Breaking down walls when Faith Challenges the status quo.

A Study of Acts 26:19 29 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.

Brad Miller hello, my good friend Dr.

Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh, giving you the Word of God in an audible fashion every single day.

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Let's get into our reading for the day from Acts 26:19 29 reading from the Message what could I do, King Agrippa?

I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that.

I became an obedient believer on the spot.

I started preaching this life change, this radical turned to God and everything it meant in everyday life right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside and from there to the whole world.

It's because of this whole world dimension that the Jews grabbed me in the temple that day and tried to kill me.

They wanted to keep God for themselves.

But God has stood by me just as he promised.

And I'm standing here today saying what I've been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen.

And everything I'm saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would 1.

The Messiah must die.

2.

Raised from the dead, he would become the first rays of God's daylight, shining on people far and near.

People both godless and God fearing.

That was too much for Festus.

He interrupted with a shout.

Paul, you're crazy.

You've read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space.

Get a grip on yourself.

Get back into the real world.

But Paul stood his ground.

With all respect, Festus, your Honor, I'm not crazy.

I'm both accurate and sane in what I'm saying.

The King knows what I'm talking about.

I'm sure that nothing of what I've said sounds crazy to him.

He's known all about it for a long time.

You must realize this wasn't done behind the scenes.

You believe the prophets, don't you, King Agrippa don't answer that.

I know you believe.

But Agrippa did answer, keep this up much longer and you'll make a Christian out of me.

Paul, still in chains, said, that's what I'm praying for, whether now or later.

And not only you, but of everyone listening today, to become like me.

Except of course, for this prison jewelry.

I love that last part there.

Talking here in this reading here about breaking down walls, about Paul's testimony here before King Agrippa, a story about expanding the spiritual landscape, the boundaries of the message and challenging religious exclusivity.

Let's talk about some points to ponder.

The first one is about radical inclusivity.

Paul confronts the attempt to, quote, keep God for yourselves.

It's a powerful reminder here that no group has a monopoly on divine truth.

His vision of faith extending to the whole world challenges us to examine where we might be creating religious barriers or participating in spiritual gatekeeping.

True spirituality breaks down walls rather than building them up.

A second point has to do with speaking truth to power.

Notice how Paul maintains respectful dialogue while firmly standing his ground.

With both Festus and King Agrippa, he demonstrates how to engage with those in power without either compromising his message or resorting to hostility.

In our polarized world, this is a model about how progressive faith can challenge systems while maintaining dignity and respect.

A third point is about living beyond convention.

Festus dismisses Paul as, quote, crazy, a common reaction when someone establishes when challenges established norms.

Yet Paul's craziness comes from his commitment to a vision of radical inclusion and spiritual torment and universal love.

This reminds us that working for social and spiritual transformation often means being willing to be misunderstood or labeled as unrealistic or even crazy.

Here's your action step.

Identify one way your spiritual community might be creating untouched necessary barriers to inclusion.

This could be physical, theological or cultural.

Start a conversation on how to make your space more welcoming to those who might feel excluded.

Remember Paul's vision of faith reaching people far and near, both the godless and the God fearing.

We'll come back for a closing prayer in just a moment.

Just want to remind you that we have a great resource for you.

Please head over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com that's the place where find a link there to get our Bible study methodology.

It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

You go there and you pick it up and it will help you with your daily Bible study.

Free to you@voiceofgod daily.com let's pray.

Oh God, you are divine love.

Help us break free from the temptation to build walls around your presence when we're called crazy for believing in radical inclusion.

Give us Paul's courage to stand firm in love when we face resistance to change.

Grant us wisdom to speak truth with respect.

Help us see beyond our comfortable spiritual boundaries to embrace a wider vision of community and lead us to be agents of your expansive love in a world desperate for connection.

Remind us that your life shines everywhere in everyone, whether they look, think or believe like us or not.

Wow.

Amen.

Thank you for being with me here today on the Daily Bible Refresh.

My name is Dr.

Brad Miller.

I'm here every day.

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Until tomorrow, friends.

This is Dr.

Brad Miller reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.

His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new.

Every morning.

Sam.