Month: September 2015

And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” And he drove them from the judgment seat.
Acts 18:14-16

The phrase “about to” jumped out at me as I read through Acts 18 last week. Paul had already met with resistance as he testified of Christ in Corinth (v. 6), but God encouraged him one night in a vision:”Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” (v. 9-10) I wonder if the apostle struggled with believing that promise when, months later, the Jews drug him to the judgment seat to accuse him before Gallio. (v. 11-13) But, as always, the Lord was true to His word. Paul never even had to make his defense for just when he “was about to open his mouth,” God intervened at the last minute and delivered the apostle.

Such is often the case. Isa 30:18 says, “Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you…” Why must He wait?!! We’d generally have Him appear at the first hint of trouble. But the rest of the verse reveals, “And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” In waiting, God is exalted, and His mercy is more clearly seen. By waiting, a spotlight is put on His justice, and we learn to possess our souls. I know the verse doesn’t exactly read that way at the end, but how do we keep our souls per Luk 21:19? By our patience! That word “patience” is perhaps better translated “endurance”. As we wait on the Lord, trusting in His promises and enduring all the way to the end of the trial, we keep our souls for “he who endures to the end will be saved”. (Mat 10:22)

In 2Sa 13, king Saul was to wait seven days for the prophet Samuel to return. But on the seventh day, Samuel still wasn’t there, and the people were fearful of the thousands of Philistines that had gathered to fight against Israel. Some were “distressed” and hid in caves, others fled to nearby lands, and those who stayed with Saul “followed him trembling”. (v. 6-7) It was Saul’s first real test since being appointed king two years before. So, on that seventh day, Saul gave in to fear and, in an effort to ease everyone’s mind, offered sacrifice to the Lord. In doing so, the king openly disobeyed the commandment of God which only permitted the priests to sacrifice. We read in v. 10 “as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came.” The consequence of this disobedience is found in v. 14: “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” The point is that Saul lost the kingdom by seconds! Even if we feel like we’re backed into a corner, our responsibility is to trust AND obey God. Had Saul waited just a little longer, he would have seen that God ALWAYS keeps His promises.

We find a very different example in 2Ch 32. When the king of Assyria came against Israel, King Hezekiah encouraged the people to trust in the Lord for help. He reminded them that, “there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” (v. 7-8) His words should be clear reminders to us as well that it’s not our strength by which we overcome. Our victory is in the Lord Jesus who will “fight our battles”! When Hezekiah said these things, it didn’t get better. It got worse! The Assyrians were relentless in their attempt “to frighten them and trouble them”. (v. 18) But rather than abandoning hope in God, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out the more in prayer. (v. 20) In the end, “the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria”, and when the king of Assyria returned home in shame, “some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.” (v. 21) Just as Paul didn’t have to open his mouth in his own defense, Israel never had to raise a weapon to defeat their enemies.

Dear soul, the Lord may wait until the last hour to save, but He WILL save all Who trust in Him. It’s only after the enemies of God fully surround the “camp of the saints” in Rev 20:9 that we read, “fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” Our faith is meant to be tested. God didn’t give it to us simply to have it. It must be exercised and used! And so, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (Jas 1:2-4) Don’t you want to be more like Christ? Don’t you want to honor Him in ALL things? The path to spiritual maturity involves our faith being tested and us patiently enduring to the very end! Believe God. Don’t give in to fear. Cling to His promises. He will NEVER forsake us! “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psa 27:13-14)

Jamie

And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
Acts 18:4-6

Act 18:4 reveals Paul’s calling and passion: “he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” The preceding verse in this chapter tells us that Paul was a tentmaker by trade. Interestingly, we never hear anything more about Paul’s tents! Were they well known for their artistry and durability? Were they tents which were a step above all other tents? Probably not. Why? Because tent-making simply paid the bills, but Paul’s burden was preaching the word of God! Just a few verses after Paul is saved in Act 9, we read, “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” (v. 20) This “occupation” was the emphasis of Paul’s life. He was faithful above all in this area, even when it required the hardness that we find at the end of our text today.

When the people who blasphemed heard, “Your blood be upon your own heads,” I have little doubt that their minds went to Eze 33. Here, the Lord compares the prophet Ezekiel to a watchman over a city. The watchman’s job was to blow the trumpet when an enemy was approaching. If he was faithful in that task, then if a person didn’t flee, “his blood shall be on his own head”. In contrast, if the watchman failed in his responsibility, the Lord said concerning the man who perished by the sword of the enemy, “his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand”. God’s word to Ezekiel was, “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” (Eze 33:8-9)

Paul would not be held accountable for the souls of these men! He warned them of the danger of their blasphemy against the Lord Jesus. He didn’t sugarcoat their sin and try to avoid controversy. He was plain in his speech concerning the consequences of their actions! Brethren, we need to likewise warn perishing souls of the approaching danger. Yes, as Jude says, “on some have compassion, making a distinction”. Sometimes, the Spirit will prompt us to be understanding and give a soft answer instead of a rebuke. But Jude doesn’t stop there: “but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23) At other times, things need to be said that are hard to hear! Sometimes, the offense of the crime needs to be clear by the way in which we present the word of God. Paul didn’t coddle his audience. His attitude might have been considered mean or rude by some who were present, but he was far more concerned about their souls than he was about winning their approval.

Paul was true to his word. He abandoned those in the synagogue and started preaching next door at the house of a believer named Justus. (Act 18:7) This harshness by the apostle proved to be exactly what the members of the synagogue needed to hear for some of them were gripped by the fear of God and brought to repentance! Included in that group was the ruler of the synagogue and his entire house: “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” (Act 18:8) Brethren, we’re not here to win any popularity contests. We’re here to faithfully testify of our Lord and to instruct men, just as Christ did, to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mat 4:17) At times, that responsibility will require saying and doing things out of love which will be hurtful and offensive to others. I hope you’ll be comforted in that hour to know, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Pro 27:6)

Jamie

He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.  Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
Isaiah 44:14-15

Our text today really highlights the folly of idolatry. The picture set before us begins with a tree in the forest. While there, it is simply acknowledged as a tree and nothing more. A man cuts it down and brings it home. With half of it, he builds a fire to warm himself and cook his dinner. No big deal there, right? Sounds perfectly normal until you reach the end of the verse where the man takes the same wood which he used to cook his meal and takes a portion of it and makes an idol. He calls this man-made wooden carving his god, bows down before it, and cries out for it to help him in his trouble!

How different is this god from THE God which Paul declares in Acts 17. This god needed a man to make him, but THE God made all things and sustains all things! (Act 17:24-25) The foolishness of this idolatry seems so obvious, and yet still, even today, men and women bow down to figures of stone, wood, and metal. Sadly, this idolatry is not only present in other religions, but many bow down to such in the name of Christ! How could someone seek help at the foot of an object that was once simply a rock or a tree before the craftsman began to work on it? Isa 44:18 explains why they couldn’t recognize their folly: “They do not know nor understand; for He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.” This verse is a solemn warning to take heed how we hear and respond to the truth when we hear it. This darkening of a man’s mind who rejects the truth is set forth also in Rom 1:22-28: “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness…And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting…”

Dear Christian, I hope we realize our hearts are susceptible to the same temptation. Idolatry is not only bowing down to some metal or stone object; it is allowing anything to take the place of God in our lives! The title for our post today is “He Makes A God”. Though our minds may first think of those who carve wooden gods, Psa 50 presents another group of people who made their own god. They formed a god in their minds who was like themselves instead of submitting to and recognizing the true God for Who He is. God asks these wicked men, “What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?” (Psa 50:16-17) These people claimed to be followers of the true God, but they lived lives that denied Him! They excused their sin and fashioned a god of their own imaginations in v. 21: “These [sins] you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you…” May we never cover up our sin, picking and choosing what we want to believe in God’s word, but may we instead believe the whole counsel of God and praise Him for Who He really is! 1 John seems to end with a strange thought since the letter is written to believers, but in light of all we’ve considered in our text today, perhaps you will not now think it so unusual: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (1Jn 5:21)

Jamie

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 
Acts 17:23

As I consider the phrase “the unknown God”, I can’t help but think of American religion. Certainly we have religions which deny Christ–or at least deny Him as God the Son, the only access to the Father (Joh 14:6)–but sadly there are many involved in Christianity who would not fully accept the things which Paul taught in this powerful message to the Athenians. Paul acknowledged to the men of Athens that they were “in all things…very religious” (v. 22), but as he continued to teach, it was clear that being religious and knowing the one true God were not necessarily the same thing. Let’s see what was so unique about this God Who Paul declared.

1) This God made all things

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Act 17:24-25)

We know this God as the Creator! This truth alone would cause some to stumble today. We have let the doctrines of men infiltrate the church as we have tried to marry biblical concepts with secular concepts concerning the origin of man. In doing so, we have exalted the teaching of men above the teaching of God. God made man uniquely in His image (Gen 1:27). We generated from Him or, as Paul affirms in Act 17:28, we are all “His offspring”. We recently went to the museum of natural history in Washington DC. It was filled with many amazing facts about the wondrous creatures God has made, but I was grieved in my heart to not see one–not even one–mention of the God who made it all! Instead of God our Father being exalted by the things He made, “mother nature” was the one put on a pedestal. Instead of thanking God that we existed, homage was paid to the sea, from which they claim all life generated. I saw one diagram which taught how the great whales started as fish, turned into smaller amphibians, and then became even smaller rodents before finally evolving into 100 ft whales! I thought of Rom 1:22, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Man is desperately trying to kill God out when it comes to creation. Why? Because Rom 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”. The creation screams there is a God! And just as Paul preached, He is a God Who needs nothing from us, but we need Him for everything. If you’d like to read further about how biblical truth contradicts many evolutionary principles, I’d highly recommend checking out https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/.

2) This God is absolutely sovereign

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Act 17:26-27)

God not only knows all things but He sovereignly works to ensure all things progress according to His eternal purpose and will. Paul told the Ephesian believers that “we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…” (Eph 1:11) This God didn’t create the world and step back from it to see how things might progress. He is active in His creation, even working with eternal goals in mind before He created the earth. Earlier in this same chapter of Ephesians, we read of believers that “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” (v. 4) How comforting to the children of God to know that we weren’t an afterthought, but rather we were on the mind of our eternal Father before He even said “Let there be…” in Gen 1! There is a glorious truth set forth in Act 17 regarding the sovereign work of God. We weren’t born when and where we were by chance. Our Lord is so much in control that for all people He “has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” for one singular purpose—“that they should seek the Lord”. No one will stand before God claiming others had an unfair advantage in knowing Him. God has put each individual in the best time and place to seek His face.

3) This God will judge all men one day so all men need to repent

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Act 17:30-31)

I have said often that repentance is the missing message in many pulpits today. It’s just too uncomfortable a topic for some to breach, but it’s exactly what men need to hear! Why? Because as Paul wrote in 2Co 5:10, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Judgment is certain, but we’re born with the odds stacked against us. We enter this world condemned for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23) We all need to repent because we all need forgiveness. The good news is that forgiveness is possible through Jesus Christ! This message was the point that Paul was always pressing towards. His message to the Athenians sounds very different from what he preached to the Jews a few chapters earlier in Act 13..that is until you get to the end of each where you find his goal all along. Paul pointed men to Christ! “through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things…” (Act 13:38-39)

Jamie

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
Acts 17:16-17

The burden of the apostle in our text today should reflect the heart of all who love the Lord. How can we love Him with all our hearts and be unaffected by those things which He hates? How can we idly sit by while souls perish in their sin? We live in a time and place very much like the Athens of Paul’s day. His example is one worthy of following.

The first thing we note about his experience is how his heart was troubled by the idolatry all around him. We ought to never become so desensitized to sin that it does not grieve us. When Ezekiel had a vision of God’s judgment against Judah in Eze 8-9, he saw a few who would be spared from the coming destruction. A mark was placed on all who would be saved, but notice how they were distinguished from the rest in Eze 9:4: “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Like Paul, they were deeply disturbed by the sinful practices that had become common place around them. So ought we to be. Guard your hearts, dear souls! Lot had become so accustomed to the wickedness of Sodom that even after being warned of the coming destruction, he didn’t flee. We read, “And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” (Gen 19:16) If not for God’s mercy, he would have still been there when the fireballs began to rain down!

What Paul saw and felt in v. 16 prompted the action in v.17. The word “provoked” in v. 16 is a strong one which carries with it the idea of being aroused to anger. I’ve talked to many people today who are angry over the sinful things going on around us, but not many follow the pattern of the apostle in response to that anger. He was greatly concerned for these lost souls! Remember what Jesus said would be a common pitfall in an evil day? “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Mat 24:12) Sin ought to upset us because we know how offensive it is to God, but we should also be grieved because we know the inevitable judgment waiting for those whose normal way of life is to practice such things. This awareness should fuel our evangelism! Paul writes in 2Co 5:10 that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” The next verse conveys the apostle’s burden as a result of that knowledge: “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” Don’t let your love grow cold!

Many today are just like the men of Athens in Acts 17:21. “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” People today run from one “new thing” to the next and have no care at all for the things that really matter. The reality is, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecc 1:9) Satan’s feeding men the same lies that he always has, and the masses are swallowing it down. Are we okay with that, church? I pray not! May our spirits also be provoked to share, not some new thing, but as the hymn writer says, “the old, old story of Jesus and His love.”

Jamie