Acts

Fully Convinced

“… and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” Romans 4:21

The way some people view God’s word would seem very strange to the apostle Paul quoted above and to many of the people to whom God has spoken. The above verse is a reference to Abraham and is key to what faith in God and Jesus Christ is. Abraham took God at His word and took it in its normal literal context. He was convinced that God had said what He meant and meant what He said. He wasn’t speaking mystically or in riddles that Abraham had to try and solve in order to know what was required of him. As a result of being convinced he then acted upon what God had actually said, not on a mystical interpretation of what God had said. Confusion in understanding of God’s word comes about because we don’t follow Abraham’s example.

In a storm on the sea Paul said to those with him, “I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). Believing what God has said has a very practical application in life.

Noah was also convinced that God had spoken plainly to him and built an ark as it was told to him. Had he decided that God meant something smaller because such an ark was too hard to build the outcome would have been different. What if he did as some do today and decided that God only meant a local flood? He would have built a smaller ark and only taken local creatures on board. Now that error in understanding would give the environmentalists something to complain about!

Jonah certainly believed that God meant what He said even though he was unwilling to do as asked. Hebrews chapter 11 records the names of many others who did exactly the same as Abraham. Such names as Rahab, Gideon, Samson, David and the prophets are mentioned as men and women who were convinced that God had spoken what He meant and they acted on it without disappointment.

Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, endured nine months being dumb because at first he didn’t believe what God had said. Mary believed God’s messenger when told she would conceive outside of marriage by the Holy Spirit. What if Joseph had not believed the angelic messenger and believed instead that Mary had been unfaithful? How different the Christmas story might have been! Both Mary and Joseph were convinced that God had spoken through the angel and that they should take what they were told in its normal literal meaning even though they knew it would open them up to criticism from their religious leaders. They were fully convinced that what God had said He was also able to perform.

This week we have a day set aside to reflect on God’s faithfulness not only to His word to Mary and Joseph but to all of the men and women to whom He has spoken throughout history. Christmas, as well as Easter, is a time that we can especially reflect on God’s word and our attitude to it. Instead of trying to make it say what we want to hear let us follow the example of so many others and take God at His word. That is the message that Paul was conveying when he wrote this verse to the Christians in Rome. It is just as valid now.

Useful Contentions

“Then the contention became so sharp that they departed from one another” Acts 15:39

Wherever there are people there will be differences of opinion, debates and arguments that may lead to disputes, fights and even wars. It is the nature of fallen man. In Acts chapter fifteen we read of two different kinds of dispute within the early church. We shouldn’t be surprised that there were differences of opinion even in the church.

The first dispute was of a theological nature. This took place in the new church at Antioch where Paul and Barnabas were teaching. This was the same church that had sent Paul and Barnabas out on their missionary journey. They now sent them with others to Jerusalem to consult the apostles and elders of the more mature church for a resolution. The matter was not resolved immediately and a hot dispute arose.

Peter shared his own testimony of God’s grace through him to Gentile people but that was of itself insufficient witness. What settled the matter was James referring to Scripture. This dispute was only settled when the Scriptures were taken as authoritative. We discover that the church council concluded that the Holy Spirit was the One who took them through this process to the conclusion. This is how theological disputes should be handled – let God speak by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.

The second dispute is not theological in nature but has to do with personal preferences. It is possible to argue that either Paul or Barnabas was right or that both were right or both wrong but that misses the point.

The contention between Paul and Barnabas came primarily out of their different spiritual gifting and Christ’s specific call although other influencing factors should be noted. Paul was a dynamic aggressive leader whereas Barnabas was an encourager. Both were expressing themselves consistently with their gifting and calling but because these were different conflict was inevitable in some circumstances. This happens frequently in our churches and may be one of the main causes of contention. The problem isn’t that there are differences of opinion but in how we resolve them.

So how did the church at Antioch resolve what had become quite heated? The church, guided by the Holy Spirit, made the decision to double the missionary enterprise of the church by sending out two parties. In this each person was able to exercise their gifting and calling to the full. It should be noted that both parties still remained part of and accountable to the same church (v 40). They didn’t break fellowship with the church or with each other. Both were given the freedom to express their spiritual gifting and calling.

When people have different spiritual gifting or calling they will see things differently but that difference is so that they can strengthen and multiply the ministry not break fellowship. For Paul and Barnabas the different gifting and calling meant physically separating but they did not separate spiritually. Neither denigrated or minimized the other’s ministry. For us it will usually mean different areas of ministry within our church but for some it may mean a mission field elsewhere.

Worthy to Suffer

“… Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41)

Peter and the other apostles had been preaching the Gospel and many Israelites believed that Jesus is the Christ who died for their sin and rose again in accord with their own Scriptures. This brought a rough response from the religious leaders of the day with the result that Peter and the others were imprisoned and beaten before being let go.  Instead of complaining that Jesus had not protected them from such people and action they rejoiced that their Saviour had judged them worthy to join Him in His suffering. They had done nothing wrong and they most certainly did not seek or provoke such treatment.

Job was not asked if he would consent to go through the fiery trial that we can read in the book bearing his name. We read his account from the perspective of knowing the outcome but why don’t you put yourself in his place next time you read Job? He did not know why these terrible events had come his way and neither did he know the outcome.

His property and livelihood were stripped from him; his children were killed until he had just his life and his wife. Then his body became covered in boils, his friends falsely accused him and his wife turned against him until there was just himself and God. This was where God had wanted him.

At no time did Job change his view of God even though he did not know why God had allowed him to suffer in the extreme. Neither did he accuse God of dealing in an unrighteous or unloving way.

As it was for Peter and the apostles, and for Job, the Lord knew their faith would withstand the extreme ordeals they experienced. It wasn’t a test to determine if they had faith but rather a revelation of the great faith they had. This revelation brought glory to God. The experience thrust them more on God’s grace with the result their faith was strengthened further by the experience.

To seek suffering would be lunacy and some suffering may be because of our own sin and wickedness but when the Lord allows His precious saints to suffer it is to reveal and strengthen their faith.

When we get to the end of ourselves we are in the best possible place. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The danger is that we will yield to Satan’s temptation to accuse and turn from God and become bitter and angry with Him. Job’s wife encouraged him to take that path because she had already done so. She had lost all her children as well but instead of revealing faith in the Divine Nature she revealed a distinct lack of faith and bitterness toward God.

However, by God’s grace trials and suffering can turn to the sweetest revelation of Jesus Christ to us as it did for Job, Peter and the apostles. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer.

What a Waste

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God.” Acts 7:59

Stephen was most certainly a man of God called out for a unique mission. He was a godly man and is described as of “good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom … full of faith and power, [who] did great wonders and signs among the people.” His ministry, along with the other six chosen was to “serve tables.”

However, Stephen did not just serve tables. He preached the Gospel of Christ to Jews. Only one sermon of his is recorded but it was clearly a Divine Appointment that was guaranteed to get a reaction.

The hearers chose to reject the message with such ardour that they also chose to kill the messenger.

What a waste! Throughout the history of the church there have been many men and women of God whose mission was cut short and humanly speaking we say, “What a waste.”

In 2008 I heard of a man with a mission he believed from the Lord who was struck and killed by lightning and we might say, “What a waste.” But who are we to scrutinise the Potter. We are the clay and we cannot see the plan or the finished product.

The five missionaries who perished in Ecuador and many others in such places as China, India, Indonesia and other parts of the world of like mind and mission have died in what may appear to us as wasteful. Many other faithful men and women of God have had shorter lives than we would otherwise expect through accident, illness or other violence from the “natural” world.

We cannot know God’s purpose for any of our lives and it isn’t for us to say how, where or when we will exit this world into His presence. If we are indeed surrendered to Him we will leave it with Him and joyfully accept whatever He brings.

Stephen did not die because of his own sin and, yes, God could have intervened – actually He did. The way He chose to intervene was to allow Stephen to see all the glory of God, and Jesus, as he passed from this world into the presence of the Lord.

Was Stephen upset at having his ministry cut short? I very much doubt it. First, it wasn’t his ministry it was the Lord’s. Secondly, he had wholly surrendered to the Lord and was glad to be brought into His presence. No child of God will be unhappy about the time or manner in which he comes into the Lord’s presence because he eagerly waits for that glorious day.

Divine Appointments

“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the (other) prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas were in a most unusual circumstance even for them. They had been “beaten with rods” and thrown into the most secure part of the prison without medical help for their wounds and cuts. Though humanly speaking they had a bleak outlook they were not in the least down cast. They saw their situation as a divine appointment, a gift from God, so instead of griping and complaining they worshipped the Lord.

They couldn’t know what the outcome of their imprisonment would be but they knew the One who was able to keep them in prison or deliver them as He chose, when He chose and in the way He chose. Paul and Silas believed what the Lord had said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” That is why they didn’t complain. They knew this was the Lord’s appointment for them whatever the outcome.

Their singing and praying out loud gave the Lord the opportunity to draw a whole household to Himself and possibly some prisoners as well. In John 17:7 Jesus says that if anyone wants to know the truth about Him, He takes responsibility to ensure they hear that truth. On this occasion he sent Paul and Silas by having them arrested, beaten and placed securely in prison. That is how Jesus brought the Gospel to a prison warden and his family.

Instead of complaining about the situation in which the Lord had placed them Paul and Silas worshipped Him.

We are inclined to grumble and complain and this prevents the Holy Spirit taking advantage of our divine appointments. In every situation we have a choice. We can either complain to God or worship God.

Complaining about God’s appointments for you will turn people away from the Lord by hindering the Holy Spirit’s ministry whereas worshipping the Lord will draw people to Him. Our choice will determine the outcome not only for ourselves but also for those who are witnesses to our circumstances.

It was only in hindsight that Paul and Silas would see what the Lord had been doing – and so it will be in our lives. Let us replace whining and complaining with prayer and singing and see what the Lord will accomplish through us.

Missing the Point

“How is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? … We hear them speaking in our own languages the wonderful works of God.” Acts 2:8, 11

The first time something is mentioned in the Bible it gives us a base point upon which all else on that subject is built. The book of Genesis has many first mentions of a subject. For example, the first mention of marriage in Genesis 2:24 and sin in chapter three. There are many, many others.

In Acts chapter two we have the first activity of the Holy Spirit in the church as it commenced on the day of Pentecost.

Jesus had already told His disciples what role the Holy Spirit would have with regard to the church:

  • He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 15:26)
  • He will testify of Me (John 15:26)
  • He will convict the world of sin (John 16:7)
  • He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13)
  • He will glorify Me (John 16:14)

It is sad that many Christians totally miss the point of the first thirteen verses of Acts two. It is not that the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages; it was that this is the first enabling of the Holy Spirit in the church and it was the beginning of the Holy Spirit fulfilling the role revealed by Jesus to His disciples mentioned above.

The ability to speak and be heard in another language was incidental to the real event, “we hear them speaking … the wonderful words of God.” That they heard it in their “mother tongue” is miraculous but it is not the main event.

In Acts one Luke records Jesus’ commission to His disciples,“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world.”

The events recorded in chapter two are the commencement of the church being a witness to Christ and the Holy Spirit’s enabling.

The ‘first’ of Acts two is the beginning of Christian mission, taking the Gospel to the entire world. After His resurrection Jesus said to His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). The Holy Spirit is the enabler to accomplish Jesus’ mission through the church. Everything else we read in the N.T. concerning the Holy Spirit has its foundation in this first.

Compassion of a Mother

“We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7

There are a number of comparisons in relationships to that of a mother to her child in the Bible. The Lord Himself compares His compassion for Israel with that of a mother for her nursing child, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15). It is most unlikely that a mother would ever cease to have compassion for the child she has nursed. The Lord states that He will never cease to have that kind of compassion for Israel. The Lord used a mother’s love and compassion for her child because it is the nearest earthly evidence available that compares to His own kind of love and compassion for Israel. Had there been a better illustration available he would have used it.

The other side of the coin is that the love and compassion a mother has for her child is evidence that she is created in the image of God. That a mother might forget is a consequence of the fall which has corrupted the image of God in mankind but that was never a part of the original creation.

Paul also uses a mother’s love and compassion for her nursing child for comparison (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8). In an attempt to remind the Christians in Thessalonica of his own love and compassion for them he speaks of the great affection that a nursing mother has for her child and the pain she suffers upon separation or rejection. He, too, could find no greater example of tender compassion than that of a mother for her nursing child. Clearly, the context reveals that he would be broken hearted if they turned away from him and the teaching he had given them.

The greater the love one has for another, the greater the pain when the object of love suffers. A woman suffers pain in child-birth but it doesn’t end there. “A foolish man despises his mother” (Proverbs 15:20), “a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1) and, “a child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15).

Not all pain for a mother comes from the foolish behaviour of her child. Mothers feel more acutely than others the suffering of the child they have given birth to and nursed when they suffer injury, are ill or suffer abuse at the hands of others. Mary knew this kind of suffering. Simeon told her before it happened that “a sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:35). The context is Simeon’s prophecy of the opposition and persecution that Jesus would endure. Mary’s pain no doubt was at its worst when Jesus was on the cross and the spear pierced His body. It would be as though a sword had pierced her own soul. Her pain turned to joy when she saw Jesus risen from the dead (Acts 1:14).

“God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). Without the witness of mothers our comprehension of our God and His Divine Nature would be the poorer.

Power to Overcome

“… God and Saviour who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

For an aeroplane to fly there are a number of laws that are taken into consideration and are either utilised or need to be overcome. The laws that most readily come to mind are the law of aerodynamics and the law of gravity. The law of gravity will not go away and neither does the law of aerodynamics cease to exist even if nothing is utilising it. They always remain. We cannot simply turn them off as we do a light in our home.

The law of aerodynamics requires motion to be effective and energy is needed to effect that motion. In gliders that energy comes from the sun but most aeroplanes depend on engines to give them the required motion to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect.

In the verse quoted above Paul writes to Timothy clearly stating that God’s will is that every person should be saved. Peter and the writer of Hebrews write the same thing (2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:10; cf Romans 6:10). Equally clear in the Bible is that few will be saved (Matthew 7:13-15).

There are two laws in the Gospel of Christ that act in relation to each other much like the laws of gravity and aerodynamics. If the law of aerodynamics is not utilised an object will inevitably succumb to the law of gravity. For an aeroplane and its passengers that can be catastrophic. In like manner if the law of grace in Christ Jesus is not utilised a person succumbs to the law of God’s holiness and that is also catastrophic. For a plane to overcome gravity it requires energy. For a person to escape the law of sin and death he/she requires the grace of God through Jesus Christ (vs 5, 6).

Whether an aeroplane in the air or a sinner before our Holy God, whatever happens the laws are fulfilled. If an aeroplane crashes all the laws pertaining to it are fulfilled. It crashed because it did not have the power to bring the law of aerodynamics into effect. When a person is not saved all the laws of God are fulfilled. If a person is not saved it is because he/she had no power to bring the law of grace and forgiveness into effect.

It is God’s will that all be saved but it is only those who receive the grace of God in Jesus Christ who will be saved from sin and death. The reason for this is that He alone took away mankind’s sin and therefore He alone is the Mediator between God and men (v 5). Jesus Christ alone has the power to deal with man’s sinfulness. As Luke writes, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It was His blood alone that was shed on the cross at Calvary.

We who have received the grace of God in Jesus Christ now have the privilege and responsibility to tell others so that they may come to the knowledge of the truth and receive the gift of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, just as we have been so graced.

The First to Rise from the Dead

“… to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”  Acts 26:18

The revelation that Jesus gave to Paul at and following his conversion is personal but not unique. The verse quoted above is in full accord with the Great Commission and all other occasions that Jesus spoke of the ministry of His disciples until He returns.

The Bible reveals that Jesus healed a number of people who were physically blind. This was testimony to His deity but was also a declaration that He could give spiritual sight to the spiritually blind. All of us who are born of God know the reality of this. We were blind but now we see and our joy will move us to want to see Jesus open the spiritual eyes of others.

Jesus said that He didn’t come to condemn people (John 3:17) but the next verse makes it clear that this is because people are already condemned. All people were brought under Satan’s jurisdiction in the Garden of Eden and Jesus came to deliver us from that authority into God’s authority. For this to happen, we must die and be created new.

This is why Jesus Christ came into the world, to die in the place of each person and “that He would be the first to rise from the dead” (Acts 26:23). In the process of the change of authority over the new believer, his sins are forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and in Christ resurrection he receives a shared inheritance with all who have trusted Jesus Christ.

It is inconceivable that anyone who has received this glorious Gift, at cost beyond measure and understanding to us, would not desire to have others also transformed by Jesus Christ. John wrote, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). If God is alive in us we will not have to try and artificially produce “love.” It is either there or it is not. If it is evident in our lives, then so is God, if it is not, then neither is God.

God’s love is the kind that gives what the other person needs (not necessarily their desires) no matter the personal cost. This is sacrificial and unconditional love. People need deliverance and forgiveness and this is only available in Jesus Christ.

Paul restated what Jesus and John had said before, that Jesus is the Light and we are witnesses of that light if indeed we have received it. In allowing His light to shine through us and not hiding it, He will open the eyes of people to the reality of their state in order for them to be delivered from Satan’s authority to God having their sins forgiven and gain an inheritance with all saints.

What a wonderful privilege we have! The Lord Jesus allows redeemed sinners to proclaim His Gospel. The love of God constrains us to tell others of the great salvation Gift available to them.

A Knife Edge Fence

“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:56

The history of mankind is a history of rejection of God. As with everything in regard to mankind’s fallen nature it began in the Garden of Eden. Adam rejected God’s word regarding “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9); Cain murdered Abel because he rejected God’s word (Genesis 4:7) and the antediluvian population rejected the word of God that came through Noah.

In Acts seven Stephen recounts Israel’s rejection of the word of God that came through Moses. Rejection of God’s word leads to rejection of the messenger because the word of God convicts the heart (Acts 7:54). Unless a person receives the word of God and acts accordingly that person will endeavour to silence the messenger in order to try and quench the conviction of sin. Israel chose to leave Moses on the mountain and asked Aaron to make them other gods to take them back to Egypt (Acts 7:39, 40). In reality, in their hearts they had never left Egypt.

The Christian church in Australia today is much like Israel was on that day. The outward appearance and testimony may be that it is not part of this world but in reality it has never left the world and longs for the things that pertain to this fallen sinful world. The Lord will not allow His church to sit on the fence for long. He has made it a knife edge fence so that we will either go one way or the other or be destroyed resisting the Holy Spirit (v 51).

The professing church has been steadily blacking out parts of the Bible, deleting verses, tearing out pages and discrediting the God breathed record until they have nothing but faith in the gods of their own imagination. Those gods are forever changing with the whims and fancies of the minds of men. They are part of the ongoing efforts of people to ease the conviction of sin. Instead of the cross of Jesus they look for another god to deliver them from conviction but not from the sin they love.

Unlike the gods created in the minds of men the living God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and He is able to deliver on His promises. Jesus said, “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out … everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:37, 40).

Saul at first rejected Jesus and that resulted in him consenting to the murder of Stephen (Acts 8:1). However, as a result of the conviction of the Holy Spirit (9:5) Saul chose to receive God’s word and the Lord Jesus. His life was transformed from that time. Instead of rejecting God’s word he became a channel for God’s word through his letters recorded in the New Testament.

God’s love moves each of us to receive God’s word and Jesus Christ and be a blessing to the world. The default position is rejection. On which side of the fence are you?