Another King

Acts 17:1-10 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

A couple of Sundays past, our little city church had the honor and privilege to have the CEO of our denomination Dr. Willie Nolte preach on this passage in our sermon series through the book of Acts. The foundational truth that the church of Jesus Christ builds and stands upon is that “God knows what God is doing”. No matter how the storms of life are raging around us, God is in control of everything, whether we understand the times and happens of this or that particular moment of history (past present or future). The church sometimes misses the main point. We look at how big the storm trouble is and forget how big God is. We look at too much buildings, music, events, and groups, but distract ourselves from the Word of God and the gospel ministry. We try so hard to get away from old church hymns, rituals and traditions that the younger members feel are stumbling blocks to their faith and then produce new praise music, church rituals and fresh traditions that are a stumbling block to faith.

Acts 17:10-15 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Willie points out that this is a bible passage about two different cities, but the same message was given. It was the basic gospel of Jesus Christ – Christ crucified and rise again from the dead. This is the power and the wisdom of God. Two different cities, but the same result because Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining, demonstrating and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” Some believe and some reject the gospel truth, even when the message is clear. Those who believed responded to the clear teaching and the message of kingdom living. Through the careful teaching of God’s Word, people respond through the Holy Spirit’s leading. When you and I study God’s living Word found in the Holy Scriptures, the living God is going to show up.

Sure, there are always those, this side of heaven, that see proclaiming Christ as a threat to their status quo, because there is a spiritual blindness to the truth. But there is a desirable accusation against a Christian. If those in the darkness of sin and unbelief claim: “these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”, that is the truth claim we welcome. The word “kingdom” is the contraction of two words (1) King’s and (2) domain. Every kingdom has a king. Like the Pilgrims, in the year of our Lord 1620, rejoice in the same Great Commission: “In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, ... by the Grace of God,… undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith.” Jesus Christ is king and Lord of all. It is not just what you and I know about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but that we live kingdom living by faith and do what we know and thereby “be the message”. We glorify God, and not ourselves, when the focus is not on you or I, but on our king.

John 18:36-37 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

We claim to this world that there is another king! Our gospel message and our lives turn the world up-side-down. – Dr. Willie Nolte

In Christ, Brian