Reading for February 21-25
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Thursday
“Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash." Acts 19:35-36 (NLT)
Are You Under the Spell of “Everyone Knows”?
Pastor’s Reflections
“Everyone knows Andy Reid can’t win a super bowl”. “Everyone knows that time is money” “Everyone knows the earth revolves around the sun”.
Ever heard an “everyone knows” statement? When I hear one, it stifles me. I’m silenced, at least for the moment. If I politely disagree, I put myself out of the mainstream of “common knowledge”. Or I put the commenter on the defensive, not polite in social circles. If I am silenced by the all knowing “everyone knows” statement and then simply forget about it I run the risk of empowering a completely false yet dominant way of thinking, even empowering a completely false view of the world.
“Everybody knew” that slavery was economically necessary, that blacks were inferior, that they were built to be “beasts of burdon”. It was common knowledge. William Wilberforce spent 40 years standing up and saying “Not so!”. What “everyone knew” was wrong!
The mayor of Ephesus calmed the crowd by saying, “Don’t worry, Everyone Knows Artemis is God and we are the center of Her worship” “Don’t worry about it, we know she’s a real goddess.”
I wonder how many Ephesians went home that day placated into dismissing Christ because of the authority of the one in authority simply saying, “everyone knows”.
Friday, February 25, 2011
February 23, 2011
Reading for February 21-25
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Wednesday
From Greed to Rationalizing to a Demand for My Rights!!
“Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
“At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater . . . 32 Inside, the people were all shouting . . . .Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there . .. . and kept it up for two hours: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' ” Acts 19:27-32 (NLT)
The Coliseum in Ephesus held 25,000
Pastor’s Reflection
You know the scene. A huge gathering on the street. Faces flushed with excitement, even anger. Being reminded of a great hero has whipped everyone up into a frenzy. The Chanting gets louder and louder, rhythmic and strong, summoning up local energy and pride. The whole thing is designed to give energy to those who are going into battle.
And that’s just getting ready for an Eagles game. (or change of regime in Egypt)
First, Demetrius gives honor to Artemis. My first reaction to the first paragraph is “yeah, right”. Enough said.
In the second paragraph I like how Luke says most of them didn’t know what they were doing there. And of course, it’s impossible to reason with an unreasonable person or crowd so Paul was urged to stay away and he did.
If you think that telling others about Jesus will always result in a warm and fuzzy reception or else just disinterest, think again.
God in Christ is never an add on to one’s life for self improvement. God is an invader. He demands the whole package. Once He has all of you (not parts) then you get you back only now the full version of you. Allowing him into one compartment but denying Him access to the others mostly means simply denying Him access.
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Wednesday
From Greed to Rationalizing to a Demand for My Rights!!
“Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
“At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater . . . 32 Inside, the people were all shouting . . . .Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there . .. . and kept it up for two hours: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' ” Acts 19:27-32 (NLT)
The Coliseum in Ephesus held 25,000
Pastor’s Reflection
You know the scene. A huge gathering on the street. Faces flushed with excitement, even anger. Being reminded of a great hero has whipped everyone up into a frenzy. The Chanting gets louder and louder, rhythmic and strong, summoning up local energy and pride. The whole thing is designed to give energy to those who are going into battle.
And that’s just getting ready for an Eagles game. (or change of regime in Egypt)
First, Demetrius gives honor to Artemis. My first reaction to the first paragraph is “yeah, right”. Enough said.
In the second paragraph I like how Luke says most of them didn’t know what they were doing there. And of course, it’s impossible to reason with an unreasonable person or crowd so Paul was urged to stay away and he did.
If you think that telling others about Jesus will always result in a warm and fuzzy reception or else just disinterest, think again.
God in Christ is never an add on to one’s life for self improvement. God is an invader. He demands the whole package. Once He has all of you (not parts) then you get you back only now the full version of you. Allowing him into one compartment but denying Him access to the others mostly means simply denying Him access.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
February 22, 2011
Reading for February 21-25
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Tuesday
“Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!" Acts 19:25-26 (NLT)
How Would Wall Street Handle Paul’s Preaching?
Pastor’s Reflection
I like very much the following thought exercise from scholar, NT Wright.
“Imagine someone setting up shop in the heart of the financial district of New York City and using the basis of a powerful ministry of healing to declare over and over again that the money markets and the stock markets were simply a way of worshiping the God Mammon, that this was destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in other parts of the world and that whole system was rotten and anyone who saw the light ought to reject it outright”
No wonder Demetrius and his friends were alarmed. Remember the burning of the magic books in verse 19?
How do you handle this? Do you have your economic world compartmentalized so that your Christian life doesn’t touch it?
In what way has Christ changed how you consume, give, spend and view your money? When you check out your check book what does it tell you about Christ’s leadership in your life?
Maybe Demetrius had a kind of integrity about him. He knew the cost of Following Christ. No compromise for him. “I’m not letting Christ get in the way of my prosperity”. Credit him for knowing what was at stake.
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Tuesday
“Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!" Acts 19:25-26 (NLT)
How Would Wall Street Handle Paul’s Preaching?
Pastor’s Reflection
I like very much the following thought exercise from scholar, NT Wright.
“Imagine someone setting up shop in the heart of the financial district of New York City and using the basis of a powerful ministry of healing to declare over and over again that the money markets and the stock markets were simply a way of worshiping the God Mammon, that this was destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in other parts of the world and that whole system was rotten and anyone who saw the light ought to reject it outright”
No wonder Demetrius and his friends were alarmed. Remember the burning of the magic books in verse 19?
How do you handle this? Do you have your economic world compartmentalized so that your Christian life doesn’t touch it?
In what way has Christ changed how you consume, give, spend and view your money? When you check out your check book what does it tell you about Christ’s leadership in your life?
Maybe Demetrius had a kind of integrity about him. He knew the cost of Following Christ. No compromise for him. “I’m not letting Christ get in the way of my prosperity”. Credit him for knowing what was at stake.
Monday, February 21, 2011
February 21, 2011
Reading for February 21-25
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Monday
“Serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy” Acts 19:22-24 (NLT)
Does Your Life in Christ Compete with Local Values and Old Idolatries?
Pastor’s Reflection
It was bound to happen sooner or later.
As Christianity challenged idolatry, the most fundamental idolatry was bound to be addressed, the idolatry of money.
Artemis (Diana in Latin), daughter of Leto and Zeus, goddess of fertility, was the leading idol of Ephesus and one of the seven wonders of the world at the time. A meteor had hit the area in some past time and legend had it that she (her image) had landed from heaven in Ephesus in that event.
Artemis was good business. Today Christian apparel, knick knacks, special Bibles, etc. are BIG business. In Ephesus silver images of the mother goddess were BIG business too. In fact tourists can still buy Artemis souvenirs. Faith in Christ meant not buying little Artemises. Faith in Christ meant getting rid of old idols, even if they were the reason for material comforts. Could a silversmith who depended on Artemis for a living become a Christian? Of course, but would he?
What idolatries has the Lordship of Christ confronted and driven out from your life? Has trust in God caused clashes with your material and economic life? Which God/god is winning?
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Monday
“Serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy” Acts 19:22-24 (NLT)
Does Your Life in Christ Compete with Local Values and Old Idolatries?
Pastor’s Reflection
It was bound to happen sooner or later.
As Christianity challenged idolatry, the most fundamental idolatry was bound to be addressed, the idolatry of money.
Artemis (Diana in Latin), daughter of Leto and Zeus, goddess of fertility, was the leading idol of Ephesus and one of the seven wonders of the world at the time. A meteor had hit the area in some past time and legend had it that she (her image) had landed from heaven in Ephesus in that event.
Artemis was good business. Today Christian apparel, knick knacks, special Bibles, etc. are BIG business. In Ephesus silver images of the mother goddess were BIG business too. In fact tourists can still buy Artemis souvenirs. Faith in Christ meant not buying little Artemises. Faith in Christ meant getting rid of old idols, even if they were the reason for material comforts. Could a silversmith who depended on Artemis for a living become a Christian? Of course, but would he?
What idolatries has the Lordship of Christ confronted and driven out from your life? Has trust in God caused clashes with your material and economic life? Which God/god is winning?
Friday, February 18, 2011
February 18, 2011
Reading for February 14-18
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Friday
When you call on Jesus, you will get more than you bargained for
“A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” . . .
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them . .. brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. . . .
So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
Afterward Paul, compelled by the Spirit. . .said, “I must go on to Rome!”
Acts 19:13-21(NLT)
Pastor’s Reflections
First, some background. The Bible teaches that demonic powers exist. Probably the most fundamental and best biblical explanation is that God made angels. One of those angels led a rebellion against God (Isaiah 14) and this rebel angel is named satan or the devil. It is a created being and would be the dark counterpart to the archangel Michael. Satan is not the counterpart of God. Satan was created good by God, then “fell”. The angels that follow satan are called demons.
The Bible does not teach that people become possessed rather demonized. The how is up for debate.
It was common for Jewish “priests” to travel Palestine doing “exorcisms”. I’m sure much of it was fake, yet, as always, anyone who uses the godly or the demonic for their own purposes gets more than they bargained for. In this case, attempting magic (human effort to manipulate spiritual realities), awakened the realities so that the realities controlled them.
I like the question in the second paragraph. “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
“Who are you?” as if anyone could hold sway over God or demons.
When you call on Jesus, here’s the rule: Do so only if your intent is submit to Him. If you call on him as a means to an end, you will not only forfeit the end, you also miss the means.
When you cave into the temptations of demonic forces, here’s the rule: You’ll be given temporary satisfactions to satisfy temporal desires. Over time you will need more of the satisfaction in order to receive less actual satisfactions. Until, in the end, Satan has all of you and has given nothing in return.
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Friday
When you call on Jesus, you will get more than you bargained for
“A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” . . .
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them . .. brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. . . .
So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
Afterward Paul, compelled by the Spirit. . .said, “I must go on to Rome!”
Acts 19:13-21(NLT)
Pastor’s Reflections
First, some background. The Bible teaches that demonic powers exist. Probably the most fundamental and best biblical explanation is that God made angels. One of those angels led a rebellion against God (Isaiah 14) and this rebel angel is named satan or the devil. It is a created being and would be the dark counterpart to the archangel Michael. Satan is not the counterpart of God. Satan was created good by God, then “fell”. The angels that follow satan are called demons.
The Bible does not teach that people become possessed rather demonized. The how is up for debate.
It was common for Jewish “priests” to travel Palestine doing “exorcisms”. I’m sure much of it was fake, yet, as always, anyone who uses the godly or the demonic for their own purposes gets more than they bargained for. In this case, attempting magic (human effort to manipulate spiritual realities), awakened the realities so that the realities controlled them.
I like the question in the second paragraph. “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
“Who are you?” as if anyone could hold sway over God or demons.
When you call on Jesus, here’s the rule: Do so only if your intent is submit to Him. If you call on him as a means to an end, you will not only forfeit the end, you also miss the means.
When you cave into the temptations of demonic forces, here’s the rule: You’ll be given temporary satisfactions to satisfy temporal desires. Over time you will need more of the satisfaction in order to receive less actual satisfactions. Until, in the end, Satan has all of you and has given nothing in return.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
February 17, 2011
Reading for February 14-18
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Thursday
Do Miracles Like This Really Happen?
“God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled." Acts 19:12-13 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflections
There are two key things to understand in this passage.
First is that Luke is telling us that God was doing miracles through Paul. I neither believe that miracles don’t happen, nor that they ceased in the first century. Nor am I without skepticism regarding what I see with some televangelists. Although I find the story about handkerchiefs and aprons weird at first glance, at second glance when I think of the power of God, the faith and hope of those who were sick, the openness of the worldview at the time to miracles, the new surge of the kingdom of God breaking into pagan Europe, it becomes more plausible to me. Further, it seems to me that all the physical laws of nature, having been created by and currently sustained by God, can at any time be “tweaked” by God so that they act counter to the law of entropy according to which things deteriorate, including health, in this broken world.
Second, Luke uses the word “unusual”. These kinds of miracles were not the norm. Further, what Luke records is very selective. We have bits and pieces of what happened over a period of up to 30 years. This leaves a LOT of time in between the miraclulous event we read about. I’m certain there many periods of dryness and simple white knuckled faith in the face of desparate conditions.
The unusual and the powerful happen. But they are not what sustain me. The usual, the grace I’ve been given to live each day is what sustains me. God has given me all I need today.
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Thursday
Do Miracles Like This Really Happen?
“God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled." Acts 19:12-13 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflections
There are two key things to understand in this passage.
First is that Luke is telling us that God was doing miracles through Paul. I neither believe that miracles don’t happen, nor that they ceased in the first century. Nor am I without skepticism regarding what I see with some televangelists. Although I find the story about handkerchiefs and aprons weird at first glance, at second glance when I think of the power of God, the faith and hope of those who were sick, the openness of the worldview at the time to miracles, the new surge of the kingdom of God breaking into pagan Europe, it becomes more plausible to me. Further, it seems to me that all the physical laws of nature, having been created by and currently sustained by God, can at any time be “tweaked” by God so that they act counter to the law of entropy according to which things deteriorate, including health, in this broken world.
Second, Luke uses the word “unusual”. These kinds of miracles were not the norm. Further, what Luke records is very selective. We have bits and pieces of what happened over a period of up to 30 years. This leaves a LOT of time in between the miraclulous event we read about. I’m certain there many periods of dryness and simple white knuckled faith in the face of desparate conditions.
The unusual and the powerful happen. But they are not what sustain me. The usual, the grace I’ve been given to live each day is what sustains me. God has given me all I need today.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
February 16, 2011
Reading for February 14-18
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Wednesday
Can Anyone Be Argued or Reasoned into Faith in Jesus?
“Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing/reasoning persuasively about the Kingdom of God” Acts 19:8(NLT)(NASB )
Pastor’s Reflection
Have you noticed throughout the book of Acts that the Gospel is not simply proclaimed but that reasons for belief – both personal and intellectual- are given as well?
Internationally recognized theologian John Stott writes this,
“Because Paul believed the Gospel to be true, he was not afraid to engage the minds of his hearers. He did not simply proclaim his message in a 'take it or leave it' fashion: instead he marshaled arguments to support and demonstrate his case . What he renounced in Corinth (see 1 Cor 1 and 2) was the wisdom, the premises of the world, not the wisdom of God, and rhetoric of the of the Greeks, not the use of arguments . . . We must never set . . .trust in the Holy Spirit over against . . arguments . . as alternatives. No, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and he brings people to faith in Jesus not in spite of the evidence, but because of the evidence when he opens their minds to attend to it.
I think it is very, very important for every Chistian to know everything they can about the Truth of the Christian Faith so that we can communicate it accurately and intelligibly to others living in world that increasingly just can’t comprehend the things of God. Here’s an important teaching from the Apostle Peter.
“In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Wednesday
Can Anyone Be Argued or Reasoned into Faith in Jesus?
“Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing/reasoning persuasively about the Kingdom of God” Acts 19:8(NLT)(NASB )
Pastor’s Reflection
Have you noticed throughout the book of Acts that the Gospel is not simply proclaimed but that reasons for belief – both personal and intellectual- are given as well?
Internationally recognized theologian John Stott writes this,
“Because Paul believed the Gospel to be true, he was not afraid to engage the minds of his hearers. He did not simply proclaim his message in a 'take it or leave it' fashion: instead he marshaled arguments to support and demonstrate his case . What he renounced in Corinth (see 1 Cor 1 and 2) was the wisdom, the premises of the world, not the wisdom of God, and rhetoric of the of the Greeks, not the use of arguments . . . We must never set . . .trust in the Holy Spirit over against . . arguments . . as alternatives. No, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, and he brings people to faith in Jesus not in spite of the evidence, but because of the evidence when he opens their minds to attend to it.
I think it is very, very important for every Chistian to know everything they can about the Truth of the Christian Faith so that we can communicate it accurately and intelligibly to others living in world that increasingly just can’t comprehend the things of God. Here’s an important teaching from the Apostle Peter.
“In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
February 15, 2011
Reading for February 14-18
Acts 18
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Tuesday
Am I a “Second Class” Christian if I Don’t Pray in Tongues?
“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:3-7 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflection
Am I a “second class” Christian if I don’t pray in Tongues?
No.
That’s the short answer.
To be considered a Christian three basic elements must be present. 1. There must be repentance. 2. There must be faith in Jesus. 3. There must be a new spiritual “birth” and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is these three elements that make a Christian a Christian.
If you have faith in Jesus, Jesus, the Holy Spirit is at work from within you, and this is true whether you feel it or not. Often the presence of the Holy Spirit in you can be sensed not by the presence of peace and power, but by the presence of inner turmoil if you’re not right with God. How could it be otherwise?
We see here the presence of the speaking in “tongues”, speaking and praying aloud in a language that one doesn’t know (usually one that does not otherwise exist) as a way to pray to God with “self” out of the way, so to speak. In the Bible speaking in tongues is one of many signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a gift given to some, not all.
What then is the best “proof” that the Holy Spirit is at work in you (in addition to the inner turmoil mentioned above)? Check out Galatians 5:22-26.
Acts 18
Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey
Tuesday
Am I a “Second Class” Christian if I Don’t Pray in Tongues?
“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:3-7 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflection
Am I a “second class” Christian if I don’t pray in Tongues?
No.
That’s the short answer.
To be considered a Christian three basic elements must be present. 1. There must be repentance. 2. There must be faith in Jesus. 3. There must be a new spiritual “birth” and the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is these three elements that make a Christian a Christian.
If you have faith in Jesus, Jesus, the Holy Spirit is at work from within you, and this is true whether you feel it or not. Often the presence of the Holy Spirit in you can be sensed not by the presence of peace and power, but by the presence of inner turmoil if you’re not right with God. How could it be otherwise?
We see here the presence of the speaking in “tongues”, speaking and praying aloud in a language that one doesn’t know (usually one that does not otherwise exist) as a way to pray to God with “self” out of the way, so to speak. In the Bible speaking in tongues is one of many signs of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a gift given to some, not all.
What then is the best “proof” that the Holy Spirit is at work in you (in addition to the inner turmoil mentioned above)? Check out Galatians 5:22-26.
Monday, February 14, 2011
February 14, 2011
Reading for Feb 14-18
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Monday
What Makes a Christian a Christian?
“Paul . . . reached Ephesus . . . where he found several believers. 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' he asked them. 'No,' they replied, 'we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' ” Acts 19:1-2 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflection
This section of Acts is fascinating.
How could a believer be a believer without ever hearing, much less receiving, the Holy Spirit?
Somehow this (probably) subgroup of a synagogue in Ephesus, meeting separately during the week, had been baptized with John’s baptism, a baptism in water symbolizing repentance and cleansing from sin. Somehow, however, they never got the message that Jesus is everything to Christianity. They probably had some notion that Jesus had something to do with it, but they had yet to understand that repentance isn’t enough. One has to believe in Jesus, receive Him into one’s life as leader of one’s life and forgiver of sin. At that point, then, one is “filled” with the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the power to live the otherwise impossible to live Christian Life.
I do not believe this passage supports a two stage process of becoming a Christian where one first becomes born again, then, only later, receives a “baptism” in the Holy Spirit. Rather this passage shows that these Ephesians had gotten “half a Gospel”, the repentance part, but hadn’t yet gotten the leadership of Jesus in their lives. Of course every believer has times of experiencing the Holy Spirit in deeper ways, sometimes very profound. Yet to say that one can become a Christian without the fullness of the Holy Spirit doesn’t work biblically. The real question is not how much of the Holy Spirit one has, rather how much of you the Holy Spirit has.
As a pastor I find it easy to understand how these Ephesian believers had not gotten their understanding of Jesus right. All I have to do is to look back on the many weird beliefs that I have heard believers express over the past 20 years or so!
Thankfully judgment day will not be a test on correct doctrine. It will however have everything to do with the degree to which I have allowed Jesus to lead my life.
Acts 19:1-22
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Monday
What Makes a Christian a Christian?
“Paul . . . reached Ephesus . . . where he found several believers. 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' he asked them. 'No,' they replied, 'we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' ” Acts 19:1-2 (NLT)
Pastor’s Reflection
This section of Acts is fascinating.
How could a believer be a believer without ever hearing, much less receiving, the Holy Spirit?
Somehow this (probably) subgroup of a synagogue in Ephesus, meeting separately during the week, had been baptized with John’s baptism, a baptism in water symbolizing repentance and cleansing from sin. Somehow, however, they never got the message that Jesus is everything to Christianity. They probably had some notion that Jesus had something to do with it, but they had yet to understand that repentance isn’t enough. One has to believe in Jesus, receive Him into one’s life as leader of one’s life and forgiver of sin. At that point, then, one is “filled” with the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the power to live the otherwise impossible to live Christian Life.
I do not believe this passage supports a two stage process of becoming a Christian where one first becomes born again, then, only later, receives a “baptism” in the Holy Spirit. Rather this passage shows that these Ephesians had gotten “half a Gospel”, the repentance part, but hadn’t yet gotten the leadership of Jesus in their lives. Of course every believer has times of experiencing the Holy Spirit in deeper ways, sometimes very profound. Yet to say that one can become a Christian without the fullness of the Holy Spirit doesn’t work biblically. The real question is not how much of the Holy Spirit one has, rather how much of you the Holy Spirit has.
As a pastor I find it easy to understand how these Ephesian believers had not gotten their understanding of Jesus right. All I have to do is to look back on the many weird beliefs that I have heard believers express over the past 20 years or so!
Thankfully judgment day will not be a test on correct doctrine. It will however have everything to do with the degree to which I have allowed Jesus to lead my life.
Friday, February 11, 2011
February 11, 2011
Acts 18
Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey
Friday
Believers are "Marked" Men and Women
"Paul said good-bye to the brothers and sisters in Corinth and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him." Acts 18:18
Pastor’s Reflections
Do you care what others think? I think you should.
The primary way that others meet Jesus is by meeting you as an individual and you plural as a collection of believers who love another. (John 17:21).
This is a responsibility implicit in being a believer. Therefore Christians are not given permission to say or think “what he or she thinks of me is his/her problem”. What others think of me is indeed “my problem”.
Based on Acts 21:23-25 it seems possible if not probable that Paul got his head shaved in accordance with some aspect of Jewish law or custom. Why would the great anti-legalist adhere to a minor law? Because he was willing to give up almost anything to reach others with the Gospel. If his hair would be an impediment to another’s receiving the Gospel, then he’d cut his hair.
For Paul freedom did not mean claiming his rights. It meant the freedom to the give them up for the sake of others.
Here’s maybe my favorite verse in the whole Bible. Paul wrote it.
“Though I am free . . . I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law. . . so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey
Friday
Believers are "Marked" Men and Women
"Paul said good-bye to the brothers and sisters in Corinth and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him." Acts 18:18
Pastor’s Reflections
Do you care what others think? I think you should.
The primary way that others meet Jesus is by meeting you as an individual and you plural as a collection of believers who love another. (John 17:21).
This is a responsibility implicit in being a believer. Therefore Christians are not given permission to say or think “what he or she thinks of me is his/her problem”. What others think of me is indeed “my problem”.
Based on Acts 21:23-25 it seems possible if not probable that Paul got his head shaved in accordance with some aspect of Jewish law or custom. Why would the great anti-legalist adhere to a minor law? Because he was willing to give up almost anything to reach others with the Gospel. If his hair would be an impediment to another’s receiving the Gospel, then he’d cut his hair.
For Paul freedom did not mean claiming his rights. It meant the freedom to the give them up for the sake of others.
Here’s maybe my favorite verse in the whole Bible. Paul wrote it.
“Though I am free . . . I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law. . . so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.
I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Febraury 10, 2011
Acts 17
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
The Holy Spirit”
"Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately." Acts 18:24-26 (NLT)
Repentance opens the door and releases our rebellion.
The Holy Spirit enters through the door and takes up residence.
Pastor’s Reflections
Somehow the brilliant Apollos, trained in the academic center of the Roman Empire, having become a believer and having studied everything he could get his hands regarding Jesus, still didn’t know about the Holy Spirit.
It took a tentmaker and his wife to teach him. We don’t always get the best information from academia.
Apollos knew all about repenting of sin, being forgiven, being offered a fresh start in life and being offered the gift of eternal life. Yet, he had not learned about what fills the void that repentance leaves. Repentance (metanoia in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written, means turning around, changing your mind) rids of us of the bad stuff (John the Baptist’s baptism), but the Holy Spirit fills us with the good stuff of God (Pentecost onwards).
Repentance is the turn around. The Holy Spirit gives us a life to live. Repentance empties. The Holy Spirit fills.
And the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who guides, comforts, animates us, gives us a purpose to live and the power to obey, this Holy Spirit is available to all who, having chosen to trust Jesus, ask.
Ask and you shall receive.
Sometimes I think Christian “leak”. If this may be true for you, ask. Ask Jesus to fill you anew. One surefire way to know that he has and that you really want what you’re asking for is checking out your “obedience quotient”. Obedience just might be the best sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
The Holy Spirit”
"Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately." Acts 18:24-26 (NLT)
Repentance opens the door and releases our rebellion.
The Holy Spirit enters through the door and takes up residence.
Pastor’s Reflections
Somehow the brilliant Apollos, trained in the academic center of the Roman Empire, having become a believer and having studied everything he could get his hands regarding Jesus, still didn’t know about the Holy Spirit.
It took a tentmaker and his wife to teach him. We don’t always get the best information from academia.
Apollos knew all about repenting of sin, being forgiven, being offered a fresh start in life and being offered the gift of eternal life. Yet, he had not learned about what fills the void that repentance leaves. Repentance (metanoia in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written, means turning around, changing your mind) rids of us of the bad stuff (John the Baptist’s baptism), but the Holy Spirit fills us with the good stuff of God (Pentecost onwards).
Repentance is the turn around. The Holy Spirit gives us a life to live. Repentance empties. The Holy Spirit fills.
And the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who guides, comforts, animates us, gives us a purpose to live and the power to obey, this Holy Spirit is available to all who, having chosen to trust Jesus, ask.
Ask and you shall receive.
Sometimes I think Christian “leak”. If this may be true for you, ask. Ask Jesus to fill you anew. One surefire way to know that he has and that you really want what you’re asking for is checking out your “obedience quotient”. Obedience just might be the best sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in you.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 9, 2011
Reading for February 7-11
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
Sticking It Out, Part Two
The Lord spoke to Paul in a dream . . . “No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." That was all he needed to stick it out. Acts 18:10-11
God gives the guidance you need when you need it, not before and in not much detail
Pastor’s Reflections
Paul needed encouragement to stay in Corinth. For years he had been run out of the towns to which he brought the Gospel. He must have expected the same here. Not only that, but Paul was not a “stay put” kind of person.
But no, the Lord, told him to stay. He must stay put.
Visions in the New Testament are not normally granted just for the sake of it. The Lord used an unusual method to get His message through, yet without much detail. God gave him the guidance he needed just when he needed it, not before, and, yes, without hardly any detail.
CS Lewis wrote that the present (not the future nor the past) is where eternity touches earth. At that intersection is where real life is encountered. Perhaps this is why God doesn’t tell us our immediate future. When we live in the future, we miss today. When we live today, in God’s guidance now, we get tomorrow thrown in.
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
Sticking It Out, Part Two
The Lord spoke to Paul in a dream . . . “No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." That was all he needed to stick it out. Acts 18:10-11
God gives the guidance you need when you need it, not before and in not much detail
Pastor’s Reflections
Paul needed encouragement to stay in Corinth. For years he had been run out of the towns to which he brought the Gospel. He must have expected the same here. Not only that, but Paul was not a “stay put” kind of person.
But no, the Lord, told him to stay. He must stay put.
Visions in the New Testament are not normally granted just for the sake of it. The Lord used an unusual method to get His message through, yet without much detail. God gave him the guidance he needed just when he needed it, not before, and, yes, without hardly any detail.
CS Lewis wrote that the present (not the future nor the past) is where eternity touches earth. At that intersection is where real life is encountered. Perhaps this is why God doesn’t tell us our immediate future. When we live in the future, we miss today. When we live today, in God’s guidance now, we get tomorrow thrown in.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
February 8, 2011
Reading for February 7-11
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, 'Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.' So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God." Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)
Go to where God sends you. Stay where God asks you to stay.
Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?
Pastor’s Reflections
On this, Paul’s second missionary journey, Paul had a second vision. The first vision (chapter 16) took him from Asia Minor (current day Turkey)to Europe(northern Greece). It was a vision of God leading him to “go” on a brand new adventure. In this vision while in Corinth, however, God tells Paul to stay put.
The Lord, speaking to Paul personally rather than through an angel or a figure like “a man from Macedonia” (chap 16), gives him an interesting reason: There are many people in this city of Corinth whom the Lord has claimed for his own. In other words Paul’s work had just begun. God was saying in effect, “Paul, you need to settle down and get on with it. I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”
Are those words that you need to hear?
Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, 'Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.' So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God." Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)
Go to where God sends you. Stay where God asks you to stay.
Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?
Pastor’s Reflections
On this, Paul’s second missionary journey, Paul had a second vision. The first vision (chapter 16) took him from Asia Minor (current day Turkey)to Europe(northern Greece). It was a vision of God leading him to “go” on a brand new adventure. In this vision while in Corinth, however, God tells Paul to stay put.
The Lord, speaking to Paul personally rather than through an angel or a figure like “a man from Macedonia” (chap 16), gives him an interesting reason: There are many people in this city of Corinth whom the Lord has claimed for his own. In other words Paul’s work had just begun. God was saying in effect, “Paul, you need to settle down and get on with it. I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”
Are those words that you need to hear?
Is God saying to you, “I am at work here, and you must trust me and stick it out”?
Monday, February 7, 2011
February 7, 2011
Acts 18
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
Priscilla and Aquila
“Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila . . who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Acts 18:1-3 (NLT)
In your own unique way, you and your wife/husband can be teammates for the Lord.
Pastor’s Reflection
I love this story! It should be a movie. Maybe it went like this. . . . .
In Rome Aquila had wandered into a small gathering of those who had become believers in Jesus. However, opposition to such gatherings by the Jewish community had caused a raucous that Claudius deported all Jews.
However, Aquila had met Priscilla in one of those gatherings of believers, but she was not only not Jewish but also was from an aristocratic Roman family. Would she leave home, country, family and nobility to partner with a young Jew in following Jesus? The answer? Yes! Tell me this isn’t romantic in the best sense of the word! Yes, someone should make a movie.
Up until now, Paul had visited perhaps a dozen cities, stayed only for brief periods of time having begun gatherings of believers in Jesus (churches), and then left.
But now he stays in Corinth for 18 months. Why? At least part of the reason must be that he met a husband and wife who were teamed up for the Lord. They housed him, teamed up with him in business, learned from him, and later used their hospitality and encouragement and what they learned from Paul to invest themselves in Apollos.
In what kinds of simple but important ways can you and your spouse team up for God?
If you are not married, is one of your criteria for choosing a spouse that of waiting for a mate who will be this kind of marriage teammate for the Lord?
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
Priscilla and Aquila
“Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila . . who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Acts 18:1-3 (NLT)
In your own unique way, you and your wife/husband can be teammates for the Lord.
Pastor’s Reflection
I love this story! It should be a movie. Maybe it went like this. . . . .
In Rome Aquila had wandered into a small gathering of those who had become believers in Jesus. However, opposition to such gatherings by the Jewish community had caused a raucous that Claudius deported all Jews.
However, Aquila had met Priscilla in one of those gatherings of believers, but she was not only not Jewish but also was from an aristocratic Roman family. Would she leave home, country, family and nobility to partner with a young Jew in following Jesus? The answer? Yes! Tell me this isn’t romantic in the best sense of the word! Yes, someone should make a movie.
Up until now, Paul had visited perhaps a dozen cities, stayed only for brief periods of time having begun gatherings of believers in Jesus (churches), and then left.
But now he stays in Corinth for 18 months. Why? At least part of the reason must be that he met a husband and wife who were teamed up for the Lord. They housed him, teamed up with him in business, learned from him, and later used their hospitality and encouragement and what they learned from Paul to invest themselves in Apollos.
In what kinds of simple but important ways can you and your spouse team up for God?
If you are not married, is one of your criteria for choosing a spouse that of waiting for a mate who will be this kind of marriage teammate for the Lord?
Friday, February 4, 2011
February 4, 2011
Acts 17
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“God overlooked people’s ignorance. . . in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
I think it is important to come to grips with Jesus as Judge.
If Jesus really is judge of the whole world, then the implications of this for how I live are profound.
Pastor’s Reflections
I think it is important to come to grips with Jesus as Judge. If Jesus really is judge of the whole world, then the implications of this for how I live are profound.
The following statement uses simple logic to communicate to us the truth that Jesus is Lord, and if so, then we’ve got to figure out sooner or later, certainly before its too late, what it means to live under his Lordship.
Is Jesus God? Liar, Lunatic or God?
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say aobut Jesus. “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God”. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and call Him a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” CS Lewis Mere Christianity pages 40-41
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“God overlooked people’s ignorance. . . in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
I think it is important to come to grips with Jesus as Judge.
If Jesus really is judge of the whole world, then the implications of this for how I live are profound.
Pastor’s Reflections
I think it is important to come to grips with Jesus as Judge. If Jesus really is judge of the whole world, then the implications of this for how I live are profound.
The following statement uses simple logic to communicate to us the truth that Jesus is Lord, and if so, then we’ve got to figure out sooner or later, certainly before its too late, what it means to live under his Lordship.
Is Jesus God? Liar, Lunatic or God?
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say aobut Jesus. “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God”. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and call Him a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” CS Lewis Mere Christianity pages 40-41
Thursday, February 3, 2011
February 3, 2011
Acts 17
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” Acts 17:26
"For in him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28
No matter how things seem, you cannot live apart from God.
You can choose to ignore Him. You can’t get rid of Him.
God is actively reigning over the cosmos right now. God is doing so through Jesus as the actively involved ruler of the world, doing so from heaven. He rules through the church which influences and transforms people and society from the bottom up and from the margins in through love. Obviously this is quite different to top down leadership through exercise of power. It also means evil and sin still have room to flourish--- for now.
The following quote gives a terrific picture of the God we are dealing with.
“It is always shocking to meet life where we thought we were alone. “look out!” we cry, “it’s alive”. And therefore this is the very pont at which so many draw back –I would have done so myself if I could – and proceed no further with Christianity. An “impersonal God” – well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads – better still. A formless life-force surging through us as a vast power which we can tap – best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps, approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband – that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (man’s search for God) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?”
CS Lewis, Miracles, chap 11
Do you follow the God who is real, active, alive, the God in Jesus who just won’t leave you alone?
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” Acts 17:26
"For in him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28
No matter how things seem, you cannot live apart from God.
You can choose to ignore Him. You can’t get rid of Him.
God is actively reigning over the cosmos right now. God is doing so through Jesus as the actively involved ruler of the world, doing so from heaven. He rules through the church which influences and transforms people and society from the bottom up and from the margins in through love. Obviously this is quite different to top down leadership through exercise of power. It also means evil and sin still have room to flourish--- for now.
The following quote gives a terrific picture of the God we are dealing with.
“It is always shocking to meet life where we thought we were alone. “look out!” we cry, “it’s alive”. And therefore this is the very pont at which so many draw back –I would have done so myself if I could – and proceed no further with Christianity. An “impersonal God” – well and good. A subjective God of beauty, truth and goodness, inside our own heads – better still. A formless life-force surging through us as a vast power which we can tap – best of all. But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord, perhaps, approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, king, husband – that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (man’s search for God) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?”
CS Lewis, Miracles, chap 11
Do you follow the God who is real, active, alive, the God in Jesus who just won’t leave you alone?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February 2, 2011
Acts 17
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
Are you a “Berean”? They checked it out for themselves.
Pastor’s Reflections
I went to college in Berea, Ohio. Therefore I like this Scripture. As a pastor one of my greatest joys is to learn that you are actually reading the Bible because you are hungry to learn more about God and to get to know God better.
Scripture reading is hard!!!! Translations are not written as we speak today. The cultural assumptions in Biblical times are way, way different to ours. There’s a lot that’s confusing. We need study notes in our Bibles, teachers and, yes, even sermons to help us. It’s not easy!!!
I’m telling you this because it’s the elephant in the room. I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone. I’ve been a believer over 30 years now and I’m still “getting” some things, I just never “got” before.
My encouragement to you is to just find some way, any way, whatever works, to keep at it. Don’t expect it “do” anything to you when you read it. What it does is “subterrainian” . . . . mostly you don’t notice. The main thing is to let God's perspective on the world get into you and “rewire” you over a lifetime.
And, yes, you’ll get some great guidance along the way. But just because you go weeks without great insight doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
Are you a “Berean”? They checked it out for themselves.
Pastor’s Reflections
I went to college in Berea, Ohio. Therefore I like this Scripture. As a pastor one of my greatest joys is to learn that you are actually reading the Bible because you are hungry to learn more about God and to get to know God better.
Scripture reading is hard!!!! Translations are not written as we speak today. The cultural assumptions in Biblical times are way, way different to ours. There’s a lot that’s confusing. We need study notes in our Bibles, teachers and, yes, even sermons to help us. It’s not easy!!!
I’m telling you this because it’s the elephant in the room. I don’t want you to feel like you’re alone. I’ve been a believer over 30 years now and I’m still “getting” some things, I just never “got” before.
My encouragement to you is to just find some way, any way, whatever works, to keep at it. Don’t expect it “do” anything to you when you read it. What it does is “subterrainian” . . . . mostly you don’t notice. The main thing is to let God's perspective on the world get into you and “rewire” you over a lifetime.
And, yes, you’ll get some great guidance along the way. But just because you go weeks without great insight doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
February 1, 2011
Acts 17
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life, and that Jesus, the person he talked about, was this Messiah” Acts 17:3, 4
Why was it necessary for Jesus to die and come back to life?
Pastor’s Reflection
Paul had a tough job. Jewish people never imagined a Messiah who would die. They felt he would come in power and liberate them from Roman oppression. How could Paul reach them?
He would certainly have referred to Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:1-6 (NLT)
Furthermore, Jesus’ death and resurrection were what God has been doing all along. Israel, suffered, then was delivered. Jesus suffered then was delivered. But the Good News that we see in Jesus is that what God did for Him, God is doing for the whole world. He is resurrecting it and will finish the job.
This includes you if you allow him to put your sins on the cross. Have you? If you have do you believe that his resurrection is at work in you right now and that your destiny is to live forever in God’s New Creation?
PS. Isaiah 53 is a good passage to which you might want to refer your Jewish friends.
Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
“As usual, Paul went into the synagogue. He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and come back to life, and that Jesus, the person he talked about, was this Messiah” Acts 17:3, 4
Why was it necessary for Jesus to die and come back to life?
Pastor’s Reflection
Paul had a tough job. Jewish people never imagined a Messiah who would die. They felt he would come in power and liberate them from Roman oppression. How could Paul reach them?
He would certainly have referred to Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message?
To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:1-6 (NLT)
Furthermore, Jesus’ death and resurrection were what God has been doing all along. Israel, suffered, then was delivered. Jesus suffered then was delivered. But the Good News that we see in Jesus is that what God did for Him, God is doing for the whole world. He is resurrecting it and will finish the job.
This includes you if you allow him to put your sins on the cross. Have you? If you have do you believe that his resurrection is at work in you right now and that your destiny is to live forever in God’s New Creation?
PS. Isaiah 53 is a good passage to which you might want to refer your Jewish friends.
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