All of Asia heard

And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. – Acts 19.8-10

Paul and Silas were persistent. Even in the face of great opposition they kept on going. For three months they were in the synagogue reasoning and persuading the people. Some of the hearers had hardened hearts and refused to listen. These spoke evil of the Way and caused great opposition so Paul and Silas moved on.

For two years, we read, they continued despite the opposition.

As a result ‘all who dwelt in Asia’ heard the word of the Lord, Jews and Greeks. I am not sure that this meant that every single person heard the gospel. I suspect that it means that because of the efforts the gospel was so well known that everyone had access to to it. ‘Everyone’ in the sense we hear it said often today, had heard about Christ.

Isn’t that amazing. In just two short years, because of the preaching and witness everybody in this region had a chance to hear. The gospel was well known.

I have to say that makes me ashamed. I live in a town of about 25,000 people. I have been here in this town for over twenty years. I have to admit that not everyone is Naas has heard the word of the Lord because of me and my witness. I can’t say that everyone in my neighbourhood has heard about Jesus.

God give me the fervour and the devotion and diligence that these early Christians had in order to reach my town.

Aquila and Priscilla

Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 8.24-28

There are a lot of lesser know people in the Bible. These are people we come across who may only get a mention or two and then they disappear. A lot of these folks though make a tremendous impact when we meet them.

One such couple are Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos was a guy who was really seeking the Lord. He had great faith and was already proclaiming the word of God before he met Aquila and Priscilla, but he could only do so much because he did not know the whole truth. Look ate the words used for him; eloquent, mighty, and fervent in doing God’s work. But so far all he knew was the baptism of John.

So Aquila and Priscilla had a Bible study for Apollos. They explained the gospel more accurately and precisely so that Apollos would be prepared to preach and teach as God sent him out.

I love this. Here is a Christian couple. They weren’t famous. Ther had jobs. But they knew their Bibles. The took it on themselves to fill in the gaps for Apollos. When Apolloswent to Achaia we read that he ‘greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.’ He boldly spoke to the Jews from the Old Testament proving that Jesus was Messiah.

And it worked. Because this special couple knew their Bibles they could prepare Apollos to do a great work on the Jews, because now he could take his Bible and explain the truth to the Jews.

And that has been God’s plan ever since. Sure, we need preachers and teachers, but Paul says that their great job is to prepare the saints to do the work of the ministry. The word of God is not only preached from pulpits, but many a lesson has been taught over a cuppa tea at the kitchen table.

Lord, make us all Aquilas and Priscillas.

Responses to the gospel

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. – Acts 17.32-34

As we share the gospel we must realise that not everyone is going to jump at the chance to be saved. People are going to respond in different ways. Even Paul, probably the greatest missionary and soul winner who ever lived, did not see everyone saved.

When Paul finished his talk on Mars Hill with a mention of the resurrection we read that ‘some mocked, other said ‘we will hear more’…but some joined him and believed. The response to the gospel was mixed.

Of course some mocked him. That was to be expected. The notion of resurrection from the dead and the resultant eternal life doesn’t make any sense to a world that is trapped in darkness. The Bible says, after all, that their natural eyes are blinded. For anyone who has done much sharing of the gospel we know well this response. Whether is actual blindness or not wanting to hear a lot of folks are just going to reject our message out of hand.

Then there are some folks who just need to hear more. This is where most of the folks I have shared my faith with are. They don’t dismiss it, they know something must be there, but it is too much to process at the moment. They need to hear more. These friends and coworkers and family see there is a difference. They take in what we say. Some of these may even be previous mockers who have watched us and have their curiosity piqued. People like this need our continued witness and contine to need to see Christ.

But then, a few believed. It doesn’t sound like a great crowd here get saved. We read of Dionysius, Damaris, and others believing. Some mocked, some wanted to hear more, but a few received message and were saved.

I think the key lesson here is this. All we can do is share the gospel. The results are in God’s hands. God will open their hearts, but we must give them the message. A lot of folks are not going to be saved, at least not now, but that doesn’t change what we do.

What if Paul had said ‘I’m just going to wait here for Silas and Timothy? Would Dionysus and Damaris been saved. Would others have had the seen of the gospel planted in their hearts. Even those who mocked were not a waste of time.

One thing is certain – whatever we do to proclaim the gospel is better than nothing.

Repent

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” – Acts 17.30-31

Repentance is not a new topic. It has appeared all throughout the word of God. It is complete turning, a 180, in our heads and our hearts in relation to sin. In the Old Testament God ‘winked at’ the specific need of accepting Christ as Saviour because He had not come yet. But now that Christ has come God requires the specific that all men everywhere must repent.

Sometimes people can make salvation sound so simple that they forget the call to repentance. Sometimes all that we present is praying an ‘A-B-C pray after me me’ plan of salvation. This has given a lot of folks a false hope of salvation. It leaves out the ‘all me everywhere must repent’ aspect of salvation. Repeating a prayer without a real change of heart and mind is just words.

Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

As we share the gospel we need ot make sure that people know that the root of their problem is sin and the only solution to sin is confession, repentance, and the grace of God.

In whom we live and move and have our being

for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. – Acts 17.28-29

Paul’s message on Marsh Hill was one for the ages. First he defined the ‘unknown god’ to the people. Then he explained who this unknown God was how He had revealed Himself through His creation in order to draw men to seek Him. Then he goes on to explain the relevance of this God to today.

In Him, this unknown God, we live and move and have our being.

God not only made us, but He is still in control today. It is in Him, and only in Him, that we have our being. He live because of Him. We move because of Him. We have our very being because of Him.

All we have or ever hope to be is because of Jesus. The Bilbe tells us that it is Christ in me that is my hope of glory. The Bible says that it is no longer I who lives but it Christ that lives in me.

But it goes make even before that. The whole world lives and moves and has its being in Christ. He is the one who holds the whole world together. I am not much of a scientist but I have read that there is no scientific explanation for why atoms hold together and that science have been searching for the glue that holds it all in place. (If I am wrong please let me know so I can avoid embarrassing myself in the future). This verse seems to say that Jesus, the creator and sustainer, is the glue that holds it all together. Either way, Jesus is the sustainer that keeps us going. He is why my lungs keep working and heart keeps beating and blood keeps flowing.

The unknown God, we now know is Jesus , is worthy of our worship.

That they should seek the Lord

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; - Acts 17.24-27

What we call ‘natural revelation’ in out theological terms is a vital part of the gospel. ‘God, who made the world and all that is in it leave Himself with a testimony. He does not dwell in the magnificent temples the Greeks had built for their gods.He gives life and breath and all things. He has made all the world of one blood and established habitations.

He did all this for one purpose – that all men might seek Him. Man has always groped for Him. All men have sought to know Him. The entire history in inextricably tied with religion because men have always sought after and sought to find the One who made it all – the One the Greeks called the ‘unknown god.’ Differing views caused by man’s groping to find God have been the cause of far too many wars and conflicts.

But there is a key phrase here, God is there for the finding. He is not far from each one of us and the gospel is the key we need to find Him. That’s why Paul had to go to Athens. That’s why he couldn’t go to his hotel room and curl up with a good book. That’s’s why he took to the streets and risked preaching on Mars Hill – because God is there and Paul had the answer to their search for the unknown God.

Thinsg haven’t changed in the last 2,000 years. There is still a world seeking the Lord. They may be kicking against His calling, but He is there and we have to key.

Why aren’t we sharing?

The fullness of time

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. – Galatians 4.4-7

Christmas Day, of course, is the day we have chosen to remember the birth of Christ. It is the momentous day that set in motion God’s way of salvation for mankind. Today, if we can avoid all of the trappings and lights and gifts and all that, we remember that we celebrate God sending forth His Son who a world that  needed Him.

When the time was just right, the perfect time, God sent His Son to redeem us from sin, to give us His spirit, and to allow us to share in the fullness of Christ’s inheritance.

But God also sent His Son that we might be adopted as His children and so that we can cry out ‘Abba, Father.’ That’s right, because of that first Christmas we, a bunch of unworthy sinners, can be redeemed and adopted into the family of God and can now call Him our Daddy.

Happy Christmas everyone. Enjoy the day with your heavenly Daddy.

Him I proclaim

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: - Acts 17.22-23

So now Paul has his chance. He in the Aeropogas on Mars Hill. This was a great public forum where people went to speak on the issues of the day. They spoke about anything. Religion was often the topic but they would also speak about politics or the economy and maybe even sports.

Paul got right down to the issue he wanted to discuss. His heart had been stirred about the spiritual needs of the city. He had made such a stir that he had been invited to come up and speak in the forum. As he stood up to address the gathered crowd he mentioned how he had noticed that they were very religious.

He went on to note that as he had toured their city he had seen an idol to the ‘UKNOWN GOD.’ Little could they have know that the unknown god was about to be made know to them.

“Him I proclaim to you’ Paul said and launched into a description of the God they worshipped withour knowing.

I think this is a good reminder people know, deep in their hearts, that there is more to life than what we are living. God tells us that He has put eternity into the hearts of man. We all know that there is more, even when people won’t acknowledge it. I suspect that they are many, many people who, like Paul, are kicking against the goads. People choose to worship anything but Him.

I wonder how many of us are willing, like Paul, to proclaim the God people don’t know? Who will listen?

The only way to know is to proclaim Him.

His spirit was stirred

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. – Acts 17.16

I wonder what I would do if I was all alone in some strange pagan city where I knew nobody and where I had no Christian support but I knew my Christian co-workers were on the way.

My guess is that I would quietly go to my hotel room and pray and study the scriptures to get ready for the rest of the missionary team to arrive. That, after all, would be the prudent thing to do, right? Why endanger the future of the ministry here by going out on my own?

But Paul wasn’t me.  When Paul saw the city that was totally given to idolatry his heart was stirred up. He was moved because they didn’t know anything about Christ. It reminds me of when Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and His heart was moved with compassion because they were like sheep having no shepherd.

He couldn’t just sit back and wait when He knew the need was so pressing. They needed Jesus and they need Him now. He went into the market places and the shops and anywhere people were gathered and told people about Jesus.

Oh for that kind of heart and fervour. Oh for that kind of faith and compassion and selflessness in my own life. We live in a world that is wholly given over to its own kind of idolatry. Most of just get frustrated and bothered and disgusted by this world. Instead of our hearts being stirred we just get bothered. A lot of folks try to use societal change or new laws or politcal leaders to make change. We’ve been trying that for centuries and have really had no success.

If we were truly stirred we would do what Paul did – we would devote our time and energy to telling people about Jesus.

If those things were so

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. – Acts 7.11-12

I have always liked the Bereans. They were a special group of folks that have always challenged me is a very powerful way. They stick out amongst the cities that Paul and Silas were visiting and ministering to. 

They had just come from Thessalonica where they had started a church, but where there was great oppostion. It was so bad in fact that they were forced out of the city by a mob and had to flee for their lives. 

But they came to Berea where the people were more noble or fair-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They received the preaching with readiness of mind. The Holy Spirit had prepared them and they listened. 

It is the next line that has always spoken to my heart where it says that ‘they searched the scriputres daily to make sure that what they were hearing were true. A lot of them were saved because they were receptive and because they checked out what they heard. 

Here is a great test for us. What do we do when we hear the word of God preach. It is great to receive it with open hearts, but do we balance that with checking out what we hear to make sure it is the word of God? Applying Bible teaching to our lives requires both reception and investigation. While we should have faith in Bible teachers we still need to compare what they say to make sure that stay true to the word of God. 

Like the old saying goes – ‘trust, but verify.’ 

These who turned the world upside down

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. – Acts 17.6

Those who have turned the world upside down. What a description. When it was said it was a term of derision and contempt. It was something along the lines of ‘these trouble makers.’

The things is though that even if they were being derided they were doing enough to be noticed. They were havin an impact. They were turning the world upside down by their actions.

These guys turned the pagan world upside down by their actions. It seems sometimes that we rarely cause a ripple in our communities. I know it is a different age and that the Holy Spirit works in different ways and that He may have been opening hearts in a way then thay He is not doing today. Still though, I know my own heart. What kind of impact am I having in my circle of friends and coworkers and neighbours and family? Have I have turned anything upside down by my witness and my testimony and my sharing? Or do I just move about in this world unnoticed and not rocking the boat?

Lord, if I can’t turn the world upside down, at least let me shake up the world around me with your word.

As was his custom

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. – Acts 17.1-4

When Paul reached Thessalonica he found a synagogue of the Jews. He had one purpose in mind, like he did wherever he went – ‘as was his custom’ he ‘reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and demonstrated that Jesus was the Christ who had to suffer and rise again. As a result of his preaching some of the Jews, a lot of the Greeks, and some of the leading women were saved and joined Paul and Silas.

The thing that impressed me is that this was nothing spectacular of special. It was just what he did. Wherever he went he told people about Jesus.

I would love for that to be my testimony. Wouldn’t it be great if people could say ‘that Roger, wherever he goes he does what he always does, he tells people about Jesus.’

This book of Acts ought always to speak to our hearts today. It shows us ow the church thrived even in the days of the greatest opposition. This is how the church succeeded. It is because whatever else they did they told people about Jesus. That was Paul’s custom, why isn’t it mine?

What must I do to be saved?

Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. – Acts 16.29-33

While Paul and Silas sat there in their chains singing and praising God thinsg began to happen. ‘Suddenly,’ we read, ‘there was a earthquake…’ The chains were broken, the doors flew open, and there was nothing restraining the prisoners. The jailer was asleep but woke up to fine the prisoners missing from their cells.

He knew he was in trouble. The custom was that if there was an escape the jailer would be executed. When the jailer encountered Paul he asked him ‘what must I do to be saved?’

Now the jailer may have simply meant what could he do to be saved from execution, but Paul took the chance to talk about a much more important salvation. He told the jailer what he must do to be saved for eternity. It was not complicated – ‘believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.’

That answer has impacted the world for all eternity. The answer is still the same. God’s plan for eternal salvation is simply believe. That may sound too simple. But true belief, real and genuine belief, is all that God desires. Believe that Jesus is is the only door to heaven. Believe that He is he way, the truth, and the life and that no man comes to the Father but through Him and you will be saved. Believe that He alone is the way to forgiveness of sins and your sins will be forgiven.

The jailer and his family were saved and baptised. That happens to all who turn to Jesus today.

At midnight

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. – Acts 16.25

It didn’t take Paul and Silas to get into trouble in Philippi. They did what they always did, they began to preach the gospel.  And, as was their wont, there were arrested for their preaching and thrown into jail.

It seems like from what we read that arrest and imprisonment were not to be taken lightly. They were usually chained to the walls and chained to a couple of soldiers and there were plenty of guards. The jails were usually just a hole in the ground or a cave. They were cold and dark and damp and dirty without sanitary provisions.

If you had thrown me in a jail like that, hey, in any jail, I don’t think I’d be very happy. I don’t know that you would read that ‘at midnight Roger was singing and praising God and the other prisoners were listening to him.’ Can you even imagine that?

When was the last time you or I responded to a really bad situation, where we could see no chance of escape, by singing and praising God? I know that my normal reaction is to fall into pity party pit, or what Bunyan called the ‘slough of despond’ Where do Paul and I differ? Paul had truly grasped the concept of ‘whatever state I am in I will be content.’ His praising God was more important than his comfort. Being a testimony was more important than his trials.

O for the faith to strive to please God in my trials than to make me happy. God used Paul’s willingness to sing and praise. Please Lord, give me that spirit of song and praise all through my life.

The Lord opened her heart

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. – Acts 16.13-15

As Paul sailed to Macedonia he sailed into the port city of Philippi. Just outside the city a riverside prayer meeting was taking place. They sat down to talk to the women who were meeting there. These were clearly women who were seeking God and God says that those who seek Him will find Him.

One of the women was a merchant named Lydia. Being a ‘seller of purple’ she was most probably quite wealthy as purple dyes were very expensive. As she listened her heart was stirred because ‘the Lord opened her heart to hear what Paul was saying. Her heeding clearly led to her salvation because she and her household were baptised and begged the preachers to come and stay in her villa.

The key here os the phrase ‘the Lord opened her heart’ because it reminds us that salvation does not happen apart from God working on a heart. If we don’t go they won’t hear so we have to go, but only God can take our words and opened a heart. Because it is God working we need not panic because we ‘don’t know what to say.’ Because God is a work He can take our stumbling words and and open hearts to His message.

We need to go and heed God’s call. We need to speak up. And we need to let Him open the heart.

Closed and open doors

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. – Acts 16.6-10

Our ways are often not God’s ways. Paul and Silas wanted to continue to preacher the gospel in Asia. They went to the region of Mysia and tried to enter Bithyna. They travelled on to Troas. Troas is a port city just about as far west and you can get and still be in Asia. There was really no place else to go.

But just across the Aegean Sea was the city of Philippi in the region of Macedonia.  In a vision one night Paul saw a man of Macedonia say ‘come over and help us.’ God had closed the doors, at least for a while, to Asia. The gospel was about to reach out into Europe. This was a massive step for the spread of the gospel. It was no longer a local phenomenon. The Great Commission was about to spread to the ‘uttermost parts of the earth.’

Paul and Silas now had their open door. The Macedonian Call was the call of the Spirit to move out with the gospel again.

God may not act with a dream like He did Paul. But still, even today, God’s people all over the world respond to the call ‘come over and help us.’ Missionaries still leave hearth and home and what is familiar to reach out the world that hasn’t heard the gospel. People in the gospel saturated parts of the world need to consider the cry of the peoples who have never heard of Christ.

Since we have been in Ireland I have spoken to many Christians who can remember begging God to send people to Ireland to help them spread the gospel. Many have answered that call. How will God’s people respond to His calling?

Division

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. – Acts 15.36-41

I lke the way the words of God shows they flaws of God’s people. There is no doubt that they are real people just like you and me with weaknesses and opinions and even a little pride at times. Paul and Barnabas were a lot like this. I find it kind of comforting that even men like Paul and Barnabas had issues. It lets me know that if I have issues God can still use me.

Here the contention was over the next mission trip to visit the churches theyhad started. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but at some point John Mark had left them in the middle of the work. Paul had had enough or Mark and refused to take him, reminding Barnabas of how Mark had let them down. Barnabas persisted and so did Saul, but neither would budge. There was only one solution, they had to separate. Barnabas took Mark and went on his to Cyprus and Paul took Silas and went on the originally planned journey. It looks like Paul was the one supported by the church.

Who was right and who was wrong. I can see Barnabas’ wanting to give Mark one more chance. It must work because later we read that Paul want mark to come and help again because he was a benefit to the ministry.

Even though this God was honoured. At the end of the day we now have not one, but two missionary teams our doing God’s work.

God can work all things to His glory – even a division among the brethren.

Adding a yoke

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” – Acts 15.7-11

The requirement to be circumcised to be saved was only the first of two thousand years of trying to tie works to grace in salvation.

‘Why do you test God by adding a yoke to the gospel what no on has ever been able to bear?’ The gospel presented to free gift of salvation by grace alone and through faith alone and nothing else could be added. He it was circumcsion but people have always tried to add yokes since then.

There are those who think that the best way to prove your faith is to meet a bunch or rules and regulations. I’ve been in churches where man-made rules were the way to show everyone how ‘godly’ you were. Some of them had Bible principles behind them, but some were just men’s idea and opinions about what they thought was Christian behaviour.

Too many people are wandering to day partly because they could never meet up to those man-made rules. The yoke of trying to carry them was just to heavy, especailly in the light of Jesus saying ‘share My yoke with Me.’ The gospel is supposed to lighten the burden, not add to it.

Working it out

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. – Acts 15.1-6

It didn’t take long for the first conflict to come to the church. They were, after all, people just like you and me. Conflict was inevitable. Sinners, even saved sinners, are still going to want their way.

The division here was pretty much obvious from the time Gentiles began to get saved. The Jews still tended to think the gospel was for them. They had kept the Law and it did not make any sense that Gentiles couls be saved without the Law. Maybe it didn’t seem fair.

So the Jews were saying that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. Gentiles did not see any needs to conform to the Law see the gospel was gospel of grace. The division had the pontential to destroy or at lease divide and weaken the church.

So the disciples took a wise course of actions. Their notion was to call the factions together and work this thing out by talking it over and examining the gospel together. Church leaders came from all over the Jerusalem to come to an equitable solution.

They met together and determined that the church was free from the Law. Gentiles did not need to be circumcised. The division would carry on, but the unity of the church was preserved.

The lesson for us is pretty clear. Were are still flawed men and women. We still tend toward having our way. Divisions are still going to arise. The question is what we are going to do about those divisions. The disciples set the pattern. The only way to stop divisions from dividing us to come together and work out our differences based on the word of God.

Don’t let disagreements part us. We can work it out it with meek and humble spirits.

Continue

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” – Acts 14.21-22

Troublesome times were there and it was only going to get worse. ‘Through many tribulations we will enter the kingdom of God.’ Paul and Barnabas knew that and so they spent a good part of their missionary journeys returning to the churches they had started to encourage and exhort them to continue in the faith.

Continuance in the faith. At the end of the day that is really what it is all about. Sometimes the Christian walk is really just about carrying on and staying faithful. Sometimes it is just plodding on. Sometimes it is only about sticking to it. Sometimes it is not glamorous or exciting or heroic or anything like that. Sometimes it is just putting one foot in front of the other.

Be steadfast, unmoveable, always bounding in the work. Don’t be weary in well doing. Seeing we have our ministry we do not lose heart.

Continue in the faith.

A witness

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. – Acts 14.14-18

As Paul and Barnabas moved into some of the Hellenistic cities they encountered a serious problem. The people saw the miracles they were doing, but instead of turning to God they tried to worship Paul and Barnabas. The saw them as the manifestation of Zeus and Hermes!

They tried to persuade the people. They turned to God as the Creator but who allowed people a choice. But, they said, He did not leave Himself without a witness. He does good, He controls creation, and He meets our needs. This description of God’s natural revelation to man reminds me of Pslam 19 and of Romans 1. Psalm 19 speakers of how the heavens declare the glory of God and Romans 1 about how God’s invisible attributes are seen in His creation.

Maltie Babcock was an athlete and later a pastor. Every morning he would go for a run to ‘see his Father’s world’ and be reminded of who God is. This is the witness that God leaves with us all. Pastor Babcock’s words ought to be a challenge to us all.

This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

Full of joy and the Holy Spirit

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. – Acts 13.49-52

God word was spreading, but everywhere they went there was also persecution and opposition. The religious leaders expelled them for the area where they were preaching. It certainly did not look like things were going well for them. It would seem that there would be discouragement and despair.

Instead of despairing Paul and Barnabas left those areas behind, moved on, and continued to be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Look at that. Instead of being discouraged, despaired, depressed, and defeated the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

I really wish I could do that when I face apparent failure. I wish I could do that when I face fearful situations. I wish I could do that when new trials come. I should be able. I know what James writes when he says ‘count it all joy’ when you face all sort of trials, but the doing is so much tougher. Sure, I continue on and try to stay faithful and do right, but this joyfulness is something I struggle with.

When we do that I think there is a connection to the rest of the verse. The disciples were not only full of joy, but also the Holy Spirit. When we are full of the Holy Spirit we manifest His fruit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. Look, near the top of the list is the word joy. If I am truly filled with the Spirit joy will be the result.

I know all this, so why do I continue to battle? Why can’t I walk that consistant persistent joyful life of faith?

Encouragement

Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. - Acts 13.43

After Paul and Barnabas he’d been sent out several of the people followed them out and persuaded them to continue in the grace of God as they pursued their ministry.

There are a couple of things here. One is the importance of continuing on. That can’t happen apart from the grace of God. Those of us who deal with the realities of life know the challenge of just continuing to put put one step in front of the other. Barnabas was by his nature the encourager, but even he needed encouragment.

We are need a cheerleader or two. We that brother or sister is always ready to pick up and draw alongside us and push us to continue on our way in the grace of God. Sometimes we are going to want to quit. We are going to be tempted to give up. We need that encourager behind us.

But we also need to be aware that we need to be encouraging others. Who do you know who may be struggling today and need that little push to keep on keeping on. We can’t assure anyone to keep on going in their own strength, but we can encourage them to keep on going in the grace of God. His grace has brought us safe thus far, and His grace and His grace alone will see us though.

Justified

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. – Acts 13.36-39

‘Justified’ is an awesome word. I have heard all kinds of explanations as to what it means. I like the notion that it means to be ‘just as if I’d never’ sinned. It means that we have been made right right God. People have tried all kinds of things to be justified with God, but Paul makes is clear here that justification could not happen by the law of Moses, but by believing.

My favourite picture of what justified means is something a lot of us see every day. When you work on a document one of the options you have it ‘justification.’ That word means to line up. We can line up your text to the left or the right or fully on both side. It means to bring your text in line.

It seems pretty simple, but that is what justification means theologically. It means to be lined up with God’s standard. Failure to be lined up with God’s standard means that we fall short of heaven. We can’t do anything to align ourselves with God’s standard. No matter how much we work we can’t do anything.

We are only justified by faith and by beleiving what God says. It only happens through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The first missionaries

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. - Acts 12:25 - 13:3

Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission and they returned to Damascus to the church there. They hadn’t quit, they did the job there were supposed to do and they came home. This ‘sticktoitiveness’ is an important part of serving God. They went out, they did the work, and they came home.

They weren’t done though. God had more for them to do. When Paul and Barnabas, along with John Mark, returned to Damascus the church which was prepared to send them out again. As they prayed and fasted the Holy Spirit separated Paul and Barnabas to go back out again. In essence these became the first missionaries. The church laid hands on them and prayed and sent them on their way.

Since that day the church has done the same. Local churches pray and fast and send out missionaries today. The Holy Spirit separates and we send them out. Though we have all kinds of modern advances and conveniences and technology God still needs ‘boots on the ground’ to love people and show Christ to the people and share the gospel and plant churches and train believers to do the work of the ministry.

God’s work of missions continues on today. Thank God for those who are willing to go out and cary on the work that the Holy Spirit started 2000 years ago. They need our prayers and support and encouragement today

Christians

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. – Acts 11.25-26

‘Christian’ is a word used in a lot of ways today. We have the Christian west and we speak of Christian nations. It is used culturally to speak of people who have had a  concept of Christian principles and has those written into their laws.

But there is a much deeper origin to that word. It was first used of the beleivers in Antioch. Some say it was first a term of mockery or derision. I honestly don’t know about that. What I want to see is what a ‘Christian’ is. The word, it is basic form simply means ‘of Christ.’ That term has been debated and described a ‘little Christ’ or ‘follower of Christ’ or a few other things but I think ‘of Christ’ really nails it. That mean that our essence is not His essence. We are born again because of Him and through His power. He is in us and we are in Him. Christ in us is our hope of glory.

The question we must ask ourselves is if the people we encounter everyday see Christ when they see us. Do they see Him in our words and actions and attitudes and behaviour and how we treat others? If not are they any better than that cultural generic use of the word ‘Christian.’

Do people really see you and me as ‘of Christ?’

A lesson from Herod

Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
But the word of God grew and multiplied. – Acts 12.20-24

Tyre and Sidon had been defeated in battle. Herod hated them, but they sued for peace and one of Herod’s men came to him seeking peace.

Herod was thrilled with the victory and took great pride in it. He dressed up in his kingly apparel and sat on his throne and gave a speech and the people adored him. They cried out ‘this is the voice of a god and not a man.’

Immediately he was struck dead for his pride and arrogance, but the word of God grew and multiplied.

Powerful human leaders have arisen all though history. They have built great nations and powerful empires. Many of them, a surprising number, have been megalomaniac tyrants and dictators who were stuck on themselves. They were leaders who thought they had done it all themselves. Their pride elevated them to the point where they claimed credit for all they had done. Many became immensely popular with the people because no matter what kind of person they were what they were doing worked. That was the case here with Herod. He had brought peace with Tyre and Sidon and the people adored him to the point of worship.

However his pride was his end. God brought him down and his power was over.

It is important to note here though that while Herod was brough low the word of God contiunued and it has been for the 2000 years since. Dictators and tyrants and empires and great nations have risen and fallen, but the word of God continued and continues on. The Kingdom of God is still going forward today and one day, despite all we see, the Kingdom of God will win out.

Those who God elevates He is also able to bring down.

Constant prayer

Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. – Acts 12.5-7

Peter was in jail, again. But, and this is a major but, constant prayers was offered to God for him by the church.

That constant prayer had an impact. Peter was just about to be tried by Herod. He was securely bound in chains with a minimum of four guards two of whom were at the other end of those chains. There was no way he was going to get out.

Remember though, constant prayer was being made for him.

God broke the chains and blinded the soldiers and opened the gates and Peter walked free. The impossible happened.

Constant prayer is a constant theme in scripture. We are told to ‘pray without ceasing’ and that we ‘ought always to pray and not to faint’ and to not be full of cares but to ‘by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be known unto God’ and other instructions like it.

I don’t totally understand prayer. I have a least a dozen books about prayer and to be honest no one seems to really understand how it all works. God though tells though tells me to prayer constantly and somehow constant prayer ‘works’ according to the will of God.

So what do I do with this? Or what should I do with this?

It’s simple. I pray constantly and without ceasing and in every situation and then I trust my all-knowing and all wise God with the results.

Now if I would just do it.

Whoever believes

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. – Acts 10.34-44

That through His name whoever believes will receive remission of sins. That makes it pretty clear as to the scope of salvation. Salvation is not for any particular race or tribe or colour or nation of people. It is for whoever believes, whoever.

The scope of salvation also means that there is no one around us who is beyond the reach of the gospel. That famous leader, that popular star, that amazing athlete, that powerful ruler, that mega-millionaire, that office worker or teacher or business man or builder or cleaner or jobless person, that person we admire and that person we despise are all part of whoever will believe – if they believe.

But it order to believe they must hear, and if they are going to hear there must be someone to tell them.

That’s where you and I come in. There needs to be someone to tell them so that they can know what to believe. Whoever may be our family member or coworker or neighbour or friend or acquaintance or that person we see all the time at our local shop or volunteer with or coach with or any number of folks that we see.

If they are going to join the ‘whoever will’ we must tell them and back up our words with our lives. Are we willing to reach out the the whoevers around us?

God raised Him up

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. – Acts 10.34-44

I can never get over the impact and the importance of the key words ‘God has raised Him up.’ This was the vital moment and confirmation of all that the word of God said and that Jesus had preached.’ It meant that death was swallowed up in victory. A modern hymn says ‘death was crushed to death and life is mine to live.’

Everything hinges on ‘God raised Him up.’ Without that Jesus would be just a dead religious leader. A system of belief may very well have risen up based on His teaching and there may have a been a new Jewish sect called the ‘Galilean sect’ or something of the sort, but the world would have been no closer to salvation.

Without the raising of the dead there would be no hope, no assurance of eternity. It would all have been based on our efforts which would always fall short.

But God did raise Jesus from the dead and because He defeated death we need never fear that impact that death will have on us. Because God raised Jesus I know that life is eternal and I can spend it with God.
Death is already beaten.

He is Lord of all

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:  but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.  The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)  that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:  him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;  not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. – Acts 10.34-44

After laying the groundwork that the message he is preaching is for everyone he moves to the next major point – that Jesus is Lord of all. ‘The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all)’

The idea that the Lord God is one Lord goes way back to the Law. It was the foundation of the Law and Jewish belief. That fact was clearly preached that since Jesus was God in flesh that He is Lord of all. Preaching this to Gentiles had a different impact than to the Jews. The Gentiles under the influence of Greece had a whole pantheon of gods. We know they today in the days of our some months and some days. People had to be aware of all these gods and how to appease them.
But now Peter preached to them that all their gods were of no use. Jesus was Lord of all and any hope for eternity rested in Him. At the end of the message Peter will say that Jesus is not limited to anyone but is there for anyone who believes.

We too must remember today that Jesus is Lord of all. All creation is under His control. He is the immortal, all knowing, all powerful, ever present, and unchanging Lord of all creation. There can only be one true Lord of all and Jesus is that one true Lord.

He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our following. He, as Lord of all is worthy of our all.

No partiality

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God is nor respecter of persons. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. – Acts 10.34-35

When Peter got to Antioch in directs answer to God’s call and with the memory of the clean and unclean vision still fresh on his mind he did what God had called him there to do. He preached.

He started his message with some amazing words – ‘I now know that God does not show partiality to any people. Anyone who obeys His word will be accepted by Him.

That can be a hard truth for us to deal with. It is hard to imagine being totally free of any kind of prejudice or bias  or preconceived notions, but God can and He does. Anyone outside of Christ is simply a sinner in need of Christ no matter their race or colour or creed or nationality or their particular sin.

Can you imagine if we saw the world that way? Can you you imagine if we could see the world through God’s eyes without bias or prejudice? What if we saw every non-believer as a soul who needed Jesus instead of a political foe or another religion or a particular sin or a national enemy.

We can only do that if we see men no longer according to the flesh but through eyes motivated and constrained by the love of Christ.

Clean or unclean

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. – Acts 10.9-16

God had already directed an answer to Cornelius’ seeking. Peter was on his way to the city when God sent him a vision. In the vision Peter saw a sheet being let down from heaven with all sorts of animals on it. These animals were a mixed lot. To a Jew’s eyes there were clean and unclean animals on the tarp.

The a voice called out ‘get up Peter, kill and eat.’

The ever reactionary Peter responded like he did when he told Jesus that He would never wash his feet and when he told Jesus that he would never betray Jesus. He said ‘No way Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’

The voice responded ‘Peter you can’t call anything unclean that God has cleansed.’

The Jews had always held to the Law and seen themselves as God’s chosen people. Those who were not Jews were unclean and dirty and should not be associated with. God was pronouncing here that no one was inherently unclean just because of what or who they are. God’s creation was all his creation and it was all good and the gospel freed people up to enjoy their liberty in Christ.

Though this is an illustration it is a clear picture of a new key principle. Just like there are no clean or unclean animals, there are no real differences in people.

A memorial before God

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.- Acts 10.1-4

Every so often we come across an unusual character that catches us off guard. Cornelius was one of those people for me. Cornelius was a Roman military officer station in Judea, which was not a coveted assignment. He was a member of the Italian Regiment, an elite military force from Rome itself.

Cornelius had found something in Caesarea that intrigued him. Something was different here.  I don’t know what it was, but something was drawing him to God. He was a devout religious man, he feared God, he was always about doing charitable works, and he ‘prayed always.’

Notice that though this came up ‘as a memorial to God’ that was still not enough. All that good stuff was still not enough to get him to heaven. But it did, and I am sure this is not the perfect way to put it, it did get God’s attention.

The Bible says that though who seek God will find him. Cornelius is evidence that when someone is earnestly seeking God will send the answer in the form of the glorious gospel.

Looking for God and doing good and being religious and praying is still not good enough on its own. But we are promised that those who seek God will find Him. God sent Peter and Peter went to carry the gospel to Cornelius and his household.

How may Corneliuses are there out there earnestly seeking God today? Could we be the Peters to carry God’s word to them. Could we be the ones to show them the way?

The church prospers

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. – Acts 9.31

This is an interesting verse to be right in the midst of a persecution of the church. It was bad enough that it was causing the scattering of the church. It was severe.

And yet in the middle of it we read that the church prospered.

How does prospering happen during this kind of turmoil? They certainly weren’t going to grow or prosper based on what they could see. Let’s see if we can figure out what made them prosper.

They had peace
They were edified
They walked in the fear of the Lord
The walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit

I preached this passage recently, but I think I messed up a bit. I think I may have been focused on the wrong thing. I missed the whole notion that they were prospering in trouble. Here though they were ruled by the peace of God, the edifying of the brethren, the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I may have to rewrite and repreach that message.

We may very well be facing hard times again. Our favour with governments is starting to fail. Our morals, which most of the west has enjoyed for years, is now questioned and attacked. It is easy to get down.

But apparently this is our time to shine. Like the Jews who prospered and grew the more they were troubled we too can prosper if we follow the example of this infant church. God’s peace is promised to those who trust Him. We have and need each other to be built up and edified. We need to fear what God thinks about us more than what man thinks about us. And we have the constant comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help us prosper in the hard times.

But Barnabas

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. – Acts 9.26-27

Picture this. Saul comes to Jerusalem with a desire to meet with and join the other disciples. That’s a normal and desirable goal. He knew he had to join up with them so they could work together as a team to spread the gospel.

That’s great, but what do if you are on of the disciples and you hear that Saul has come to join with you? How are you going to respond? The disciples were afraid because they did not believe that Saul was a disciple of Christ. He needed someone to stand up for him and vouch for Him.

So guess who shows up? It only makes sense – it was Barnabas, the son of comfort and encouragement.

I love the fact that Barnabas plays such a role at key moments in the church. He set a pattern of sharing to meet the needs of church. We are going to see him in the expansion of the church. He always been to be where he is needed and always helping others. He really doesn’t seem to have much regard for himself.

Here he is taking a risk. He is staking everything on standing up for Saul. What happens when Saul comes in to their midst? What if all he had done was a trick to get to the heart of the church?

What matters to Barnabas though is being a blessing. He stands up for Saul.

Sometimes we all need somebody to stand up for us. Sometimes we ought to be the one who stands up for someone else.

Let’s all try to be that Barnabas.

From persecutor to preacher

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 9.20-22

The Bible is full of transformations and miraculous changes. There is always a twist in the story. This is one of those great twists.

Saul was sent to Damascus to root out the Christians. He would have them arrested, thrown into jail, and most probably beaten or killed. He was even going to go into the synagogues to search for believers. He had his search warrant in hand.

As we know now though something changed. On the way to Damascus he met Jesus. He had been saved and baptised and right away he began to speak the gospel boldly.

The thing that really stuck out to me when I studied was the fact that Saul indeed visit the synagogues as he had landed. But he was not there to arrest them – he was there to preach the truth that the Jesus he had been persecuting was indeed the Son of God. Everyone was amazed, but he kept going and increased in strength and confounded the Jews as he proved through his preaching that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

It is something that only God could accomplish. No one have believed it in advance. Saul had done a full 180 – from persecuting Christ to preaching Christ.

If God could do that is there anything too hard for Him today? Is anyone too hard to save? Is there anyone so evil that they cannot be saved and serve God?

Brother

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 9.17

Love, love, love!

That’s what I would comment if this were a Facebook post. I would click on the heart icon and share this.

Imagine this – Ananias goes to Judas’ house on Straight Street. He knows Saul is there. He is opening himself up to the enemy. We think these guys are some kind of superstars, but they were just like us. Even with God’s instruction I say he swallowed hard when the door opened.

He came into the house and saw Saul sitting there…

What’s next? What are the next words heard?

‘Brother Saul.’

Ananias greeting Saul with one of the most precious title we use in the church. He called Saul brother. Just a few days before Saul had been an enemy – now he was a brother in Christ.

That term ‘brother’ is one that is used in a lot of ways. Where I grew up Christians use that title for each other and we are Brother Roger or Sister Mary just as a part of our names. I have to admit ‘Brother’ becomes a filler when you can’t remember a name though. Anyway, it is a special term on endearment and I still like. It acknowledges our familyship in Christ. It acknowledges the fact that we are Christians are all a part of the family of God. Here it showed that the former enemy was now a brother.

When we get upset at each other and division looms we need to remember that at the end of the day that those other Christians are our brothers and sisters. We have the same Father. No matter what the colour of our skin or the place of our birth or our political leanings or our style of worship or anything else we are one in Christ.

And we truly need our family today.

But Lord!

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” – Acts 9.11-14

Saul was sent on to Antioch to Judas’ house on Straight Street where he would be told what to do next. While he waited there for a man named Ananaias who would touch him and restore his sight.

While he was then the Lord appeared to this man Ananias and told him to go to Straight Street and find Saul.

But wait – what? Go find Saul?
Surely it could not be THE Saul?!

“Lord, uh, I don’t know how to say this, but you do know this is the same guy who has done great harm to the believers in Jerusalem and has come here to do the same thing to us.’

Of course God knew that already, but I admire that Ananias was honest enough to talk to God openly about his fears. I admire that and am encouraged that we can talk to God with the same kind of honesty.

But God tells him to go anyway – and Ananias goes.

It is not abnormal for us to be afraid. It is not abnormal for us to wonder what God is doing. It should not be abnormal for us to talk to Him about it.

And it should not be abnormal for us to obey even if we don’t understand it all.

What do you want me to do?

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” – Acts 9.6

The change on Saul was immediate and clear. In an instant he went from seeking to destroy Christ and His cause to saying ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’

That very first question from the newly saved Saul sets the pattern for Jesus’ disciples throughout the next two thousand years. ‘What do you want me to do?’ should be our attitude every day and in every decision we make. We are too often led by what we want to do today instead of what what He wants us to do.

I ought to ask myself this morning what the Lord wants me to do today. All through the day in every situation I face I need to ask the same question. ‘What do you want me to do about this situation or this person or this problem Lord?’

Kicking against the goads

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” – Acts 9.4-5

After studying through this passage recently I am convinced that for me this is one of the saddest, and at the same time one of the most compassionate sayings in all of scripture.

Saul was on his way to Damascus with a commission to round up Christians and throw them in jail. He was a job he relished, in fact a job he had asked for. He was furious to the point of ‘breathing out threat and murders.’

Why was Saul so angry? It seems abnormal for him to be this upset. What was in his heart to motivate him?

Jesus knew. To the question ‘who are you?’ Jesus answered ‘I am Jesus who you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick agains the goads.’

What kind of prodding was Saul kicking against?

We certainly can’t know for sure, but I think there is a hint in Romans 16 where he asks to greet ‘his countrymen and fellow prisoners who were in Christ before him.’ That word for countrymen can also be translated kinsmen or family. Either was, though we can’t be certain, it looks like there were people he knew who were Christians before he was. Perhaps that was part of what he was fighting against.

I am sure was well that whether it was these people or not somehow the Holy Spirit had been poking and prodding Saul to be saved and Saul was doing all the could do to fight it. Jesus knew that and understood that Saul was struggling agains God’s workings in his heart.

When I studied this recently I thought about how often we have friends or loved ones or even family who seem to be hardened against any kind of mention of the gospel. It can be hard to understand why they act that way.

Maybe here though we have a clue. Maybe we have loved ones who weighed down and wearied from kicking at the goads. Maybe we have those who instead of our frustration need our compassion.

On his way rejoicing

Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. – Acts 8.39

The Ethiopian seeker came to desert confused and lost. He was searching for somethings – and he found it when Philip came to meet him. Philip preached Jesus, the man received the message, believed, was baptised, and then, when Philip was ‘caught away’ the man went on his way rejoicing.

True joy, deep, abiding, perfect, and eternal joy is God’s desire for the world. We are not too far from Christmas. Once again we will hear the words of the angels as they announced Messiah’s birth ‘behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

This time the message was not a crowd of people. It was not to thousands or hundreds or tens. It was a message for one lone Ethiopian on a task for his queen.

But the result was the same. He was seeking, God sent messenger who charged the gospel, the man was saved and baptised.

And he went home rejoicing.

The gospel received always brings great joy. We have to source of that joy. Are you and I faithful in carrying that wonderful message of joy?

Preaching Jesus

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. – Acts 8.35

I like this. We just read a general principle that where there is preaching great joy is the result. That was in reference to crowds of people. Sometimes God does work in huge crowds. But now we are going to focus in on one individual reminding us that God cares for the ‘one’ as much as He does the many.

We read that Philip, one of the apostles, as caught and sent to the desert where he found, not a great crowd awaiting, but one single man from Ethiopia. He is sitting in a chariot trying to get his head around a scroll written by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. It is the segment we now know as Isaiah 55 which speaks of the suffering Messiah.

‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked the man. “How can I unless someone explains it to me?’ the man replied.

And we read, ‘’Philip opened the scriptures and preached Jesus.’

What a simple yet powerful praise. Philip knew just what to do. He didn’t talk about the weather or ask how things were back in Ethiopia. He didn’t talk about the chariot or the queen – he preached Jesus.

It is great for us to love others and get interested in their lives and be their friends. We should always do that as a part of who we are and how we act. But it is vital that we don’t stop there. Early on in our relationship we need to be ready to ‘preach Jesus’ to those we come in contact. If we don’t ‘preach Jesus’ then they, like this Ethiopian, are going to be helpless and hopeless.

When I think about my friends and ask myself how faithful I am in preaching Jesus I find myself falling short of what I could be doing. I am letting my friends down when I fail to preach Jesus.

Lord give me the grace and strength to lay my fears aside a preach Jesus to thos around me.

Preaching and joy

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralysed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. – Acts 8.4-8

The threats of the official really didn’t have much of an impact on the disciples. ‘Those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.’ ‘Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ and they saw his miracles.’

They would not quit. They did not cease.

And there was great joy in that city.

The message of salvation is one of great joy. We saw that from the very beginning when the angels on the hillside at Jesus’ birth proclaiming good tidings of great joy.

We have the joy that our world needs so badly. The problem is that the world doesn’t have a clue about how to achieve that joy. It comes in the preaching of the gospel that so many find so offensive.

That’s why we can’t quit. That’s why we have to keep preaching and keep loving and keep caring and keep going. We know they joy that is at the end – so we cease not.

Forgive them

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. – Acts 7.57-60

At the end of Stephen’s sermon the people had heard enough. He flat our said that they had crucified the  Christ. Of course they were furious, ran at him, threw him out of the city, and stoned him to death.

But as he was dying his voice rang out.

‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’

His dying words were pretty much the same thing that His Saviour had said as He died on the cross. Both of them we focused on forgiveness and not wanting their killers to be judged for their sin. Jesus and Stephen both knew that their killers did not really know the impact of what they were doing. They did what they knew. Even with these horrendous actions there was still hope for their deliverance from sin.

But I think the biggest impact must have been on their abusers. In both cases those who did the killing heard the victims cry out for God to forgive them for their actions. How that must have stunned them. What they must have felt in their hearts. Did they feel sorrow? Conviction? Horror?

We can’t know of course, but we can know that this is how God’s people are to respond to attacks and reviling and persecution.The only proper response is love.

How many of is could respond this way? How many os us could just say, ‘Lord, forgive them?’

The face of an angel

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. – Acts 6.8-15

Stephen is yet another amazing character in the early church. He was one of the first deacons in the church, but that didn’t preclude him from carrying the message of God. He was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith.

Some men of the synagogue opposed him and accused him of blasphemy. The said he was speaking against the law and said that Stephen was preaching violence against the the synagogue and the destruction of the Mosaic system.

That was quite a charge. How was Stephen going to respond?

They stared at him. I am sure it must have been menacing and even terrifying. But what do we see? ‘They saw him as the face of an angel.’

Imagine that. Stephen knew his fate was in the hands of the council. He knew that he was risking his life in order to preach about Jesus. Despite all that he had absolute peace in his heart and it showed on his face.

I am glad I don’t have to see my face in times of trouble. I doubt that I have ever had the face of an angel when things looked dark and gloomy. I’d day my face is more a face or fear and terror.

Oh for the faith to have the face of an angel when I face a struggle. I’ll never face on like Stephen did, but he was a man full of faith he could be at peace

Servants

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6.1-4

Managing the church was getting difficult. With thousands being saved and needing teaching and discipleship and regular preaching that task alone was daunting. Then, on top of that you had the ‘fatherless and widows’ needing to have physical needs met. The task was just too much for the disciples to get it all done.

So they called out men to help with the ministry. They called out men who had a good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom to carry out the necessary work. These are the beginning of what would be the office of deacon, an office that has been integral to the work of the ministry.

In fact, when we look at the church today we have two office, the office of pastor or elder and the office of deacon. Both are necessary for the church to function and get its work down. Both have a whole list of qualifications to try and be sure that God’s church carries on God’s work in God’s way. We have the pastors to do the praying and preaching and teaching and we have deacons to take on the very day practical work of the church.

God’s plan is always perfect – if we are willing to follow His plans.

They did not cease

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. – Acts 5.41-42

Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus. They knew trouble was coming, but they did not cease.

No ceasing, or staying with it, or not losing heart, or not quitting, or being steadfast is something that we read about over and over again the the word of God. Seeing that we have this ministry we do not quit, be not weary in well doing, be steadfast unmovable, and run with patience the race that is set before you are but a few examples.

These men rejoiced in being found worthy of suffering.

Then they got busy.

In our day it seems like we can spend so much time taking about opposition and our fears of persecution that we re to busy to do what we need to do. Some folks spend so much time on Facebook crying about how bad the future is because of news laws and societal changes that we forget that there is really only one cure. That cure is not changed laws, but changed hearts.

The more bad news we see the more motivated we ought to be to move forward teaching and preaching that Jesus is the Christ. We can’t quit out of fear. We need to redouble our efforts to share our message.

Counted worthy

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. – Acts 5.41-42

Nobody likes suffering. We would be crazy if we did. From the way things are going on the world today though it looks ‘suffering shame’ for Christ may be in the future. The world is becoming more and more anti-Christ and anti-Christian and we are not going to be well liked if we keep on living for and speaking for Jesus.

It would have been easy to crawl down into pity party pit and feel sorry for themselves. It would have been easy to avoid the preaching. It would have been easy to maybe protest or cry and whinge and complain about how hard it was going to be. I am afraid that that is where I might find myself in times like that.

But what was their attitude?

They rejoiced because they were ‘found worthy’ to suffer for Him.

Why? Because Jesus said the those who live godly will suffer. That means that if they were suffering it was because they were living godly. It meant that they were following the example of Christ.

I wonder how many of us will be counted worthy to suffer for the Christ. If we do I wonder how may of us will do it with joy.

We ought to obey God

saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!”
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. – Acts 5.28-29

There is a clear principle all through the word of God that God’s people submit to human authority. God makes that vey clear in Romans 13 when Paul writes that we are to submit to every ordinance of man. Jesus said we ought to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We see Paul sorry for his attitude toward the high priest. It is clear that submission is a part of life.

But here there is a difference. The rulers tell the disciples to stop preaching, but they can’t do it.

We have to obey God instead of man.

That sounds like an easy enough decision.

The thing is that we have to obey man in every case unless it comes into conflict with obeying. Even then we have to realise that obeying God instead of man is going to have consequences.

There are a few examples in the Bible but I think the clearest example is Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The king made a huge false idol and the people were ordered to fall down and worship when the music played.

The three men knew they could not obey God and man, but they knew what they had to do. When the music played they simply refused to bow down The didn’t go on strike, they didn’t protest – they just stood.

They were ordered to bow and still they stood.

They were arrested and still they would not bow.

They faced the king and they politely explained that they were going to trust God, and even if they were thrown in the furnace they still had to obey God.

So the sentence was carried out and thankfully God intervened to protect them.

The lesson for us is clear though. We need to remember that we have to obey God when man’s laws conflict with His, but we need to know that man still has the power to punish us for breaking his laws.

Son of consolation

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus - Acts 4.36

Joses Barnabas is not an unknown character of Scripture. Most people know that he was an early missionary who travelled with Paul on his early missionary journeys. We will learn a lot about him, but for now I just want to focus on his name.

Barnabas is a lovely name. The name means ‘son of consolation’ or ‘son of comfort.’ We are going to see that carried out. Here we see him showing his character by selling his goods and giving it all to the needy in the church.

Nearly every time, maybe every time, we see Barnabas he is comforting or consoling or encouraging some someone. He is going to pop up several more times in the book of Acts and his role never changes.

To me he is a blessing, an encouragement, and a challenge.  I wish I had the reputation of being an encourager. I want to be that kind of guy. I want to be the kind of guy that people feel better after they are around me.

I want to do better at being a Barnabas.

Great strength and great grace

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.  – Acts 4.33

So how did God answer their prayer for boldness?

God gave them great boldness
God gave them great power
God gave them great grace

If there are three things we need today in our work it is boldness and power and grace. We talked a lot about boldness, but in this passage what stuck out to me was the words great power and great grace.

We certainly need the power of God in our lives. Compared to the world we have no worldly power. They make to rules. The pull the strings. They have their way. We really have no strength in this world.

But God gives us all the strength we need. We we went for our our own strength we could and would do nothing. But we can go in the power of His might and He is the God of all strength.

And He also gives great grace. Grace is a trait that I certainly need in this world. With a world opposing us it certainly requires great grace for us to respond in a way which honours God. We can’t afford to be ugly or mean spirited in how we treat the world no matter how they treat us. It seems like a lot of Christians think the best way to respond to opposition is to last back and return cursing for cursing and attacking with attacking.

The word of God tells us that our response is to love. Loving requires great grace. Thank God He gives us great grace.