WHAT ARE WE FILLING OURSELVES WITH?

The scene: First Missionary Journey of Paul & Barnabas
Reference: Acts 13:44 - 14:7
Location: Pisidian Antioch

There are 2 scenarios here, as we see 2 kinds of fillings and it's effects:

SCENARIO - 1
Paul & Barnabas getting ready to share on a Sabbath day. Almost the whole city gathered to hear the Word of the Lord. It was an unusual circumstance, where more people came to the synagogue to hear the apostles preach the Word.
In vs.45 - the Jews saw the crowds and "were filled with jealousy"
IMMEDIATE RESULT OF SUCH FILLING?
vs.45b - they spoke abusively against what Paul was saying.

SCENARIO - 2
When the Word of God spread, the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit - cf.Acts 13:52
IMMEDIATE RESULT OF SUCH FILLING:
14:1 - they spoke effectively & a great number believed, both Jews & Gentiles


What a contrast we see in these 2 fillings?

- One was abusive and the other was effective.
- One filling collected a mob, while the other raised a pious group.
- One filling divided the city, whereas the other added to the Kingdom.
- One filling sought to stir the minds to negativity, while the other was geared towards positive living.

What kind of filling are we seeking after today?

PURPOSE DRIVEN FISHING

I have been thinking lately a lot about this term FISHERS OF MEN.

Though Jesus uses a similar phrase which Simon Peter is so familiar with, we see a vast difference in the purpose behind this switch in career.

So far, Peter was catching fish … which were ALIVE … and it DIED after he caught them.
But, Jesus is calling Peter to catch men … those who are alive physically, but more importantly, DEAD spiritually … so that they can LIVE through that catch.

What a difference to the victims here, as a result of his catch then and now?

Earlier Simon Peter was catching them and selling them!
He was SELL FISH (i know grammatically it's incorrect!) … & he was SELFISH for obvious reasons.
But, Jesus was calling him for the KINGDOM purpose - OUT OF SELF.
Not for his personal benefit, but for the benefit of others.

When we 'do life' for selfish reasons in order for us to live, what we catch will die!
When we live out of self, we catch what is dead (dead in their sins), so they can live the new life in Christ Jesus!

Are we going around killing people - through our words, actions or our thoughts?
Are we habituated to the fact that things will not change, so let's continue to live as we are?
God has a higher purpose and hence this calling - to live for His Kingdom.