25th Jul 26 | 04:00
Studies by Book
Connecting with people
📖 Acts 16:13-13
Acts 16 - Series 03/Episode 07 - Fri, 03rd July 2026 - Connecting with people - Acts 16:11-15 - LYDIA'S CONVERSION - Luke 04:18-21
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Acts 16:13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
Paul connects and identifies with the women at the riverside, sits with them, listens, and then speaks of Christ.
This principle of identification and humility is what our Lord demonstrated as He visited the home of Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus's life was immediately and completely transformed. Luke 19:5-10 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." (6) So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. (7) But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." (8) Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." (9) And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; (10) for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." This is the principle that the Lord left for us to adopt in our ministry, for He came to seek and save the lost.
It is the Gospel for which we live on the earth. I Corinthians 9:22-23 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. (23) Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. The Gospel connects us with all people.
The Gospel is all about connecting with the poor, the broken-hearted, people in captivity to various substances, people in blindness and those who are oppressed. They are all around us. We must begin reaching and connecting with those within our own circles. As we do so faithfully, the Lord will widen our reach to many others.
Luke 4:18-21 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; HE HAS SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED; (19) TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (20) Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
This step of connecting with people occurs because our spirit within us is disturbed by the fact that people are far away from God. Our longing is that they should be reconciled with Him. Acts 17:16-17 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. (17) Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
Paul and the team were looking at people through the eyes of Jesus, and they identified with them. These are the kind of labourers for whom the Lord is looking. The harvest is plentiful, but labourers who have the eyes of Jesus, to connect and identify with people, are few. Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
This lifestyle of connecting with people, naturally, was the unique value of the early church. The result was that people were added to the church. Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, (45) and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (46) So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, (47) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Is it not possible for us to make this experience a reality in our churches today? Yes, we can, in the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Witnessing and sharing the Gospel becomes natural.
God has brought us into the world by His word so that we connect with people by listening to them. James 1:18-19 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (19) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
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