Stanley Tavaziva

The real problem for the Judaizers was not whether Gentiles could be saved but whether Gentiles had to adhere to the laws of Moses. The test of following these laws was circumcision. The Jewish Christians were worried because soon there would be more Gentile than Jewish Christians. And they were afraid of weakening moral standards among believers if they did not follow Jewish laws. Paul, Barnabas, and the other church leaders believed that the Old Testament law was very important, but it was not a prerequisite to salvation. The law cannot save; only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ can a person be saved.

The Jewish leaders undoubtedly brought theological arguments against Paul and Barnabas, but the real reason for their hostility was that “they were jealous.” When we see others succeeding where we haven’t or receiving the affirmation we crave, it is hard to rejoice with them. Jealousy is our natural reaction. But how tragic it is when our own jealous feelings make us try to stop God’s work. If a work is God’s work, rejoice in it—no matter who is doing it. Paul and Barnabas returned to visit the believers in all the cities where they had recently been threatened and physically attacked. These men knew the dangers they faced, yet they believed that they had a responsibility to encourage the new believers. No matter how inconvenient or uncomfortable the task may seem, we must always support new believers who need our help and encouragement. It was not convenient or comfortable for Jesus to go to the cross for us!

Responding to the people of Lystra, Paul and Barnabas reminded them that God never leaves himself “without a witness.” Rain and good crops, for example, are evidence of his goodness. Later Paul wrote that this evidence in nature leaves people without an excuse for unbelief.

Signs and wonders are indications that God is present .Sergius Paulus functioned as the governor of the island. Such leaders often kept private sorcerers. Bar-Jesus realized that if Sergius Paulus believed in Jesus, he would soon be out of a job. Some signs and wonders not from God and are not indicators.The Holy Spirit led Paul to confront Bar-Jesus with his sin. There is a time to be nice and a time to confront. We should ask God to show us the difference and to give us the courage to do what is right

1 Paul and Barnabas went to a new city to witness for Christ, . The common ground Jews who were there believed in God and diligently studied the Scriptures. Tragically, however, many could not accept Jesus as the promised Messiah because they had the wrong idea of what kind of Messiah he would be. He was not, as they desired, a military king who would overthrow Rome’s control but a servant-king who would defeat sin in people’s hearts. (Only later, when Christ returns, will he judge the nations of the world.) Paul and Barnabas did not separate themselves from the synagogues but tried to show clearly that the very Scriptures the Jews studied pointed to Jesus. The essence for us is to believe. Some people move in the direction of belief, and others are simply pretending. however we are not to be removed, for that is the Lord’s work alone. The Good News at Jesus Christ came down to save us. We should firmly believe it and faithfully follow what He says in His word.

Preaching the Good News was Paul’s gift and calling, and he said he couldn’t stop preaching even if he wanted to. Paul was driven by the desire to do what God wanted, using his gifts for God’s glory. God has given us special gifts we need to be motivated, like Paul, to honor God with our gifts and do His work. Like Paul, he asserts that he had freedom to do anything emphasizing a life of strict discipline. Christian life should involves both freedom and discipline. The goals of Paul’s life were to glorify God and bring people to Christ. Thus, he stayed free of any philosophical position or material entanglement that might sidetrack him, while he strictly disciplined himself to carry out his goal. For Paul, both freedom and discipline were important tools to be used in God’s service. We should be faithful and obedient to serve God.

There is variety in the church! The common thing which was among the five men was their deep faith in Christ. Today we must never exclude anyone whom Christ has called to follow him. The church dedicated Barnabas and Saul to the work God had for them. The church today is not having time to dedicate members or ”to set apart” for a special purposes. We, need dedicate our pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers for their tasks or assigments God wants them to do. We can also dedicate ourselves to use our time, money, and talents for God’s work. Ask God what he wants you to set apart for him.

Antioch of Syria was a major trade center in the ancient world. Heavily populated by Greeks, it eventually became a strong Christian center. In Antioch the believers were first called Christians. Antioch of Syria became the headquarters for the Gentile church and was Paul’s base of operations. Peter probably thought that by staying away from the Gentiles, he was promoting harmony—he did not want to offend James and the Jewish Christians. James had a very prominent position and presided over the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). But Paul charged that Peter’s action violated the Good News. By joining the Judaizers, Peter implicitly was supporting their claim that Christ was not sufficient for salvation. Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word. If we feel we have to change our Christian beliefs to match those of our companions, we are on dangerous ground.

Ambitious Christians find always difficult to walk with God because they thing they are holier than thou. We are to rejoice under our Lord Jesus and ask for patience of God in our trails, weakness of sins for us to grow. Revelation 21: 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. Instead of our going up to meet him, he comes down to be with us, just as God became man in Jesus Christ and lived among us (John 1:14). Wherever God reigns, we recognize His voice and we become fruitful, there is peace, security, and love.

Self-improvement, discipline, or religious effort can make us right with God. Righteousness comes only from God. We are made righteous when we receive right standing with God by trusting in Christ. He exchanges our sin and shortcomings for his complete righteousness. Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God. We, too, can should have a right relationship with God by trusting him. Our outward actions—church attendance, prayer, good deeds—will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith—the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. It is helpful to us all Christians who are living through difficult times without seeing signs of hope. Christians must trust that God is directing all things according to his purposes regardless of the what surrounds us.

When Paul spoke of “all these things,” he was referring to his credentials, credits, and successes. We need be careful of considering past achievements so important that may get in the way of your relationship with Christ. After Paul considered everything he had accomplished in his life, he said that it was all “worthless” when compared with the greatness of knowing Christ. This statement had value in Paul's life: A person’s relationship with Christ is more important than anything else. To know Christ should be our ultimate goal and considering values. We need to place anything above our relationship with Christ and get our priorities right

Ananias said to God “Not him, Lord; that’s impossible, that’s what Ananias said when God told him of Saul’s conversion. After all, Saul had pursued believers to their death. Despite these understandable feelings, Ananias obeyed God and had to minister to Saul. We should not limit God—he can do anything. We must obey and follow God’s leading, even when he leads us to difficult people and places. I have been guided by God and even ministered to other people in difficult situations.

Persecuting christians is like persecuting Christ because we are his people. Saul may have thought that by stamping out Christianity in Damascus, he could prevent its spread to other areas as well because he did not like christians. Saul thought he was pursuing heretics, but he was persecuting Jesus himself. Anyone who persecutes believers today is also guilty of persecuting Jesus, because believers are the body of Christ on earth. Faith in Christ brings great blessings but often great suffering, too. Paul would suffer for his faith. God calls us to commitment, not to comfort. He promises to be with us through suffering and hardship, not to spare us from them.

The truth into which the Holy Spirit guides us is the truth about Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong In his last moments with his disciples, Jesus (1) warned them about further persecution, (2) told them where, when, and why he was going, and (3) assured them that they would not be left alone, but that the Spirit would come. Jesus knew what lay ahead, and he did not want the disciples’ faith shaken or destroyed. God wants us to know that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, teach us the truth, and help us

Although the disciples had asked Jesus about his death, they had never wondered about its meaning. They were mostly concerned about themselves. If Jesus went away, what would become of them? Unless Jesus did what he came to do, there would be no Good News. If he did not die, he could not remove our sins; he could not rise again and defeat death. If he did not go back to the Father, the Holy Spirit would not come. Christ’s presence on earth was limited to one place at a time. His leaving meant he could be present to the whole world through the Holy Spirit. Three important tasks of the Holy Spirit are (1) convincing the world of its sin and calling it to repentance, (2) revealing the standard of God’s righteousness to anyone who believes, because Christ would no longer be physically present on earth, and (3) demonstrating Christ’s judgment over Satan.

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what he had been teaching them. This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament. The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their individual perspectives. We are confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did. The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. When we study the Bible, we can trust him to plant truth in our mind, convince do God’s will, and reminded when we stray from it. The Holy Spirit guides us is the truth about Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would tell disciples “about the future”—the nature of their mission, the opposition they would face, and the final outcome of their efforts. They didn’t fully understand these promises until the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then the Holy Spirit revealed truths to the disciples that they written down in the books.

To testify is to bear witness, to be a witness, to give testimony, to confirm, to have personal knowledge which you can stand up and defend Jesus offers hope. The Holy Spirit gives strength to endure the unreasonable hatred and evil in our world and the hostility many have toward Christ. This is especially comforting for those facing persecution. Jesus uses two names for the Holy Spirit—”Counselor” and “Spirit of truth.” The word Counselor conveys the helping, encouraging, and strengthening work of the Spirit. Spirit of truth points to the teaching, illuminating, and reminding work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart, and both dimensions are important.

Jesus Christ is Lord and Our Master, he should call us servants; instead, he calls us friends. How comforting and reassuring to be chosen as Christ’s friends. Because he is Lord and Master, we owe him our unqualified obedience, but most of all, Jesus asks us to obey him because we love him. Jesus made the first choice—to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. Its up to us to make a choice—to accept or reject him. Without his choice, we would have no choice to make. Jesus commands that you love one another

Power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary. That power also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The disciples needed all these gifts to fulfill their mission. If we believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, we will experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your lives.

In several places in Scripture the members of the Trinity are mentioned—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the traditional words of the church, the one God exists in three persons but one substance. No amount of explanation can adequately portray the power and intricacy of this unique relationship. Jesus serves as an example by going through human life himself ,born of woman.,Being anointed with Holy Spirit at Baptism and living a Godly Spirit filled life that we have

Because of his unity with God, Jesus lived as God wanted him to live. Because of our identification with Jesus, we must honor him and live as he wants us to live. Jesus made his humanity unique was his freedom from sin. In his full humanity, Jesus showed us everything about God’s character that can be conveyed in human terms.

(1) Jesus’ baptism was one step in fulfilling his earthly mission of identifying with our humanity and sin; (2) by endorsing the rite of baptism, Jesus was giving us an example to follow; (3) Jesus was announcing the beginning of his public ministry; (4) Jesus was being baptized for the sins of the nation. The Holy Spirit’s appearance in the form of a dove showed that God’s plan for salvation was centered in Jesus. He was the perfect human who didn’t need baptism for repentance, but he was baptized anyway on our behalf. Holy Spirit dwells in me and He has established my core identity as a disciple of Jesus

Hello I am Stanley. I am excited and previllaged to participate in this forum I live in Harare Zimbabwe, It has always my desire to study the word of God. I am a leader in men's fellowship. God will lead us we study the lession on the Holy Spirit

Q4. (Psalm 27:8) What does it mean "to seek his face"? What is necessary in us to have a desire for that? How did talking to God "face to face" change Moses? How will it change us? What does it cost us to actively seek him? Is it worth it? How does seeking his face relate to our theme of the Glorious Kingdom? God can take that place in our life, fill that void, and heal that hurt. He can direct us to adults who may take the role of father or mother for us. His love is sufficient for all our needs. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of his promise to reign. Later, after becoming king, he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom. Waiting for God is not easy. Often it seems that he isn’t answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to hope in and wait for the Lord because often God uses times of waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. Make good use of your waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to teach you in them.

Q3. Based on John's vision of the Bride, the Holy City, in Revelation 21, how would you describe in your own words the glory we will experience? The center of God’s presence is among his people. No temple is needed in the new city, however, because God’s presence will be everywhere. He will be worshiped throughout the city, and nothing will hinder us from being with him. Not everyone will be allowed into the new Jerusalem, but “only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Don’t think that you will get in because of your background, personality, or good behavior. Eternal life is available to you and me, only because of what Jesus, the Lamb, has done. Trust him today to secure our citizenship in his new creation.