Closed Off To The Gospel Message

When it comes to evangelism, many people take offense to it and don’t listen to the message. However, God has been leading His followers into the harvest the same way as He has always done, including Paul, the apostle. The things He taught the Jews are same things that God’s messengers are sharing to the lost. As there was success with them in leading people to Jesus, we do the same things now, being led by the Spirit. It is interesting to know how the people in Acts 28 thought of him and allowed him to preach and teach freely. These types of occasions come to all of God’s witnesses, especially when it is a divine appointment like Paul had in this chapter. Upon hearing from Paul, they said to him, 2“we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.” Now, isn’t this so wonderful to have them give Paul a chance to speak his find freely to them. They wanted to know what he had to say and he did so with boldness. It says that 2“he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.” As he knew and other Christians will find out, Jesus was taught and prophesied of all throughout the Old Testament. Finding and studying these verses are truly a treasure. Then, letting other people know what we found out is a blessing.

As the people left Paul, having mixed feelings about what they just heard, Paul then quoted from 1Isaiah 6:9,10. It reads, 2“go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” What Paul spoke here was concerning those people that left unbelieving, who were present but had no intention to learn. They didn’t listen but only heard what they wanted. Their heart and mind was closed off to the message. All it would have taken was an open heart, and their eyes would have been opened to the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. God wanted to heal them, but because they were closed off to him, He was not given a chance to. Now when it comes to evangelism, it is our desire that people would be drawn to the message of Christ. We hope and pray that as we teach those that on the streets that their hearts will be open to the message. In this, will the Holy Spirit penetrate their lives and move them to believe in Jesus. This will lead them to find healing and mercy from their sins. Therefore, we go out and preach as Paul did, the kingdom of God. That only through believing in Jesus Christ can a person be saved from death and unto life eternal in heaven.

Let us pray:
I pray Lord that many more people will have a renewed heart to seek after You. Even if the last time they did so was years ago, when they were a child, may they think back upon this time and re-engage with you again. Truly what people have learned in the past, when it comes to You, is still in their hearts ready to come out again. It is only the bitterness in people that makes them not hear You and reject Your teachings. Even those people like Paul the apostle, me and other evangelists are able to be used for Your kingdom, but the people that listen are always those that are ready and willing to hear. Everyone else is either there to wage more questions than find answers. This is very disturbing and my heart aches when I see people only trying to fight against Your message of hope, when only You are trying to save them from their own destruction. So I pray Lord that people’s eyes will finally be opened and that their hearts will be ready to receive the gospel, starting today. I am a willing servant for You God and wish that many more souls are saved in Your kingdom. I know that I cannot do this on my own and pray that Your Holy Spirit will always be with me. May You take over every word that comes out of my mouth and convict every lost soul of their sins. In this will they desire Your mercy and find forgiveness. I trust in You, Jesus. You are my Savior and my deliverer. All the praise and glory to Your mighty Name. I love You Lord. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

1Isaiah 6:8-10 (KJV)
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

2Acts 28:16-31 (KJV)
16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.
17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.
19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.
22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.
25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

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