Today's Passage - Acts 24:1-9

Acts 24:1-9   Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.  When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation...  "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.  By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."  The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.   A group of Jews went to Caesarea to bring their charges against Paul, and they were led by high priest Ananias, some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus.  As a Roman citizen, Paul needed to go through due process of law in order to be convicted.  God gave Paul a very special status to carry out missionary work, which was a Roman citizen.  Without Roman citizenship, he would have been beaten to death long ago.  Because of this status, anyone who wants to convict him must go through trial in the court.  On the one hand there's a system of equality in place, and on the other hand God had already prepared to have Paul protected.   God's selection began before we were made; the Bible says that God already knew us when we were in the womb and we ought to give thanks to Him.  Our entire life is in the hands of God, so don't ever complain about what you had to go through because every step in your life is how God prepares you for the next step.  I was called by God to enter full-time ministry after I came to the US to study and work for several work.  At first, I asked God why He didn't call me into full-time ministry earlier and why it happened after I got my masters degree and entered the workforce.  Looking back, I realized that the experiences of studying and working in the U.S. really helped me to serve in the churches here because I can better identify with what others have gone through in this land.   The status that God gives us also provides us with opportunities.  In the book of Esther, Mordecai told Esther: "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"  Every position is an opportunity; many of us are U.S. citizens, and did you know that such status is also an opportunity for missions?  You need to understand that you are not here to work, make money and feed a family, but God has given you opportunities to take part of expansion of His kingdom.  In fact, joining short-term mission trips is the best opportunity for you to be built up.  When you place yourself in the hands of God, He will surely use you.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you because every status we have in our lives is an opportunity.  Lord, come and open our eyes so that we would see the opportunities you have given us, and we ask that you give us a courageous heart to seize these opportunities to be your glorious witness.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!    Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow the project on Facebook ! Help us to reach our Phase I Target, and witness how God expands His Kingdom on earth!  Click here to donate online.