When we read Acts 26 we come across Paul in prison awaiting a trail with Caesar. He is with the Governor of the region and was currently being visited by King Agrippa and his wife Berenice who also happened to be a Jewess. Being married to a Jewess, King Agrippa was aware of the customs and beliefs of the Jews. Festus asked King Agrippa to sit in on a hearing with Paul, the prisoner, to give his opinion as to guilt or innocence.
Paul seemed to know about King Agrippa and immediately played on his knowledge of the Jewish customs and also shared his testimony with the king. The king was not immediately receptive but upon walking away he declares to Festus that he doesn't see any reason for Paul being imprisoned. Clearly Paul had touched some nerve. Festus replies by saying that were it not for Paul's insistence to have "an interview" with Caesar he could have been set free.
I must admit that this left me a little confused as to Paul's motive. He could have been free to travel and continue his ministry but he was persistent about seeing Caesar. It stumped me until I realized that Paul was being quite clever.
In order to change a nation you can start at the bottom with the people but that will take a lot more work and a lot of petitioning. If you had a limited amount of time, would you take the long or the shorter more effective road? I guarantee that you would take the more effective and efficient road. Paul knew that by targeting the head of the nation he would be able to influence the lawmaker who could easily turn his nation to God.
We can see this example with the crucifixion of Jesus. It wasn't necessarily the people that crucified him but the leaders of the people who pushed for his death.
Unbelievable! Being in prison was more effective for his ministry than being free.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Resign from the driver's seat
It's pretty amazing to me how Paul is now quite fearless simply because he already knew the outcome of pouring himself into his ministry. He know that he would eventually have to lose his life but he understood that to gain your life you had to lose it (Matthew 16:25). To me that means you must be willing to surrender your life and all control over your life. It means to no longer lay claim to your life. And when this happens, you lose that fear of man that creates "noise" in your head about whether or not they like you or whether or not they'll kill you. You are essentially free from those distractions and can thus focus on the real matter at hand: seeking and saving all that is lost (Luke 19:10) and preaching the gospel unto all corners of the earth (Mark 16:15).
Paul had resigned himself to the fact that he would die. He made peace with it. And, I believe, he went everywhere with his guns blazing because he knew his time was limited. He didn't have the luxury of time to coddle the people and win their trust. He had to whip out his sword (the Word of God) and slay all in his path. No one would be spared. Heads would roll but no one would be left behind. No one that came into contact with Paul could claim they had never heard of Jesus because he would have told them and likely converted them. Paul knew he had to sow every step of the way and let that seed fall where it may because someone had to do it. He just knew that he was a race against time - racing for that crown of glory - and he wasn't going to stand before God empty handed; a squanderer of all the that God gave him (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
How many of us, given the choice of life or death with death most likely resulting from ministry, would still decide to go on? How many of us love our lives too much, thus being blinded to what eternal life really is? We still live in too much fear. We must begin to walk in conquering faith. Radical faith. Empirical faith. Ridiculous faith that astonishes others. In fact, if the people aren't scoffing and laughing at your level of faith it's not big enough.
Dare to believe and trust in a God that is good all the time and whose mercies are renewed each day. A God who seeks you and doesn't wait for you to come around but who steadily pursues you. He loves you that much!
Paul had resigned himself to the fact that he would die. He made peace with it. And, I believe, he went everywhere with his guns blazing because he knew his time was limited. He didn't have the luxury of time to coddle the people and win their trust. He had to whip out his sword (the Word of God) and slay all in his path. No one would be spared. Heads would roll but no one would be left behind. No one that came into contact with Paul could claim they had never heard of Jesus because he would have told them and likely converted them. Paul knew he had to sow every step of the way and let that seed fall where it may because someone had to do it. He just knew that he was a race against time - racing for that crown of glory - and he wasn't going to stand before God empty handed; a squanderer of all the that God gave him (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
How many of us, given the choice of life or death with death most likely resulting from ministry, would still decide to go on? How many of us love our lives too much, thus being blinded to what eternal life really is? We still live in too much fear. We must begin to walk in conquering faith. Radical faith. Empirical faith. Ridiculous faith that astonishes others. In fact, if the people aren't scoffing and laughing at your level of faith it's not big enough.
Dare to believe and trust in a God that is good all the time and whose mercies are renewed each day. A God who seeks you and doesn't wait for you to come around but who steadily pursues you. He loves you that much!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Preparation and Dedication
God is faithful to the very end. It may seem as though sometimes you had it wrong or perhaps He wasn't really referring to you or the scriptures aren't coming true as you had hoped. But, no, in the end you will see that God is faithful. Things will never happen just for the sake of happening; nor will they happen the way you think they will or should but when God is involved it is merely a matter of time. You must decide to be patient, to control your emotions and wait on God.
Paul really mastered this. He knew that God is, was and always will be faithful. So, in Acts 21 he finds out that Jews will bind his hands and feet and hand him over to the Gentiles and still stayed the course.
Luke and the rest pleaded with him not to go. I can't be too hard on them because if I found out a loved one was going to die on their current course I would beg them to change paths. I suppose it is like a fireman. They know their jobs entail a great amount of danger and that one day in the process of saving lives they may lose their own. Should that fireman marry I am sure that his wife will frequently fear for the life of her fireman husband. That wife may even frequently beg him to leave his profession. Most likely, the fireman will be like Paul who says, "This is my calling. I'm staying the course, because I won't sleep at night knowing that people are dying and I am living. I can save them and I will. I have what it takes and I'm trained and willing. I can't sit idly by and let them die."
Now that is the physical representation of life and death and saving people. Paul was called to save spiritual lives but his death would also be physical. Paul knew that he had to do it because if he quit that path he would never have been able to forgive himself. He reckoned if Christ could die for him while knowing that he, Saul, would kill the beloved disciples, apostles and followers then Paul owed it to Jesus to continue Jesus' work. He understood grace!
We see after Paul's response that Luke and the others realized that Paul was resolute and no argument would dissuade him. So, all they were left to do was support him.
It happened just like the Holy Spirit said it would. Paul was not surprised, but prepared. Prepare yourself for what is to come.
Paul really mastered this. He knew that God is, was and always will be faithful. So, in Acts 21 he finds out that Jews will bind his hands and feet and hand him over to the Gentiles and still stayed the course.
Luke and the rest pleaded with him not to go. I can't be too hard on them because if I found out a loved one was going to die on their current course I would beg them to change paths. I suppose it is like a fireman. They know their jobs entail a great amount of danger and that one day in the process of saving lives they may lose their own. Should that fireman marry I am sure that his wife will frequently fear for the life of her fireman husband. That wife may even frequently beg him to leave his profession. Most likely, the fireman will be like Paul who says, "This is my calling. I'm staying the course, because I won't sleep at night knowing that people are dying and I am living. I can save them and I will. I have what it takes and I'm trained and willing. I can't sit idly by and let them die."
Now that is the physical representation of life and death and saving people. Paul was called to save spiritual lives but his death would also be physical. Paul knew that he had to do it because if he quit that path he would never have been able to forgive himself. He reckoned if Christ could die for him while knowing that he, Saul, would kill the beloved disciples, apostles and followers then Paul owed it to Jesus to continue Jesus' work. He understood grace!
We see after Paul's response that Luke and the others realized that Paul was resolute and no argument would dissuade him. So, all they were left to do was support him.
It happened just like the Holy Spirit said it would. Paul was not surprised, but prepared. Prepare yourself for what is to come.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Faithful Chroniclers
I find myself enamored by the faithful chronicler, Dr. Luke, the Physician who wrote Luke and Acts. He is never really spoken of but you can pick things up about him through his writings. I can tell that he was a faithful attendant of the Holy Spirit because he noticed that great things were going to happen wherever this Paul-guy was going. He could see that God was operating through him and stuck by his side. Clearly, if Paul was in trouble of persecution Luke would be along with him in the line of fire. That's because Luke knew that the book of Acts was to be one of the most important books for the Body of Christ. This is how Christ left His Bride and what she had at her disposal and how she operated. It is a staff by which we should measure ourselves. We most likely will fall short.
In Acts 20 Paul raises someone from the dead as if he was waking someone from their sleep or slumber. I can't say I've been around that or even done that. Without the book of Acts we wouldn't know what we as a Body are capable of. Luke knew that for some reason because he sticks to Paul and writes. His hands must have ached and his ink well run dry several times and I'm sure his oil lamp burnt out several times as he relived each moment through his pen. He didn't have coffee or computers or even pens, whiteout or pencils but he dedicated his life to making sure that these stories and events weren't forgotten.
In Acts 20 verse 6 we read "But we" (emphasis mine). All the proteges were sent off to the next location but Luke stayed with Paul hence "we". This indicates that he was pretty much always where Paul was. In the beginning of Acts we don't read about Barnabas after he splits from Paul but we read about Paul's ministry and that is because Luke stuck with Paul.
What if we didn't have the book of Acts? What if Luke stuck back with some dude that wasn't bad but his crowning glory in his ministry was being a good orator? Not that it is bad to be a good orator, but we can be SO much more. Jesus said that we could do all that He did and more. He raised more than one from the dead, healed and converted many. He also drove demons out without holy water but simply with a word! We aren't fulfilling our duties as His Bride if we aren't functioning on this high level.
Thankfully Luke didn't pick the comfortable Christian to write about. He picked the controversial ex-Christian Persecutor, ex-Pharisee and ex-Hypocrite. Now, if a man with that past can do all that he did in the book of Acts and still be humble, why can't I? How many times have I gotten in my own way as the Holy Spirit has tried to move me?
Funny enough, the book of Acts is one of the most controversial books in the Bible for churches who are uncomfortable with the Holy Spirit. They love God and talk of Jesus often, but unfortunately they haven't moved past His death. See, if they truly realized what happened at that resurrection and after that they would be walking examples of the book of Acts.
I'm sure Jesus envisioned His Body 2000 years to be even greater that the book of Acts. Or, maybe He knew we were mules and that is why it is there - to remind us of His orders. His "To Do List" while He is "out of town". We haven't been very good wives, have we? It is time to whip out that "To Do List" and start working
In Acts 20 Paul raises someone from the dead as if he was waking someone from their sleep or slumber. I can't say I've been around that or even done that. Without the book of Acts we wouldn't know what we as a Body are capable of. Luke knew that for some reason because he sticks to Paul and writes. His hands must have ached and his ink well run dry several times and I'm sure his oil lamp burnt out several times as he relived each moment through his pen. He didn't have coffee or computers or even pens, whiteout or pencils but he dedicated his life to making sure that these stories and events weren't forgotten.
In Acts 20 verse 6 we read "But we" (emphasis mine). All the proteges were sent off to the next location but Luke stayed with Paul hence "we". This indicates that he was pretty much always where Paul was. In the beginning of Acts we don't read about Barnabas after he splits from Paul but we read about Paul's ministry and that is because Luke stuck with Paul.
What if we didn't have the book of Acts? What if Luke stuck back with some dude that wasn't bad but his crowning glory in his ministry was being a good orator? Not that it is bad to be a good orator, but we can be SO much more. Jesus said that we could do all that He did and more. He raised more than one from the dead, healed and converted many. He also drove demons out without holy water but simply with a word! We aren't fulfilling our duties as His Bride if we aren't functioning on this high level.
Thankfully Luke didn't pick the comfortable Christian to write about. He picked the controversial ex-Christian Persecutor, ex-Pharisee and ex-Hypocrite. Now, if a man with that past can do all that he did in the book of Acts and still be humble, why can't I? How many times have I gotten in my own way as the Holy Spirit has tried to move me?
Funny enough, the book of Acts is one of the most controversial books in the Bible for churches who are uncomfortable with the Holy Spirit. They love God and talk of Jesus often, but unfortunately they haven't moved past His death. See, if they truly realized what happened at that resurrection and after that they would be walking examples of the book of Acts.
I'm sure Jesus envisioned His Body 2000 years to be even greater that the book of Acts. Or, maybe He knew we were mules and that is why it is there - to remind us of His orders. His "To Do List" while He is "out of town". We haven't been very good wives, have we? It is time to whip out that "To Do List" and start working
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Lessons from the Greats
The Apostle Paul is so inspiring in his evangelism! He doesn't sit still. He speaks and reasons like an excellent public speaker would but then he walks away. He doesn't hang around and beg and plead with the audience. He understands the parable of the sower and the seed.
We are not responsible for the condition of the soil as much as we are responsible for sowing. God will water through the Holy Spirit and once the harvest is ripe another will come and reap. Or, sometimes we will do that too. Once that harvest has come it is discipled by probably yet another.
We are not responsible for the condition of the soil as much as we are responsible for sowing. God will water through the Holy Spirit and once the harvest is ripe another will come and reap. Or, sometimes we will do that too. Once that harvest has come it is discipled by probably yet another.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Our callings
We are called created for a purpose. None of us are spare parts for a spare life. We all mean something and were created with plan in mind. God was not just trying to fill His time with something meaningless. And, nothing is coincidental. All you have to do is read Psalm 139 and you will understand. In fact, click here to read it in the NIV from Bible Gateway.
I also adhere to the thinking that we are not all called to be missionaries or preachers or even to plant churches. Some people are gifted at making money and can contribute richly to the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth but that talent would be wasted in a church trying to be a preacher. Or, say for instance you have a gift of acting, that talent would be better served making richly entertaining movies that reflect God's heart. Something that can give current Hollywood movies a run for their money. We can see this through movies like Fireproof and The Passion of the Christ.
My calling is most certainly to write. I love expressing myself in words. I love how the choice of words can give and add meaning to sentences. I don't think that I was called to be a missionary.
So, as I read chapter ten of the book of Acts I walked away with the following lesson: when God calls you to your sphere of influence you must be immediately obedient. He obviously opened a door for you and that won't stay open forever.
I have also begun to realize (which reading Chapter ten confirmed to me) that once you begin to influence in your spheres people will mistakenly think that you are great but you must remember that it was all possible because of God with whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The key to advancing in our spheres is true humility.
I also adhere to the thinking that we are not all called to be missionaries or preachers or even to plant churches. Some people are gifted at making money and can contribute richly to the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth but that talent would be wasted in a church trying to be a preacher. Or, say for instance you have a gift of acting, that talent would be better served making richly entertaining movies that reflect God's heart. Something that can give current Hollywood movies a run for their money. We can see this through movies like Fireproof and The Passion of the Christ.
My calling is most certainly to write. I love expressing myself in words. I love how the choice of words can give and add meaning to sentences. I don't think that I was called to be a missionary.
So, as I read chapter ten of the book of Acts I walked away with the following lesson: when God calls you to your sphere of influence you must be immediately obedient. He obviously opened a door for you and that won't stay open forever.
I have also begun to realize (which reading Chapter ten confirmed to me) that once you begin to influence in your spheres people will mistakenly think that you are great but you must remember that it was all possible because of God with whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). The key to advancing in our spheres is true humility.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
True Repentance
Christians have made so much of repentance about what we say in the form of a prayer - a mere apology for our erroneous ways. As if sorry were truly enough. If someone committed a heinous crime against me and simply proffered a sorry my way I'm not sure I would be satisfied. How many times have we heard someone say: "Don't be sorry; don't do it again!" Why would it be any different with God?
I believe the Apostle Paul is a perfect example of this. When he was Saul he was hell-bent on destroying all that referred to Jesus Christ. He cold-bloodily pursued Jesus' disciples and went out of his way to wipe out the testimony of Jesus.
That was until he came face-to-face with Jesus Himself. The experience did not just leave Saul sorry. It left him a changed man. In fact, I believe he personified the verse in 2 Corinthians 5: 17 that says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Saul didn't just say, "I'm sorry" and go on his way doing the same old thing. No! He decided to become new. He changed his name, his motivation, his modus operandi and most of all his mind. He decided to turn 180° the opposite direction.
I don't believe we as Christians will truly understand repentance if we don't understand what the Apostle Paul did. Saying sorry is just not enough. Besides, just as James says in Chapter 2 verse 20, "...faith without works is dead", I now say that saying your sorry without changing your actions is worthless.
I believe the Apostle Paul is a perfect example of this. When he was Saul he was hell-bent on destroying all that referred to Jesus Christ. He cold-bloodily pursued Jesus' disciples and went out of his way to wipe out the testimony of Jesus.
That was until he came face-to-face with Jesus Himself. The experience did not just leave Saul sorry. It left him a changed man. In fact, I believe he personified the verse in 2 Corinthians 5: 17 that says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Saul didn't just say, "I'm sorry" and go on his way doing the same old thing. No! He decided to become new. He changed his name, his motivation, his modus operandi and most of all his mind. He decided to turn 180° the opposite direction.
I don't believe we as Christians will truly understand repentance if we don't understand what the Apostle Paul did. Saying sorry is just not enough. Besides, just as James says in Chapter 2 verse 20, "...faith without works is dead", I now say that saying your sorry without changing your actions is worthless.
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