Does your faith in God and love for God drive your week?
Heaven is real and hell is real. each are only a breath away!
“We see the storm clouds gathering and events taking place that herald the second coming of Jesus Christ.” “Events are moving rapidly toward some sort of climax.” ~ Billy Graham
That fact should give us a new urgency. We should have an urgency for the lost. An urgency for our lost friends and family members. Does it? Does our faith motivate us to live any different? When was the last time you honestly shared your faith with anyone? When did you stop and ask someone about their faith and ask them about Jesus? How important is the gospel to you? Does it permeate every fabric of your being? If it truly did you would share it every day. You would devout your entire life to it. It would absorb your attention, time and heart.
May I say, that the number one thing lacking in church today is that urgency. I don't see a hunger for the gospel. I don't see a overwhelming burden for the lost. I don't see hearts ablaze in response to the love of God. I don't see an urgency to live differently.
Rather I see "Christians" file into static buildings week after week, singing the same songs their grandparents sang, listening to the same old messages. Its almost as if many come in and check out and refuse to hear anything from God. How often do you see people crowd the altars? How often do you see people make decisions during a service? How many times has the decision been made prior to ever coming. Has church indeed become a vain formality?
It does not have to be that way. I I pray that for you it isn't. But the more pastors and church leaders I speak to the stronger and darker this trend is becoming. It was not always this way. Take for instance the case of Saul, ruthless persecutor turned preacher. After receiving the truth, accepting the fact of his sinfulness, repenting of his former ways, and believing on Jesus, and baptism IMMEDIATELY began sharing the faith. He was telling everyone of the hope he found. He shared the hope of Jesus, the hope of eternal life in heaven and freedom from sin, death, the law and hell to everyone. He did so without fear of rejection, abandonment, or loss of his life or reputations. What about you? Do you have an urgency for the gospel? What stops you? I challenge you today to declare your faith. Shout it out from the rooftops! Is God living in you? If so live that truth out! Live with an urgency!
Then there was two. For centuries
one religion had dominated the synagogues of Jerusalem.
Judaism was the way of
the people. Other movements had risen up and fallen over the centuries. Nothing
much came of these cultish groups. Christianity was different. It became
evident that the Disciples of Christ, known as the people of the Way would not
be silenced or die out on their own. Action would be required to suppress this
new movement. Immediate action!
It became readily apparent that the
Jewish leaders and the Apostles had radically alternate visions for the future.
Conversely, they had great disagreements as to the interpretations of
scripture. Keeping pace with their differences, Jewish leaders met and voted
about what they ought to do, the Apostles met and prayed. The Jewish leadership
had a meeting appointed Saul to “resolve” the issue of the Christians.
Saul latter know as Paul becomes
the focal point of the remainder of the book of Acts. In chapter 9 we are shown
a beautiful picture of God’s power to forgive, restore, and redeem fallen man.
God works in marvelous ways and Saul is a shining example of that. This chapter is a brief character study of
Saul. In this chapter Luke accounts Saul’s conversion from being an outrageous
persecutor of the gospel of Christ to be an illustrious professor and preacher
of it.
Several themes emerge from this
passage
I.Saul’s
Depravity and self-deception
Saul was breathing threats and murder against the church. He
was a blasphemer. Prior to experiencing God he was a man full of hatred, rage,
and bitterness. Perhaps the worst thing of it all was he justified his
outlandish behavior by claiming it was done in the name of God and religion.
Later in life Paul writes to Timothy
Who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ~1 Timothy 1:13
Saul acted
as the one who controlled him. All those not in a relationship with Jesus Christ
and have submitted themselves to Christ’s Lordship are under the oppression of
Satan. Satan our adversary has been
given dominion over the earth and all those who choose to live separate from
God. Satan possesses all those who are not part of the household of God. It is
no surprise that the children of Satan imitate the ways of their father.
Saul
was acting like viscous cobra. Like the crafty serpent, Satan. Matthew
Henry compares Saul’s actions to that of a venous creature.
“
He(Saul) breathed death to the Christians, wherever he came; he puffed at them
in his pride (Ps. 12:4, 5), spit his venom at them in his rage. Saul yet breathing
thus intimates, (1.) That he still persisted in it; not satisfied with the
blood of those he had slain, he still cries, Give, give. (2.) That he should
shortly be of another mine; as yet he breathes out threatening and slaughter,
but he has not long to live such a life as this, that breath will be stopped
shortly.”
He was
cruel, ruthless, and arrogant. He pursued the church like a wild animal. Saul
was a force to be reckoned with. He destroyed families. He had no regard for the
like of those he persecuted. There is no doubt in my mind that he was
controlled and used as a pawn of Satan, seeking to destroy the coming kingdom.
He sought to devour the church and scare them out of following Christ. The
reason for the persecution of Christians is that they posed the same threat as
Christ: freedom from sin and oppression.
Now
Saul was a religious man; however he was religiously wrong. We must be careful
that we don’t fall victim to the same trap! Let us be careful that in our
pursuits we don’t become religiously wrong. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Jew
of Jews. He understood the Jewish religion better than anyone! He felt fully
justified in killing those who opposed him in the name of GOD. Similarly we mow
people down in the name of the church. We put up a knock out drag out fight in
defense of our “rules” and traditions; yet like Saul we can be religiously wrong.
Caution and reflection is needed so that we too do not become deceived and fall
into the same trap as Saul.
II.God’s
Sovereign Calling of Sinners
The joy of this passage is not
Saul, nor of his radical conversion. Rather it is upon the sovereignty and
grace of God calling sinful men like Saul to himself. What a beautiful picture
it is that Jesus would call Saul to him and offer forgiveness and grace to the
man who sought to destroy Christ’s followers.
Saul’s sudden revelation of God’s
power of sovereignty is reflected in his writing to the Romans when he says
“While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
While he was living in
sin and on his way to cause future havoc God showed up. In the midst of our
wickedness God is there to call us home. Like a father who catches us red-handed.
God is there, asking us that question that sends shills up your spine, “what
are you doing?” Sin will be found out
and God calls sinners to salvation. What an amazing commentary on God unfailing
love.
Another
point of interest is Saul’s humiliation. Saul was the man. He was the guy that
had it all together. No one dared to cross him because he would kill you with
his bare hands. He was a tough, rough, nasty man. Nothing stood in his way. He was
brazen, and full of hate.
Imagine this young big shot riding into town on his
high horse, thinking of himself to be something great knocked of his horse by a
beam of light. One moment he is riding tall dreaming of all the people who
would run in fear at seeing him roll into town to kill of the Christian pests
that have infested the area. He was a gladiator, an exterminator. He certainly
imagined the fame and the monuments that would be erected in his honor in
Jerusalem for eradicating the people of the way.
God has
a way of bringing down the proud. It is a time tested fact that God has the
power to bring kings and kingdoms to their knees. He has done it from the very beginning
and will continue till the end of this present age. God is the only one great
and the only thing that is good in us. God exalts the humble and brings down
the proud.
Saul did not know who or what had
caused him to become completely defeated but he knew that this power was
stronger than him. He responded to this mysterious voice saying:
“Who
are You, Lord?”
Jesus meets sinners where they are at and call them to
repentance. Saul was left with little choice at this point. He could have
chosen to ignore Gods command, He could have cursed God; however, at this point
blind humiliated and helpless he realized his only hope of regain his sight
would be to follow Christ. How true is this of our conversion? God found us
even when we did not seek Him
III.Saul’s
Radical Change.
Saul made a complete turnaround. We
are told that something like scales fell from his eyes and his eyes were
opened. Later Paul would write to the Corinthians telling them that those who
are carnal cannot understand or perceive spiritual truths. Until the scales
fall off our eyes we cannot receive the truth. The Holy Spirit is the one who
enables us to receive the truth of Jesus sacrifice and the unfailing love of the
Father. Until that point in which a person encounters God and the transforming
power of the Holy Spirit the will not be motivated to repentance.
At the moment a person surrenders to
the power of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and commits to following Christ and submitting
to his Leadership in their life there are indwelled with power and given unique
spiritual authority.
Salvation and God’s redemptive work makes a holistic change in an
individual’s life. Saul could not contain himself and began immediately sharing
with people the truth and relating his experiences
What impact has God’s redemptive work made
on your life?
Is there evidence of the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit in your life?
I pray that your life is controlled by the
Spirit of God and that you may go out into this dark world and see the scales
fall of the eyes of the lost.
There is an unwelcomed visitor in the pond. Imagine the shock to find a live gator swimming in your pool in your back yard. He has made his way through the fence, past the dog, through your house and into your pool. All without you noticing. Now this deadly gator has taken up residence in your swimming pool.
Imagine that you decided to simply ignore the threat of being eaten alive and choose to go swim anyway. What would compel someone to go swim with the gator? I'd say that there are only a few things: 1 the person is either blind and cannot see the danger, is drunk too delusional or out of it to think straight, or is a Scientologist and has willed the gator out of existence. No matter their reasoning anyone would call them into questioning. There is a serious problem with swimming with gators.
I once heard a story of a man from Florida. Outside of his home he had a pond full of gators. For years he had swam in that pond and never been attacked. Many people had warned him not to swim in that pond he did not heed their warning. one day after drinking a little too much dove into the pond for a swim; however, that swim was his last. He played roulette with the gators and this time the gators devoured him.
As individuals we have a problem. Worse than swimming with gators that can destroy the body; our problem is sin. Unchecked sin in our Christian walk will lead to failure. Mankind is fallen and depraved. If we allow our desires and sin to go unchecked it well devour us like a gator.
"The heart of man is wicked and deceitful above all things and who can know it?" (Jer 17:9).
We as mankind fall victim to our self-righteousness, sin fullness, and deceive ourselves. We think of ourself as something great, standing proud in the presence of the almighty. Yet we are wrong. Simeon the sorcerer thought of himself as righteous. He professed the name of Jesus, walked the isle, said the prayer, got dunked, and even joined the small group. But his heart was far from God.
Simeon professed Christ; however, he did so under a false pretense. His "belief" was not rooted in sincere faith and repentance, rather in self preservation and glorification.
"Though thou professest to believe, and art baptized, yet thou art not sincere.' We are as our hearts are; if they be not right, we are wrong; and they are open in the sight of God, who knows them, judges them, and judges of us by them. Our hearts are that which they are in the sight of God, who cannot be deceived" (Matthew Henery).
Peter proceeded to tell Simeon that he was in the "Gall of bitterness." Gall is used in the bible to refer to a deadly toxin, poison, or venom. Sin is abominable to God. It is like a deadly toxin.
James speaks of this in his Epistle. He warns believers to not be deceived by the intoxicating nature of sin.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Simeon was in a bad place. He was afflicted by his sin. He was swimming in a pool of self deception. He had bought his own lie. Simeon was like the man who talked himself into swimming in an alligator infested pond saying to himself.
"Safety is a mindset, if I tell myself I am safe than safe I am"
What he failed to understand is that the alligators in the pond didn't have the same mindset. If your swimming with alligators it doesn't matter how safe you think you are or claim to be your not safe at all.
In our christian walk many are treating their faith like the man swimming with alligators. We pretend as if our sins are secret, like the alligators are not their. We deceive ourselves. Be careful of the predators you have allowed into your own pool. Don't let sin go unchecked in your walk. Don't be decieved by your lusts. Stand ground against the flesh and after you have done everything to stand in Christ.
If
they had newspaper during the 1st century here is what the headlines
would probably be.
(Interesting how some of the
headlines would parallel current events. DISCLAIMER: no correlation is intended
between any biblical characters and political leaders.)
Gaza
Street Post
“Hometown hero executed for subversion” “Followers carry on his work facing similar
accusations and fate”
The
Walling Wall Post:
“Radical
leaders stir up Chaos in Capitol City”
Pharisitico:
“Conservative group labeled terrorists amid
internal conflict”
NT
Times:
“Government officials attempt to control
rise of upstart movement”
The
Daily Jew:
“Man
tried for treason and inciting rebellion in the Capitol”
Jerusalem
Today
“Violence
erupts between leaders over nation’s future”
The Galilean
“Tomb of executed leader empty after three
days despite being guarded”
The
Star:
“Recent events in Capitol cause deep divide
among citizens and leaders alike.”
Jordan
Gazette:
“Founding Fathers warned of current crisis
in Capitol City”
Founders wrote documents which hold keys to averting further national issues
and pending civil unrest.
News spreads quick and even faster
in a small town. I have always joked about living in a small town where if you
sneeze at one end of the town someone at the other end would say excuse me. I remember
when I was called to be the preacher at a small town. Everyone in the town knew
before I did. The attendant at the gas station knew more about what was going
outside of my house than I did. If you wanted to find out anything one simply
needs to walk through the gas station. There is the start of the town rumor
mill. This is the case in many small towns. News spreads quick.
When my wife and I first found out
we were expecting a child, nothing could contain my excitement. Everyone we met
I shared that we were expecting. I remember walking through the grocery store,
so overwhelmed with joy when asked by those passing by how I was doing I’d
respond by saying great were having a baby. I told everyone the best news I had
heard. It was some of the best news I had ever heard. It ranked up there with my
wife saying yes to marrying me, and the day I heard the good news of Jesus
Christ. It’s not hard to spread news we are passionate about.
The news about the gospel is simple. Jesus
said that unless we repent of our sinfulness and follow him we will not have
eternal life (Luke 13:50. Before Jesus, John the Baptist called the Jewish people
to repentance. He told tax collectors to collect no more than they were
required to, soldiers to be content with their wage and not forcible take what
is not theirs. He was calling them to give up their former ways and follow God.
Jesus message was simple, follow me in life, love, trial, even to the point of
death, and knowing that we will follow him to heaven if we commit to him.
Peter and the rest of the Christ’s
followers echoed the same message. Repent of your sins and follow Christ
through life, death, and the grave. It was for this reason that Peter said in
Acts 2:38, “Repent, (Notice the comma: important because it breaks up the two
commands) and be baptized for (Greek
word “eis” meaning “in view” or “because”) of the remission of your sins.”
Following Christ is about giving up our former way of doing life and embracing
a new life. It’s all about repentance. As a result of our repentance and in
view of Christ sacrifice on Calvary and the forgiveness of our sins we follow Christ
and one of those first steps is baptism. Jesus’s love and atonement is the good
news.
Our world is in desperate need of
some good news! With all the strife and filth going through the mainstream
media it’s time for real good news. When it comes to sharing what we are
passionate about, the world is our audience and our message is simple. We have
no trouble sharing about our kids sporting accomplishments, battle scars,
medical problems, accomplishments and achievements, and our feelings when they
become violated. Why then do so many struggle to share their faith?
May I say, if you struggle to share
your faith than it’s not something you are as passionate about as the other
things in your life. You will share the things your most passionate about. If
it comes easier to share about your health than the gospel you are simple more
confident and passionate about those things. If it is easier to share about
your kids accomplishments than the gospel perhaps they have become an idol.
Jesus said you must love me more than these.
In
Acts 8 we see
·The apostles proclaimed Jesus everywhere they went. As they were
traveling they preached in many villages along their way.
·Phillip followed God wherever He led, God led him away from something
that was very profitable and exciting to chase down a chariot.
·God draws people to Himself. God drew the Ethiopian Eunuch to a
relationship with Him.
·How can anyone believe unless they hear how can they hear if there is no
one to teach them? (Roman 10:14)
·God blesses and empowers his witnesses. Phillip was able to chase down
the chariot, open his mouth with no prep (God’s word was on his heart) and then
was snatched up and carried more than 100 miles away when his work was done.
This
is such an amazing story of Gods sovereign power and love for mankind. Empty religion
could not satisfy the longing of this man. He was not accepted by the self-righteous
but God sent a man running after him to tell him he was loved.
God is running
after you today and has a mission for you will you accept it?
God is asking
you to share His GOOD news and promises to carry us to where we are needed
Life can be
difficult; filled with adversity, unplanned trials, hectic schedules, and unwanted
errands. But as we are going about our daily lives scarred by adversity or
trial we are given something which makes the hard times meaningful. We have been given the good news. Sharing the
good news of Jesus Christ makes everything meaningful! Nothing is wasted. A mundane
trip to the grocery store, a unexpected call into the office, or an unplanned
visitor can turn into an opportunity to share the gospel and make disciples. The
question is are our eyes open to see the moments?
“Preach
the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
great patience and instruction.” 1 Timothy 4:2
Spirit-filled individuals, such as
Phillip are exceptionally dangerous to the work of the enemy. They present a
unique challenge: The Name of Jesus Christ. On his own, there was nothing about
Phillip that made him different from any of the other Jewish people of His day.
He was one of the seven men chosen to serve as “Deacons.” He was a likely a Hellenistic
Jew. What set Philip apart was the power within him. He was a man “full of the
Holy Spirit.”
Our life ought to be exemplary. Knowing
this, that ourght actions reflect back upon the God we follow and the faith we
hold. As many times is the case, our actions do more to validate or nullify our
faith than our words. It is for this reason that Peter encourages believers to:
“Keep your behavior excellent among the
Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may
because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of
visitation.” 1 Peter2:12.
Paul echoes
these words to the church at Ephesus when he calls them to be imitators of God.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up
for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
This is how
the term “Christians” came about. Because everywhere Christ’s followers went
they caused trouble, healed the sick, raised the dead, and called people to repentance.
They were “little Christs” and mighty signs followed them. What about us? Would
there be enough evidence in our life to convict us of being “with Him?
