Acts 21:10-15 “After we had
been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down
from Judea. Coming over
to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The
Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will
bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the
Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded
with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul
answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be
bound, but also to die in Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he
would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said,
“The Lord’s will be done.” After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
A little over a week ago, we
attended our church’s Baptismic Denomination annual conference locally and the
title of this year’s symposium was ”Unstoppable”. But, Pastor Kyle explains in
last week’s Sunday Sermon, continuing through the book of Acts, that we seem to
live in a world that appears to be very stoppable. We have our comfortable
customs and traditions, but how fragile they are. There is also nothing wrong
with trying to follow God’s law, because they are good and right. The apostle
Paul explains in Romans 7:7 asking, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary,
I would not have known sin except through the law.” It’s perfectly
okay to observe God’s law, but don’t expect to be saved by doing so. Following
God’s law doesn’t make you right with God; being right with God makes you
follow God’s law. People around us are watching and want to know what is
different about true Christians. The one foundational thing that all Christians
have in common is stated by the Lord in Matthew
16:15-18, where Jesus asking of the Apostles, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered
and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and
said to him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in
heaven. And
I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” The head of
the Christian church is Christ. Being a disciple (Learner/Follower) of Jesus is
to live for the Lord and Savior of the world. They are “ready not only to be
bound, but also to die in Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:17-20 “And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. On the
following day Paul went in
with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had
greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the
Gentiles through his ministry. And when
they heard it, they
glorified the Lord.”
Pastor Kyle gives some good
ways how to handle questions about our faith. (1) Like Paul, relate one by one
the things that God has done in and around your life. Recounting and sharing
the amazing stories of God’s workings and God working in our life is a great
witness. Oh, it is easy to characterize people, for sure. The biggest questions
often come from those who have never been in the mission field. Salvation,
forgiveness, restoration and spiritual healing are foreign concepts to those
who have not experienced them. Misconceptions can run wild with the imagination.
Not everyone is going to Heaven and once a person becomes a Christian, it’s a beginning,
not an end. It’s not a “get out of jail free card” and we don’t have to do
anything. Repenting, learning and following are “doing” actions. (2) Take your
time and pay on your dime to answer their questions, within reason. Do it, do
it well and for the right reasons. It’s not about a “pecking order” and legalism
is a disconnection from the good works of God in bring the world to Him. We
never have to prove that we are “better” sinners. Instead, be focusing on the
world-wide work of the Lord.
John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
(3)
Figure out if they are a critic or are they struggling to articulate how they
care? There was a story of a wife of a pastor, whose father went to be with the
Lord and she was grieving. Many people at church came by saying “At least he’s
in a better place” or “At least he’s no longer in pain” and similar things to
comfort her, but they didn’t help. When they got home, their little daughter
seeing her mother sad decided to pick some flowers for her, She picked and
gathered some dandelions, some crabgrass, some dead twigs together and handing
this ugly bouquet to her said, “This is for you mommy. I don’t want you to hurt
anymore.” Great ministry! She was saying “I love you and I care about you” and
so where all those people at church. They all were trying to hand her a “ugly
bouquet” to genuinely show their love and care. Recognize it and acknowledge
it.
(4)
Change the tone from negative questioning to a positive conversation about how to
transform the world for Jesus. God wants His children go from superficial to a
deeper love for people around us. It’s not just about talking to each other,
but learn to be a good listener too. With an unstoppable faith, enlarge your heart with the heart of Jesus.
We do not know if people are
open to hear unless we try. But we have to try. Be on the “same page’ for the
Lord or we will not be able to reach the world. And remember that this is a
corporate Christian mission of the church to “go and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” –
Matthew 28:19. We need brothers
and sisters in Christ around us.
From my edited notes of Pastor Kyle’s sermon.
In Christ, Brian