May 28 - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 provides an introductory to Paul's ministry in Rome.

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I do not know how else to end my notes on Acts. I felt like time has flown by just like that. Seems like yesterday we were only doing Acts 1 and now we're looking forward to the first chapter of Romans. Thank you Lord for the desire to learn Your word and grow in the knowledge of You! 

Acts revealed how the church emerged and how God's promise was demonstrated through the apostles when the Holy Spirit fell on them and so much more. The apostles only aimed to preach Jesus Christ to the Jews and Gentiles and it never became easy for them. To those with open hearts, they received the Word with delight but to those whose hearts were hardened blatantly rejected Him. A number of apostles were martyred, those recorded in Acts were James and Stephen. The first half of this book narrated about Peter's ministry and the second half was of Paul's. Both had undergone much persecution but both remained courageous and determined to proclaim His Name. They never gave up and so were the others who were called - Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Timothy and even the writer, Luke himself were the prominent names in Acts. 

It has been an amazing 28-day learning journey about God. Great discoveries. Great revelations. Great realisations. Personally, the book of Acts has taught me to evaluate my life even more as a Christian. Looking at Peter and Paul and their contribution in the formation of the church has encouraged me to put more effort into bringing people to Christ. God calls us to be fishers of men, seize every opportunity to witness to those who need Jesus in their lives. Be persistent and enduring. 

Let us all continue to respond to this calling! 

*taken from my Facebook notes

May 27 - Chapter 27

Chapter 27 describes Paul's fourth missionary journey to Italy. They had trouble sailing to Rome and was shipwrecked on Malta just when they were about to reach the Sicily shore. An angel of the Lord appeared to Paul and he made sure that no one will lose a life among the 276 people on the ship. 

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I got home at almost 10pm tonight (I attended the afternoon service in Barking, left at 7.45pm and got home almost 2hrs 30mins after). I literally fell asleep before I finished this note. I think that Kopiko was meant to make you doze off, I just had my first packet today. Massive thanks to my brother and sis-in-law! :) 

I struggled to finish this chapter because I was not too familiar with the technical terms of sailing. Plus, NKJV gave me some high-falluting words I could not grasp at all. Hehe. You would notice how ancient the time was because they were still using "fathoms"  as a form of measurement. Just a piece of thought there. 

"Paul was an extraordinary guy" said Bro. Alan at Streatham morning service today. He was not one of the 12 apostles because he never saw Jesus but God had a bigger plan for him, he was an apostle "in due time". He was a man full of courage and desire to serve that no flogging or beating or shipwrecks could sway him from his love for God and His Word.  

Like Paul, we must remain strong in the faith no matter what. We all have our own burdens to carry, beatings to endure and shipwrecks to deal with but the Lord has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5) and that He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28). 

Just an encouragement to persevere in times of trials. I personally think that what Paul said in verse 31 was a double-meaning, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved".  So stay in the ship, we must!

*taken from my Facebook notes 

May 26 - Chapter 26

Chapter 26 is a narration of Paul's early life, conversion  and post-conversion + Festus' opinion on his beliefs and King Agrippa's verdict. 

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"Sayang!"  was the first word that came out of my mouth after reading this chapter because of this verse, Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."(v32). It would be interesting to know, let alone, see Paul's reaction to this. 

How many "sayangs"  have we experienced in this life? Probably tons.

Recently, I just went to the Philippines for a holiday. No important reason but just for a holiday. Well, okay I must admit, I have loved ones back there whom I was dying to see but that's beside the point. I ONLY went for a holiday. Now, I am regretting it so much and I can not stress it any furter. I REGRET IT! 

My Auntie Luz is critically ill. It built up gradually due to her hip replacement a few years back (hip replacement only increased her risk to pulmonary embolism, cardiac infarct and heart failure). She had so many problems and was always under so much stress and pressure after this and we did not see the gravity of it until last Tuesday when she was rushed to the hospital. HEART FAILURE AND KIDNEY FAILURE. My sis-in-law wrote me that message and I had to read it twice, thrice, the fourth time to let the words sink in my head. She is critical. It turned out her daughter has stopped giving her her heart medication a long time ago. I WAS SO ANGRY WHEN I FOUND OUT. SO ANGRY AT WHAT MY COUSIN DID. SO FRUSTRATED. I was having my exams when I found out about it and in between my revisions were mounds and mounds of tears. Tears of frustration, tears of sadness, tears of regret. I just want to see her. But I can't. 

I continuously beg God for His healing hands to intervene. She is not ready to go yet. She needs Jesus in her life. And if only I could be with her, I know God can use me. But obviously I can't do it if I am here, exactly 11025.22 kilometres away from Manila! It's a one big sayang in my life that I will never be able to get over with if she becomes worse and worse. I just want to see her, be there for her and most importantly, let her know how important she is to me because she is my auntie and I love her. :(  

I totally lost the focus for this chapter but I needed to get these feelings out of my system. I'm sorry.


Just be reminded that God is a God of Hope! Paul had so much hope in him, so I continue to hope in Him as well! Please pray with me.  

*taken from my Facebook notes

May 25 - Chapter 25

IT'S OVER! EXAMS ARE OVEEEERRRRR! :) 

I accidentally deleted the note I have written just now so here I am again typing away ;) 

In chapter 25, Paul faced Festus, the governor who replaced Felix but Paul wanted to appeal to Caesar. King Agrippa and Bernice came to visit Caesarea and Festus brought Paul to be examined under the law. 

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I have seen how Festus executed and carefully followed the laws of the land in certain aspects. He was not quick to condemn Paul as he did not fully understand the charges against him and he knew that Paul did not harm any one in any way. He handed Paul over to King Agrippa who was much more adept of the Jewish laws, to consider his case, and also for Festus to know what to report to Caesar when Paul comes to see him. Festus remained neutral, which was expected of a government official. He mediated. He did not take sides. 

How do we actually live our Christian lives? Are we hot? Are we cold? Or are we lukewarm? Do we take God's side? Or do we tend to be lured by the enemy easily? Or have we become apathetic? These questions need not be confusing any Christian at all.. At once we must say, I take God's side all the way, all the time! 

We are not Festus and we are not bound by any worldly law to eliminate bias. 

I am sure most of us have reached a point in our lives where it seems difficult to identify the good from bad. Some conitnue to be churchgoers on Sundays and become regular pubgoers on Mondays. Lukewarm life. Remember, there is no Festus in a Christian life. There is only God or the prince of this world. It's either you are hot or you are cold. What would you prefer to be? 

In Revelation 3:16, Jesus said," So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth" 

That's His words speaking directly to us. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

May 23 & 24 - Chapter 23 & 24

Sorry I missed one day! I have never been this stressed for an exam before. It's Medicinal Chemistry tomorrow!

Chapter 23  highlights: 

Vv 1-10 Paul spoke in front of the Sadducees and Pharisees and caused a major disagreement between them regarding the resurrection. There was so much dissension that the commander took Paul away for fear of him getting hurt.

Vv 11-22 Some 40+ Jews plotted to kill Paul but failed. Paul's nephew overheard them, approached Paul and told the commander about it.   

Vv 23-35 Lysias wrote a letter to the governor, Felix and handed over Paul to him. Paul had a great number of escort out of the city. In Caesarea, he stayed, waited for the hearing and was kept in Herod's Praetorium. 

Chapter 24 highlights: 

Vv 1-9 Ananias, the chief priest and the elders came to the hearing and a spokesperson called Tertullus accused Paul of sedition.

Vv 10-20 Paul's defense.

Vv 21-27 Felix procrastinated on Paul's case and left him where he were for two years!

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All I can say is, I am very tired. But it's always great to read the bible... it never fails to give that inner peace and calm that we need.

Today I am going to rant a bit about the governor. Felix was just a wasteman, excuse my slang but I think that's the perfect description for him. He literally wasted Paul's valuable time. Paul could have been to places teaching and preaching the gospel but no, he remained in Caesarea for TWO YEARS! TWO YEARS! Because of that governor who only wanted to please the Jews. 

Have you ever intentionally done something bad to please people or to make a good impression about yourself (or so you think)? I am guilty. For so many times. I even lost count. As a Christian I reaped the consequences of my wrong actions/decisions in so many painful ways. But, I know that God has forgiven me for my mishaps and I remain thankful to Him because I have learnt my lesson/s and have refrained from doing the same things again.

We have to be constantly reminded that we are called to be NOT of this world. It was probably not appropriate for me to compare ourselves to Felix because, come on, what did he know? However, sometimes we have to look at a non-believer's perspective to realise that, yes, we do have to live holy lives. 

Now I leave you with this, Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Alas! Paul wrote the book of Romans. I have such high regard for him. I believe we can be like Paul too, or even better, BE LIKE CHRIST!

*taken from my Facebook notes

May 22 - Chapter 22

It's the eve of my Pharmacy Practice exam today!

In chapter 22, Paul was allowed to speak among the Jews in the temple. He told them about the road to Damascus, how he was blinded by the light of God and made well again through Ananias. Still the Jews refused to believe. This led to the commander's decision to have him scourged but finding out about his Roman citizenship stopped him. The following day, he stood before the Sanhedrin. 

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My mind wandered whilst I was reading the last 4 or 5 verses of chapter 22. I kept thinking if I have missed an important information with regard to Paul's citizenship. The reaction of the centurion (v26) was the same reaction as the Philippian officers (16:38) when they found out that Paul was a Roman. They were alarmed. 

What's so important about being a Roman citizen anyway? According to the footnotes on Mike's bible, being a Roman citizen meant exclusion from all violent forms of punishment which include: crucifixion, scourging and beating with rods. See how God worked here? Just amazing. Paul was spared from physical persecution, saved by his citizenship, saved by God's gracious hand. 

Which brings me to think (now I am sidetracking), I am due to apply for my British citizenship.. I still can not decide if I should pursue it. Unfortunately, I am not interested to have a British passport at all. I know someone who is actually willing to pay thousands and thousands of pounds to get his hand on the British passport but not me. 

Anyway, may be God has a plan, may be I am going to need this citizenship really badly one day (may be like Paul, a matter of life and death).. I dont know. The application is so expensive though, that's one of my reasons why but most importantly, I dont really want to stay here for good. Help me pray for it then we'll see where God leads! 

*taken from my Facebook notes

May 21 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21 - marked the end of Paul's third missionary journey.

Paul and his companions travelled from Cos to Rhodes to Patara to Syria and landed in Tyre. From Ptolemais to Caesarea, they stayed in Philip's place and met Agabus, who prophecied about Paul being held captive in Jerusalem. Paul's friends tried to stop him but he did not succumb to their plea. The prophecy did come to happen and he was arrested in the temple, as usual, the angry Jews caused it. He was beaten up but was "rescued" by the commander of the garrison. Paul took the opportunity by asking the commander to allow him to speak to the people. 

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I have always believed that God uses different people for His glory to be revealed to all - even non-believers - yes you got it right, He uses non-Christians, even those who blatantly deny Him, to allow His message to be relayed to us.

In the case of chapter 21, God used the commander of the garrison to help Paul speak and testify among the hostile Jews. I was reading verses 30 onwards and I could feel the violence and riot in the temple but God never left Paul's side during that time and same goes to us.. God never leaves our side! The commander may not have known it but he did Paul a huge favour ;) 

I know that there have been instances in our lives where our non-believer friends have helped us with our faith. There came a moment in my life where I almost gave up my faith and it took me a Moslem friend to snap me back to my senses, she ministered to me and she did not even know it. It was not just a plain moment, it became a WOW moment for me. 

Now Paul here on the contrary never gave up his faith even a split sec despite trials and tribulations. Unlike me. But see how God delivers His children from the hand of the enemy, may they be weak Christians or strong ones like Paul. 

Thank God for Jesus Christ, we have the confidence to turn back from our mishaps and say we can be like our own Paul! ;) 

*taken from my Facebook notes