If you have been following along on this blog, you have now read through the entire book of Acts. What a great book! You cannot read this book without getting excited about what God did through that first century church. They literally changed their world, and that is still the call to the church today.
The author of Acts, who was Luke, the physician, concludes the book in a rapid fashion. There is no formal conclusion to this book, so we are left guessing what happened to the Apostle Paul. We have to go to some of Paul's other writings, as well as history and tradition, to piece together what became of this faithful man.
Paul expected to be released according to what he wrote to the Philippians. In Phil. 1:19-26 he wrote these words: “I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
History and tradition tell us that the prayers of the Philippian church were answered and Paul was set free. He traveled for another two years, was rearrested, tried in Rome, convicted and sentenced to death. Because he was a Roman citizen he could not be crucified. Paul was beheaded as a martyr for Jesus Christ around A.D. 64 or 65.
So, the book of Acts is finished. Or is it? No, not by a long shot! It is still being written today, and you are in it. The story goes on---your story, my story, our story, Jesus’ story. It is the story of how our 21st century church is changing the world for Jesus Christ. And this book of Acts will continue to be written until the return of Jesus Christ to this earth for His church.
Thanks for going through this study with us. I hope you gleaned some helpful truths in the process. Let's you and I keep writing the book of Acts in our community.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Acts - Week 14 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 28:11-31
Three months after the shipwreck they set sail again for Rome. This time they make good time, and it's a safe journey. Paul is encouraged when some believers come to meet him, and accompany him to Rome. The fact that there were believers in Rome did not surprise Paul. He had already sent his letter to the Romans well in advance of his arrival, in fact three years before.
Paul is put under house-arrest in Rome, where he is free to receive visitors. He calls for the Jewish leaders to come to him, and he tells them how he came to be in Rome as a prisoner, emphasizing his innocence.
Three days later the Jews came back to Paul's apartment to hear more from Paul. As he always did in the synagogues, Paul uses the books of Moses and the prophets to teach the gospel and to try to persuade them that Jesus is the Messiah.
Some believed, and some didn't. Those in disagreement began to leave, but not before Paul would quote Isaiah 6:9,10 and let them know the gospel was for the Gentiles as well.
While Paul waited at least two years for his trial to take place, he used the time well, writing the four letters of the New Testament that we know as the Prison Epistles---Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
We know from Paul writings in Philippians 4:22 that some of Caesar's (Nero) household were converted, possibly as a result of Paul's witness to the soldiers that made up the palace guard. Whatever the case, we know that Paul did not sit around bemoaning his situation. He used the time well, influencing anyone and everyone he could about the reality of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow: The final wrap-up
Three months after the shipwreck they set sail again for Rome. This time they make good time, and it's a safe journey. Paul is encouraged when some believers come to meet him, and accompany him to Rome. The fact that there were believers in Rome did not surprise Paul. He had already sent his letter to the Romans well in advance of his arrival, in fact three years before.
Paul is put under house-arrest in Rome, where he is free to receive visitors. He calls for the Jewish leaders to come to him, and he tells them how he came to be in Rome as a prisoner, emphasizing his innocence.
Three days later the Jews came back to Paul's apartment to hear more from Paul. As he always did in the synagogues, Paul uses the books of Moses and the prophets to teach the gospel and to try to persuade them that Jesus is the Messiah.
Some believed, and some didn't. Those in disagreement began to leave, but not before Paul would quote Isaiah 6:9,10 and let them know the gospel was for the Gentiles as well.
While Paul waited at least two years for his trial to take place, he used the time well, writing the four letters of the New Testament that we know as the Prison Epistles---Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
We know from Paul writings in Philippians 4:22 that some of Caesar's (Nero) household were converted, possibly as a result of Paul's witness to the soldiers that made up the palace guard. Whatever the case, we know that Paul did not sit around bemoaning his situation. He used the time well, influencing anyone and everyone he could about the reality of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow: The final wrap-up
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Acts - Week 14 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 28:1-10
Well, I wrote this blog for today once already, but for some reason it did not post, and in the process, I lost it. So, I am sorry about that, especially for all of you out there that are just dying to read these each day!
Once all 276 soaked survivors made it to shore safely, just as Paul had promised they would, they discovered they were on the island called Malta. The people of Malta were of Phoenician descent and probably spoke a dialect closely related to Hebrew. They were unusually kind to the survivors of this shipwreck, considering the fact that many of the survivors were prisoners.
The Maltese built a nice, warm fire to warm them up in the rainy, cold morning hours. Paul, being the servant that he was, gathered some wood for the fire. When he went to throw it on the fire, a cold-blooded snake was suddenly warmed and fastened himself unto Paul's hand. Paul immediately flicked the snake off his hand.
The islanders watched all this and immediately assumed that Paul must have done something wrong, like murder, to have this happen to him. They were convinced that he would swell up and die right before their eyes.
When that didn't happen, they jumped to another conclusion: Paul must be a god. Knowing Paul's history from the book of Acts, he would have done his best to dissuade the crowd from thinking he was a god.
It so happened that Publius, the #1 man on the island, had a sick father. Paul prayed for him and he was healed. When the word got out, all those on the island who were ill or diseased came and they, too, were cured.
Here's the interesting point in this story. God healed every person who was in need, except one---Paul himself. The man who prayed saw all those around him healed, but he was denied healing by God. That doesn't compute very well, does it? That is the enigma surrounding healing. God heals some, and He doesn't heal others. So, should we quit praying for healing? Never! All God asks of us is to pray in faith. The rest is up to Him. He does not hold us responsible for the results of our prayers, just the faithfulness of our prayers.
Tomorrow: Rome---finally!
Well, I wrote this blog for today once already, but for some reason it did not post, and in the process, I lost it. So, I am sorry about that, especially for all of you out there that are just dying to read these each day!
Once all 276 soaked survivors made it to shore safely, just as Paul had promised they would, they discovered they were on the island called Malta. The people of Malta were of Phoenician descent and probably spoke a dialect closely related to Hebrew. They were unusually kind to the survivors of this shipwreck, considering the fact that many of the survivors were prisoners.
The Maltese built a nice, warm fire to warm them up in the rainy, cold morning hours. Paul, being the servant that he was, gathered some wood for the fire. When he went to throw it on the fire, a cold-blooded snake was suddenly warmed and fastened himself unto Paul's hand. Paul immediately flicked the snake off his hand.
The islanders watched all this and immediately assumed that Paul must have done something wrong, like murder, to have this happen to him. They were convinced that he would swell up and die right before their eyes.
When that didn't happen, they jumped to another conclusion: Paul must be a god. Knowing Paul's history from the book of Acts, he would have done his best to dissuade the crowd from thinking he was a god.
It so happened that Publius, the #1 man on the island, had a sick father. Paul prayed for him and he was healed. When the word got out, all those on the island who were ill or diseased came and they, too, were cured.
Here's the interesting point in this story. God healed every person who was in need, except one---Paul himself. The man who prayed saw all those around him healed, but he was denied healing by God. That doesn't compute very well, does it? That is the enigma surrounding healing. God heals some, and He doesn't heal others. So, should we quit praying for healing? Never! All God asks of us is to pray in faith. The rest is up to Him. He does not hold us responsible for the results of our prayers, just the faithfulness of our prayers.
Tomorrow: Rome---finally!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Acts - Week 14 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 27:21-44
During the terrible storm (most likely near the 11th day) that this ship encounters, Paul gives everyone a word of encouragement: No person will be lost in this storm, but the ship will be destroyed.
On the 14th night the crew sensed that they were approaching land, so they took a couple of depth readings, and discovered that they were, indeed, getting closer to land. When some sailors decided to abandon ship, Paul warned the centurion that if the sailors were allowed to escape via the life boat, that all aboard would be lost. So Julius, the centurion had the ropes of the dinghy cut, and the sailors stayed with the ship.
After finally eating to gain their strength, they jettison the rest of the cargo overboard, which was an extreme measure, given the costly nature of the grain on board. But it was necessary to properly beach the ship.
They finally see land, and head for a beach. But they strike a sandbar, and the surf begins to break up the stern of the ship.
The soldiers, fearing the prisoners would escape, planned to kill the prisoners. Remember that those guarding prisoners were responsible for them. If the prisoner was guilty of a crime deserving the penalty of death and that prisoner escaped, the guard was put to death---he paid the penalty intended for the prisoner.
But Julius, the centurion, kept the soldiers from carrying out their plan, because he wanted to spare Paul's life. So he ordered all who could swim to head for shore, and those who could not swim to find a plank, hang on tight, and head for the beach. Amazingly, just as Paul had promised, all 276 on board made it to shore safely, but the ship was wrecked.
Tomorrow: An unusual kindness
During the terrible storm (most likely near the 11th day) that this ship encounters, Paul gives everyone a word of encouragement: No person will be lost in this storm, but the ship will be destroyed.
On the 14th night the crew sensed that they were approaching land, so they took a couple of depth readings, and discovered that they were, indeed, getting closer to land. When some sailors decided to abandon ship, Paul warned the centurion that if the sailors were allowed to escape via the life boat, that all aboard would be lost. So Julius, the centurion had the ropes of the dinghy cut, and the sailors stayed with the ship.
After finally eating to gain their strength, they jettison the rest of the cargo overboard, which was an extreme measure, given the costly nature of the grain on board. But it was necessary to properly beach the ship.
They finally see land, and head for a beach. But they strike a sandbar, and the surf begins to break up the stern of the ship.
The soldiers, fearing the prisoners would escape, planned to kill the prisoners. Remember that those guarding prisoners were responsible for them. If the prisoner was guilty of a crime deserving the penalty of death and that prisoner escaped, the guard was put to death---he paid the penalty intended for the prisoner.
But Julius, the centurion, kept the soldiers from carrying out their plan, because he wanted to spare Paul's life. So he ordered all who could swim to head for shore, and those who could not swim to find a plank, hang on tight, and head for the beach. Amazingly, just as Paul had promised, all 276 on board made it to shore safely, but the ship was wrecked.
Tomorrow: An unusual kindness
Monday, September 1, 2008
Acts - Week 14 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 27:1-20
This account of Paul's journey to Rome gives us one of the most interesting and factual accounts of a sea voyage and a shipwreck to be found anywhere in ancient literature. Luke uses "we" throughout the passage, so it is clear he was an eyewitness.
When they finally get to Myra, Julius books passage for the prisoners on an Alexandrian grain ship bound for Rome. Egypt was the chief source of wheat for the city of Rome, and these ships that carried wheat were considered very important. With much difficulty against these contrary winds, they finally arrive at Fair Havens.
It had taken a great deal of tie to get this far, and Paul cautioned agaisnt going on. The dangerous season for sailing in this part of the world is between the middle of September and the middle of November. After the middle of November all shipping on the open sea came to a halt until February at the earliest.
Luke mentions that it was already past "the Fast" or Yom Kippur, which occurred in A.D.59 on October 5. Therefore, they were well into the dangerous sailing season. The centurion, persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship, ignored Paul's warning and decided to try to reach Phoenix and winter there.
When the winds shifted, they found themselves at the mercy of the winds. When they found some protection on the south side of the island of Cauda, they ran cables around the hull to hold the ship together. This was a common precaution done in the event of riding out a storm. They also let out an anchor to slow their drift towards any sand banks.
The next day they threw overboard some of the cargo, which probably meant some of the ship's equipment. The grain would have been (and was) the last thing to go. Lightening the load indicates that the ship was taking on water.
The third day they even threw the ship's tackle into the sea, and for the next 11 days the storm continued, making navigation impossible. They were simply riding out the storm. But when they saw neither sun nor stars for many days, and the storm continued raging, they finally gave up all hope of being saved., except for Paul.
Tomorrow: The shipwreck
This account of Paul's journey to Rome gives us one of the most interesting and factual accounts of a sea voyage and a shipwreck to be found anywhere in ancient literature. Luke uses "we" throughout the passage, so it is clear he was an eyewitness.
When they finally get to Myra, Julius books passage for the prisoners on an Alexandrian grain ship bound for Rome. Egypt was the chief source of wheat for the city of Rome, and these ships that carried wheat were considered very important. With much difficulty against these contrary winds, they finally arrive at Fair Havens.
It had taken a great deal of tie to get this far, and Paul cautioned agaisnt going on. The dangerous season for sailing in this part of the world is between the middle of September and the middle of November. After the middle of November all shipping on the open sea came to a halt until February at the earliest.
Luke mentions that it was already past "the Fast" or Yom Kippur, which occurred in A.D.59 on October 5. Therefore, they were well into the dangerous sailing season. The centurion, persuaded by the pilot and the owner of the ship, ignored Paul's warning and decided to try to reach Phoenix and winter there.
When the winds shifted, they found themselves at the mercy of the winds. When they found some protection on the south side of the island of Cauda, they ran cables around the hull to hold the ship together. This was a common precaution done in the event of riding out a storm. They also let out an anchor to slow their drift towards any sand banks.
The next day they threw overboard some of the cargo, which probably meant some of the ship's equipment. The grain would have been (and was) the last thing to go. Lightening the load indicates that the ship was taking on water.
The third day they even threw the ship's tackle into the sea, and for the next 11 days the storm continued, making navigation impossible. They were simply riding out the storm. But when they saw neither sun nor stars for many days, and the storm continued raging, they finally gave up all hope of being saved., except for Paul.
Tomorrow: The shipwreck
Friday, August 29, 2008
Acts - Week 13 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 26:24-32
Paul's Faith Story was powerful, and Festus felt its conviction and reacted against it by interrupting Paul, and declaring that these writings Paul mentions are driving him mad. Paul gently replies by declaring his sanity and turning to the king and stating that he is familiar with what has been said.
The king could verify all of this, since none of it happened in a corner. All the things Paul mentions, the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel message, all happened in public and were well known and attested to.
Then, addressing Agrippa, Paul asked him if he believed the prophets. Without waiting for an answer, he added that he knew Agrippa believed. Suddenly, and with surprise, Agrippa realized Paul was trying to convert him.
By saying that Agrippa believed the prophets, Paul was implying that he would therefore have to believe what they said about the Messiah, and this should cause him to believe what Paul said about Jesus.
But it seems Agrippa was not willing to say he did believe the prophets; neither was he willing to say he believed Paul. Agrippa's response has been interpreted a number of ways, but whatever it was, it was a rejection of the message, and Paul's efforts to convert him. Paul, however, refused to be discouraged. He declares his desire that everyone would become like he (a follower of Christ), except for the chains that bound him.
Next week: Paul sets sail for Rome---finally!
Paul's Faith Story was powerful, and Festus felt its conviction and reacted against it by interrupting Paul, and declaring that these writings Paul mentions are driving him mad. Paul gently replies by declaring his sanity and turning to the king and stating that he is familiar with what has been said.
The king could verify all of this, since none of it happened in a corner. All the things Paul mentions, the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel message, all happened in public and were well known and attested to.
Then, addressing Agrippa, Paul asked him if he believed the prophets. Without waiting for an answer, he added that he knew Agrippa believed. Suddenly, and with surprise, Agrippa realized Paul was trying to convert him.
By saying that Agrippa believed the prophets, Paul was implying that he would therefore have to believe what they said about the Messiah, and this should cause him to believe what Paul said about Jesus.
But it seems Agrippa was not willing to say he did believe the prophets; neither was he willing to say he believed Paul. Agrippa's response has been interpreted a number of ways, but whatever it was, it was a rejection of the message, and Paul's efforts to convert him. Paul, however, refused to be discouraged. He declares his desire that everyone would become like he (a follower of Christ), except for the chains that bound him.
Next week: Paul sets sail for Rome---finally!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Acts - Week 13 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 26:12-23
Paul continues his Faith Story by sharing his conversion experience in which he encountered Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus to cleanse the synagogues there of any Christ-followers, he experienced a bright light and a voice speaking to him. Luke includes a new detail in Paul's conversation. Paul states that Jesus spoke to him in Aramaic.
But, what does "It is hard for you to kick against the goads," mean? It comes from the farming picture of someone using a sharply pointed stick to correct the antics of the oxen. This was a common phrase used to express opposition to God. In using this phrase, Paul identifies the voice from heaven as divine. Jesus gives Paul very clear instructions pertaining to the purpose Jesus has for Paul's life.
Paul states that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision given to him. "Vision" here does not infer dream-like, but implies an actual vision or sighting of Jesus. Paul then sums up the ministry he carried out over the past 18 or 19 years, beginning in Damascus, then Jerusalem, then to the Gentiles and regions beyond.
The message he proclaimed was clear: Repent and turn to God and prove your repentance by your deeds. And it was because of this message that the Jews seized him and intended to kill him, because this message of repentance and forgiveness was for Jew and Gentile alike, and included blessings for the Gentiles, which the Jews did not appreciate.
Paul then bears witness to God's faithfulness in protecting him. He finishes by stating that all he has said is nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: That the Christ would suffer; Christ would be the first to raise from the dead; Christ would proclaim light to his own people (Jew) and the Gentiles.
Paul's Faith Story is not long, but it covers the needed bases and would have been quite clear to his listeners. That's all anyone's Faith Story needs to be effective.
Tomorrow: Paul pulls no punches with the king
Paul continues his Faith Story by sharing his conversion experience in which he encountered Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus to cleanse the synagogues there of any Christ-followers, he experienced a bright light and a voice speaking to him. Luke includes a new detail in Paul's conversation. Paul states that Jesus spoke to him in Aramaic.
But, what does "It is hard for you to kick against the goads," mean? It comes from the farming picture of someone using a sharply pointed stick to correct the antics of the oxen. This was a common phrase used to express opposition to God. In using this phrase, Paul identifies the voice from heaven as divine. Jesus gives Paul very clear instructions pertaining to the purpose Jesus has for Paul's life.
Paul states that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision given to him. "Vision" here does not infer dream-like, but implies an actual vision or sighting of Jesus. Paul then sums up the ministry he carried out over the past 18 or 19 years, beginning in Damascus, then Jerusalem, then to the Gentiles and regions beyond.
The message he proclaimed was clear: Repent and turn to God and prove your repentance by your deeds. And it was because of this message that the Jews seized him and intended to kill him, because this message of repentance and forgiveness was for Jew and Gentile alike, and included blessings for the Gentiles, which the Jews did not appreciate.
Paul then bears witness to God's faithfulness in protecting him. He finishes by stating that all he has said is nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: That the Christ would suffer; Christ would be the first to raise from the dead; Christ would proclaim light to his own people (Jew) and the Gentiles.
Paul's Faith Story is not long, but it covers the needed bases and would have been quite clear to his listeners. That's all anyone's Faith Story needs to be effective.
Tomorrow: Paul pulls no punches with the king
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Acts - Week 13 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 26:1-11
King Agrippa allows Paul to speak on his own behalf, and so Paul launches into his Faith Story for the third time in this book of Acts. He feels fortunate to be able to make his defense before Agrippa because Agrippa is well versed in Jewish customs and "controversies" (or topics that Jews are not in agreement over).
One of the controversies pertinent to this trial is the resurrection of the dead. Agrippa would have considered himself a Jew, in name only. This religious affiliation with the Jews was for political purposes. He was not a practicing Jew.
Paul, unlike the orator/lawyer, Tertullus, in chapter 24, does not promise to be brief, but asks for patience in hearing him out. Paul first states his background and then raises the real issue of his trial. He pointed out that all the Jews knew his manner of life both in Tarsus and Jerusalem. He also mentions that they all knew he was a member of the sect of the Pharisees.
He then states that it is because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead that the Jews were bringing charges against him. He ends this portion of his defense with a great question, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"
He goes on to describe his zeal in persecuting the followers of Jesus. He told how the Sanhedrin had given him authority to arrest and jail believers in Jesus. So zealous was Paul in this persecution that he even traveled to cities outside of Judea to pursue them.
Paul has now set his listeners up for the meat of his story, which we will look at tomorrow. Once again we see this master communicator very much aware of whom he is speaking to. He identifies with them as much as possible so as to create common ground for the presentation of Jesus.
Tomorrow: And now, for the rest of the story!
King Agrippa allows Paul to speak on his own behalf, and so Paul launches into his Faith Story for the third time in this book of Acts. He feels fortunate to be able to make his defense before Agrippa because Agrippa is well versed in Jewish customs and "controversies" (or topics that Jews are not in agreement over).
One of the controversies pertinent to this trial is the resurrection of the dead. Agrippa would have considered himself a Jew, in name only. This religious affiliation with the Jews was for political purposes. He was not a practicing Jew.
Paul, unlike the orator/lawyer, Tertullus, in chapter 24, does not promise to be brief, but asks for patience in hearing him out. Paul first states his background and then raises the real issue of his trial. He pointed out that all the Jews knew his manner of life both in Tarsus and Jerusalem. He also mentions that they all knew he was a member of the sect of the Pharisees.
He then states that it is because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead that the Jews were bringing charges against him. He ends this portion of his defense with a great question, "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"
He goes on to describe his zeal in persecuting the followers of Jesus. He told how the Sanhedrin had given him authority to arrest and jail believers in Jesus. So zealous was Paul in this persecution that he even traveled to cities outside of Judea to pursue them.
Paul has now set his listeners up for the meat of his story, which we will look at tomorrow. Once again we see this master communicator very much aware of whom he is speaking to. He identifies with them as much as possible so as to create common ground for the presentation of Jesus.
Tomorrow: And now, for the rest of the story!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Acts - Week 13 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 25:13-27
King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice, come to Caesarea to pay their respects to the new governor. While spending much time with them, Festus gets on the topic of Paul. He relates the entire story to Agrippa and Bernice.
Festus is not well versed in Judaism. He refers to Jewish beliefs in vs.19 as "their own superstition." (King James Version) It is translated as "religion" in the New International Version. He does not mention that he sought to gain favor with the jews by returning Paul to Jerusalem, but instead states that he was at wits end as to how to deal with the issue. Agrippa takes an interest in the case and wants to meet with Paul.
The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrive in all their pomp and glory to hear Paul's case. The city officials and other prominent men of Caesarea also wer in attendance. Festus opens the meeting (which really became the 5th trial that Paul endured in a two year time span) with a synopsis of the case. Festus declares that he had found that Paul has done nothing worthy of death. However, because Paul had appealed to Caesar, Festus had decided to send him.
The problem for Festus was that he had nothing reliable or trustworthy to write to Caesar concerning charges against Paul. In other words, Festus was looking for help in how to present the case in the form of a letter to Nero.
Festus was hoping that from this investigation Agrippa would give him proper instruction on how to word a letter that must accompany a prisioner brought before Caesar.
Tomorrow: Paul goes back to his "Ol faithful."
King Agrippa and his sister, Bernice, come to Caesarea to pay their respects to the new governor. While spending much time with them, Festus gets on the topic of Paul. He relates the entire story to Agrippa and Bernice.
Festus is not well versed in Judaism. He refers to Jewish beliefs in vs.19 as "their own superstition." (King James Version) It is translated as "religion" in the New International Version. He does not mention that he sought to gain favor with the jews by returning Paul to Jerusalem, but instead states that he was at wits end as to how to deal with the issue. Agrippa takes an interest in the case and wants to meet with Paul.
The next day Agrippa and Bernice arrive in all their pomp and glory to hear Paul's case. The city officials and other prominent men of Caesarea also wer in attendance. Festus opens the meeting (which really became the 5th trial that Paul endured in a two year time span) with a synopsis of the case. Festus declares that he had found that Paul has done nothing worthy of death. However, because Paul had appealed to Caesar, Festus had decided to send him.
The problem for Festus was that he had nothing reliable or trustworthy to write to Caesar concerning charges against Paul. In other words, Festus was looking for help in how to present the case in the form of a letter to Nero.
Festus was hoping that from this investigation Agrippa would give him proper instruction on how to word a letter that must accompany a prisioner brought before Caesar.
Tomorrow: Paul goes back to his "Ol faithful."
Monday, August 25, 2008
Acts - Week 13 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 25:1-12
Even after 2 years of Paul living in relative obscurity, the Jews in Jerusalem still considered Paul their archenemy and wanted his death. The appointment of a new governor (Festus) was their opportunity to bring their charges against Paul once more.
Immediately upon Festus' arrival in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders meet with him. They inform him of their charges against Paul, and then they ask a favor, requesting the Paul be sent back to Jerusalem for trial. Their plan was to ambush Paul, and finally kill him.
Probably aware of the previous ambush plot 2 years prior, Festus denies their request. But he does invite them to accompany him to Caesarea to deal with the matter there. Luke does not go into detail concerning either the charges or the defense. Most likely, the charges were the same ones brought 2 years earlier before Felix.
Apparently Festus was unsure of how to handle the situatioin, not understanding the finer points of Jewish custom in regard to the accusations brought against Paul. Because of that, Festus decides to grant the Jews a favor, but only if Paul is willing to go to Jerusalem.
Paul, knowing that the Jews intended t okill him, appeals to Caesar (Nero). As a Roman citizen, this was Paul's right. Besides, at the moment, it was the only recourse available to Paul in order to stay out of the hands of the Jewish leaders.
Festus talked this over with his council, but there was really nothing he could do. Paul had appealed to Caesar; to Caesar he must go. Festus was probably relieved that the case was now out of his hands.
Do you think Paul was right in avoiding Jerusalem and the Jewish leaders at this point? Or should he have just trusted God to protect him in this hazardous position?
Tomorrow: Another interruption to Paul's plan
Even after 2 years of Paul living in relative obscurity, the Jews in Jerusalem still considered Paul their archenemy and wanted his death. The appointment of a new governor (Festus) was their opportunity to bring their charges against Paul once more.
Immediately upon Festus' arrival in Jerusalem, the chief priests and elders meet with him. They inform him of their charges against Paul, and then they ask a favor, requesting the Paul be sent back to Jerusalem for trial. Their plan was to ambush Paul, and finally kill him.
Probably aware of the previous ambush plot 2 years prior, Festus denies their request. But he does invite them to accompany him to Caesarea to deal with the matter there. Luke does not go into detail concerning either the charges or the defense. Most likely, the charges were the same ones brought 2 years earlier before Felix.
Apparently Festus was unsure of how to handle the situatioin, not understanding the finer points of Jewish custom in regard to the accusations brought against Paul. Because of that, Festus decides to grant the Jews a favor, but only if Paul is willing to go to Jerusalem.
Paul, knowing that the Jews intended t okill him, appeals to Caesar (Nero). As a Roman citizen, this was Paul's right. Besides, at the moment, it was the only recourse available to Paul in order to stay out of the hands of the Jewish leaders.
Festus talked this over with his council, but there was really nothing he could do. Paul had appealed to Caesar; to Caesar he must go. Festus was probably relieved that the case was now out of his hands.
Do you think Paul was right in avoiding Jerusalem and the Jewish leaders at this point? Or should he have just trusted God to protect him in this hazardous position?
Tomorrow: Another interruption to Paul's plan
Friday, August 22, 2008
Acts - Week 12 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 24: 22-27
Ever stood in line at the DMV? The number in your hand is #52 and the sign on the counter says, "Now serving #23." Or how about traffic? Like on the Dan Ryan in Chicago at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon? It's a five lane parking lot. Or what about waiting in line at the grocery store? You have a twelve pack of Coke and some pretzels in hand and every lane is full of people who look like they're stocking up for Y2K.
Patience is a virtue. No kidding.
How about Paul? Check out the first phrase in Acts 24:27. "Two years went by in this way..."
Two years. Two YEARS. Two years of being held captive - mind you it was a minimum security, "white collar crime" prison. But still...two years. And two years of a governor who knows the story, but is just holding on to you, hoping to extort a bribe (vs. 26).
Paul: "Come on. Jesus, you told me I was going to go to Rome to preach the Good News!"
Jesus: "Patience, Paul. Patience."
Actually, knowing Paul, he probably was much more patient than what I project on him. But still, he definitely provides us with a model of how to handle difficulty with patience.
What dream are you waiting for to happen? Or rather, how are you waiting?
Author F. B. Meyer provides this insight: "If God told you on the front end how long you would wait to find the fulfillment of your desire or pleasure or dream, you'd lose heart. You'd grow weary in doing well doing. So would I. But He doesn't. He just says, 'Wait. I keep My word. I'm in no hurry. In the process of time I'm developing you to be ready for the promise.'"
Are you waiting patiently for dream to come together? What are the good byproducts of patience? Remember it could be worse...you could be on the Dan Ryan...
Ever stood in line at the DMV? The number in your hand is #52 and the sign on the counter says, "Now serving #23." Or how about traffic? Like on the Dan Ryan in Chicago at 3:30 on a Friday afternoon? It's a five lane parking lot. Or what about waiting in line at the grocery store? You have a twelve pack of Coke and some pretzels in hand and every lane is full of people who look like they're stocking up for Y2K.
Patience is a virtue. No kidding.
How about Paul? Check out the first phrase in Acts 24:27. "Two years went by in this way..."
Two years. Two YEARS. Two years of being held captive - mind you it was a minimum security, "white collar crime" prison. But still...two years. And two years of a governor who knows the story, but is just holding on to you, hoping to extort a bribe (vs. 26).
Paul: "Come on. Jesus, you told me I was going to go to Rome to preach the Good News!"
Jesus: "Patience, Paul. Patience."
Actually, knowing Paul, he probably was much more patient than what I project on him. But still, he definitely provides us with a model of how to handle difficulty with patience.
What dream are you waiting for to happen? Or rather, how are you waiting?
Author F. B. Meyer provides this insight: "If God told you on the front end how long you would wait to find the fulfillment of your desire or pleasure or dream, you'd lose heart. You'd grow weary in doing well doing. So would I. But He doesn't. He just says, 'Wait. I keep My word. I'm in no hurry. In the process of time I'm developing you to be ready for the promise.'"
Are you waiting patiently for dream to come together? What are the good byproducts of patience? Remember it could be worse...you could be on the Dan Ryan...
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Acts - Week 12 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 24:1-21
Perseverance. It is a fruit grown in the soil of suffering (check out Romans 5:1-5 if you aren't sure).
In an address at Harrow School, October 29, 1941, Winston Churchill said, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never give in." Then he sat down.
Acts 24 opens with these words: "Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish leaders and the lawyer Tertullus, to press charges against Paul." For the better part of the last two weeks of Paul's life, he has been hounded by those who would like nothing better than to see him dead.
They slandered him in the Temple, beat him in the streets, planned his assassination, and now they came to falsely accuse him in a Roman governor's court (they even hired a professional orator - Tertullus).
But Paul persevered. Beginning in Acts 24:10 we read of his own defense. His defense is remarkable for two reasons. First, in spite of the harrowing experiences of the past 12 days, he is able to clearly communicate a reasonable defense. Odds makers would have made Tertullus the heavy favorite. I can only imagine how tired and physically exhausted (and bruised) Paul must have been. And yet, he is able to speak powerfully and eloquently on his own behalf.
The second thing about his defense that is remarkable is his ability to once again seize the opportunity to share the Good News with his audience. In Acts 24:14-16, Paul uses his platform to tell those within earshot of the hope he has in God. Paul models for us the admonition given to us in 1 Peter 3:15, "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
I have to give Paul huge props. Not only does he persevere through 12 days of adversity, but when he does respond he does it with such class. Remember, these people were trying to kill him! It's one thing to whine and complain through tough times, and another to gently, respectfully, and courageously handle adversity.
James writes on this subject as well: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything."
Paul's example, along with James' and Peter's thoughts, make me stop and think about how I handle adversity. According to James, my response to difficulties is a good indicator of my maturity level.
Tomorrow: Patience is a virtue
Perseverance. It is a fruit grown in the soil of suffering (check out Romans 5:1-5 if you aren't sure).
In an address at Harrow School, October 29, 1941, Winston Churchill said, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never give in." Then he sat down.
Acts 24 opens with these words: "Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish leaders and the lawyer Tertullus, to press charges against Paul." For the better part of the last two weeks of Paul's life, he has been hounded by those who would like nothing better than to see him dead.
They slandered him in the Temple, beat him in the streets, planned his assassination, and now they came to falsely accuse him in a Roman governor's court (they even hired a professional orator - Tertullus).
But Paul persevered. Beginning in Acts 24:10 we read of his own defense. His defense is remarkable for two reasons. First, in spite of the harrowing experiences of the past 12 days, he is able to clearly communicate a reasonable defense. Odds makers would have made Tertullus the heavy favorite. I can only imagine how tired and physically exhausted (and bruised) Paul must have been. And yet, he is able to speak powerfully and eloquently on his own behalf.
The second thing about his defense that is remarkable is his ability to once again seize the opportunity to share the Good News with his audience. In Acts 24:14-16, Paul uses his platform to tell those within earshot of the hope he has in God. Paul models for us the admonition given to us in 1 Peter 3:15, "...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
I have to give Paul huge props. Not only does he persevere through 12 days of adversity, but when he does respond he does it with such class. Remember, these people were trying to kill him! It's one thing to whine and complain through tough times, and another to gently, respectfully, and courageously handle adversity.
James writes on this subject as well: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything."
Paul's example, along with James' and Peter's thoughts, make me stop and think about how I handle adversity. According to James, my response to difficulties is a good indicator of my maturity level.
Tomorrow: Patience is a virtue
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Acts - Week 12 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 23:23-35
Once the plot to kill Paul was discovered by his nephew, who in turn informed the Roman commander, plans were made to remove Paul from Jerusalem. The military escort gathered to accompany Paul was no small force - 400 soldiers and 70 cavalry. The size of the force and the hour of departure (around 9:00 PM) would certainly have garnered attention in the streets of Jerusalem.
The trip to Caesarea is a little over 60 miles, so the contingent stopped at a half-way point, the fortress at Antipatris. In the morning, the foot soldiers return to their garrison in Jerusalem and the horsemen continue their escort of Paul to Caesarea.
As Paul's case is passed from the military commander, Claudius Lysias, to Governor Felix, Paul is moving up the "food chain" in Roman politics. Remember earlier when Jesus appeared to Paul, he encouraged Paul and told him that he would preach the Good News in Rome. At that time, Paul must have wondered how that was ever going to happen. By having his case transferred to the hands of the region's governor, the path to Rome was now beginning to take form.
Sometimes when God gives us a dream we wonder how in the world it will ever come about. We tend to see things that are only right in front of us, while He sees the big picture. I'm reminded of this often quoted passage: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5,6).
How are you handling roadblocks and detours? What are some things we can do to bolster our faith when it looks like our God-given dreams are hijacked by circumstances? I'd love to hear some thoughts on this.
Tomorrow: Paul on trial...again...
Once the plot to kill Paul was discovered by his nephew, who in turn informed the Roman commander, plans were made to remove Paul from Jerusalem. The military escort gathered to accompany Paul was no small force - 400 soldiers and 70 cavalry. The size of the force and the hour of departure (around 9:00 PM) would certainly have garnered attention in the streets of Jerusalem.
The trip to Caesarea is a little over 60 miles, so the contingent stopped at a half-way point, the fortress at Antipatris. In the morning, the foot soldiers return to their garrison in Jerusalem and the horsemen continue their escort of Paul to Caesarea.
As Paul's case is passed from the military commander, Claudius Lysias, to Governor Felix, Paul is moving up the "food chain" in Roman politics. Remember earlier when Jesus appeared to Paul, he encouraged Paul and told him that he would preach the Good News in Rome. At that time, Paul must have wondered how that was ever going to happen. By having his case transferred to the hands of the region's governor, the path to Rome was now beginning to take form.
Sometimes when God gives us a dream we wonder how in the world it will ever come about. We tend to see things that are only right in front of us, while He sees the big picture. I'm reminded of this often quoted passage: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5,6).
How are you handling roadblocks and detours? What are some things we can do to bolster our faith when it looks like our God-given dreams are hijacked by circumstances? I'd love to hear some thoughts on this.
Tomorrow: Paul on trial...again...
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Acts - Week 12 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 23: 12-22
An advocate is someone who supports or promotes the interests of another. An advocate is someone who will cover your back - often without you even knowing it. Advocates are gifts from God. Paul's nephew is a great example of what advocates can do for us.
In Leonard Sweet's book "11" he describes four reasons why back-coverers are so important to us:
1. First, you and I are going to get it in the back. Somewhere, someway, someone is going to not-so-kindly place a metaphorical dagger in your back. This is especially true if you are already vulnerable. There is an Arabic proverb that says, "A falling camel attracts many knives."
2. Sometimes advocates fight alongside you on the front lines, but mostly they cover you with prayer from a distance. Paul's nephew fought alongside of him - he told Paul of the plot. But many times your advocates will help you without your knowledge.
Sweet's last two reasons have more to do with how we can cover the back of others:
3. We can be advocates for people we don't even know. A good recent example of this is how the people at CLF helped out with the "Stuff the Bus" campaign last week. By providing school supplies for kids who might not otherwise be able to have those things, we were able to cover these student's backs - students we most likely will never meet personally. There are many ways we can cover people's backs we've never met. What are some things you can think of doing?
4. Finally, we can be advocates for generations that come after us and before us. This one might take a little thought to comprehend. Let me illustrate this with a story from Sweet's book. Former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau and Claude Monet, founder of French impressionism, were friends. They each lived to be old men, and each died within a few years of one another, Monet first. When Clemenceau saw a black shroud draping Monet's coffin, a sudden burst of fury overtook him. Rushing to a nearby window, he ripped a colorful curtain from its rod, cast the balck shroud to the ground, and covered the coffin with the drape. For his friend to be buried in a color he had banned from his palette was the ultimate insult.
Here are two questions for the day: Who are my back-coverers? and then Whose back am I covering?
Tomorrow: Moving up the food chain
An advocate is someone who supports or promotes the interests of another. An advocate is someone who will cover your back - often without you even knowing it. Advocates are gifts from God. Paul's nephew is a great example of what advocates can do for us.
In Leonard Sweet's book "11" he describes four reasons why back-coverers are so important to us:
1. First, you and I are going to get it in the back. Somewhere, someway, someone is going to not-so-kindly place a metaphorical dagger in your back. This is especially true if you are already vulnerable. There is an Arabic proverb that says, "A falling camel attracts many knives."
2. Sometimes advocates fight alongside you on the front lines, but mostly they cover you with prayer from a distance. Paul's nephew fought alongside of him - he told Paul of the plot. But many times your advocates will help you without your knowledge.
Sweet's last two reasons have more to do with how we can cover the back of others:
3. We can be advocates for people we don't even know. A good recent example of this is how the people at CLF helped out with the "Stuff the Bus" campaign last week. By providing school supplies for kids who might not otherwise be able to have those things, we were able to cover these student's backs - students we most likely will never meet personally. There are many ways we can cover people's backs we've never met. What are some things you can think of doing?
4. Finally, we can be advocates for generations that come after us and before us. This one might take a little thought to comprehend. Let me illustrate this with a story from Sweet's book. Former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau and Claude Monet, founder of French impressionism, were friends. They each lived to be old men, and each died within a few years of one another, Monet first. When Clemenceau saw a black shroud draping Monet's coffin, a sudden burst of fury overtook him. Rushing to a nearby window, he ripped a colorful curtain from its rod, cast the balck shroud to the ground, and covered the coffin with the drape. For his friend to be buried in a color he had banned from his palette was the ultimate insult.
Here are two questions for the day: Who are my back-coverers? and then Whose back am I covering?
Tomorrow: Moving up the food chain
Monday, August 18, 2008
Acts - Week 12 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 23:1-11
The day after the riot at the Temple and Paul's arrest, the Roman commander orders the leading priests and Jewish high council, or Sanhedrin, to meet. It doesn't take long before things get heated.
There are three things that really stand out to me in this passage:
1. After Paul's opening remark, the high priest - a man by the name of Ananias - commands Paul to be slapped on the mouth. This action draws an immediate response from Paul (verse 3). Paul calls Ananias a "whitewashed wall." This is a strong insult to a man in authority. When those standing near Paul rebuke him, Paul responds by saying he did not realize he was speaking to the high priest. Really? Remember who Paul was - his past in the very highest circles of Judaism. And he didn't realize he was talking to the high priest? Curious...don't you think? What's that all about?
2. The second thing that strikes me is Paul's strategic move to change the focus of the meeting. In verse 6 we read that Paul realized some of the group were Sadducees and some were Pharisees - both are sects within Judaism. He makes a proclamation at the end of verse 6 that divides the council down the middle and gets the focus off of himself. What a brilliant move! This just reminds me of what a savvy guy Paul was. Paul knew how to size up a crowd and relate to them. In this case to his benefit.
3. The third thing I find striking in this passage is that Jesus appears to Paul again (verse 11). The past two days have been extremely trying for Paul. He's been assaulted, arrested, chained, and slapped. In the middle of all of this, he had to compose himself enough to verbally defend himself. In the middle of these unbelievably taxing circumstances, Jesus comes to Paul and appears to him and speaks two very important words, "Be encouraged!" Can you imagine what that did for Paul? It reminds me of Jesus' words to his friends in Matthew 28:20b, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." That promise was true for the disciples, it was true for Paul, and it is true for us today.
What about you? What speaks to you from these opening verses of chapter 23?
Tomorrow: Whose got your back?
The day after the riot at the Temple and Paul's arrest, the Roman commander orders the leading priests and Jewish high council, or Sanhedrin, to meet. It doesn't take long before things get heated.
There are three things that really stand out to me in this passage:
1. After Paul's opening remark, the high priest - a man by the name of Ananias - commands Paul to be slapped on the mouth. This action draws an immediate response from Paul (verse 3). Paul calls Ananias a "whitewashed wall." This is a strong insult to a man in authority. When those standing near Paul rebuke him, Paul responds by saying he did not realize he was speaking to the high priest. Really? Remember who Paul was - his past in the very highest circles of Judaism. And he didn't realize he was talking to the high priest? Curious...don't you think? What's that all about?
2. The second thing that strikes me is Paul's strategic move to change the focus of the meeting. In verse 6 we read that Paul realized some of the group were Sadducees and some were Pharisees - both are sects within Judaism. He makes a proclamation at the end of verse 6 that divides the council down the middle and gets the focus off of himself. What a brilliant move! This just reminds me of what a savvy guy Paul was. Paul knew how to size up a crowd and relate to them. In this case to his benefit.
3. The third thing I find striking in this passage is that Jesus appears to Paul again (verse 11). The past two days have been extremely trying for Paul. He's been assaulted, arrested, chained, and slapped. In the middle of all of this, he had to compose himself enough to verbally defend himself. In the middle of these unbelievably taxing circumstances, Jesus comes to Paul and appears to him and speaks two very important words, "Be encouraged!" Can you imagine what that did for Paul? It reminds me of Jesus' words to his friends in Matthew 28:20b, "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." That promise was true for the disciples, it was true for Paul, and it is true for us today.
What about you? What speaks to you from these opening verses of chapter 23?
Tomorrow: Whose got your back?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Acts - Week 11 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 22:22-30
The Jews in the courtyard listened to Paul until he spoke of the command to go to the Gentiles. This set off the crowd again. Even though the Old Testament spoke clearly of God's care for the Gentiles, the Roman oppression had blinded their minds. In their eyes, Gentiles were dogs, scavengers. And so they expressed their belief that Paul was not worthy to live.
The Roman commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks where they were going to flog him. That meant that they were going to question him while torturing him with a whip made of leather thongs with pieces of bone and metal sewn in them. A Roman scourge often crippled or killed its victim.
At that point Paul asked the man in charge if it was legal to scourge a man who was a Roman citizen and uncondemned. The commander was called in, and he asked Paul if he was a Roman citizen. When Paul answered in the affirmative, the commander commented that he had paid a great sum of money for his Roman citizenship. In other words, he had bought a citizenship, even though he was not one by birth. This was rather common in the Roman empire, especially since it was a good way to line their pockets!
Paul said that he was a citizen by birth. His father or grandfather must have given unusual service to the Romans in Tarsus and been rewarded by Roman citizenship for himself and his family.
Paul's possible "pain inflicters" quickly realized that they were in trouble if Paul decided to press charges against them for what they had threatened to do to him, so they kept him in custody, but without chains, we can be sure. So, Paul escaped a beating---thankfully!
Next week: Paul wisely knows the crowd he speaks to
The Jews in the courtyard listened to Paul until he spoke of the command to go to the Gentiles. This set off the crowd again. Even though the Old Testament spoke clearly of God's care for the Gentiles, the Roman oppression had blinded their minds. In their eyes, Gentiles were dogs, scavengers. And so they expressed their belief that Paul was not worthy to live.
The Roman commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks where they were going to flog him. That meant that they were going to question him while torturing him with a whip made of leather thongs with pieces of bone and metal sewn in them. A Roman scourge often crippled or killed its victim.
At that point Paul asked the man in charge if it was legal to scourge a man who was a Roman citizen and uncondemned. The commander was called in, and he asked Paul if he was a Roman citizen. When Paul answered in the affirmative, the commander commented that he had paid a great sum of money for his Roman citizenship. In other words, he had bought a citizenship, even though he was not one by birth. This was rather common in the Roman empire, especially since it was a good way to line their pockets!
Paul said that he was a citizen by birth. His father or grandfather must have given unusual service to the Romans in Tarsus and been rewarded by Roman citizenship for himself and his family.
Paul's possible "pain inflicters" quickly realized that they were in trouble if Paul decided to press charges against them for what they had threatened to do to him, so they kept him in custody, but without chains, we can be sure. So, Paul escaped a beating---thankfully!
Next week: Paul wisely knows the crowd he speaks to
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Acts - Week 11 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 21:40-22:21
This is the passage of Scripture that last weekend's message was based on, so let me recap some of the main thoughts. Paul quiets this raucous crowd, and they become very quiet when they hear him speak to them in Aramaic, because that was their language. He tells the crowd his Faith Story.
Every follower of Christ has a Faith Story. It may not be long. It certainly doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, their are three simple parts to a Faith Story, and you can follow them quite easily as Paul talks.
First, he tells his audience who he was. He is very specific, and he wisely identifies himself as being very much like the men and women whom he was addressing.
Secondly, he tells them how he came to encounter Christ. He relates his experience on the road to Damascus, when Jesus confronted him. The focal point is not what Paul was, or had done, but rather the person of Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, he tells them the difference Christ has made in his life. He went from being a Jesus-hater to a Jesus-lover. He went from hunting down Christians to becoming one himself! That was an incredible transformation, and Paul wanted them to see the distinct difference between what he had been and what he was now.
That's what a Faith Story is about: 1) who you were before Christ; 2) how you met Jesus Christ; and 3) the difference He has made in your life. People may argue with your theology all day long, but nobody can argue with the personal experience you have had with Jesus.
Your Faith Story is powerful. Learn to tell it often, whenever the Holy Spirit prompts you. And learn to tell it well, so there is no chance that your listener will miss the point.
Tomorrow: Paul pulls out the citizen trump card!
This is the passage of Scripture that last weekend's message was based on, so let me recap some of the main thoughts. Paul quiets this raucous crowd, and they become very quiet when they hear him speak to them in Aramaic, because that was their language. He tells the crowd his Faith Story.
Every follower of Christ has a Faith Story. It may not be long. It certainly doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, their are three simple parts to a Faith Story, and you can follow them quite easily as Paul talks.
First, he tells his audience who he was. He is very specific, and he wisely identifies himself as being very much like the men and women whom he was addressing.
Secondly, he tells them how he came to encounter Christ. He relates his experience on the road to Damascus, when Jesus confronted him. The focal point is not what Paul was, or had done, but rather the person of Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, he tells them the difference Christ has made in his life. He went from being a Jesus-hater to a Jesus-lover. He went from hunting down Christians to becoming one himself! That was an incredible transformation, and Paul wanted them to see the distinct difference between what he had been and what he was now.
That's what a Faith Story is about: 1) who you were before Christ; 2) how you met Jesus Christ; and 3) the difference He has made in your life. People may argue with your theology all day long, but nobody can argue with the personal experience you have had with Jesus.
Your Faith Story is powerful. Learn to tell it often, whenever the Holy Spirit prompts you. And learn to tell it well, so there is no chance that your listener will miss the point.
Tomorrow: Paul pulls out the citizen trump card!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Acts - Week 11 / Wednedsay
Reading for today: Acts 21:27-22:1
The plan of the Jerusalem church elders failed. Instead of satisfying the Jews, the opposite happened when the 7 days of purification were almost completed. Jews from the Roman province of Asia were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. They saw Paul in the Temple, started making untrue accusations against him, and stirring up the crowd against him. They even accused him of bringing a Gentile into the restricted area of the Temple that was open only to the Jew.
They made that accusation on an assumption. Isn't it true that many false accusations are based on assumptions? The unbelieving Jews had not bothered to seek out the truth. They just assumed that Paul had taken Trophimus into the Temple because they had seen the two men together. Interestingly, when the crowd was stirred up to a frenzy and began beating Paul, nobody seemed to notice that Paul had no Gentiles with him.
Paul's life was probably spared by the Roman commander who came with soldiers, pushed the crowd back, and arrested Paul. Because of the noise, the commander couldn't seem to get to the truth, so he was about to take Paul into the barracks to protect him.
Another assumption was made. The commander assumed that Paul was an Egyptian anarchist who had escaped capture not long ago. He didn't have any facts to back up the assumption, but that didn't stop him. However, when Paul addressed him in fluent Greek, the commander knew Paul was no Egyptian.
When Paul asked the commander for permission to speak to the crowd who had just tried to kill him, amazingly the commander gave permission. Paul silenced the crowd and asked them to listen to his defense.
Lesson: Don't make judgments based on assumptions. Get the truth, and then come to your conclusions.
Tomorrow: The master storyteller does his thing!
The plan of the Jerusalem church elders failed. Instead of satisfying the Jews, the opposite happened when the 7 days of purification were almost completed. Jews from the Roman province of Asia were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. They saw Paul in the Temple, started making untrue accusations against him, and stirring up the crowd against him. They even accused him of bringing a Gentile into the restricted area of the Temple that was open only to the Jew.
They made that accusation on an assumption. Isn't it true that many false accusations are based on assumptions? The unbelieving Jews had not bothered to seek out the truth. They just assumed that Paul had taken Trophimus into the Temple because they had seen the two men together. Interestingly, when the crowd was stirred up to a frenzy and began beating Paul, nobody seemed to notice that Paul had no Gentiles with him.
Paul's life was probably spared by the Roman commander who came with soldiers, pushed the crowd back, and arrested Paul. Because of the noise, the commander couldn't seem to get to the truth, so he was about to take Paul into the barracks to protect him.
Another assumption was made. The commander assumed that Paul was an Egyptian anarchist who had escaped capture not long ago. He didn't have any facts to back up the assumption, but that didn't stop him. However, when Paul addressed him in fluent Greek, the commander knew Paul was no Egyptian.
When Paul asked the commander for permission to speak to the crowd who had just tried to kill him, amazingly the commander gave permission. Paul silenced the crowd and asked them to listen to his defense.
Lesson: Don't make judgments based on assumptions. Get the truth, and then come to your conclusions.
Tomorrow: The master storyteller does his thing!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Acts - Week 11 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 21:15-26
There is an interesting dynamic of challenges and victories that we see occurring in Paul's life. As they travel, they need a place to stay. But since they have some Gentile Christians in their traveling party, finding a home to stay in would be a challenge. Not every member of the intensely Jewish/Christian church of Jerusalem would be prepared to have a party of Gentile Christians in his home. Fortunately, Mnason proved to be the right host.
When Paul and his companions went to see James and the other elders of the Jerusalem church, they discovered another challenge. False teachers had come among this church and deliberately taught that Paul was teaching all Jews who lived among the Gentiles not to circumcise their children. They also said that Paul taught them to stop conducting their lives according to their Jewish customs.
Of course, the accusations were untrue. Paul had circumcised his young companion, Timothy, and he had recently taken a vow himself. But the elders knew that these accusations had been told and retold, and needed to be put to rest.
The elders had a suggestion. Four of the Jewish believers had taken a vow upon themselves. At the close of the period of time they had chosen, they would offer rather expensive sacrifices. Then they would shave their heads as a sign that the vow was completed.
Paul did not have to take the vow himself. But he was asked to go through ceremonies of purifying himself along with them and pay for the sacrifices so they could complete the vow. This would show all in Jerusalem that Paul did not teach Jewish believers to go against the customs of their fathers.
So, Paul did exactly that. As Paul told the Corinthian believers, to the Jews he became as a Jew, and to those under the Law he became as under the Law. (1 Cor. 9:20) Paul was willing to do whatever it would take to reach people with the "good news," as long as it was not compromising to the gospel.
Tomorrow: The elders plan doesn't work like they hoped it would!
There is an interesting dynamic of challenges and victories that we see occurring in Paul's life. As they travel, they need a place to stay. But since they have some Gentile Christians in their traveling party, finding a home to stay in would be a challenge. Not every member of the intensely Jewish/Christian church of Jerusalem would be prepared to have a party of Gentile Christians in his home. Fortunately, Mnason proved to be the right host.
When Paul and his companions went to see James and the other elders of the Jerusalem church, they discovered another challenge. False teachers had come among this church and deliberately taught that Paul was teaching all Jews who lived among the Gentiles not to circumcise their children. They also said that Paul taught them to stop conducting their lives according to their Jewish customs.
Of course, the accusations were untrue. Paul had circumcised his young companion, Timothy, and he had recently taken a vow himself. But the elders knew that these accusations had been told and retold, and needed to be put to rest.
The elders had a suggestion. Four of the Jewish believers had taken a vow upon themselves. At the close of the period of time they had chosen, they would offer rather expensive sacrifices. Then they would shave their heads as a sign that the vow was completed.
Paul did not have to take the vow himself. But he was asked to go through ceremonies of purifying himself along with them and pay for the sacrifices so they could complete the vow. This would show all in Jerusalem that Paul did not teach Jewish believers to go against the customs of their fathers.
So, Paul did exactly that. As Paul told the Corinthian believers, to the Jews he became as a Jew, and to those under the Law he became as under the Law. (1 Cor. 9:20) Paul was willing to do whatever it would take to reach people with the "good news," as long as it was not compromising to the gospel.
Tomorrow: The elders plan doesn't work like they hoped it would!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Acts - Week 11 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 21:1-14
The farewell experience that Paul has just gone trough in Miletus with the elders of the church in Ephesus is merely the first of other farewells that are going to happen on his way to Jerusalem.
At Tyre they had 7 days to wait while the ship unloaded cargo. Paul located the Christian believers in Tyre, and spent time with them. Here again, as in many places before, the Holy Spirit warned of what was going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem.
The Bible does not say how the Spirit did this, but from what happened a little later in Caesarea, we can be pretty sure the warning came through a prophecy. It says that "through the Spirit" the believers kept urging Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. It does not say that the Spirit did not want Paul to go up to Jerusalem. Back in Acts 20:22, Paul said he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Paul knew the Holy Spirit would not contradict himself.
The Holy Spirit warned several times of what was ahead for Paul in Jerusalem. These believers knew the warnings, and because of their love for Paul, they urged him not to go. But Paul refused to go against what the Holy Spirit had told him to do. He refused to let them force their feelings on him.
Interestingly, it was not bad advice that was given to Paul. And it was given out of love for him and his ministry. But it was not the right advice for him. He had heard the compelling voice of the Holy Spirit telling him to go to Jerusalem, and so any other advice, as good as it may have been, was wrong for him.
Tomorrow: Paul finally gets to Jerusalem
The farewell experience that Paul has just gone trough in Miletus with the elders of the church in Ephesus is merely the first of other farewells that are going to happen on his way to Jerusalem.
At Tyre they had 7 days to wait while the ship unloaded cargo. Paul located the Christian believers in Tyre, and spent time with them. Here again, as in many places before, the Holy Spirit warned of what was going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem.
The Bible does not say how the Spirit did this, but from what happened a little later in Caesarea, we can be pretty sure the warning came through a prophecy. It says that "through the Spirit" the believers kept urging Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. It does not say that the Spirit did not want Paul to go up to Jerusalem. Back in Acts 20:22, Paul said he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. Paul knew the Holy Spirit would not contradict himself.
The Holy Spirit warned several times of what was ahead for Paul in Jerusalem. These believers knew the warnings, and because of their love for Paul, they urged him not to go. But Paul refused to go against what the Holy Spirit had told him to do. He refused to let them force their feelings on him.
Interestingly, it was not bad advice that was given to Paul. And it was given out of love for him and his ministry. But it was not the right advice for him. He had heard the compelling voice of the Holy Spirit telling him to go to Jerusalem, and so any other advice, as good as it may have been, was wrong for him.
Tomorrow: Paul finally gets to Jerusalem
Friday, August 8, 2008
Acts - Week 10 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 20:25-38
Paul let the elders know that this was a final farewell. They would never see him again. So, what do you say to these elders, knowing that this is your last shot at them. Interestingly, Paul's pastoral heart comes through loud and clear in his words.
First, he told them to give attention to themselves and to all the flock that the Holy Spirit had made them overseers of. Here we see that Paul expected the elders to have the office of overseer and be the executive or administrative head of the local congregation. In addition, Paul expected the elders to shepherd the church. The chief duty of the shepherd was to lead the sheep to food and water. That was no small responsibility for these men!
The ultimate requirement of these elders was servanthood, not domineering leadership. Another part of the work of a shepherd was to protect the sheep from enemies. Paul warned these "shepherds" that after his departure savage wolves would come in among them, attempting to severely injure the sheep.
Paul had set before these men an example of selfless service. They were well aware that he had provided for his own needs with his own hands. And he had also provided for the needs of his team members. When Paul would go into a new area to preach the "good news", he was always very careful to show the people that he was not preaching the gospel in order to gain material benefits. The love of Christ compelled him to preach the gospel.
It was a teary farewell when Paul finally said "goodbye." These Ephesian elders obviously had a great admiration and respect for the Apostle Paul. He had taught them well, and they were already sensing the loss they would feel at seeing him no more.
Who has been that kind of mentor in your life? Who has impacted you in some significant ways, in the past and in the present?
Next week: Does good advice always need to be obeyed?
Paul let the elders know that this was a final farewell. They would never see him again. So, what do you say to these elders, knowing that this is your last shot at them. Interestingly, Paul's pastoral heart comes through loud and clear in his words.
First, he told them to give attention to themselves and to all the flock that the Holy Spirit had made them overseers of. Here we see that Paul expected the elders to have the office of overseer and be the executive or administrative head of the local congregation. In addition, Paul expected the elders to shepherd the church. The chief duty of the shepherd was to lead the sheep to food and water. That was no small responsibility for these men!
The ultimate requirement of these elders was servanthood, not domineering leadership. Another part of the work of a shepherd was to protect the sheep from enemies. Paul warned these "shepherds" that after his departure savage wolves would come in among them, attempting to severely injure the sheep.
Paul had set before these men an example of selfless service. They were well aware that he had provided for his own needs with his own hands. And he had also provided for the needs of his team members. When Paul would go into a new area to preach the "good news", he was always very careful to show the people that he was not preaching the gospel in order to gain material benefits. The love of Christ compelled him to preach the gospel.
It was a teary farewell when Paul finally said "goodbye." These Ephesian elders obviously had a great admiration and respect for the Apostle Paul. He had taught them well, and they were already sensing the loss they would feel at seeing him no more.
Who has been that kind of mentor in your life? Who has impacted you in some significant ways, in the past and in the present?
Next week: Does good advice always need to be obeyed?
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Acts - Week 10 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 20:13-24
Luke and the rest of Paul's company did not stay until daylight. They went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, where they would meet up with Paul, who was walking to Assos, which was a shorter distance.
Luke does not tell us why Paul did this. A little later Paul told the Ephesian elders that in every city the Holy Spirit warned him that chains and persecution awaited him in Jerusalem. Perhaps Paul needed this time alone to settle it with God about going to Jerusalem.
They all sailed past Ephesus, because Paul did not want to spend too much time there. He wans in a hurry to get to Jerusalem by the Day of Pentecost, if possible. Paul did not bypass Ephesus because of any lack of concern for the church there. In fact, he called for the elders of the church in Ephesus to come to Miletus.
This was a very serious occasion for him because he believed it would be the last time he would ever see them. He began by reminding them how all the time he was with them he served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with testings brought on by the plots of the unbelieving Jews.
At the same time, he did not let danger cause him to shrink from telling them anything that was beneficial, teaching them publicly and in their homes. Paul told the elders that he was going to Jerusalem, not of his own will, but compelled by the Spirit to go. He didnn't know exactly what would happen to him there, but he had been watned repeatedly by the Holy Spirit that chains and persecution awaited him.
The witness of the Holy Spirit was not intended to stop Paul from going. The Holy Spirit had compelled him to go, and he was willing to go. He fully intended to finish the task that God had given to him to accomplish. To Paul, that was more important than his own like, so why shouldn't he go?
I wonder how eager I would have been to continue on to Jerusalem if I knew for certain that persecution and pain and chains awaited me?
Tomorrow: Paul says "farewell" to his friends
Luke and the rest of Paul's company did not stay until daylight. They went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, where they would meet up with Paul, who was walking to Assos, which was a shorter distance.
Luke does not tell us why Paul did this. A little later Paul told the Ephesian elders that in every city the Holy Spirit warned him that chains and persecution awaited him in Jerusalem. Perhaps Paul needed this time alone to settle it with God about going to Jerusalem.
They all sailed past Ephesus, because Paul did not want to spend too much time there. He wans in a hurry to get to Jerusalem by the Day of Pentecost, if possible. Paul did not bypass Ephesus because of any lack of concern for the church there. In fact, he called for the elders of the church in Ephesus to come to Miletus.
This was a very serious occasion for him because he believed it would be the last time he would ever see them. He began by reminding them how all the time he was with them he served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with testings brought on by the plots of the unbelieving Jews.
At the same time, he did not let danger cause him to shrink from telling them anything that was beneficial, teaching them publicly and in their homes. Paul told the elders that he was going to Jerusalem, not of his own will, but compelled by the Spirit to go. He didnn't know exactly what would happen to him there, but he had been watned repeatedly by the Holy Spirit that chains and persecution awaited him.
The witness of the Holy Spirit was not intended to stop Paul from going. The Holy Spirit had compelled him to go, and he was willing to go. He fully intended to finish the task that God had given to him to accomplish. To Paul, that was more important than his own like, so why shouldn't he go?
I wonder how eager I would have been to continue on to Jerusalem if I knew for certain that persecution and pain and chains awaited me?
Tomorrow: Paul says "farewell" to his friends
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Acts - Week 10 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 20:1-12
As Paul makes his way back to Jerusalem on this third missionary journey, he is accompanied by a number of men. Many scholars believe these men were on the journey with Paul to represent the churches who had given money as an offering for the poor among the Jerusalem Christians. They had the responsibility to see what was done with the money and report back to their home churches. It is obvious that the Early Church was very careful to keep good financial accounts and just as careful to make them known to the members of the congregation. That is just good stewardship, and ought to be the norm for all churches today, regardless of size.
When Paul arrived in Troas, he took the opportunity to preach. Since he was going to leave the next day, he prolonged his discourse until midnight. A young man named Eutychus was sitting on the window sill listening. He fell asleep, and because everyone was focusing on Paul, no one noticed. As Paul kept on preaching, the young man fell from the third story and was found dead. Remember that Luke is with them on this journey, and as a doctor, he would know these things.
Immediately, Paul went down, fell on him, and put his arms around him. We can be sure he prayed as he did so. This was similar to the experiences of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 17:21 and 2 Kings 4:34.
Paul said to the concerned crowd, "Don't panic, he's alive!" After that, Paul went back up and ate and talked with the believers until daylight. Then he left. The boy was also brought before them alive, and fully recovered, and they were very greatly encouraged.
As a preacher, I take heart in knowing that even the Apostle Paul put people to sleep with his preaching!
Tomorrow: Paul says "good-bye" to the Ephesian elders
As Paul makes his way back to Jerusalem on this third missionary journey, he is accompanied by a number of men. Many scholars believe these men were on the journey with Paul to represent the churches who had given money as an offering for the poor among the Jerusalem Christians. They had the responsibility to see what was done with the money and report back to their home churches. It is obvious that the Early Church was very careful to keep good financial accounts and just as careful to make them known to the members of the congregation. That is just good stewardship, and ought to be the norm for all churches today, regardless of size.
When Paul arrived in Troas, he took the opportunity to preach. Since he was going to leave the next day, he prolonged his discourse until midnight. A young man named Eutychus was sitting on the window sill listening. He fell asleep, and because everyone was focusing on Paul, no one noticed. As Paul kept on preaching, the young man fell from the third story and was found dead. Remember that Luke is with them on this journey, and as a doctor, he would know these things.
Immediately, Paul went down, fell on him, and put his arms around him. We can be sure he prayed as he did so. This was similar to the experiences of Elijah and Elisha in 1 Kings 17:21 and 2 Kings 4:34.
Paul said to the concerned crowd, "Don't panic, he's alive!" After that, Paul went back up and ate and talked with the believers until daylight. Then he left. The boy was also brought before them alive, and fully recovered, and they were very greatly encouraged.
As a preacher, I take heart in knowing that even the Apostle Paul put people to sleep with his preaching!
Tomorrow: Paul says "good-bye" to the Ephesian elders
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Acts - Week 10 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 19:21-41
"I must visit Rome also." A divine necessity was laid upon him. Later on in Acts we find that this was indeed pleasing to the Lord for Paul to go to Rome. However, Paul did not yet know how he was going to get to Rome. But from this point to the end of the Book of Acts, Rome is the objective in view. He didn't go to Rome directly because he felt a responsibility to visit the churches in Macedonia and Greece again. Paul had a great passion to care for the churches that he had helped plant.
One of the churches he spent time discipling was in Ephesus. But it was there that his work and ministry caused a near riot. Because the gospel was making inroads into the lives of the people of Ephesus, they were giving up their idol worship. This was not good news for the makers of these idols, which represented Artemis, the fertility goddess of Ephesus.
When the idol makers realized that their livlihood was in jeopardy because of Paul's message, as well as the band of preachers and teachers who travelled with Paul, they started raising a ruckus, and stirred up a great deal of anger against Paul and his companions.
At this point, the Jews put forward Alexander out of the crowd with the intention of instucting them. They wanted him to explain that the Jews were not responsible for what the Christians were doing. But when the crowd recognized he was a Jew, they drowned him out with their cries---for two long hours!
Finally the town clerk, who was a citizen of Ephesus that served as their official contact or liaison with the Roman government officials in Ephesus, quieted the crowd. He pointed out that the men they had brought into the amphitheater were neither temple robbers nor goddess blasphemers.
It is important to note here that Paul had been nearly 3 years in Ephesus, but there was no evidence that either he or the other Christians ever said anything against the temple or Artemis. They simply kept preaching the good news of Jesus Christ in a positive way, and the sale of the images and shrines automatically fell off.
As a Christian, do the people around you know more what you are against or what you are for? Is our message a positive or negative message? These verses give us a good picture of what can happen when we stick to the message of Jesus. That message is more powerful and life-changing than we can possibly imagine!
Tomorrow: The sermon that killed a guy!
"I must visit Rome also." A divine necessity was laid upon him. Later on in Acts we find that this was indeed pleasing to the Lord for Paul to go to Rome. However, Paul did not yet know how he was going to get to Rome. But from this point to the end of the Book of Acts, Rome is the objective in view. He didn't go to Rome directly because he felt a responsibility to visit the churches in Macedonia and Greece again. Paul had a great passion to care for the churches that he had helped plant.
One of the churches he spent time discipling was in Ephesus. But it was there that his work and ministry caused a near riot. Because the gospel was making inroads into the lives of the people of Ephesus, they were giving up their idol worship. This was not good news for the makers of these idols, which represented Artemis, the fertility goddess of Ephesus.
When the idol makers realized that their livlihood was in jeopardy because of Paul's message, as well as the band of preachers and teachers who travelled with Paul, they started raising a ruckus, and stirred up a great deal of anger against Paul and his companions.
At this point, the Jews put forward Alexander out of the crowd with the intention of instucting them. They wanted him to explain that the Jews were not responsible for what the Christians were doing. But when the crowd recognized he was a Jew, they drowned him out with their cries---for two long hours!
Finally the town clerk, who was a citizen of Ephesus that served as their official contact or liaison with the Roman government officials in Ephesus, quieted the crowd. He pointed out that the men they had brought into the amphitheater were neither temple robbers nor goddess blasphemers.
It is important to note here that Paul had been nearly 3 years in Ephesus, but there was no evidence that either he or the other Christians ever said anything against the temple or Artemis. They simply kept preaching the good news of Jesus Christ in a positive way, and the sale of the images and shrines automatically fell off.
As a Christian, do the people around you know more what you are against or what you are for? Is our message a positive or negative message? These verses give us a good picture of what can happen when we stick to the message of Jesus. That message is more powerful and life-changing than we can possibly imagine!
Tomorrow: The sermon that killed a guy!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Acts - Week 10 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 19:1-20
These are the Scriptures that we covered in this past weekend's message, so I will just comment briefly. When Paul discovered that these 12 disciples in Ephesus had not been taught about the Holy Spirit at the time of their conversion, he laid his hands on them and prayed, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and prophesy.
The laying on of hands in this situation did not cause them to receive the Spirit, but it encouraged their faith, just as it still does today. Remember, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift that the Father loves to give to His children. There is no special way or place that is necessary for you to receive this gift. Just surrender yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
As always, Paul went to the synagogue, starting with the Jews first when he arrived in Ephesus. For 3 months he argued persuasively with the Jews, but as usual, some of the unconverted Jews became hardened and obstinate. So, Paul withdrew from them, found the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and met daily there for the next two years, preaching and teaching the gospel.
Acts 20:34 tells us that Paul continued his usual practice of working at his tentmaking trade to support himself and his party. Ancient manuscripts tell us that he worked from dawn until about 11 a.m. at tentmaking. Then he would teach from about 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. In the evenings Paul would go to various homes to teach and establish the believers and to help win their friends and neighbors to the Lord.
The result was that the whole of the Roman province of Asia was evangelized. Since Ephesus was a great center, people were continually coming in and out of the city, and it is possible that many of them heard the Word of God, were converted, taught by Paul, and then went back to their own cities where they became powerful witnesses for Christ, and churches grew up around them.
Is it possible that this same kind of thing could happen in the central part of Wisconsin? I think the key word is "faithfulness." If we are a faithful people in sharing the "good news" of the gospel, God's Word will not return void. It will impact lives and hearts.
Tomorrow: Paul causes a riot!
These are the Scriptures that we covered in this past weekend's message, so I will just comment briefly. When Paul discovered that these 12 disciples in Ephesus had not been taught about the Holy Spirit at the time of their conversion, he laid his hands on them and prayed, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and prophesy.
The laying on of hands in this situation did not cause them to receive the Spirit, but it encouraged their faith, just as it still does today. Remember, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift that the Father loves to give to His children. There is no special way or place that is necessary for you to receive this gift. Just surrender yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
As always, Paul went to the synagogue, starting with the Jews first when he arrived in Ephesus. For 3 months he argued persuasively with the Jews, but as usual, some of the unconverted Jews became hardened and obstinate. So, Paul withdrew from them, found the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and met daily there for the next two years, preaching and teaching the gospel.
Acts 20:34 tells us that Paul continued his usual practice of working at his tentmaking trade to support himself and his party. Ancient manuscripts tell us that he worked from dawn until about 11 a.m. at tentmaking. Then he would teach from about 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. In the evenings Paul would go to various homes to teach and establish the believers and to help win their friends and neighbors to the Lord.
The result was that the whole of the Roman province of Asia was evangelized. Since Ephesus was a great center, people were continually coming in and out of the city, and it is possible that many of them heard the Word of God, were converted, taught by Paul, and then went back to their own cities where they became powerful witnesses for Christ, and churches grew up around them.
Is it possible that this same kind of thing could happen in the central part of Wisconsin? I think the key word is "faithfulness." If we are a faithful people in sharing the "good news" of the gospel, God's Word will not return void. It will impact lives and hearts.
Tomorrow: Paul causes a riot!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Acts - Week 9 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 18:18-28
At Cenchraea, Paul had his hair cut, because of a vow he had taken. This is not explained, but it was probably a modified Nazarite vow, a vow that expressed total dedication to God and to His will. The hair was always cut at the conclusion of the period of the vow, as Numbers 6 tells us.
After landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and paid his respects to the church there, since he wanted to maintain a good relationship with them. From Jerusalem he went to Antioch of Syria, and thus ended the second missionary journey.
After he had spent some time in Antioch, he took off on a third missionary journey, visiting the churches he had helped establish on his first and second journeys. Paul never started churches and then left them to fend for themselves. He was always revisiting and writing the young churches, giving them further teaching and strengthening the young disciples.
Meanwhile, a new guy shows up in Ephesus, a Jew named Apollos. He was an eloquent man, well-educated, a real scholar, and powerful in his use of the Scriptures. He had all the facts straight about Jesus' life and ministry, as well as about His death and resurrection. But he was not up to speed on what happened following Jesus' ascension. He knew nothing about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He was passionate about what he knew, He just didn't know everything he needed to know.
Priscilla and Aquila were present and heard him speak. They did not say anything to him in the synagogue, but took him aside to give him further instruction. In all likelihood, they took him home with them. There they explained God's way to him more precisely, and brought him up to speed.
That Apollos responded to this instruction is shown by the letters of recommendation the Christian brothers in Ephesus write for him when he wanted to go over to Greece. It is interesting to note, also, that the best Greek scholars, dating as far back as Chrysostom, agree that it was Priscilla who took the lead in giving this instruction to Apollos. She was obviously a very gracious and Godly woman.
Next week: Some strange things happen in Ephesus!
At Cenchraea, Paul had his hair cut, because of a vow he had taken. This is not explained, but it was probably a modified Nazarite vow, a vow that expressed total dedication to God and to His will. The hair was always cut at the conclusion of the period of the vow, as Numbers 6 tells us.
After landing at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and paid his respects to the church there, since he wanted to maintain a good relationship with them. From Jerusalem he went to Antioch of Syria, and thus ended the second missionary journey.
After he had spent some time in Antioch, he took off on a third missionary journey, visiting the churches he had helped establish on his first and second journeys. Paul never started churches and then left them to fend for themselves. He was always revisiting and writing the young churches, giving them further teaching and strengthening the young disciples.
Meanwhile, a new guy shows up in Ephesus, a Jew named Apollos. He was an eloquent man, well-educated, a real scholar, and powerful in his use of the Scriptures. He had all the facts straight about Jesus' life and ministry, as well as about His death and resurrection. But he was not up to speed on what happened following Jesus' ascension. He knew nothing about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He was passionate about what he knew, He just didn't know everything he needed to know.
Priscilla and Aquila were present and heard him speak. They did not say anything to him in the synagogue, but took him aside to give him further instruction. In all likelihood, they took him home with them. There they explained God's way to him more precisely, and brought him up to speed.
That Apollos responded to this instruction is shown by the letters of recommendation the Christian brothers in Ephesus write for him when he wanted to go over to Greece. It is interesting to note, also, that the best Greek scholars, dating as far back as Chrysostom, agree that it was Priscilla who took the lead in giving this instruction to Apollos. She was obviously a very gracious and Godly woman.
Next week: Some strange things happen in Ephesus!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Acts - Week 9 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 18:1-17
Paul arrives in Corinth, which was a commercial center and a very prosperous city. It had been destroyed in 146 B.C. and was not rebuilt until Julius Caesar took an interest in it 100 years later. He made it a Roman colony, and it again became prosperous.
But it was also a center of idolatry and licentiousness. The Greeks even invented a new word to express extreme sexual immorality, "to Corinthianize." The Corinthians were encouraged in this immorality by their worship of the so-called goddess of love, Aphrodite.
At Corinth Paul met a husband and wife who were to become some of his most faithful friends and fellow laborers in the gospel. Aquila and Priscilla had recently come to Corinth from Italy. The fourth Roman Emperor, Claudius, had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them and found in their home a place to live and to carry on his trade, for they also were tentmakers and had been able to establish their business in Corinth successfully.
When the Jews became abusive to Paul, he declared he was done with them, and would now go to the Gentiles of Corinth. But in the spring of 52 A.D., a new proconsul named Gallio was appointed by the Roman Senate to govern in the province of Achaia, or Greece.
Apparently the unbelieving Jews thought they could take advantage of the new governor's lack of knowledge of the situation. So they rose up against Paul and brought him to the governor's judgment seat. Incidentally, archaeologists have discovered this judgment seat built of blue and white marble.
Gallio had sense enough to realize that no crime was involved, so he drove them out of the tribunal. They seized Sosthenes, the new ruler of the synagogue, and struck him down before he could leave the tribunal. It would seem as though the evil he had intended for Paul had fallen on him!
However, this event must have had a deep effect on Sosthenes, because he obviously yielded to the truth of the gospel. In 1 Cor. 1:1 Sosthenes joins Paul in greeting the Corinthians. Though we cannot prove it for sure, this must be the same man. It would be unlikely that there would be another prominent Sosthenes who was well known to the Corinthian church.
Talk about the grace of God! The leader of the opposition, a man who must have blasphemed Paul and the gospel, became a brother in the Lord. Isn't it amazing how God works?
Tomorrow: Discipleship at its best!
Paul arrives in Corinth, which was a commercial center and a very prosperous city. It had been destroyed in 146 B.C. and was not rebuilt until Julius Caesar took an interest in it 100 years later. He made it a Roman colony, and it again became prosperous.
But it was also a center of idolatry and licentiousness. The Greeks even invented a new word to express extreme sexual immorality, "to Corinthianize." The Corinthians were encouraged in this immorality by their worship of the so-called goddess of love, Aphrodite.
At Corinth Paul met a husband and wife who were to become some of his most faithful friends and fellow laborers in the gospel. Aquila and Priscilla had recently come to Corinth from Italy. The fourth Roman Emperor, Claudius, had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them and found in their home a place to live and to carry on his trade, for they also were tentmakers and had been able to establish their business in Corinth successfully.
When the Jews became abusive to Paul, he declared he was done with them, and would now go to the Gentiles of Corinth. But in the spring of 52 A.D., a new proconsul named Gallio was appointed by the Roman Senate to govern in the province of Achaia, or Greece.
Apparently the unbelieving Jews thought they could take advantage of the new governor's lack of knowledge of the situation. So they rose up against Paul and brought him to the governor's judgment seat. Incidentally, archaeologists have discovered this judgment seat built of blue and white marble.
Gallio had sense enough to realize that no crime was involved, so he drove them out of the tribunal. They seized Sosthenes, the new ruler of the synagogue, and struck him down before he could leave the tribunal. It would seem as though the evil he had intended for Paul had fallen on him!
However, this event must have had a deep effect on Sosthenes, because he obviously yielded to the truth of the gospel. In 1 Cor. 1:1 Sosthenes joins Paul in greeting the Corinthians. Though we cannot prove it for sure, this must be the same man. It would be unlikely that there would be another prominent Sosthenes who was well known to the Corinthian church.
Talk about the grace of God! The leader of the opposition, a man who must have blasphemed Paul and the gospel, became a brother in the Lord. Isn't it amazing how God works?
Tomorrow: Discipleship at its best!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Acts - Week 9 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 17:16-34
Paul now finds himself in the city of Athens, which was famous for its Acropolis and all its temples. By this time in history, however, it had lost its former glory. It was no longer politically important. Its old leadership in culture and education had been taken over by Alexandria in Egypt. But Athens still nurtured the memory of its past.
Paul went to the synagogue, as was his custom, in order to reason with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. But he also went out into the marketplace every day, where he knew he would find men who were not versed in the Scriptures.
Since Athens was a culture that worshiped as many as 30,000 gods and goddesses in their mythology, most of the people were unaware of the "good news" of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul's ability to connect with these people is a classic example of relevant communication. His choice of words and examples is truly interesting to observe.
I wonder how relevant our communication as a church is to our world today. If we really listened to ourselves, would we hear ourselves using "insider language" that few people outside our circle understand? Or do we, like Paul, have the ability to understand who we are talking to, and are able to use language they comprehend, and illustrations and examples they can connect with?
Jesus was a master at this kind of relevant communication. He told stories and used examples that his hearers could immediately identify with. This is so important if we want people to hear the crux of what we have to share. Remember, the "good news" is only good news if it is understandable.
Yes, the Holy Spirit has to prepare the person's heart for them to receive the "good news," but somebody has to share that good news with them. That's where you and I fit in. We work, as a team, with the Holy Spirit. And I need to remind myself that I am not ultimately responsible for how many respond to the "good news." That is God's responsibility. My responsibility is to be faithful to share the gospel in ways that my hearers can understand. I gently plant the seed.
Tomorrow: Reaching Corinth---the center of idolatry and licentiousness
Paul now finds himself in the city of Athens, which was famous for its Acropolis and all its temples. By this time in history, however, it had lost its former glory. It was no longer politically important. Its old leadership in culture and education had been taken over by Alexandria in Egypt. But Athens still nurtured the memory of its past.
Paul went to the synagogue, as was his custom, in order to reason with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. But he also went out into the marketplace every day, where he knew he would find men who were not versed in the Scriptures.
Since Athens was a culture that worshiped as many as 30,000 gods and goddesses in their mythology, most of the people were unaware of the "good news" of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul's ability to connect with these people is a classic example of relevant communication. His choice of words and examples is truly interesting to observe.
I wonder how relevant our communication as a church is to our world today. If we really listened to ourselves, would we hear ourselves using "insider language" that few people outside our circle understand? Or do we, like Paul, have the ability to understand who we are talking to, and are able to use language they comprehend, and illustrations and examples they can connect with?
Jesus was a master at this kind of relevant communication. He told stories and used examples that his hearers could immediately identify with. This is so important if we want people to hear the crux of what we have to share. Remember, the "good news" is only good news if it is understandable.
Yes, the Holy Spirit has to prepare the person's heart for them to receive the "good news," but somebody has to share that good news with them. That's where you and I fit in. We work, as a team, with the Holy Spirit. And I need to remind myself that I am not ultimately responsible for how many respond to the "good news." That is God's responsibility. My responsibility is to be faithful to share the gospel in ways that my hearers can understand. I gently plant the seed.
Tomorrow: Reaching Corinth---the center of idolatry and licentiousness
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Acts - Week 9 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 17:10-15
Because of the trouble in Thessalonica, the followers of Christ sent Paul and Silas to Berea, which was some 50 miles away. This city was off the main Egnatian Road they had been following, and the believers may have thought they would be safer there.
The Bereans did respond quite differently. Instead of reacting against Paul's messsage, they welcomed the Word with all kinds of eagerness, zeal, and enthusiasm. Even more importantly, they examined the Scriptures daily, searching it out like lawyers investigating a case, to see whether the things Paul was telling them were true.
Many of both the Jews and Gentiles believed. When the news traveled back to Thessalonica, the unbelieving Jews there came to Berea to cause trouble. Before they could do nay damage, the Berean Christians hurried Paul off in the direction of the Aegean Sea, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind to teach and encourage the believers in Berea.
The men accompanying Paul took him on to Athens, from where he sent them back with a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.
The significant thing about these few verses is the Bereans' thirst for truth. They gave themselves fully to reading, studying, and searching the Word of God so that they would know what was truth. What an example for us to imitate! It is so vital for us to commit ourselves to regularly reading and learning from the Bible. It is such a healthy discipline for us to adopt into our lives, and it will pay wonderful benefits.
It is interesting to me that Paul never had to correct these believers, at least not from the volume of writing that we have from him. I can't help but think that this was true because they immersed themselves in the Word, and it helped them to live lives that were right in line with God's will. Wouldn't it be great if the same thing could be said about all the family here at CLF? What a powerful testimony that would be in our community!
Tomorrow: Athens---the home of 30,000 idols
Because of the trouble in Thessalonica, the followers of Christ sent Paul and Silas to Berea, which was some 50 miles away. This city was off the main Egnatian Road they had been following, and the believers may have thought they would be safer there.
The Bereans did respond quite differently. Instead of reacting against Paul's messsage, they welcomed the Word with all kinds of eagerness, zeal, and enthusiasm. Even more importantly, they examined the Scriptures daily, searching it out like lawyers investigating a case, to see whether the things Paul was telling them were true.
Many of both the Jews and Gentiles believed. When the news traveled back to Thessalonica, the unbelieving Jews there came to Berea to cause trouble. Before they could do nay damage, the Berean Christians hurried Paul off in the direction of the Aegean Sea, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind to teach and encourage the believers in Berea.
The men accompanying Paul took him on to Athens, from where he sent them back with a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.
The significant thing about these few verses is the Bereans' thirst for truth. They gave themselves fully to reading, studying, and searching the Word of God so that they would know what was truth. What an example for us to imitate! It is so vital for us to commit ourselves to regularly reading and learning from the Bible. It is such a healthy discipline for us to adopt into our lives, and it will pay wonderful benefits.
It is interesting to me that Paul never had to correct these believers, at least not from the volume of writing that we have from him. I can't help but think that this was true because they immersed themselves in the Word, and it helped them to live lives that were right in line with God's will. Wouldn't it be great if the same thing could be said about all the family here at CLF? What a powerful testimony that would be in our community!
Tomorrow: Athens---the home of 30,000 idols
Monday, July 28, 2008
Acts - Week 9 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 17:1-9
This is now Paul's second missionary journey. He and Silas make the 100 mile trek along the Egnatian Road to the city of Thessalonica, the most important city of ancient Macedonia, and there they find a synagogue. As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue first. The Jews had a background in the Scriptures, so Paul would use that background as his platform for teaching.
As always, Paul talked about the Scriptures that pointed to the Messiah, and used them to clearly show that it was God's divine purpose for the Messiah to suffer and rise again from the dead, clearly pointing to Jesus in the process.
Some of the Jews were persuaded, but an even larger number of Gentiles believed, including some of the wives of the chief men of the city. Thus the Gentile converts far outnumbered the Jewish believers. Incidentally, the first letter to the Thessalonians gives a further description of the ministry of Paul and Silas at this time, especially chapter two.
Again, opposition arises alongside this great opportunity. I love the accusation that the unbelieving Jews bring against Paul and Silas. They said, "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here..." Even though the accusation was a large exaggeration, it nevertheless was a back-handed compliment about the influence and impact these two men were having in the area.
The authorities did not take the charges seriously, and they order Jason's release after securing from him some sort of agreement, probably to talk Paul and Silas into leaving town. The sooner they could get these guys out of town, the better! Although the gospel is a gospel of peace, it still can stir up a fair amount of discord between those who believe and those who don't.
Tomorrow: What's the best way to stay on course?
This is now Paul's second missionary journey. He and Silas make the 100 mile trek along the Egnatian Road to the city of Thessalonica, the most important city of ancient Macedonia, and there they find a synagogue. As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue first. The Jews had a background in the Scriptures, so Paul would use that background as his platform for teaching.
As always, Paul talked about the Scriptures that pointed to the Messiah, and used them to clearly show that it was God's divine purpose for the Messiah to suffer and rise again from the dead, clearly pointing to Jesus in the process.
Some of the Jews were persuaded, but an even larger number of Gentiles believed, including some of the wives of the chief men of the city. Thus the Gentile converts far outnumbered the Jewish believers. Incidentally, the first letter to the Thessalonians gives a further description of the ministry of Paul and Silas at this time, especially chapter two.
Again, opposition arises alongside this great opportunity. I love the accusation that the unbelieving Jews bring against Paul and Silas. They said, "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here..." Even though the accusation was a large exaggeration, it nevertheless was a back-handed compliment about the influence and impact these two men were having in the area.
The authorities did not take the charges seriously, and they order Jason's release after securing from him some sort of agreement, probably to talk Paul and Silas into leaving town. The sooner they could get these guys out of town, the better! Although the gospel is a gospel of peace, it still can stir up a fair amount of discord between those who believe and those who don't.
Tomorrow: What's the best way to stay on course?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Week 8/Friday
Reading for Today: Acts 16:16-40
After their first missionary journey experiences, Paul and his companions seem fearless when it comes to opposition. Their experiences of seeing God act on their behalf for the sake of the Gospel help them to see beyond their present circumstances and focus on following Christ.
This time they were "severely flogged and thrown into prison" (16:23). The Roman law concerning punishment depended on the judge and often was overly cruel, especially when administered to aliens. They didn't realize Paul was indeed a Roman citizen, to which he would appeal to later. Suffice it to say, the beating wasn't pretty!
Paul and Silas had no inkling of what God was going to do in this situation. For all they knew, this could be the end. So, their response represented genuine faith and total trust that God would never leave them. I wonder what they were singing? I wonder what I would have sung? Probably something like the old "Hee Haw" song that began like this: "Doom, despair, and agony on me. Deep dark depression, excessive misery. If I had no bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."
Anyway, "the other prisoners were listening to them as they were singing hymns to God."(verse 25) It is in this context that God miraculously moved in their situation. Long story short, the jailer and all his household, and I would think many of the prisoners, were saved that night to the glory of God!
I wonder what the "prisoners" around ME see? Do I demonstrate a rock solid faith in God no matter what? Often I have lived my life hoping that God would help me avoid pain, not realizing that it is the pain in my life that has strengthened my faith the most and brought the most glory to God.
Pain will always be the common human experience in this fallen world. In the midst of our pain, let us focus on the One who promises us an eternal home where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
Jim Mathias
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Acts - Week 8/Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 16:1-15
Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, continued to revisit the churches started on the first missionary journey. They delivered the letter from the Jerusalem Council and “the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” Healthy churches are growing churches.
If you look at the map of Paul’s second missionary journey, it made good sense to continue evangelizing the Asian peninsula. Paul had a logical plan, but God had a divine plan – a different plan. Often logical plans and divine plans coincide, but not in this case. We must always be open to the possibility of God leading us “outside the box” of our logic.
The Scripture says that “they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to” (16:7). I wish we had more information but suffice it to say that Paul and his friends were listening to the Spirit. The Spirit said “No” but didn’t give them an alternative plan, so they headed to the nearest port city of Troas. It was at Troas that “Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’” (16:9).
Notice that Paul and his friends didn’t just stand still and do nothing after getting a closed door to Bithynia. They kept moving and headed in the next logical direction. The key to following God is to first of all stop going in the direction we definitely know NOT to go. We don’t have to know the next step. In fact, we often don’t know what God wants us to do until we stop doing what we know He doesn’t want us to do. I remember when I knew God was leading me out of teaching at Nekoosa High School. It didn’t make sense to give up all that security and step into the “unknown” but I’m so glad I did. There is nothing as exciting and rewarding as following God’s leading.
Perhaps you find yourself stuck. You KNOW God wants you to stop what you are doing and go another direction but you are afraid to let go of the security of your own plans. I urge you, LET GO AND LET GOD control your decisions. You’ll never be disappointed and you will never have to say, “If only I had followed God’s voice.”
Paul’s obedience led him to open the first missionary work in what we know today as Europe. Most of the Epistles in the Scriptures are written to these churches.
Join me tomorrow as we talk about Paul’s and Silas’ prison ministry (Acts 16:16-40).
Jim Mathias
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Acts - Week 8/Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 15:19-35
Evidently the Antioch church was doing fine until the Judaizers came and stirred up the Jews in the congregation with the idea of requiring the Gentiles to conform to the Jewish laws and traditions. After settling the issue of not requiring conformity for salvation, it was decided to suggest compromise when it came to fellowship. The Jewish traditions would have been familiar to the Gentiles anyway since “Moses had been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” (v.21).
The Gentiles in the congregation were being asked to abstain from certain things that were particularly offensive to the Jews for the sake of harmony. In Romans chapters 14-15 Paul asked the more “mature” believers to make allowances for the “weaker” brothers. Thus, it seems that the Jews were considered the “weaker” brothers in this situation.
One sign of Christian maturity is the willingness to refrain from activities that would cause misunderstanding and cause unnecessary arguments in the body of believers. Paul admonishes the Corinthian church to “Be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak… When you sin against your brother in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” (1 Cor. 8:9, 12)
Let’s ask God to reveal any of our actions that may be causing problems in our relationships. Take the first step to resolution by asking God for a greater measure of love. He will do it!
Tomorrow I would like to consider discerning "closed and open doors" in the context of Paul's vision of the "Man of Macedonia."
Jim Mathias
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Acts - Week 8/Monday
Reading for today: Acts 15:1-19
Paul and Barnabas came back from their first missionary journey all "pumped up" about the amazing things God had done. They didn't dwell on the "persecution" along the way because it was insignificant compared to what God had done, especially among the Gentiles (14:27).
Not long after they returned a group of "Judaizers" came from Judea to straighten out the church at Antioch with a doctrine of faith + circumcision in order for the Gentiles to be saved. Paul and Barnabas were having no part of this heresy. They knew from experience that cultural traditions and the requirement of circumcision were only symbols and had no power to save. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law to perfection when he came as "messiah" not only to the Jews but to the whole world. The Jews had the privilege of God speaking to the world through them, but they had to be saved like everyone else, by grace through saving faith alone!
If we are honest with ourselves, we know there is not enough goodness in any of us to merit a clean slate before a holy God. But sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking we are not so bad, especially when we compare ourselves to those around us. The worst thing we could do is judge our merits by looking at each other. The result of that exercise is that we all "sink together" to the lowest common denominator of spirituality.
The only true measure of our spirituality is God's word as applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we all come up short. So we are back to the fact that we are hopelessly lost without saving faith in Jesus Christ.
The Judaizers were still relying on faith + circumcision and I'm sure included in their theology of salvation were many other cultural traditions. Are you relying on Christian traditions for your sense of security in salvation? It is not enough to do Christian activities. One must have the power of the Holy Spirit actively convicting and convincing us that we are His children.
Acts 15:8 says, "God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them (Gentiles) by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us (Jews). He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith." God knows our hearts as well. Let's all search our hearts honestly before God today and renew our affirmation of saving faith in Christ alone for our salvation.
Tomorrow I would like to talk about the requirements for "fellowship." Have a great day!
Jim Mathias
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Acts - Week 7 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 14:21-28
These verses wrap up the first missionary journey taken by Paul and Silas. You can see on the map of their journey that they retraced their steps when they got to Derbe. That in itself was pretty remarkable because they had been treated pretty roughly in some of those places.
But they went back to check on the status of the churches they had started when they came through initially. They basically did three things in each city: They strengthened the believers in these new churches and encouraged them to remain in the faith; not trying to gloss over anything, they warned the believers that hardships would come in this walk with Christ; and then, after praying and fasting, they appointed elders (leaders) in each church.
The appointing of elders was important because these new churches all needed some organization in order to be able to work together and carry on the work of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas wanted these churches to succeed, so they helped them get organized for continuing success.
It has been proven again and again that the best method of evangelism is the starting of new churches. That was true in Paul and Barnabas' day, and it still holds true today. That's why the new site that we have started at Grove Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids is so exciting. It has the potential to be one more effective means for us to reach our community for Christ. But just as Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for the success of each new church that was established, it is important that we follow their example and pray and fast for the success of this endeavor. God has opened a wonderful door of opportunity for us in Rapids. Let's make the most of it!
(The blog will resume on Monday with Jim Mathias doing the writing for Week 8)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Acts - Week 7 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 14:1-20
Opportunity and opposition---we see it again and again in this passage. When Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe to escape the planned stoning in Iconium, they had a really interesting experience.
Paul saw a man who had been lame from birth, and discerned that he had faith to be healed. So he told the man to stand up, the man did, and was miraculously healed. This miracle made these pagan Gentiles believe that the Greek gods had come down, and so they proceeded to prepare to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
When Paul and Barnabas finally figured out what was going on, they ran out into the crowd attempting to convince them of the wrongness of what they wanted to do. The message Paul and Barnabas try to convey was quite different from the message they normally spoke to a Jewish crowd. They realized they had to use pictures and language that this crowd would understand. Today, we would talk about being relevant. That's an important thing to remember when we are trying to connect with people.
Use language and terminology that they will understand. If somebody does not have a churched background, don't try to talk to them in "church jargon." Whether we like to admit it or not, we tend to have a language of our own, and quite frankly, it doesn't connect very well with someone who has not grown up in the church.
The greatest thing you have to share is your own story of salvation. Learn to tell it in language that will quickly connect with your hearer. I'm not talking about watering down the gospel. I would make a plea for making the gospel understandable---whomever your listener may be.
Tomorrow: The first missionary journey comes to a conclusion
Opportunity and opposition---we see it again and again in this passage. When Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe to escape the planned stoning in Iconium, they had a really interesting experience.
Paul saw a man who had been lame from birth, and discerned that he had faith to be healed. So he told the man to stand up, the man did, and was miraculously healed. This miracle made these pagan Gentiles believe that the Greek gods had come down, and so they proceeded to prepare to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
When Paul and Barnabas finally figured out what was going on, they ran out into the crowd attempting to convince them of the wrongness of what they wanted to do. The message Paul and Barnabas try to convey was quite different from the message they normally spoke to a Jewish crowd. They realized they had to use pictures and language that this crowd would understand. Today, we would talk about being relevant. That's an important thing to remember when we are trying to connect with people.
Use language and terminology that they will understand. If somebody does not have a churched background, don't try to talk to them in "church jargon." Whether we like to admit it or not, we tend to have a language of our own, and quite frankly, it doesn't connect very well with someone who has not grown up in the church.
The greatest thing you have to share is your own story of salvation. Learn to tell it in language that will quickly connect with your hearer. I'm not talking about watering down the gospel. I would make a plea for making the gospel understandable---whomever your listener may be.
Tomorrow: The first missionary journey comes to a conclusion
Acts - Week 7 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 13:42-52
First of all, my apologies for this being so late in the day. I started early this morning with a tight schedule, and plumb forgot about writing the blog.
There was a good response to Paul's message on that first Sabbath in Antioch of Pisidia, with many people deciding to follow Christ. By the next Sabbath, nearly the whole town is gathered to hear God's Word.
The sight of the crowd filled the Jews with jealousy, and they began to speak against what Paul said. The implication is that they were afraid of losing their influence over those Gentiles who had been looking to them for teaching. It may also imply that they had a zeal for a Judaism that had no room for blessing on Gentiles who did not first become Jews.
But Paul and Barnabas are not frightened by this attack. They boldly declare that they intentionally had come to the Jews first with this message,, but since the Jews were rejecting their message, Paul and Barnabas would now go to the Gentiles.
Needless to say, this delighted the Gentiles, and many of them chose to follow Christ. Consequently, the Word of God spread through the whole region.
But, as usual, opposition soon arose in the form of persecution against Paul and Barnabas. As a result, they were expelled from the region. But what interests me is their response to this opposition. You don't find them complaining, or moaning about being picked on, or whining, "Why me?"
It says they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that the two are connected?
How do you find yourself responding when you are faced with some opposition because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Honestly, I find myself saying, "Why me?" far too often. I'm going to work on that one.
Tomorrow: The fickleness of the crowd!
First of all, my apologies for this being so late in the day. I started early this morning with a tight schedule, and plumb forgot about writing the blog.
There was a good response to Paul's message on that first Sabbath in Antioch of Pisidia, with many people deciding to follow Christ. By the next Sabbath, nearly the whole town is gathered to hear God's Word.
The sight of the crowd filled the Jews with jealousy, and they began to speak against what Paul said. The implication is that they were afraid of losing their influence over those Gentiles who had been looking to them for teaching. It may also imply that they had a zeal for a Judaism that had no room for blessing on Gentiles who did not first become Jews.
But Paul and Barnabas are not frightened by this attack. They boldly declare that they intentionally had come to the Jews first with this message,, but since the Jews were rejecting their message, Paul and Barnabas would now go to the Gentiles.
Needless to say, this delighted the Gentiles, and many of them chose to follow Christ. Consequently, the Word of God spread through the whole region.
But, as usual, opposition soon arose in the form of persecution against Paul and Barnabas. As a result, they were expelled from the region. But what interests me is their response to this opposition. You don't find them complaining, or moaning about being picked on, or whining, "Why me?"
It says they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Is it possible that the two are connected?
How do you find yourself responding when you are faced with some opposition because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Honestly, I find myself saying, "Why me?" far too often. I'm going to work on that one.
Tomorrow: The fickleness of the crowd!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Acts - Week 7 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 13:13-41
Verse 13 gives us an interesting bit of information that will resurface in a couple of chapters. It says that John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem. This departure evidently came at a crucial time, and Paul saw it as an almost inexcusable failure on the part of John Mark. In fact, this event became a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas, as we will see later.
When Paul and Barnabas arrive in Antioch of Pisidia, the first place of ministry for them is, as usual, the synagogue. When they are invited to speak, Paul begins what is his longest recorded sermon.
The first part of the sermon, verses 17-25, reviews the history of Israel, starting from God's choice of Israel and the deliverance from Egypt and leading up to God's choice of David. All of this was very familiar to his audience and showed them Paul knew the Scriptures.
The second part of the sermon, verses 26-37, deals with the death and resurrection of Jesus and with the witness of the apostles. In vs.26 Paul emphasizes that this message of salvation was sent out to them personally, both to the Jews and the Gentiles.
Paul ends his sermon in verses 38-41 by exhorting them to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Verse 39 is the key verse to his sermon: justification comes through faith in Christ, not in holding on to the Law.
The message obviously connected with those who were hearing it, causing many to decide to accept Christ as their Messiah. It is always interesting to me how God takes a spoken message and uses it to penetrate the heart of someone who is listening. God's Word is powerful! It has the ability to ignite even the hardest heart. Maybe you have been impacted by a spoken message. If so, it would be interesting to hear about it.
Tomorrow: Opportunity and Opposition
Verse 13 gives us an interesting bit of information that will resurface in a couple of chapters. It says that John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem. This departure evidently came at a crucial time, and Paul saw it as an almost inexcusable failure on the part of John Mark. In fact, this event became a point of contention between Paul and Barnabas, as we will see later.
When Paul and Barnabas arrive in Antioch of Pisidia, the first place of ministry for them is, as usual, the synagogue. When they are invited to speak, Paul begins what is his longest recorded sermon.
The first part of the sermon, verses 17-25, reviews the history of Israel, starting from God's choice of Israel and the deliverance from Egypt and leading up to God's choice of David. All of this was very familiar to his audience and showed them Paul knew the Scriptures.
The second part of the sermon, verses 26-37, deals with the death and resurrection of Jesus and with the witness of the apostles. In vs.26 Paul emphasizes that this message of salvation was sent out to them personally, both to the Jews and the Gentiles.
Paul ends his sermon in verses 38-41 by exhorting them to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Verse 39 is the key verse to his sermon: justification comes through faith in Christ, not in holding on to the Law.
The message obviously connected with those who were hearing it, causing many to decide to accept Christ as their Messiah. It is always interesting to me how God takes a spoken message and uses it to penetrate the heart of someone who is listening. God's Word is powerful! It has the ability to ignite even the hardest heart. Maybe you have been impacted by a spoken message. If so, it would be interesting to hear about it.
Tomorrow: Opportunity and Opposition
Monday, July 14, 2008
Acts - Week 7 / Monday
Reading for today: Acts 13:1-12
This passage is a pivotal point in the spread of the gospel. Up to this point, the gospel has been spread from Jerusalem as a result of the persecution that was taking place against the followers of Christ and causing them to scatter away from Jerusalem. But in these verses we encounter the first of those who gave themselves specifically to the work of going to new places for the express purpose of sharing the "good news" and organizing new churches. In fact, these verses describe for us the beginning of the first missionary journey.
Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are selected by the Holy Spirit to be the first missionaries of this new church. It's interesting to me that the church heard this directive from the Holy Spirit during a time of worshiping, prayer and fasting. That meant that they had to quiet themselves before God so that they were in a place that they could hear and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
I wonder if that is why I don't hear the Holy Spirit's voice more often. Could it be that I am too busy, too preoccupied, too intent on doing my own thing to hear His voice? I know it is possible to get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that the Holy Spirit would have to hit me over the head with a 2X4 in order to get my attention. But the Holy Spirit will so rarely ever would do that in any of our lives. So the key is to carve out some quiet times with God so that we can hear His voice, and receive the direction and guidance that we need.
In your experience, what have you found works for you to carve out those times of worship, devotion and prayer? What trade-offs have you made so that you can experience those important times of communion with the Spirit of God?
Tomorrow: Keeping the message relevant
This passage is a pivotal point in the spread of the gospel. Up to this point, the gospel has been spread from Jerusalem as a result of the persecution that was taking place against the followers of Christ and causing them to scatter away from Jerusalem. But in these verses we encounter the first of those who gave themselves specifically to the work of going to new places for the express purpose of sharing the "good news" and organizing new churches. In fact, these verses describe for us the beginning of the first missionary journey.
Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are selected by the Holy Spirit to be the first missionaries of this new church. It's interesting to me that the church heard this directive from the Holy Spirit during a time of worshiping, prayer and fasting. That meant that they had to quiet themselves before God so that they were in a place that they could hear and respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
I wonder if that is why I don't hear the Holy Spirit's voice more often. Could it be that I am too busy, too preoccupied, too intent on doing my own thing to hear His voice? I know it is possible to get so wrapped up in the busyness of life that the Holy Spirit would have to hit me over the head with a 2X4 in order to get my attention. But the Holy Spirit will so rarely ever would do that in any of our lives. So the key is to carve out some quiet times with God so that we can hear His voice, and receive the direction and guidance that we need.
In your experience, what have you found works for you to carve out those times of worship, devotion and prayer? What trade-offs have you made so that you can experience those important times of communion with the Spirit of God?
Tomorrow: Keeping the message relevant
Friday, July 11, 2008
Acts - Week 6 / Friday
"Help is on the Way"
Through the Spirit the prophet Ababus predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. This caused the disciples to provide help for the believers who lived in this region.
The scriptures says, "The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help." God uses us to meet the needs that other have. That has always been His plan.
Tithing a minimum of 10% to the local church is an act of discipline and obedience that reminds us each time we give that God is our supplier. He provided the ability to earn the current income and He is able to make 90% go further than 100% every day of the week. Tithing is an outward action of our dependence on God.
Giving to others is an act of love for God. God set an equal, minimum standard for tithing. In giving above the tithe, we give according to our current ability. God again levels the playing field and says, give what you can.
Several years ago during a weekend service, God spoke to me that I was give all the money in my wallet to a particular person. I opened my wallet and found $13 and some change. I spent a good portion of the morning talking with God about what He had asked. "What good will $13 do anyone?" "I am embarrassed that is so small an amount" "I had plans for that $13."
I chose to obey and handed someone 2-five's, 3-one's and a lot of change. I gave according to my ability at the time and that is what God asked of me.
God is a giving God, it is His nature. He asks us to be givers like He is.
Let's decide to give and then watch what God is able to do in and through us for others.
This blog will resume on Monday, July 14, 2008
Through the Spirit the prophet Ababus predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. This caused the disciples to provide help for the believers who lived in this region.
The scriptures says, "The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help." God uses us to meet the needs that other have. That has always been His plan.
Tithing a minimum of 10% to the local church is an act of discipline and obedience that reminds us each time we give that God is our supplier. He provided the ability to earn the current income and He is able to make 90% go further than 100% every day of the week. Tithing is an outward action of our dependence on God.
Giving to others is an act of love for God. God set an equal, minimum standard for tithing. In giving above the tithe, we give according to our current ability. God again levels the playing field and says, give what you can.
Several years ago during a weekend service, God spoke to me that I was give all the money in my wallet to a particular person. I opened my wallet and found $13 and some change. I spent a good portion of the morning talking with God about what He had asked. "What good will $13 do anyone?" "I am embarrassed that is so small an amount" "I had plans for that $13."
I chose to obey and handed someone 2-five's, 3-one's and a lot of change. I gave according to my ability at the time and that is what God asked of me.
God is a giving God, it is His nature. He asks us to be givers like He is.
Let's decide to give and then watch what God is able to do in and through us for others.
This blog will resume on Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Acts - Week 6 / Thursday
Today's Reading: Acts 11:25-26
"Who Looked for You?"
Barnabas remained in Antioch for a time to help the new church, but soon realized his need for additional assistance. So he traveled to the town of Tarsus to look for Saul and persuaded him to return with him to Antioch. For a year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.
Barnabas continued his work of encouragement. Needing help, he sought out Saul, still an relatively new believer with no real ministry experience.
Can't you see Barnabas as he works side by side with Saul? He shows him what to do, shares his own knowledge, watches as Saul does some teaching and offers encouragement and correction along the way. For a year, Barnabas influences and invests into the man who would write most of the New Testament and travel the world to spread the gospel. Their ministry to this church in Antioch was so effective that it was here that the believers were first called "Christians", Christ followers.
Who looked for you? Who spoke into your life and encouraged you to grow? What influence did they have in who you are today?
If you take a moment to ponder your answer, you will find that God has used various people along the way to encourage you.
Who are you "looking" for? Who has God placed in your path to help grow and nurture? Who are you influencing?
Barnabas went "looking" for Saul. About 10 years later this same Saul, now the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
That would be a great statement for each of us to say.
Tomorrow: "Help is on the Way"
"Who Looked for You?"
Barnabas remained in Antioch for a time to help the new church, but soon realized his need for additional assistance. So he traveled to the town of Tarsus to look for Saul and persuaded him to return with him to Antioch. For a year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.
Barnabas continued his work of encouragement. Needing help, he sought out Saul, still an relatively new believer with no real ministry experience.
Can't you see Barnabas as he works side by side with Saul? He shows him what to do, shares his own knowledge, watches as Saul does some teaching and offers encouragement and correction along the way. For a year, Barnabas influences and invests into the man who would write most of the New Testament and travel the world to spread the gospel. Their ministry to this church in Antioch was so effective that it was here that the believers were first called "Christians", Christ followers.
Who looked for you? Who spoke into your life and encouraged you to grow? What influence did they have in who you are today?
If you take a moment to ponder your answer, you will find that God has used various people along the way to encourage you.
Who are you "looking" for? Who has God placed in your path to help grow and nurture? Who are you influencing?
Barnabas went "looking" for Saul. About 10 years later this same Saul, now the Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
That would be a great statement for each of us to say.
Tomorrow: "Help is on the Way"
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Acts - Week 6 / Wednesday
Today's Reading: Acts 11:19-24
"A Man you Want as your Friend"
The news about salvation continued to be told by the believers. As a result, great numbers of people believed creating new churches throughout the region. The leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to see what was happening and what they needed.
We've met Barnabas before, his name means "Son of Encouragement" and he was one of the first to extend fellowship to Saul. Now we find Barnabas sent to "check out" the new believers.
Things that are newly created often take time to perfect. Inexperience or lack of understanding are part of anything new. For instance, it has taken me three days of writing this blog to realize that the "Title" space was to be the week and date of the blog, not my clever "Title" for that days thought. I would go back and change the titles, but I can't remember how to edit the blog!!
New things need guidance and encouragement. Barnabas arrived in Antioch, observed what was going on, was glad at what he saw and encouraged them.
Would the people in your home or at work describe you as glad or possessing joy? Do you guide and encourage those around you or do you only see what needs to be improved without offering praise?
Some of you have an encouraging nature, like Barnabas, this is what you do. Keep on believing the best of others because someone needs your words of encouragement today. Others of you struggle to encourage anyone including yourself. Remember, no one or no situation is perfect. However, more improvement and growth is done through encouragement than through criticism.
Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
As we go through our day let's be good medicine to those around us rather than spirit crushers.
Tomorrow: Who looked for you?
"A Man you Want as your Friend"
The news about salvation continued to be told by the believers. As a result, great numbers of people believed creating new churches throughout the region. The leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to see what was happening and what they needed.
We've met Barnabas before, his name means "Son of Encouragement" and he was one of the first to extend fellowship to Saul. Now we find Barnabas sent to "check out" the new believers.
Things that are newly created often take time to perfect. Inexperience or lack of understanding are part of anything new. For instance, it has taken me three days of writing this blog to realize that the "Title" space was to be the week and date of the blog, not my clever "Title" for that days thought. I would go back and change the titles, but I can't remember how to edit the blog!!
New things need guidance and encouragement. Barnabas arrived in Antioch, observed what was going on, was glad at what he saw and encouraged them.
Would the people in your home or at work describe you as glad or possessing joy? Do you guide and encourage those around you or do you only see what needs to be improved without offering praise?
Some of you have an encouraging nature, like Barnabas, this is what you do. Keep on believing the best of others because someone needs your words of encouragement today. Others of you struggle to encourage anyone including yourself. Remember, no one or no situation is perfect. However, more improvement and growth is done through encouragement than through criticism.
Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
As we go through our day let's be good medicine to those around us rather than spirit crushers.
Tomorrow: Who looked for you?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
"A Great Way to Handle a Dispute" (one that actually works!!!!)
Today's Reading: Acts 11:1-18
In today's reading we find that Peter faces criticism from the believers in Jerusalem because he went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them, which violated Jewish law. In Chapter 10, God specifically told Peter to go to the home of Cornelius, who was a Gentile, and he was to share the good news of Jesus salvation. When he did this, all who heard the message believed and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Thus paving the way for all Gentiles to hear and receive salvation.
The believers in Jerusalem were not privy to God's call to Peter and they criticized him for his actions.
So here we have Christians in a dispute. Lets see what we can take away from their experience.
1. Try to find out all of the facts before confronting someone
vs 1-3
The leaders in Jerusalem criticised Peter because they did not have all of the facts about the situation. They could have asked Peter privately to relate the story of what had happened rather than confronting him openly in a critical fashion.
2. Respond in a non-defensive, grace filled manor. vs 4-17
When confronted by his fellow believers, Peter could have become defensive.
"You weren't there, how do you know what went on?"
"What right do you have to question me?"
"When was the last time YOU saw a vision?"
Such defensive responses may roll off our tongue, but they do nothing to end a dispute, they only serve inflame the disagreement.
Peter was gracious in his response, he was precise and detailed in telling them what had happened.
3. Unity is the Ultimate "WIN" vs 18
After hearing Peter's story, the believers accepted what was said, made no further objections, and praised God for what He was doing in the Gentiles. We don't see either "side" trying to "win" their argument or holding a grudge. Rather they moved on to the bigger picture of leading the growing church in Jerusalem.
When faced with uncertain facts or opposition from those we are close too, let's follow the example of the early church and seek to understand.
Tomorrow: A Man you Want as your Friend.
In today's reading we find that Peter faces criticism from the believers in Jerusalem because he went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them, which violated Jewish law. In Chapter 10, God specifically told Peter to go to the home of Cornelius, who was a Gentile, and he was to share the good news of Jesus salvation. When he did this, all who heard the message believed and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Thus paving the way for all Gentiles to hear and receive salvation.
The believers in Jerusalem were not privy to God's call to Peter and they criticized him for his actions.
So here we have Christians in a dispute. Lets see what we can take away from their experience.
1. Try to find out all of the facts before confronting someone
vs 1-3
The leaders in Jerusalem criticised Peter because they did not have all of the facts about the situation. They could have asked Peter privately to relate the story of what had happened rather than confronting him openly in a critical fashion.
2. Respond in a non-defensive, grace filled manor. vs 4-17
When confronted by his fellow believers, Peter could have become defensive.
"You weren't there, how do you know what went on?"
"What right do you have to question me?"
"When was the last time YOU saw a vision?"
Such defensive responses may roll off our tongue, but they do nothing to end a dispute, they only serve inflame the disagreement.
Peter was gracious in his response, he was precise and detailed in telling them what had happened.
3. Unity is the Ultimate "WIN" vs 18
After hearing Peter's story, the believers accepted what was said, made no further objections, and praised God for what He was doing in the Gentiles. We don't see either "side" trying to "win" their argument or holding a grudge. Rather they moved on to the bigger picture of leading the growing church in Jerusalem.
When faced with uncertain facts or opposition from those we are close too, let's follow the example of the early church and seek to understand.
Tomorrow: A Man you Want as your Friend.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Tell Us Your Story!
Reading assignment: Acts 12 (A very exciting chapter!)
Hello CLF Bloggers!
Now that I have a Google Blogger Account I am ready to dialogue and hope to hear from YOU!
This past weekend, July 5-6, we looked at Acts 12 where we found Peter in prison and the early church meeting together for prayer. You can see from the reading that Peter's situation was desperate and the church family chose to pray.
We could look at other scripture that talk about prayer or tell other Bible stories that illustrate God's faithfulness in hearing us, but I would like to hear from you.
Tomorrow we will begin to look at Acts 11 "A Great Way to Handle a Dispute" (one that actually works!!!!)
Hello CLF Bloggers!
Now that I have a Google Blogger Account I am ready to dialogue and hope to hear from YOU!
This past weekend, July 5-6, we looked at Acts 12 where we found Peter in prison and the early church meeting together for prayer. You can see from the reading that Peter's situation was desperate and the church family chose to pray.
We could look at other scripture that talk about prayer or tell other Bible stories that illustrate God's faithfulness in hearing us, but I would like to hear from you.
What story from your life comes to mind when we talk about answered prayer?
- Did God move in a miraculous way to meet a need in your life?
- Did He, slowly, over time change you and release you from the bondage of sin?
- How has He drawn family and friends into a relationship with Himself?
Would you send a response? The beauty of a Blog is that is provides opportunity for others to read what you have written and your testimony may be the encouragement that someone else needs today!
Do you have a need that you would like the staff to pray for? Each Wednesday, in our staff meeting we pray for your needs. We would love to stand with you in prayer that God will move on your behalf. You can either respond in this blog, allowing others to read and pray with you, or you can respond to pastorjulie@clfonline.org.Tomorrow we will begin to look at Acts 11 "A Great Way to Handle a Dispute" (one that actually works!!!!)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Acts - Week 5 / Friday
Reading for today: Acts 10:23-48
Peter has been impacted by the "vision" he received from God in which it was declared to him in no uncertain terms how wrong it was to call unclean that which God called clean---even when it came to people! For a Jew raised in the prejudiced environment of Jewish tradition and customs, God was viewed as partial since He demonstrated "favoritism" toward Israel. But Peter discovered in this amazing story that God is not partial, that grace cannot coexist with prejudice.
This was a major breakthrough. The Jews traditionally looked upon the Gentiles with scorn because, among other things, they ate food the Jews viewed as unclean. In fact, the Jews looked upon Gentiles as dogs. Hatred ran deep. But when God captured Peter's attention. Peter responded in a very un-Jewish manner. He was willing to set aside his prejudices, and do his best to view these people as God viewed them.
To bring about this change in the thinking of this new church, God simultaneously worked in Peter's heart in Joppa, while at the same time He sent an angel to speak to Cornelius in Caesarea. Peter took some steps that were way out of his normal comfort zone. First, he took in for the night the 3 men whom Cornelius had sent to fetch Peter. Secondly, he became the guest of a non-Jew, when he entered Cornelius' house.
What a surprise to see the house full of interested people! As Peter begins to speak to them about Jesus, it truly dawns on him: God in no respector of persons, He is not partial, He shows no favoritism. Everyone has an equal opportunity with God.
In the middle of Peter's talk, an incredible thing happened! The Holy Spirit fell on that Gentile crowd, and they were heard speaking in tongues and praising God. Imagine that! They had the identical experience as that of the Jewish Christian community. This was precisely what the prophet Joel, hundreds of years earlier, had prophesied would happen.
And thus began a whole new chapter for this new church. Acts 1:8 was becoming more and more clear.
Next: The blog will be on hold next week, and will resume on July 7th.
Peter has been impacted by the "vision" he received from God in which it was declared to him in no uncertain terms how wrong it was to call unclean that which God called clean---even when it came to people! For a Jew raised in the prejudiced environment of Jewish tradition and customs, God was viewed as partial since He demonstrated "favoritism" toward Israel. But Peter discovered in this amazing story that God is not partial, that grace cannot coexist with prejudice.
This was a major breakthrough. The Jews traditionally looked upon the Gentiles with scorn because, among other things, they ate food the Jews viewed as unclean. In fact, the Jews looked upon Gentiles as dogs. Hatred ran deep. But when God captured Peter's attention. Peter responded in a very un-Jewish manner. He was willing to set aside his prejudices, and do his best to view these people as God viewed them.
To bring about this change in the thinking of this new church, God simultaneously worked in Peter's heart in Joppa, while at the same time He sent an angel to speak to Cornelius in Caesarea. Peter took some steps that were way out of his normal comfort zone. First, he took in for the night the 3 men whom Cornelius had sent to fetch Peter. Secondly, he became the guest of a non-Jew, when he entered Cornelius' house.
What a surprise to see the house full of interested people! As Peter begins to speak to them about Jesus, it truly dawns on him: God in no respector of persons, He is not partial, He shows no favoritism. Everyone has an equal opportunity with God.
In the middle of Peter's talk, an incredible thing happened! The Holy Spirit fell on that Gentile crowd, and they were heard speaking in tongues and praising God. Imagine that! They had the identical experience as that of the Jewish Christian community. This was precisely what the prophet Joel, hundreds of years earlier, had prophesied would happen.
And thus began a whole new chapter for this new church. Acts 1:8 was becoming more and more clear.
Next: The blog will be on hold next week, and will resume on July 7th.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Acts - Week 5 / Thursday
Reading for today: Acts 10:1-23
When God chose the Jews in the person of Abraham, He wanted a people through whom He could work, in order to demonstrate to the world that what He did with the Jews He could do with any nation that walked with Him. The Jews, therefore, became the chosen race. But as time passed, they began to see themselves as superior to all other nations, and tradition and prejudice caused the Jews to see the Gentiles as inferior.
Peter had made some progress in this matter. He accepted the Lord's work in saving the Samaritans. But they were circumcised and kept the Law about as well as many of the Jews did. Peter was also willing to stay in the home of an "unclean" tanner who was a believer. (Acts 9:43)
But he had not faced the biggest barrier yet, and that was the chasm between the Jew and the Gentile. So God gives him an opportunity to change his heart and his attitude. God works through Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile, to bring this change about. While God spoke to Cornelius through an angel, He was also speaking to Peter through a "vision," in which He shows him all these animals that Peter had never eaten. But God said to "kill and eat."
Peter's response is interesting. He said, in essence, "No way, Lord." On the one hand, Peter calls him "Lord," but on the other hand, he says, "No way!" I sometimes wonder if that is how I sound to God. "Lord (master)---forget it!"
Even as Peter is trying to understand this vision, the men sent from Cornelius came for him. Peter was faced with a decision and he didn't have time to think much about it. Would he respond to the vision he had, or would he ignore it and bow to tradition and prejudice? Luke gives us Peter's response in 12 words: "Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests."
Tomorrow: The proof is in the pudding!
When God chose the Jews in the person of Abraham, He wanted a people through whom He could work, in order to demonstrate to the world that what He did with the Jews He could do with any nation that walked with Him. The Jews, therefore, became the chosen race. But as time passed, they began to see themselves as superior to all other nations, and tradition and prejudice caused the Jews to see the Gentiles as inferior.
Peter had made some progress in this matter. He accepted the Lord's work in saving the Samaritans. But they were circumcised and kept the Law about as well as many of the Jews did. Peter was also willing to stay in the home of an "unclean" tanner who was a believer. (Acts 9:43)
But he had not faced the biggest barrier yet, and that was the chasm between the Jew and the Gentile. So God gives him an opportunity to change his heart and his attitude. God works through Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile, to bring this change about. While God spoke to Cornelius through an angel, He was also speaking to Peter through a "vision," in which He shows him all these animals that Peter had never eaten. But God said to "kill and eat."
Peter's response is interesting. He said, in essence, "No way, Lord." On the one hand, Peter calls him "Lord," but on the other hand, he says, "No way!" I sometimes wonder if that is how I sound to God. "Lord (master)---forget it!"
Even as Peter is trying to understand this vision, the men sent from Cornelius came for him. Peter was faced with a decision and he didn't have time to think much about it. Would he respond to the vision he had, or would he ignore it and bow to tradition and prejudice? Luke gives us Peter's response in 12 words: "Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests."
Tomorrow: The proof is in the pudding!
Acts - Week 5 / Wednesday
Reading for today: Acts 9:32-43
The Acts story now shifts from Saul, and reverts back to Peter, who has traveled to Lydda to visit the believers there. While there, he finds Aeneas, who for 8 years has needed someone to dress him, move him about, take him from bed and put him back at the end of the day, and help him with all his needs of personal hygiene. His was a very difficult situation.
Peter spoke these words, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Miraculously, Aeneas is instantly healed. Many people who saw this miracle turned to the Lord, not to Peter. That is a mark of genuine healing: when the Lord gets the glory, and not any man.
Then Peter found himself being dispastched 10 miles further toward the Mediterranean coast to the city of Joppa, where a woman named Tabitha had died. This was a special lady who had given of herself to meet the needs of the poor around her. Peter dismissed all the mourning widows who surrounded her dead body, and went to his knees in prayer, and then turned to the body in faith and said, "Tabitha, arise!"
Another miracle took place as Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up. Imagine the joy Peter had in presenting her alive to all the mourners. Again, this miracle resulted in many people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
You can't help but notice that Peter refuses to take any credit for these miracles. The spotlight was kept on Jesus Christ as the healer. God has a wonderful way of using miraculous events to draw people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. God can use a miracle as the entering wedge for evangelism.
That's precisely why we pray for miracles to take place around here. The purpose of a miracle is not to draw attention to a person, or a church. The purpose of miracles is to draw peoples' attention towards Jesus Christ. We pray for miracles so that the door of evangelism is opened wider and wider.
What miracles do you find yourself praying for? Why do you want to see that miracle take place?
Tomorrow: Prejudice rears its ugly head!
The Acts story now shifts from Saul, and reverts back to Peter, who has traveled to Lydda to visit the believers there. While there, he finds Aeneas, who for 8 years has needed someone to dress him, move him about, take him from bed and put him back at the end of the day, and help him with all his needs of personal hygiene. His was a very difficult situation.
Peter spoke these words, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Miraculously, Aeneas is instantly healed. Many people who saw this miracle turned to the Lord, not to Peter. That is a mark of genuine healing: when the Lord gets the glory, and not any man.
Then Peter found himself being dispastched 10 miles further toward the Mediterranean coast to the city of Joppa, where a woman named Tabitha had died. This was a special lady who had given of herself to meet the needs of the poor around her. Peter dismissed all the mourning widows who surrounded her dead body, and went to his knees in prayer, and then turned to the body in faith and said, "Tabitha, arise!"
Another miracle took place as Tabitha opened her eyes and sat up. Imagine the joy Peter had in presenting her alive to all the mourners. Again, this miracle resulted in many people coming to faith in Jesus Christ.
You can't help but notice that Peter refuses to take any credit for these miracles. The spotlight was kept on Jesus Christ as the healer. God has a wonderful way of using miraculous events to draw people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. God can use a miracle as the entering wedge for evangelism.
That's precisely why we pray for miracles to take place around here. The purpose of a miracle is not to draw attention to a person, or a church. The purpose of miracles is to draw peoples' attention towards Jesus Christ. We pray for miracles so that the door of evangelism is opened wider and wider.
What miracles do you find yourself praying for? Why do you want to see that miracle take place?
Tomorrow: Prejudice rears its ugly head!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Acts - Week 5 / Tuesday
Reading for today: Acts 9 19-31
Saul finds himself in a real dilemma. This most notorious Christian-hater has done an about-face, and is now one of the followers of Christ. But understandably, he is feared and distrusted by fellow believers because they knew his past reputation. On the other hand, he was resented and rejected by former associates of his past life. Right away he began to experience the fulfillment of a prediction the Lord had revealed to Ananias, "I will show him (Saul) how much he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:16)
The Holy Spirit has empowered Saul, and he is ready to hit the ground running! He doesn't sit around waiting for some sign from heaven to do something. Immediately, he goes to the synagogue and begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God---the Messiah. And he is convincing! He was a master of logic, trained under Gamaliel, and a brilliant theologian of Judaism, and now he is proclaiming Christ in a most convincing fashion.
Vs.23 says, "After many days had gone by..." We don't know a lot about this time period. However, something mysterious happened during this time. In Galatians 1:17 Saul (Paul) indicates that he went off to Arabia and then returned again to Damascus. How long was he gone? And what took place there? Some say he was there for 3 years, but we do not know this for certain. While there we can safely assume that God was at work with him while he lived in solitude away from the masses.
The next verses relate the difficulties Saul faced. It seemed that everyone had their sights aimed on him. The unbelieving Jews tried to kill him in Damascus, but the Christ followers helped him escape. Then when he went to Jerusalem, the church there was dubious about him. Finally Barnabas comes to the rescue, and convinces the church to take this guy in. He's OK!
But it isn't long before the Grecian Jews tried to kill him. So, again, Saul's Christian brothers help him escape to Tarsus, which is Saul's birthplace. And so, with Saul out of the picture for a while, things settle down, the church enjoys a time of peace, and the Holy Spirit helps the church to continue to grow.
The rejection of Paul by his former associates in hating the Christians would have been understood by Saul. However, the distrust and slowness in acceptance by his fellow believers must have been difficult for Saul to deal with. I wonder how I would have responded to Saul coming into my circle of believers? Would I have been willing to embrace him as a fellow believer, or would I have forced him to prove himself before I extended a hand of friendship?
Tomorrow: Even the dead come back to life!
Saul finds himself in a real dilemma. This most notorious Christian-hater has done an about-face, and is now one of the followers of Christ. But understandably, he is feared and distrusted by fellow believers because they knew his past reputation. On the other hand, he was resented and rejected by former associates of his past life. Right away he began to experience the fulfillment of a prediction the Lord had revealed to Ananias, "I will show him (Saul) how much he must suffer for My name's sake." (Acts 9:16)
The Holy Spirit has empowered Saul, and he is ready to hit the ground running! He doesn't sit around waiting for some sign from heaven to do something. Immediately, he goes to the synagogue and begins preaching that Jesus is the Son of God---the Messiah. And he is convincing! He was a master of logic, trained under Gamaliel, and a brilliant theologian of Judaism, and now he is proclaiming Christ in a most convincing fashion.
Vs.23 says, "After many days had gone by..." We don't know a lot about this time period. However, something mysterious happened during this time. In Galatians 1:17 Saul (Paul) indicates that he went off to Arabia and then returned again to Damascus. How long was he gone? And what took place there? Some say he was there for 3 years, but we do not know this for certain. While there we can safely assume that God was at work with him while he lived in solitude away from the masses.
The next verses relate the difficulties Saul faced. It seemed that everyone had their sights aimed on him. The unbelieving Jews tried to kill him in Damascus, but the Christ followers helped him escape. Then when he went to Jerusalem, the church there was dubious about him. Finally Barnabas comes to the rescue, and convinces the church to take this guy in. He's OK!
But it isn't long before the Grecian Jews tried to kill him. So, again, Saul's Christian brothers help him escape to Tarsus, which is Saul's birthplace. And so, with Saul out of the picture for a while, things settle down, the church enjoys a time of peace, and the Holy Spirit helps the church to continue to grow.
The rejection of Paul by his former associates in hating the Christians would have been understood by Saul. However, the distrust and slowness in acceptance by his fellow believers must have been difficult for Saul to deal with. I wonder how I would have responded to Saul coming into my circle of believers? Would I have been willing to embrace him as a fellow believer, or would I have forced him to prove himself before I extended a hand of friendship?
Tomorrow: Even the dead come back to life!
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