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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
253-517-9195 - Email: <a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">February 3, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p>
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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>APR
22 - ACTS 25-26 - CHURCH GROWTH: WITNESS TO LEADERS</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><b>1.
25:5 (25:1-5) PAUL HELD BY FESTUS. “Let them therefore, says he,
that are of power among you go down with <i>me, and</i><span style="font-style:normal">
if anything is amiss in the man, let them accuse him” (NNT). </span></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style>How
You can protect us Father, in times of turmoil and danger, using even
unbelievers to work Your purpose! We see Your Sovereignty and Power
here, and acknowledge Your right. </span></span><b><i>Hallowed be
your :name.</i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b>2. 25:11 (25:6-12) PAUL: APPEALS TO CAESAR. “If therefore I
am a wrong-doer, and have done anything worthy of death, I refuse not
to die; but if none of those <i>things</i> is <i>true</i> of which
these accuse me, no one can give me to them as a favor. I appeal to
Caesar.” </b><span style>What a forthright
and honest testimony! Your servant Paul said, Follow </span><u><span style>me</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
as I </span></span><u><span style>follow</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
Christ. We submit to this challenge and respond. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:kingdom come.</span></i></b></p>
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<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">3. 25:19 (25:13-22) PAUL:
HEARING DESIRED BY AGRIPPA. “But [Paul's accusers] had certain
questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who
was dead, whom :Paul affirmed to be alive.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>You
use our troubles Father, to open up opportunities for us to testify
concerning Jesus. How </span></span><u><span style>wise</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
Your counsels. </span></span><b><span style="text-decoration:none">
</span><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your :will be done, As
in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">4. 25:27 (25:23-27) PAUL:
PRESENTED TO AGRIPPA BY FESTUS. “For it seems to me unreasonable,
in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against
him.” </span></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>The
politics of Festus have come home to roost, and are now an
embarrassment. Did Agrippa discern this? we are not told. </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><span style="text-decoration:none">5. 26:15-16 (26:1-23) PAUL'S
DEFENSE BEFORE AGRIPPA. “And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the
Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. </span><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">16</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
But arise, and stand upon your :feet: for to this </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">end</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
have I appeared unto you, to appoint you minister and witness both of
the </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">things
</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">in
which you have, and of th</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">os</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">e
in which I will appear to you.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>What
an unusual vision! This became an immediate point of conversion for
Paul! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
26:27-28 (26:24-29) PAUL'S APPEAL TO AGRIPPA. “King Agrippa, do
you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">28</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And :Agrippa </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">said</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
unto Paul, With but little you persuade to make a Christian </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">of
</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">ME.”
</span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
was a powerful witness and confrontation. Almost, a king was
converted! Yes Father, we here see a salutary example of Your ability
to fulfill the words of Jesus to Paul! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
26:31b-32 (26:30-32) PAUL: PRONOUNCED NOT GUILTY. “ This man
does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">32</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
And Agrippa said to :Festus, This man could have been set at liberty,
if he had not appealed to Caesar.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>Here
again Your Sovereign purposes take charge Father, and You overrule
the thoughts, plans, and devices of men. </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<u><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">NOTE</font></b></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
26:17-18 (26:1-23) PAUL: HIS COMMISSION FROM JESUS. “[I will
appear to you] delivering you from the people, and from the nations,
unto whom I send you, </b></span></font><b><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">18</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
to open their eyes to turn </span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">them</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
from darkness to light and from the power of :Satan unto :God, that
they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among th</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">os</span></i></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">e
sanctified by faith in me.” </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>And
this You did through Your Son, Father!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>This
is the third time in Acts 26 that Paul gives his testimony. It is a
powerful challenge for hearers to hear a clear and forthright
testimony. Whenever the Holy Spirit prompts any of us to share how
God brought us into His Kingdom, we should be sensitive to obey. It
may not be an Agrippa who nearly </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>comes</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>
to the Lord - but it may well be a loved one, a friend, or a
stranger. I have seen a number come to the Lord when I have obeyed
His promptings to share how He brought me into His Kingdom. Perhaps
to my best friend I shared such the first year of my conversion. He
said, “If what you say is true, a person would be a fool not to
take advantage of such an opportunity.” I agreed. And within two
weeks he entered into this Gospel opportunity!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2">Shortly after my conversion and
birth from above with God's incorruptible Word - I was asked to name
the 3 chapters in the book of Acts where Paul gives his testimony. I
was too new in the Lord to be able to do so - but I swiftly memorized
these 3 locations, plus his testimony in the book of Galatians and
Philippians.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>So
- as Paul before King Agrippa faithfully gave his testimony of
conversion with a telling application! So you and I have the
privilege to join Paul in giving our testimony when opportunity
presents itself, and the Spirit confirms. </span></span></font><u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style>Let
the Redeemed of the LORD say so</span></font></u><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>!</span></span></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>And
- our Psalm for the day: </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">112:5,
7 (112:1-10) THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NEVER BE MOVED! “It is well with
the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with
justice. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">7</span></font><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none">
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the
LORD” (ESV). </span></font></b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style>O
the deep, deep love of Jesus Father, which is also Your love in Him!
It expresses Your faithfulness to Your saints, Your holy ones, those
whom You have made living letters of Your Covenant Love! </span></span></font><b><font style="font-size:11pt" size="2"><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Hallowed
be your :name!</span></i></font></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
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