When you had enough of something, maybe then God can change things for you. It happened with Paul and Barnabas. The missionary trip that began with a disagreement over John Mark produced the most powerful trip ever, ending with the conversion of hundreds from the Macedonia County Jail.

When Paul left the synagogue in Corinth, he had had enough resistance from the Jews and he  followed his heart. Paul even said this: “Your blood be on your own heads. I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” This caused Paul to hear from Jesus in a very special way. Remember now that Jesus spoke to Ananias about Paul after the Damascus road experience, and many times gave him direction by the Holy Spirit. But this time it was different. Jesus spoke to Paul in words he needed to hear.

Here is what Jesus said to Paul: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack you  and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts. 18:9).  Paul stayed in Corinth one year and half.

Have you had enough? Hopefully you will react to the status quo of apathy and do something to change things. I have.

Rick Bonfim

At times I read Acts looking for a trend, or a thread running all the way to the button. In Acts 16 I found  it. Read this:

1 – Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark for the missionary trip. So Barnabas took Mark and Paul took Timothy. Sometimes, God thrives in disagreement. This one worked to perfection. Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke are moving north passing through the region of  Phrygia and Galatia and God gives direction. Paul was kept by the Holy Spirit from entering  the area. Again around Mysia, they wanted to head east and the Holy Spirit said ”No” a second time. Up to now, nothing but change of direction.

2 – But in Troas, God sent a message through a vision of someone from Macedonia asking them to come and help them. This change of direction led them to Lydia and the conversion of her household. Notice, from choosing Timothy, a household is saved. When Paul and Silas met the little girl who brought much money to her owners, the spirit is reprimanded and the girl is set free from a spirit.

3 -You have to look for a move of God here: a disagreement leads to a vision. The vision leads to the salvation of a household, leading now to Roman authorities and many others.  You see, the owners of the little girl brought Paul and Silas to the Roman authorities and accused them of disturbing the peace. They were stripped and beaten severely. After this, they were put in jail.

4 – To the naked eye, this story is getting worse by the minute. However, notice this: Paul and Silas began to sing and other prisoners were listening. Good, right? Yes, very good. A captive audience to hear the songs they sang.

5 – Now, God shows up. An earthquake shook the whole jail. At once, all the prison doors were opened. The jailer tried to use his sword on himself, fearing that all the prisoners had left the jail, but Paul says, “Don’t harm yourself. We are all here.”

6 – Paul assumes authority here and has the support of all prisoners. The jailer responds, ” Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  Then they (Paul and Silas) spoke the word of the Lord to them, and all the others in the place. After many receiving salvation by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, the jailer takes Paul and Silas to have their wounds washed and cared for.  The jailer’s family is baptized.

A disagreement, a change of direction, a vision, an afternoon by the river witnessing to Lydia and her household, being put in jail and the salvation of hundreds at the Macedonia County Jail.  Do you see movement here? Do you see commitment here? Notice, that God is the one who sent them there and the fruits were abundant.

Now, when you are half-way committed and allow others, even family, to stand between you and your call, try to please others, run for bishop, become a pleaser of men, nothing happens in your life and ministry.  The disagreement between Paul and Silas was not a pleasant thing. But look what happened!  The story moves from a disagreement to hundreds being saved at a jail.

I am 100% committed. Are you committed?

Rick Bonfim

When the  Roman centurion said to Jesus that he did not deserve to have Him come under his roof, he was saying that he believed in Jesus and put all of his trust in Him.

Jesus responded by saying, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places in the kingdom of heaven. But the SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE THROWN OUTSIDE, INTO DARKNESS, WHERE THERE WILL BE WEEPING  AND GNASHING OF TEETH” (Matthew 8: 11-12).

Subjects of the kingdom are those who deny faith and who work through the intellect and preach a gospel without the cross and the second coming of Jesus.

Subjects of the kingdom are those who deny the work of the Holy Spirit and call those who accept the work of the Spirit “Charismatics”!

Jesus was referring to faith that stands alone. If you are still questioning  this scripture, listen to this: “without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Why is faith so important? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what you hope  for and certain of what you do not see.”  So, faith is divided into two areas, both critically important to our spiritual growth: physical and spiritual. Faith comes from within, believing that you actually will see what you hope and expect to have in your life. Without this type of faith you will not dream, hope and expect.  If you are a Methodist pastor and do not believe and expect God to move, He will not move. The other area is the spiritual area, which consists of those things not possible to see or touch. So faith, begins with the physical and ends with the spiritual.

You believe with your physical eyes and you move toward the inner eyes and greater faith begins to grow. NOW, FAITH COMES BY HEARING! HEARING THE WORD. Now, tell me this: how can you have any  faith, if it comes by hearing, when sermons consist of stories are being told without the Word?

How can our people grow in faith when the name of Jesus is not even said in a Sunday morning sermon? How can faith come to your life when you stay with the PHYSICAL FAITH AND NEVER MOVE TO THE SPIRITUAL FAITH?

My brothers and sisters, you need the HOLY SPIRIT to tell you about the Word! You need the Holy Spirit to show you the Revealed Word!

Come on! Stop worshipping a church organization and praise the Lord in your church! Stop being a conference “rat” trying to get a better appointment and serving with faith! Enough is enough! Be filled with the Spirit of God!

Rick Bonfim