Christ Made Visible.

Acts 22

I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting. – Acts 22:8 ESV

As Paul was sharing his testimony to the Jews who had dragged him out of the temple, he tells them all about his past. He tells them that he used to persecute the Way. He used to arrest and throw into prison the very people he now calls brothers and sisters. He was an agent for the high priest. In those days, Paul thought he was doing God's work. He was helping eradicate just another start-up sect that was threatening the monopoly Judaism held on the people of Israel. Paul was methodical and merciless in his efforts to destroy Christianity from the face of the earth.

But what Paul didn't know was that the very thing he was trying to destroy was Jesus Christ Himself. That's what Jesus tells him on that miraculous encounter on the road to Damascus. Look at what Jesus says to him:

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting." (Vs 7-8)

Once Paul (Saul) had woken up to the reality that he was talking with the resurrected Jesus, I can just imagine him thinking in his mind, "Whoa, wait a minute! I'm not persecuting YOU! What have I done to you? I never met you. I've just been doing my job, trying to rid the world of this start-up sect of ragtag followers of yet another Messiah wannabe."

"Why are you persecuting ME?"

What Paul learned that day on the road to Damascus was a fundamental truth of the New Testament: The relationship between Jesus and His church. We ARE His body. What Paul was doing to the followers of the Way was a direct attack on Jesus Christ Himself. Because we are His body. This is a lesson that Paul learned well. Just take a look at what he had to say to the Corinthian believers about the topic later on in his ministry:

Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27 NASB

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. – 1 Corinthians 12:12 NASB

He also told the believers at Ephesus:

And He [God] put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1:22-23 NASB

He also reminded the Colossians of this fact:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do share on behalf of His body, which is the church... – Colossians 1:24 NASB

The body of Christ

What Jesus told Paul that day on the road struck a chord with him. That's why it became a focal point of his teaching. And that message still resonates for us today. We, the church, are the body of Christ. We are the fullness of Him on this earth. We are His hands and feet, with the responsibility to do His work in the world. That's why He left us here. That's why He gave us the Holy Spirit. That's why He gave us spiritual gifts. We are not to be isolated islands, but members of one body, intent on one purpose. As members of Christs body, we each have a part to play, a function to perform. No one member is any less or more important than the other. Paul makes that clear in 1 Corinthians 12.

We are to work together, suffer together, rejoice together, and minister together as one body. We are to make a difference together. Just like those early members of the body of Christ were doing in the days of Paul. We are His body. So we need to appreciate one another more. We need to care for one another more. We each need to be using our giftedness more. We need to be working together more. So that the body of Christ on this earth might be healthy, strong, alive, and active in its ministry of carrying out the work of Jesus Christ. We are Christ! Paul never forgot that point. My prayer is that we won't either.

Father, help me remember that, as a believer, I am not just a member of an organization, but I am a member of Your Son's body. I am part of an organism that You have chosen to place on this earth to represent You. Together we are Christ on this earth. We are to show the world what Christ looks like. When they see us, they should see Him. Show me how to play my part well. Selflessly, sacrificially, joyfully, willingly, and completely. Amen

Obeying God’s Will Willingly.

Acts 21

The will of the Lord be done! – Vs 14

Those are hard words for me to say sometimes. And I think they were just as difficult forLuke and the other friends of Paul to say. They had been "begging him not to go up to Jerusalem" (Vs 12). They were so emotional about it that Paul said, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?" (Vs 13). This was not the first time Paul had been warned by those who loved him not to go up to Jerusalem. In Tyre, the disciples had been informed by the Holy Spirit that Paul was going to suffer. So they tried to talk Paul out of going. But Paul was going to Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit had told Him to go (Acts 20:23), and he knew that "bonds and afflictions" were waiting for him there.

Paul was willing to suffer. He was even ready to die if necessary. He states that clearly in verse 13.

For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Paul had been warned. He had prophets give him detailed accounts of what was going to happen when he arrived in Jerusalem. But nothing would persuade him to change his mind. Why? Did Paul have a death wish. I don't think so. Sure, Paul had the perspective that "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 2:21), but that doesn't mean he was in any mad rush to, as Hamlet once said, "shuffle off this mortal coil."

Paul was perfectly willing to be in the will of God. Even if that meant …

… being completely misunderstood (Vs 21)

… having his actions misinterpreted (Vs 27-29)

… being mistreated (Vs 30-32)

… or even being mistaken for someone else (Vs 38)

For Paul, God's will didn't mean life was going to be a piece of cake, but it did provide peace of mind in the midst of difficulty. God's will wasn't about avoiding trials at all costs, but accepting trials as part of the cost of serving Christ. That's why Paul was able to say, "I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I might gain Christ, and may be found in Him" (Philippians 3:8-9).

When God's Will Isn't Our Way

I love what Luke records in verse 14. He says, "And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent." Luke includes himself in the group of those who were weeping and begging Paul not to go to Jerusalem. He did not want to see his good friend and brother in Christ suffer. So he begged Paul not to go. But when Luke realized that Paul was determined to follow the Holy Spirit's leading, he finally said, "The will of the Lord be done!"

Many times in my life I have found God's will in direct contradiction to my way of thinking. His plan did not fall in line with my desires. Sometimes I have found tough times have remained when I have asked them to be removed. I have seen my prayers go unanswered (seemingly) and my worst fears come to fruition. But at no time in my life can I look back and say that my way would have been better than God's will. Because He always knows best. He always does what is best. And while Luke and the other brothers and sisters of Paul could see no value in Paul going to Jerusalem, they were willing to commit their way to the supremacy of God's will. They let Paul go, and with him, they let go of their need to have things go their way.

Father, continue to teach me to trust Your will. Help me to let go of my need to always have things go my way. Keep me focused on the bigger picture of Your divine plan and not my short-sighted view of my circumstances. I won't always understand, but that's OK. I just need to learn to trust You more! Amen

Strong To The Finish.

Acts 20

I have preached this passage before, so it was hard for me to find something that was new and unexpected this morning as I read. Years ago, when I served as an elder at our church, verses 28-35 came to mean a lot to me. So I have spent a lot of time thinking about them and trying to apply them to my life. But this morning, after a few additional read-throughs, I ended up going back to verses 18-27. There was something about what Paul had to say to the elders at Ephesus that impacted me like it never had before. At first blush, it could come across like Paul was bragging. After all, by my count he uses the personal pronouns "I," "me" and "myself" at least 20 times in the span of 10 verses.

"No brag, just fact"

In the 1960s Walter Brennan starred in an obscure TV Western called The Guns of Will Sonnet. He played a crotchety old army scout searching for his son, a gunfighter on the run. Any time Brennan’s character would meet someone, he would tell them that he was a faster draw than his son and then add reply, “no brag, just fact.”

So was Paul bragging or just stating the facts? Based on the events of his life, I think I would say it was the latter. What Paul shared with the Ephesian elders was simply a glimpse into his life that he intended to be an encouragement to these men as they served their flock back in Ephesus. What Paul shares is a seemingly comprehensive list of qualities that characterize the life of any shepherd of God. For that matter, these qualities should probably be found in each and every child of God, whether they are a pastor, elder, deacon, or layman. Check out Paul's list:

He served with humility - Vs 19

He shed tears regularly – Vs 19

He endured trials repeatedly - Vs 19

He shared boldly and profitably – Vs 20

He taught publicly – Vs 20

He testified tirelessly – Vs 21

He ministered faithfully – Vs 24

He sacrificed personally – Vs 22-24

He suffered willingly – Vs 24

He died to self daily – Vs 24

He testified earnestly – Vs 24

He declared wholeheartedly – Vs 27

Paul put it all on the line. Whatever he did, he did with conviction, passion, and determination. He didn't give up, let up, check out, or sell out. He didn't shrink back or cave in. He didn't have a pity party or an early retirement party. He was faithful to the end. He ran the race to win. Paul gave it his all and he gave all he had to give.

The life of a giver

Paul sums his life all up in one sentence: "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35).

Paul was a giver. But am I? Do I give my life away like he did? Am I willing to make the kinds of sacrifices that he did? Suffer for the sake of the gospel like he did? Share boldly and publicly like he did? Testify tirelessly like he did? Serve humbly like he did? What about you?

Father, give me the perspective of Paul. Give me the heart and the commitment of Paul. Let me serve as he did, love as he did, testify as he did, share as he did, teach as he did, even suffer if necessary as he did. May my life be a testimony to the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Use me Father and, if necessary, use me up! Amen

The Radical Ways of "The Way."

Acts 19

There's a lot packed into the 41 verses of chapter 19. But one thing that stands out to me is the amazing impact Christianity was having on the culture of the day. It was spreading rapidly. It was changing lives. It was getting the attention of the religious elite and the political power base. Ordinary people were coming to Christ and doing extraordinary things. The Holy Spirit was coming into the lives of people and radically reforming their behavior. The message of Jesus Christ was spreading rapidly. The name of Jesus Christ was becoming associated with the miraculous. So much so, that the seven sons of Sceva (sounds like an alternative rock band) tried to use the name of Jesus to cast out a demon. The only problem was that they knew the name, but not Savior behind the name.

The Way

During the early days of the church, Christianity was simply known as The Way. It was probably a term coined by the followers of Christ themselves and was used to reflect the fact that following Christ was not only the way of salvation, but it was to be a radically new way of life. Jesus Himself had claimed, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).

The way of Jesus was anything but ordinary. It was a radical path that produced remarkable changes. And you see them all throughout this chapter. In verses 18-19 you see believers bringing their occult books containing magic spells and incantations to be burned. They destroyed thousands of dollars worth of books representing their former way of life. Life in Christ was bringing a new way of living.

In verses 23- 41, we see that The Way was causing "no small disturbance" to the community. So many lives were being changed that the sale of household idols had plummeted, leaving the craftsmen who made them in an uproar. Because of the teaching of Paul, people had not only changed their way of life by accepting Christ, they had changed their way of thinking. They were now saying, "...that gods made with hands are no gods at all." The way of Jesus Christ had led to a radically new way of living.

Way Out of Whack

Something is missing today. We still preach and teach that Jesus is the way, but we don't seem to be seeing the same radical change in behavior in the lives of His followers. We don't seem to see the church having the same radical impact on the culture that it did in Luke's day. The Way doesn't seem to be making "no small disturbance." It has become less a way of life, than a way of believing. It has become just another belief system. Our way seems no different than any other way. There appears to be no power, passion, commitment, or radical life transformation associated with our way. Like the seven sons of Sceva, could we be quilty of speaking the name of Christ, but lacking a real relationship with Him? Do we talk about the way, but lack intimacy with the One who is the way?

Jesus is still the way. He still has the power to transform lives in a radical way. He still has the power to impact culture in a revolutionary way. He still expects His people to live in such a way that we create "no small disturbance." Our way of life should get peoples' attention. Our way of thinking should stand out. Our way of salvation should be attractive to all those around us, because it really works!

Father, make me radical in the way I live my life. Make the way I speak reflect Your ways. Make my thoughts align with the way You think. Let my ways Your ways. So that the Way of Christ might make a radical difference in the world today. Amen

What A Coincidence!

Acts 18

I can't help but read chapter 18 of Acts and smile. All throughout this portion of Luke's story, he seems to have placed subtle little reminders of just how in control our God is of all circumstances. I don't know if Luke intended to drop these little "hints" of if I just happen to read them that way, but they jump off the page every time I read this chapter. Take a look for yourself:

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Claudius had decided to issue an imperial edict kicking all the Jews out of Rome?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Aquila and his wife Priscilla just happened to have been living in Rome when this decree was issued?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that out of all the places in the world they could have moved, Aquila and Priscilla decided to move to Corinth?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that this couple just happened to be tent-makers, the same trade that the apostle Paul had learned growing up in Tarsus? And that they would provide Paul not only a place to live while in Corinth, but a source of income to support his ministry?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that this exiled Jewish couple would end up being two of the first converts to Christianity in Corinth?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that when Paul decided to turn his back on the Jews and take his message to the Gentiles, that Titius Justus, a Gentile worshiper of God, just happened to live next door to the synagogue?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, ended up coming to Christ, even though the Jews had initially "resisted and blasphemed" as a result of Paul's ministry to them?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, refused to listen to the Jews' trumped up charges against Paul, rejecting their accusations and freeing Paul to continue his ministry there?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Aquila and Priscilla were willing to leave their business behind in Corinth to follow Paul all the way to Ephesus?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that upon arriving in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla just happen to find that Apollos, a Jew with a Greek name who grew up in an Egyptian city, has recently arrived in Ephesus, and is teaching about Jesus and debating with the Jews in the synagogue?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that this very educated man, who was very knowledgeable in the Hebrew scriptures, knew about Yahweh, the teachings of Jesus, and the preaching of John the Baptist, just happened to meet Aquila and Priscilla, who were able to tell him "the rest of the story" and lead him to Christ?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Apollos had the desire to move on to Achaia, the very place where the Jews had tried to have Paul convicted?

Isn't it a coincidence ... that Apollos, this recently converted Jew, was able to help those who had come to Christ is Achaia and successfully refute the Jews there, while Paul had only stirred them up, causing them to drag him before the proconsul?

Isn't it a coincidence ...?

What a God?

You see it all throughout the book of Acts. The amazing intervention of our almighty God as He works behind the scenes to accomplish His divine will in His own unique way. There are no coincidences when it comes to God. There is just His sovereign will being worked out in the lives of men and women -- including those who know and love Him, as well as those who, like Claudius and Gallio, stand opposed to Him.

God's sovereignty is visible throughout the pages of the book of Acts. It is a not-so-subtle reminder that it's God Who is orchestrating events and accomplishing His plan through the lives of men, not the other way around. I am sure Claudius thought he was in control when he gave the edict kicking all the Jews out of Rome. But God had a bigger plan. I am sure Aquila and Priscilla had perfectly good reasons for their choice of Corinth as the new headquarters for their tent-making business. But God had an even better reason with eternal ramifications. I am sure Titius Justus was confident that his selection of a home that backed right up to the synagogue was his idea. But God had something more important in mind that just a good real estate investment.

You see, God is always at work -- even when we can't see Him. He is working behind the scenes, moving in ways that are invisible to us, but that end up impacting us, in significant ways. We would like to take a lot, if not all, of the credit for the things that happen in our lives. But when we do, we fail to acknowledge that God is bigger than our puny plans. And chapter 18 is a reminder to remember that very fact. He is going ahead of me. He stands behind me. He always surrounds me. No politician can thwart His plan. No amount of opposition can stop His plan. No distance can limit His plan. No misguided religious establishment can confuse His plan.

What a comfort?

So what are we worried about? God is in control. He knows what He's doing. He has a plan and He is working it to perfection. He can be trusted. And that should bring us all comfort.

Father, thank you for reminding me that You are in control. You are in heaven orchestrating the details surrounding my life. Long before I know it, You are moving behind the scenes, arranging for an Aquila and Priscilla to come into my life. You are moving politicians and people in positions of power, to make decisions they think are their own, that will end up accomplishing Your will. I have no reason to fear their edicts and decrees, because my God is bigger than their most perverse plan. What they mean for evil, You will use for our good and Your own glory. Help me to remember that each and every day. Amen

Singin’ In The Chains!

Acts 16

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God..." - Vs 25

This story has always amazed me. Here are two guys who have been doing the work of God, get arrested, dragged into court, falsely accused, beaten and imprisoned, and they still manage to turn their ordeal into a praise and worship time! Incredible.

I mean, I have a hard time praising and worshiping if I have to park too far from the church on Sunday morning. I can end up complaining instead of praising if somebody pulls out in front of me in traffic. Yet here are two guys who, in my mind, had every right to complain about their lot in life, but instead they praised God. They had been caned and chained, but still managed to pray and praise.

It's All A Matter of Perspective

What allowed Paul and Silas to react the way they did? How were they able to respond so positively to such a negative situation? Was it just a matter of having positive outlook on life? No, I think it was perspective. They had their eyes focused on the future, not the present. They were willing to accept the sufferings of today for the glory awaiting them. Paul said it this way in Romans 8:24:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Paul knew that any suffering he would go through in the present was incomparable to what he would experience in the future.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. - 2 Corinthians 4:17

Paul had hope. Not hope for release. Even thought he could have expected it. After all, Peter had been miraculously released. He didn't put his hope in justice, even though he had been accused, beaten and imprisoned unjustly. He didn't put his hope on vindication or payback. Instead, he would lead the guard who imprisoned him to Christ.

No Paul's hope was on the future. His hope was on the reality of heaven. So what was a little pain compared with that kind of gain? Paul and Silas were able to pray and praise because they had their sights set on the unseen, the invisible, yet indisputable reality of heaven.

"While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Singing a Different Tune

I sing the blues way too much. Instead, I need to learn to sing the praises of God -- regardless of the circumstances. I need to get my eyes off the temporal and start looking at the eternal. Because my God is an eternal God with an eternal plan. He knows what He is doing. I can trust Him. Even when it looks like all is out of control. I need to remind myself of what Paul knew:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Father, thank you for this reminder this morning. Help me to see my circumstances from your perspective and not mine. Help me to pray and praise instead of bicker and complain. Because you are in control. Amen

Unless You ________, You Cannot Be Saved!

Acts 15

Ever since the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in that upper room in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago, there have been those in the church who have attempted to grow the kingdom of God through the use of some sort of "new math." Not content to rely on the divine formula of "faith alone in Christ alone," they have resorted to coming up with their own equation for salvation. The result has been redemption by addition. And that's what we see happening in Acts 15.

Men have always seemed obsessed with adding to God's simple plan of salvation. His way just doesn't seem like its enough. There has to be more. And the "more" usually involves us having to do something to earn salvation. In Paul's day, it was the "plus" of circumcision. The Jewish believers just couldn't imagine that anyone could come to a right relationship with God without having to go through their time-honored tradition of circumcision. After all, God ordained it, so who are we to neglect it? But these well-meaning individuals were missing the point. They were putting too much stock in something that was man-focused. Circumcision was to be a sign. It was a visual reminder that the one circumcised belonged to God. But circumcision didn't make you holy or righteous before God. Over the years, God destroyed plenty of men who wore the outward sign of circumcision, but their hearts were hardened and disobedient.

Christ, plus nothing

So, in Paul's day, the Jewish believers were trying to fill in the blank with circumcision. Unless you are circumcised, you can't be saved. Thank goodness that is not an issue today! But what do we put in the blank? What do we add to the gospel in order to make sure the equation always equals salvation?

How about a little works or human effort? A little self-made excellence or man-made righteousness? While most of us would say that works plays no part in salvation, we live lives that communicate something radically different. Sure, we say we were "saved by faith," but we seem to believe that we are sanctified by works. In other words, God redeemed us, but now it's up to us to transform us. And so we end up adding to the gospel message. Rather than bask in the sufficiency of Christ, we feel obligated to add our two-cents worth of self-effort, in a misguided attempt to insure our ultimate acceptance into God's kingdom.

Worn out from adding to

If the truth be known, most of us are exhausted from living a life of salvation by addition. We have somehow convinced ourselves that Jesus was enough to save us, but He needs our help to sanctify us. And that is adding to the gospel. Because the gospel has always been more than just our initial acceptance of Christ as our Savior. The gospel has always included salvation, sanctification, and ultimately, our glorification. And every step of the way is based on the simple formulate of faith alone in Christ alone. In other words, it is grace. God's grace extended to undeserving sinners, who are totally incapable of saving themselves or improving themselves.

Pleasing God vs. Trusting God

If you boil it all down to the basics, the blank line following the statement, "Unless you" can only be filled in with one statement. But we all have two choices, and ONLY two choices. We can either choose to believe, "Unless you please God, you can't be saved or we can choose to believe, "Unless you trust God, you can't be saved. The good news of the gospel requires that we trust God, not please Him. It requires that we stop trying and start believing. It means that we stop relying on what we can do and start trusting in what Christ has done.

Are you worn out trying to please God? Then you've put the wrong thing in the blank. Why not start trusting God instead? Let Him complete His saving work in your life by allowing Him to transform you day by day into the likeness of His Son. Give up your attempt at sanctification by addition. Trust His formula for spiritual multiplication in your life.

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6

Father, forgive me for sometimes trying to add to what you began. For trying to fill in the blank with some twisted form of self-effort that only leaves me feeling exhausted, worn out and disappointed. Help me remember that the good work You began, only You can complete. Show me what it means to trust You, instead of trying to please You. And thank You for making the gospel so simple and grace so accessible.

Good News and Bad News.

Acts 14

The good news is you're going to heaven. The bad news is that you're going to have to go through some tribulation before you get there.

Whoa! Wait a minute. Did I sign up for that? That must have been in the small print of the travel brochure, because I didn't see it. If I had known about the tribulation part, I would have given this whole good news thing a second thought.

In chapter 14 there's an interesting conflict going on that I think I have always struggled with. It is the same tension that causes many to accept Christ, then walk away from Him. It involves the good news of the gospel and the bad news of tribulation or trials. You see, in this one chapter we have the apostle Paul sharing both. Yet most of us want to accept the reality of the one, and reject the possibility of the other.

The Good News

We all could use a little good news once in a while. And the good news (euaggelizzo in the Greek) that Paul shares is what we refer to as the gospel. Luke refers to it three times in this chapter:

and there they continued to preach the gospel - Vs 7

we...preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God... - Vs 15

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples... - Vs 21

The gospel literally means to "bring the good news." It is the good news regarding Jesus Christ. That He is the Son of God, sent by God, to reconcile mankind to God. He became a man so that He might live the life we were meant to live -- a life free from sin. Then in spite of His sinlessness, He willingly paid the penalty for our sinfulness, by dying in our place on the cross. He became the sinless sacrifice that God required. He did what we could not do. He satisfied the demands of a holy, righteous God. He was put to death, so that we would not have to die. But God did not leave Him dead. He raised Him back to life just three days later. The same power that restored Jesus to life is what now makes it possible for us to be restored in our relationship with God. We can have forgiveness of sin and freedom from guilt and condemnation. Just by accepting God's free gift of grace through His Son Jesus Christ. And that's good news.

And just as in Paul's day, that good news message has been eagerly and gladly accepted by those who hear it. Including me. But the good news comes with what appears to be bad news. At least it seems that way to us. So we ignore it. We act as if it isn't really there. We even refuse to tell those who accept the good news that there might even be any bad news. So when it comes, which the Bible says it will, they become confused.

The Bad News

We get the bad news in verse 22. There we learn that Paul was "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying,

Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Wait a minute! How could talking about tribulations bring any kind of strength and encouragement to a group of new disciples? What could possibly be encouraging about hearing that our path to the kingdom will be a tough and possibly unpleasant one? What was Paul thinking?

Paul was thinking about the kingdom. And he was thinking about the reality of the conflict we face as Christians as we try to live as citizens of God's kingdom in this kingdom. This world is not our home. We are aliens and strangers. We are simply passing through on our way to some place much better. And while we are here, we will stick out like a sore thumb. As children of God, we will live differently than those around us. We live according to a different standard and obey a different set of kingdom rules. All of which will puts us in conflict with the world in which we live. We have an enemy, Satan, who hates us and wants to destroy us. We live in a world that opposes us and also hates us. Then we struggle with our own flesh, that does everything in its power to convince us to live according to its will, not God's.

You see, God never said this would be easy. In fact, we are warned throughout His Word that trials and tribulations are a part of the Christian life. Peter tells us:

Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. - 1 Peter 4:12

Jesus Himself told us:

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

Paul reassures us in Romans 8:35-36:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Tribulations and trials are a real part of our walk here on this earth. We all know it because we experience them daily. But we spend so much time questioning God when they come. We pray for Him to remove them. We plead for release from them. We act as if they are an anomaly, a mistake of some kind that shouldn't be part of the life of a believer. But they are. Jesus promised it. Paul confirmed it. Life proves it.

The bad news really is good news.

In Romans 5, Paul gives us a little more insight into this issue of the good news and bad news. Here is what he said:

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

According to Paul, our trials and tribulations have a purpose. They are an integral part of the maturing process we call spiritual growth. They can both break us and make us. They can drive us to our knees and into the arms of God. They can reveal our weaknesses and God's power. They can force us to take our eyes off this world and focus them on eternity -- where our real hope resides and the best part of the good news awaits us!

Father, I want to thank you again for the good news of Jesus Christ and all that it means. But I also want to learn to thank you for the tribulations and trials of life. I want to see them as part of the good news, instead of just a lot of bad news. Help me to see your hand in it all. You can and do use anything and everything to make me like Your Son. Thank you!!! Amen

The Power of the Resurrection.

Acts 13

In reading through chapter 13 for about the fourth time this morning, one word kept jumping out at me: Raised. It is used four times within the span of seven verses in the New American Standard Version. It starts in verse 30:

But God raised Him from the dead.

Then Luke uses it again in verses 32-33:

And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus...

He picks it up again in verse 34:

As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay."

Then he uses it one last time in verse 37:

He whom God raised did not undergo decay."

It seems that Paul is trying to make a point by stressing the resurrection of Jesus to his listeners. Why? Because the resurrection is central to the message of Jesus Christ. Without it, we have nothing. With it, we have hope and the promise of eternal life.

The resurrection has been the focal point of the message of Christ from the beginning. In fact, Jesus Himself talked about it long before it happened. Back in John 11:25 we have these words of Jesus recorded for us:

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies...

Jesus tied our eternal life to His resurrection. You can't have one without the other. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us of this fact:

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is vain.- 1 Corinthians 15:13-14

If Christ has not been raised, then we can't hope in a resurrection of the dead or eternal life. Without the resurrection, Paul is wasting his time preaching, and we are wasting our time believing. Because we would have nothing to believe in.

Later, Paul would write to the Philippians believers:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.. - Philippians 3:10

You see, the resurrection is all about power. When Paul spoke about Jesus being raised, he is describing an impossible, not improbable event. No one could be raised from the dead! It was impossible. Yet, the message of the apostles was that Jesus had done just that. By the power of God, Jesus had been raised from death to life again. He had done what no other man had ever been able to do before. Defeat death.

And it is on this amazing fact that all our hope rests as believers. The apostle Peter states this fact clearly in his letter:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... - 1 Peter 1:3

We have a living hope. It is a living Jesus. And it is because He is living that we can have forgiveness of sins and freedom from the law and its condemnation. Paul states that clearly in verses 38-39:

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; and through Him, every one who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the law of Moses."

Through Him. Because of His resurrection. Because He was raised. We have a living hope and an eternal future.

But do we live like it? Do we live as if we believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Do we live as if we have hope? Do we recognize the kind of power it would take to raise a man from the dead? It is that kind of power that is at our disposal. It is a power that can only come from one place: The hand of God. When God raised Jesus up, He validated Who He had claimed to be. He was the Son of God. His resurrection was proof of His deity, and a guarantee of all the promises Jesus had made.

Jesus is alive! He has been raised from the dead. And we have a living hope. We don't have to fear death, man, sin, condemnation, the law, the grave, our future, or anything else.

Father, like Paul, I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. I want to understand just what kind of power I have at my disposal because I worship the God who raised up Jesus from the dead. I want to see Him raise me up every day from my death to sin and the flesh. I want to crucify my old self daily, and see my new life in Christ raised up to live in obedience to and dependence on God. This Easter, may I see more clearly than ever the power of the resurrection. Amen

The inscrutable ways of God.

Acts 12

Chapter 12 is an action-packed passage and one of my favorites. In fact, I like it so much that I had a hard time looking past all the familiar parts of the storyline in order to see it in a different light this morning. I mean, who doesn't love the fantastic story of Peter getting released from prison by an angel? Herod intends to kill him, but instead God releases him. Then there's the part about the friends of Peter praying for his release, then failing to believe it's really him when he shows up on their doorstep. Oh, and if you're cheering for the good side, you can't help but do a little fist pump when you hear what happens to Herod in the end.

But then I looked closer. I read the passage a few more times. And there is was. The death of James. Luke matter-of-factly records this event in one sentence, then moves on. Here is the first martyrdom of an apostle and all Luke does is give it a mention. But it was obviously important to him. It was important to the rest of the story. But how many times have I read right past it without even taking notice of the fact that James, the brother of John, and one of the three apostles who made up Jesus' inner circle, was put to death right at the beginning of the church age. I mean the martyrdom of Stephen gets more press than the death of James. Which prompts me to ask why?

Why?

When you read this story, it's easy to get excited about the miraculous release of Peter from prison. God stepped in and saved the day. He thwarted the plans of Herod with His own divine plan. He answered the prayers of the believers who had gathered to lift up their brother in Christ. He gave Peter an incredible boost to his faith and an unbelievable story to share with his friends.

But what about James? Was nobody praying for Him? Did God not care about Him? Was he less important than Peter? Was his death just payback for his arrogant request for Jesus to give he and his brother prominent places of authority in His coming kingdom (see Mark 10:38-45)? Why did James have to die, yet Peter was set free to serve another day?

Our unsearchable, unfathomable God

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! - Romans 11:33

The fact is, we don't know why God chose to spare Peter, but not James. But we do know that "all His ways are just" (Deuteronomy 32:4). We know that God has a plan and He is working it to perfection. Stephen was cut down in the prime of his ministerial life, and we struggle with that. James was martyred for his faith and would never get to see the rapid expansion of the kingdom of God he so longed to be a part of. But God was at work. God was in control. God was working His plan.

There is much about God we will never understand., because He is God and we're not. But we do know that God is a just and loving God. We know that God has a redemptive plan that is unstoppable and bigger than any one individual. It's bigger than James, bigger than Stephen, bigger than Peter, and bigger than Herod. No man can prevent it or improve it. We may not even be able to understand it. But we can rely on it.

An Unstoppable Force

I love the way chapter 12 ends.

But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. - vs 24

James was gone. Herod was dead. Peter was free. And the gospel continued to spread. I may not understand His methodologies. I may not agree with His plans. But I have to admit that the results speak for themselves. He is God and He knows what He is doing. And the one man who would probably echo that statement the loudest is James himself.

Father, help me trust You. Help me realize that You can be trusted because you are righteous and all Your ways are just. You know what you're doing even when it makes no sense to me. You are the potter and I am the clay. Forgive me for the many times when I question you and ask "what are you doing?" (Isaiah 45:9). You know what you're doing and I need to learn to trust You more. Amen

The Visible Grace of God.

Acts 11

Then when he [Barnabas] arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced... - Vs 23

How do you see the grace of God? Well, for Barnabas it was as easy as looking at the faces of strangers he met in Antioch who had believed the message about Jesus Christ and turned from their old way of life to new life in Him. They had stepped out of death into eternal life. They had once been blind, but now they could see the truth of the gospel message. And Barnabas got to see it with his own eyes.

Changed lives. Redeemed souls. Freed prisoners. Forgiven sinners. They are all around us, but we fail to see them as a visual illustration of the matchless grace of God. They are our friends, family members, neighbors, fellow church attenders. But when we look at their lives, we do not rejoice as Barnabas did, because we don't recognize that none of these people, including ourselves, could ever have earned what they received or deserved what they have been given. But for the grace of God, we would still be dead, the walking dead. We would still be lost, but unaware of our true condition. We would still be debt to God, with no capacity to pay Him back. We would still be sinners, with no hope of salvation.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.- Ephesians 2:1-9

Grace: The Visible Gift of God

What is this grace that Barnabas saw? Well, according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary grace is ...

A favor done without expectation of return;  the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.

God's grace is made visible in the lives of people - sinful people to be exact. So when we look around us and see people who stepped from darkness into light, we are seeing the grace of God. When we see sinners who understand their need for a Savior, and take God up on His gift of salvation through Christ, we are seeing the grace of God. When we see undeserving, unrighteous individuals transformed day by day by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are witnessing the grace of God. And it should cause us to rejoice.

God's grace does the unexpected

What Barnabas saw that day in Antioch was something he never expected: Sin-loving, idol-worshiping, Jew-hating pagans coming to faith in Christ. Here was God's grace being extended in an unexpected way to an undeserving people. But isn't that how God's grace always works?

Barnabas was blown away by God's grace. So much so, that he immediately went on a search for Saul so that he could bring him back to help him extend God's grace to more people in the city of Antioch. And they ended up staying there for an entire year - teaching, preaching, encouraging, and witnessing the grace of God in action. With a smile on their face and a song in their heart.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

Father, thank you for the grace you extended to me! Don't ever let me take it for granted. And help me to see your grace all around me in the lives of those you have redeemed. Like me, none of us deserved what you have given us. We were beggars invited to a feast. We were murderers given full pardon. We were the hopelessly guilty given complete forgiveness. All because of your incredible grace. Thank you! Amen

New Rules For A New Kingdom.

Acts 10

What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. - Vs 15

Have you ever had your world rocked, your paradigm shifted, your status quo shaken to its core? Well, the disciples did. Ever since Jesus had arrived on the scene, He had made it a habit of turning their religious world on its ear. He pursued a crown instead of a cross. He came to serve, not be served. He came to defeat sin and death, not the Roman occupiers. Chapter ten in the book of Acts gives us a perfect picture of how God was going to continue this process of turning the world of His early followers on its ear.

The early converts to Christianity were primarily Jews. For generations they had relied on the centuries-old habits and traditions of their forefathers. They viewed themselves as God's chosen people. They were the seed of Abraham. They were the apple of God's eye. So when these God-fearing Jews came to faith in Jesus Christ, Himself a good Jew, they brought along with them all the baggage of their Jewish belief system. And old habits die hard.

Competing visions

In chapter ten we get a glimpse into God's ongoing re-education plan for the apostles. And it starts with Peter and a Roman centurion. As He did in chapter nine, God continues His habit of using all kinds of people to accomplish His will and reveal His power. This time He uses a God-fearing Roman commander. This guy had two strikes against him: First, he was a Gentile, and therefore looked down on by the Jews. Secondly, he was a Roman soldier, which made him an object of hatred and derision. Now this man helped his cause by being generous to the Jews and a lover of their God, but he would still have been looked down on by the average Jew. Including Peter.

So in a dream, God gives this Roman commander instructions to send for Peter. He responds by sending three of his (Gentile) servants to seek out Peter. Meanwhile Peter has his own dream. And this would have been one disturbing dream for a Jew. It involved visions of all kinds of unclean, unholy creatures and instructions from God to sacrifice them and then eat them! This wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. And Peter responds like any God-fearing Jew would: "By no means, Lord!"

Get up and go!

Peter was appalled. But God was persistent. He repeated His command for Peter to "Get up, kill, and eat!" and then adds, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy" (Vs 15). This whole scenario takes place three times, leaving Peter perplexed and confused. But before he has time to gather his thoughts, the three servants of Cornelius appear at the gate. What timing!

God tells Peter to "get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings" (Vs 20). Why? Because He had sent them. Now it all began fitting together for Peter. He was beginning to understand.

Three times in the span of 10 verses, Luke uses the same word. Two times it comes from the mouth of God. The third time, it involves the response of Peter. That phrase in the Greek is anistemi and it means to "get up" or "stand up." In verse 13, God commands Peter to "get up (anistemi), kill and eat!" Then in verse 20, God commands Peter again, using the same word "get up (anistemi), go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings." Finally, Lue uses the word a third time when he says in verse 23 that Peter "got up " (anistemi) and went away with them."

A paradigm shift

This had to have been hard for Peter. The dream was bad enough. Now he was having to drop all his preconditioned beliefs and long-held views on religion and embrace God's plans for life in His kingdom. You can sense Peter's internal struggle what he says upon arrival at Cornelius' home.

You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. - Vs 28

Everything in Peter screamed that he should not be here. He was breaking long-established rules. He was violating iron-clad laws determining religious life and conduct. Yet God was commanding him to do so.

So what does Peter do? He shares the good news of Jesus Christ with those he had been trained to despise. He offered the gift of life to those he had grown up wishing God would strike dead. He preached the name of Jesus to Gentiles, just as God had commanded him to do. And the result? "The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message" (Vs 43). Salvation came to a Gentile's home because Peter was willing to "get up," to rise above the earth-bound rules of religion and embrace the life-transformational principles of the kingdom of God.

Now it's your turn

So what religious rules could God be asking you to let go of? Is He telling you to get up and go? Is He commanding you to walk away from your comfortable embrace of the status quo and wrap your arms around His life-changing rules of engagement in His kingdom? His is a new kingdom with new rules, new standards, new expectations and a new power to deliver true life change. But first we have to let go of the old, get up, and go!

Father, help me let go of my old expectations, my old way of understanding things, of seeing things, of doing things. Show me Your way. Help me embrace life in the kingdom on Your terms, instead of mine. Thank you for sending Your Son and introducing a "new and living way" (Heb. 10:20) through Him. Amen

Not Exactly Good News.

Luke 9

"For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said. "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead." – Luke 9:22 NLT

When these words came off the lips of Jesus, His disciples were less-than-ecstatic. In fact, they were surprised and confused. This wasn't exactly what they had signed up for. After all, they were fully expecting Jesus, as the long-awaited Messiah, to set up His kingdom on earth and destroy the oppressive rule of the Romans. He was going to be the warrior-king who, like His ancestor David, would wage war against the enemies of Israel and set up His kingdom in Jerusalem. It was going to be great, and the disciples thought they would be ruling right alongside Christ in His earthly kingdom. Now here He comes talking about suffering and death at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes of Israel. None of this made sense. Why would the religious leaders of their day want to kill the Messiah? This all had to sound preposterous to the disciples. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Jesus goes on to tell them that they were going to have to deny themselves and take up their own crosses if they were going to continue following Him. Wow! Not exactly good news.

But we know that is exactly what it was – good news. Jesus' death was the key to His coming. He came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for all. Ephesians 5:2 tells us that Jesus "gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." He died so that we might live. His death resulted in a different kind of victory than the disciples were looking for. He came to set them free from the rule of sin and the penalty of death, not the Romans. He came to give them victory over the grave, not some foreign occupying army. The life Jesus was offering was going to require death. His own. And it would require of the disciples a daily dying of themselves. They were going to have to die to their expectations and dreams. They were going to have to die to their addictive habit of trying to save themselves. They were going to have to lose their lives in order to gain the new life that Jesus offered. But it would prove to be an exchange that was well worth it. Our sin for His righteousness. Our forgiveness for His condemnation. Our new life for His death. His power for our weakness. Our salvation for His sacrifice.

So the bad news would prove to be very good news after all. And it still is.

Father, thank You for the good news regarding Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for coming up with a plan that was far better than anything the disciples could have dreamed up or dreamed of. Your way is the best. And I am grateful that the bad news regarding Your son's death would prove to be the best news of all time. Amen.

Vessels For Honor.

Acts 9

He is a chosen vessel of Mine... - Vs 15 (NKJV)

At first blush, this looks like the story of Saul's conversion, and rightfully so. But there seems to be a lot more to this passage than a recap of Saul's Damascus road experience. In fact, he is just one of a number of actors in this play. There's Ananias the disciple, there's Peter the apostle, Aeneas the paralytic, and Dorcas the deceased. And while Saul takes up a large part of the narrative, this story is really not about him. It is about God. It is about how God has chosen to use men and women to accomplish His divine plan through the ages. It is about how God uses fallen creatures to proclaim His glory.

In verse 15, when Ananias shares with God his reluctance to go and minister to Saul because of his reputation as a persecutor of the church, God tells him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine" (NASB). That word translated "instrument" is skeuos in the Greek. It can refer to "a vessel, implement, or household utensil." It is the same word used by Paul when he later wrote to the Corinthians:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

You find Paul using the same word in his letter to Timothy:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. - 2 Timothy 2:21

This chapter is all about people being used by God as vessels for his honor and glory. Some are active participants like Ananias and Peter. Others are passive, like Dorcas and the paralytic, yet God uses them nonetheless. Just take a look at all that takes place by the hand of God through the lives of His chosen vessels in this one chapter alone:

A disciple obeys - Vs 17

A persecutor is converted - Vs 18

The body of Christ ministers - Vs 25

A brother in Christ supports - Vs 27

The church grows - Vs 31

A paralytic is healed - Vs 34

A woman is raised from the dead - Vs 40

The lost are saved - Vs 42

Every one of these are a picture of the mighty hand of God reaching down and using "earthen vessels" - clay pots - to accomplish His will. Each of them ended up bringing honor and glory to God. God used each of these individuals in such a way "so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves" (2 Corinthians 2:7).

God chose Saul, a religious zealot who was out to destroy the church, as a vessel to grow His church

He chose Ananias,an obscure disciple with a fear of persecution, as a vessel to anoint Saul with the Holy Spirit

He chose a group of unknown disciples to spare the life of the very man who had been out to imprison them

He chose Aeneas, a man debilitated by paralysis, as a vessel to witness to the power of Christ

He used Dorcas, a deceased woman, as a vessel to testify to Christ's power over death and the grave

And the result was that "many believed in the Lord" (Vs 42). When God chooses and uses, results happen. Lives are changed. The lost are found. The lame walk. The dead are restored to life. The enemies of God become lovers of God.

God is still in the choosing business. And He still chooses vessels of clay. People who are spiritually paralyzed, spiritually dead, spiritually His enemies, spiritually reluctant, and spiritual nobodies. He chooses people like us to do His will and to reveal His power. Earthen vessels that He transforms into vessels for honor. Have you been chosen?

Father, thank you for choosing me. Thank you for using me. Even though I am little more than a clay pot with nothing to offer, and no value in and of myself. But You have chosen to use me so that my life can be a witness to Your power and glory. Make me a vessel for honor, sanctified, set apart for You, useful and always prepared for every good work you have for me to do. Amen

Where Is Your Faith?

Acts 8

And He said to them,"Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" – Luke 8:25

Where is your faith? This isn't so much as a question of its existence as to its focus? In other words, we all have faith. We all trust in something or someone. The issue has to do with the who or what our faith is in. For the disciples, they were having to learn to have faith in Christ. And every time they turned around they were having their misguided, misdirected faith exposed. In the case of verses 22-25, they had their misguided faith in themselves exposed. Think about it, a good portion of these guys were professional, seasoned fishermen. They had been around and on the water for most of their lives. They had seen their fair share of storms. So they knew what to do when one blew in while they were out on the water in a ship. They could probably predict the weather without fail. The could read the signs. They could ride out the worst of storms like the best of sailors. In other words, they had faith in themselves and their own abilities.

In this story they found themselves in a storm on the sea of Galilee and they began to panic. They woke up Jesus who was calmly sleeping in the bow of the boat. They fearfully explain the gravity of their situation to Jesus. "Master, Master, we are perishing!" (Luke 8:24 NASB). What happened to all their boating acumen and experience on the waves of the Sea of Galilee. It was all gone. They suddenly discovered that they were no match for this storm. They weren't going to be able to get themselves out of this one. No, from their perspective, they were about to drown. Which is right where Jesus seems to want them. Jesus heard their cries and calmly rebuked the wind and waves. The sea suddenly calmed and so did the disciples. To a degree. They were now fearful because of what they had just witnessed. They realized that they had just been part of something truly amazing. They had just seen a power displayed that that they had never seen before. A power greater than the waves and winds of nature. A power greater than anything they could bring to bear on the situation. Jesus asked them, "Where is your faith?" It seems to be a rhetorical question. He knew the answer. Their faith was non-existent. At one time it would have been in themselves and their own abilities. Now it was nowhere. Nothing they had ever relied on before was going to help them out of this predicament. Only Jesus!

That's where we need to be each and every day. We need to stop putting our faith in anything or anyone other than Christ. And every day they spent with Him was going to be a lesson in faith. They would watch Him heal. They would hear Him teach. They would see His power on display. They would take in all His parables and witness Him casting out demons and healing the sick. They would even see Him raise the dead. They were eyewitnesses to the power of Christ. And it was rocking their faith system. Over time they would learn to put their faith in Him and not in themselves. That is the journey of the disciple. Before we can place our faith in Christ, we must openly admit where our faith has been. In whom or what have I been trusting? Where have I been turning for comfort and consolation? Tearing down the idols we have erected and the sorry substitutes we have turned to for years is the first step in putting our faith in the One who is always faithful.

Father, I feel as though you are asking me each and every day, "Where is your faith?" And the truth is, I still struggle with putting my faith in the wrong things. I still want to trust myself and others more than I trust You. Forgive me for that and show me how to trust You more. Your power is limitless. You alone are worthy of my faith. Everything and everyone else will fail me. They don't deserve my faith. But You do. Amen.

Persecution and Proclaimation.

Acts 8

... and beginning from this Scripture, he preached Jesus to him. - Vs 35

Two words jump out of this chapter at me: Persecution and proclaiming.

At the stoning of Stephen in chapter seven, a young man stood by watching this godly man's death, holding the coats of those who threw the stones that killed him. That young man was Saul. He was already in the employ of the high priest with the responsibility of rounding up Christians and throwing them in jail. The joy of Pentecost had quickly turned into the hatred of persecution for the early Christians. Stephen had been their first martyr.

But God has a way of turning tragedy into triumph and oppression into opportunity. The persecution of Saul ended up scattering the thousands of believers who had been gathered in Jerusalem since the days immediately following Pentecost. These Jewish converts had become Christ-followers and now, out of the fear of possible imprisonment,  were "scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." God had never intended for them to remain in the city of Jerusalem. He wanted them to take what they had heard and received, and share it. Little did Saul know that his plan for destroying the church would actually end up causing its growth.

Verse four tells us they "went abroad preaching the word." This included Philip, one of the seven men "of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" who had been chosen to oversee the distribution of food to the widows (6:3). Philip ends up in the city of Samaria and he begins "proclaiming Christ to them" (vs 5). Like Stephen, Philip ends up being a lot more than just some administrative type with the gift of service. Along with his preaching, he casts out demons, heals the lame and the sick, and leads one of the town's leading celebrities to the Lord. But God isn't done with Philip. An angel of the Lord gives him a new assignment. He is to get up and go to the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. That's all the information he received. But he obediently went. Once he arrives on the scene, he meets a visiting dignitary, the treasurer for the Queen of Ethiopia.

A "Chance" Encounter

When Philip gets to his destination on the desert road, he meets this Ethiopian official from Candace's court. He has his chariot parked and he just happens to be reading from the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Philip, sensing that this is his divine appointment, asks the gentleman if he understands what he's reading. The visitor pleads ignorance and invites Philip, a perfect stranger, up into his chariot to explain to him the meaning of this obscure passage from the Hebrew scriptures.

It just so happens that this Ethiopian has been reading from what we now know as chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah. For whatever reason, he had chosen to read from a section of Isaiah's writings that are Messianic in nature. They prophesy of the coming of the Messiah. The Ethiopian is intrigued and wants to know who Isaiah is referring to in these verses. What a set up? Philip has got to be thinking to himself, "Lord, can you make this any easier?" Luke tells us that Philip "opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him" (vs 35).

He Preached Jesus

When I go back and read Isaiah 53, it makes me think that Philip probably didn't have to go very much further than this single passage to preach Jesus to this spiritually starving man. In this prophetic passage, Isaiah tells of the One to come:

... our griefs He Himself bore ...

... our sorrows He carried ...

... He was pierced through for our transgressions ...

... the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him ...

... the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him ...

... the Lord was pleased to crush Him ...

... putting Him to grief ...

... He would render Himself as a guilt offering ...

... [He] will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities ...

... He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors ...

Wow! There it is right there. I think Philip had a field day with this passage. He was able to preach Jesus right from the writings of Isaiah. And the result is that this Ethiopian dignitary recognizes that he is a sheep who has gone astray. He sees that he has turned to his own way. He understands that the Lord had caused his iniquity to fall on Jesus. That Jesus had died in His place as his sin substitute. His eyes are opened and he steps from unbelief to belief, from lostness to salvation, as he confesses, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (vs 37).

Are You Going and Telling?

Philip was obedient. When the angel of the Lord said, "Go!", Philip went. Not knowing what was going to happen when he got there. But God had prepared the way. He had been working on the heart of a stranger, drawing him to Himself, fertilizing the soil so that Philip could plant the seed of Truth. All Philip had to do was preach Jesus. He had to be ready to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. He simply had to tell the Ethiopian that Jesus was the one he had been reading about. Jesus was the one who had accomplished all those things. And all for him.

So what about you? Are you willing to go? Are you ready to tell someone else about Jesus? God still arranges divine appointments. He still brings people into our path who want to hear, who are dying to know. But are we ready to preach Jesus to them? Philip was. And it changed one man's life forever.

Father, I want to be ready to go when you call. I want to be ready to tell when the opportunity presents itself. Give me a heart like Philip and a sensitivity to all those around me, so that I can see the ones You place in my path who are fertile soil for the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.

God's perfect plan.

Acts 7

At first glance, this chapter seems to be nothing more than a history lesson chronicling the key events in the lives of the people of Israel. It appears to be less a sermon than a chronology of the Hebrew nation. But if you look closer, you see that Stephen is weaving together the story of God's redemptive plan. He is sharing with his Jewish audience the divine outline of God's intricate plan to send His Son. Stephen is attempting to show the Jews that their history is a vivid reminder of God's hand at work in their midst - paving the way for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. For Stephen, this is all a "God thing."

Vs 2 - The God of glory appeared...

Vs 4 - God had him [Abraham] move to this country...

Vs 5 - He [God] gave him no inheritance in it...

Vs 5 - He [God] promised that He would give it to him as a possession...

Vs 6 - But God spoke...

Vs 8 - He [God] gave him the covenant of circumcision...

Vs 9 - God was with him [Joseph]...

Vs 10 - God rescued him from all his afflictions...

Vs 10 - God granted him favor and wisdom...

Vs 20 - He [Moses] was lovely in the sight of God...

Vs 30 - An angel appeared to Him in the wilderness...

Vs 33 - The Lord said to him...

Vs 35 - This Moses whom they disowned...God sent...

Vs 42 - God turned away and delivered them up...

Vs 45 - God drove out [the nations] before our fathers...

Stephen weaves throughout his lecture a picture of God's intimate involvement in the history of the people of Israel. He was there every step of the way, directing, guiding, moving, calling, orchestrating every event with a future purpose in mind: The arrival of His Son as the Savior of mankind.

That is exactly where Stephen takes his historical account. He accuses the Jews of doing just what their fathers had done, rejecting the underlying message of God's redemptive plan. They had not only rejected the messengers, they had rejected the Messiah. Their fathers had killed the prophets who were only announcing the coming of the Righteous One. Stephen's listeners had killed the Righteous One Himself.

But while these words caused the Jews to be "cut to the quick," it was Stephen's announcement that he saw the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God that caused the people to cover their ears and rush him. They drove him out of the city and stoned him. Why? Because Stephen simply testified that Jesus was alive, and not only that, He was at the right hand of God the Father, a place of power and authority. That was too much for the Jews to handle. They had no problem believing that Jesus had lived, because they had seen Him. They had even killed Him. But they could not deal with the idea that He truly was the Messiah, the anointed One of God. To accept that would mean that Jesus was the One the prophets had predicted. It would mean that God's divine plan had culminated with the arrival of this obscure Rabbi from the city of Nazareth. It would mean that God's plan did not match their own.

But isn't that what most people struggle with today? They have no problem believing that Jesus lived. They have no problem believing that He was a good man, a great teacher, and an example worthy of following. But to believe that Jesus was somehow the final step in God's divine plan to redeem mankind from sin and death, that's a bit hard to swallow. Because it doesn't fit our plan. And our plan is all about us. We can redeem ourselves. We can earn our own way into heaven. We can live righteous lives on our own.

But until men and women recognize that Jesus really does sit at the right hand of God, they will never understand all of human history points to Him. He is the focal point. He is the solution to all our problems. He is God's answer to the question of mankind's future.

But even as Christians we can struggle with that. We say we believe in Him. We say we trust in Him. But then we live our lives as though we don't need Him. We refuse to look up and see Him for Who He really is. The Son of God, who is the answer to all our problems. He is the solution to all our needs. So He is worth living for, and as Stephen illustrated, worth dying for.

Father, help me to have eyes that see Jesus for who He really is. Give me a vision of His power, authority, divinity, and help me recognize that He is the answer to all of my needs. Give me the boldness to speak about Him to others - even in the face of rejection or possible persecution. Show me how to point all men to Him and to nothing else. May I be willing to live for Him and, if necessary, die for Him. Amen.

Qualified To Serve Tables.

Acts 6

Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. - Vs 3

Leadership in the local church is critical. It has been since the beginning. And chapter six gives us a glimpse into the selection process practiced by the apostles when it came time for them to choose qualified leaders to help with the needs of a growing congregation.

Since that first exciting day when the church was birthed at Pentecost, a growing number of people had placed their faith in Christ. In fact, their numbers had skyrocketed, with as many as 3,00o being added in one day! Many of these, if not most, were Jews who had come to Christ. These people had been in Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. According to chapter two, verses 9-11, there were "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs." Talk about a melting pot.

As is often the case in a church, a conflict arose. It seems that the rapid expansion of the local fellowship there in Jerusalem had resulted in the need for food to be distributed among the thousands of new converts. Many of these were not permanent residents of Jerusalem, but had chosen to remain in town since their witness of the apostles' speaking in tongues, and their own conversions. According to chapter two, people were sharing what they had and generously meeting one another's needs. But there seemed to be a problem with the distribution of the food. It could have been due to the language barrier, because the Greek-speaking Jews are the ones who raised the complaint. But regardless of the cause, the apostles determined that a plan was needed. Their solution: Additional leadership.

This is where it gets interesting. Because the qualifications the apostles looked for in these men seem to make them overqualified for the job. I mean, even the apostles admit that these guys were going "to serve tables." They weren't asking them to teach or lead a small group. They were going to distribute food. But notice what they look for when they start their search for possible candidates:

Select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

Luke gives us even more insight into the character of these men when he introduces us in greater detail to one of them in particular -- Stephen.

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. - Vs 5

Stephen, full of grace and power... - Vs 8

But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. - Vs 10

This guy seems WAY over-qualified for the job. But was he? Obviously not. In fact, I suspect that the six others chosen that day were men of similar character. Stephen just happened to be singled out by Luke because of the part he was going to play as this story unfolds. But according to verse 3, all of them were men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. And yet their job was to distribute food and wait on tables.

So why was it important to choose men of this caliber? What was it about their role that would require them to be men of good reputation, Spirit-filled, and wise? I think the answer is a simple one. In the body of Christ there is no small task, no unimportant role. Every servant of the Savior is to be a person of spiritual integrity, able to perform their role in the power of the Spirit, whether they are an elder, deacon, Sunday School teacher, greeter, small group host, usher, or senior pastor.

These men were going to be working with people and for God. So it was important that they be men of God. But isn't the same thing true today? Don't we each need to have the character of Christ if we are going to act as representatives for Christ? Stephen and his co-committee members were:

1. Spirit-filled
2. Of good reputation
3. Wise
4. Full of faith
5. Full of grace
6. Full of power
7. And finally, servants

Stephen was selected to "wait on tables," but because he was a man who was full of grace and power, he would have greater impact than even the apostles ever imagined. I am sure he faithfully performed the responsibilities associated with his new role, but he didn't stop there. Why? Because he was Spirit-filled and God-directed. He was a man of God doing the work of God. Faith-fully.

So what kind of men and women are we? Are we of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom? Are we full of faith. grace, and power? As Christ-followers, that is exactly what we are supposed to be. Men and women under the influence of the Spirit, serving in the power of the Spirit, all for the glory of God. Whether we're distributing food, handing out worship folders, greeting visitors, hosting a small group in our home, rocking babies in the nursery, teaching a group of 3rd-grade boys, or visiting someone in the hospital. As the church continues to grow, so do the needs. And among the greatest needs of the church is leadership. Men and women like Stephen who are people of God, willing to do anything and everything in the service of God. Are you ready? Do you qualify?

Father, make me a man like Stephen - full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Increase my faith. Fill me with your grace and power, that I might continue to serve you and your church in whatever way you may need me to. Raise up an army of men and women who will step in the gap and serve sacrificially and selflessly. Men and women like Stephen. Amen.

The Whole Message.

Acts 5

Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life. - Vs 20

It's the middle of night and the apostles find themselves imprisoned, "guests" of the high priest. Their crime? Preaching in the name of Christ. performing signs and wonders, and making disciples. But in spite of the high priest's paranoia, the disciples are miraculously set free by an angel of the Lord, who gives them the instructions found in verse 20.

He tells them to speak "the whole message of this Life." The life of Jesus Christ to be exact. You see, the angel wasn't instructing them to tell about their own lives or the Christian life in general, but about the life of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Which is exactly what they did upon their release. They made a beeline to the temple and began to teach. What did they teach? Well, we get an idea of the content of their message a little bit later in the passage.

It seems that when the high priest sent for the apostles the next morning, the guards found locked doors, but no prisoners. Instead, he gets the news that they are in the temple teaching the people! So he has them picked up again, and confronts them about their behavior: "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intent to bring this man's blood upon us." The apostles were teaching in Jesus' name. But what were they teaching? They were teaching the "whole message of this Life." Take a look at verses 30-32 and you can see an outline of what this "whole message" contained.

1. Jesus was crucified and put to death
2. But God raised Him to life again
3. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father - a place of authority
4. He has been confirmed as a Prince (literally "one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer")
5. He has been exalted as Savior (literally "deliverer")
6. His position gives Him theauthority to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins
7. God has sent the Holy Spirit as a witness that all these things are true

This is the message, the whole message, and nothing but the message! It is what is meant to proclaim the name of Jesus. It is to tell of His life. Which is the reason the religious leaders wanted to stifle their preaching. Look at Vs 40: "They flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus." They didn't want to hear His life story any more, especially the part about His resurrection. Because it put a huge crimp in their religious style. If what they said about His life was true, then His claims about who He claimed to be would have to be true. And they didn't want to go there.

So how did the apostles respond to the warning?

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. - Vs 41-42

How could they do that? What was their motivation? Peter makes it clear in verse 29. "We must obey God rather than men." Peter and the apostles couldn't help but tell the whole message. They couldn't help but speak the name of Jesus. They couldn't help but teach and preach Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Even if it meant imprisonment. In fact, they rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

To speak His name is to proclaim Him as Jesus the Christ. It is to announce Him as Savior. It is to declare Him to be God and the Lord of this earth. It is to freely admit that He is exactly who He claimed to be. And...

...there is salvation in no one else; for these is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

Father, forgive me for failing to proclaim Your Son's name, for refusing to speak the whole message of His life. His name represents who He is and what He has done. Give me increasing boldness to tell His story to all those I meet. Let my life be a increasingly clearer picture of the life-transforming power of His name. I want others to see Him in me. Amen.