|
|
|
|
Introduction A linguistics professor was lecturing his class. "In English," he explained, "a double negative forms a positive. In some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative." "However," the professor continued, "there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative." A voice from the back of the room piped up. "Yeah, right." This week, Paul faces a sort of double negative - both the Jews and his own brothers are going to attack him. But the Lord turns the double trouble into a positive for His kingdom. This is it - the beginning of the end for the Apostle Paul. He seems to be rushing headlong into certain doom. Is he self-destructing? Does he need intervention? Hardly. Paul understood that when Jesus Christ came to him on the road to Damascus that his mission would include suffering. The Lord even told Ananias about Paul in Acts 9:16 "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." The same can be true for us sometimes our road leads to hurt and pain - the question is: are we willing to walk that path, as difficult as it may be? Vs 4 Here prophets tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Back in Chapter 20 Paul said he was compelled by the Spirit to go there. Are these contradictions? No. Most likely the prophets were told by God what was going to happen to Paul, so they urged him not to go. These folks had good intentions, but had Paul heeded their advice, he would not have fulfilled God's plan. Sometimes others around us mean well, they even may even hear from God - but since we are human, and the Bible says that 1 Cor 14:32 "The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets." We must always filter what others say to us through two things: 1- The Word of God. If someone, no matter who, says something that contradicts the Word then you must throw out what they say - no matter how much you want to believe it. 2- God's reveled will to you. Pray about what's said, sure. But if it's very different from God has been doing in your life or what He's been telling you - it may be that a well intentioned person is giving you a "filtered" version of what God is really saying. Vs 8 - 14 Philip here is the same man that we met earlier - you know, the deacon who preached in Samaria and on the desert road to the Ethiopian. Now he has four daughters - all who prophecy. The Greek suggests that they were all under 16 years old. Prophecy was highly regarded in that society - and it's interesting that Luke mentions Phillip's four young daughters were prophets - it shows that even people of low standing could have a high position in the church. This is true today - we do not use social status, financial status, political status, or fame status as reasons for position in the church. In Christ in fact, your humility, and knowledge of God are more important. I didn't say knowledge about God, but knowing him. And - Luke also takes pains to point out the prominence of women in the New Testament church. Some examples: o 1:14 Women involved as disciples before Pentatcost o 6 It was Grecian widows whose neglect led to the creation of Deacons o 9 Dorcas used as the example of an exemplary Christian o 16 Lydia, probably a single woman, hosted the church in Philipi o 18 Priscilla was the more prominent of the husband and wife team with Aquila o Galations 3:28 and 1 Peter 3:7 both teach that men and women are equal in the church. o These sections show us that even those marginalized by society, can have great effect in God's kingdom. Vs 17 - 26 The big question here - is Paul being inconsistent - preaching salvation by grace but then putting himself under the law? No - remember, Paul also said: 1 Cor 9:20 "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law." Paul was not against the law, except where the law put a barrier between man and God. It's a good word for us as well - let's not make war over traditions other denominations might hold dear. Instead let's celebrate our common belief in the Savior Jesus. Vs 27 - 29 Taking a Greek, even a Roman citizen into the area of the Temple beyond the Outer Court would get a death sentence. Historians like Josephus confirm this. Vs 30 - 36 It's interesting that the crowd shouts: "Away with him." Surely Luke was well aware that a similar crowd, some 27 years earlier, shouted "Away with him," nearby - asking Pilate to kill Jesus Christ. Conclusions o Don't let prejudice stand in the way of ministry We all have them - and it may take some digging into your own personality to discover them - but in Christ the barriers that the world puts up are not valid; barriers of class, color, gender, or intellect. Gal 3:26-28 "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." I challenge you to be "one" in Christ. o Our rewards come in heaven - our trials here on earth. Don't be overly concerned when you see others experiencing hard times. Don't just take them out of it automatically - be aware that the Lord meant for Paul to be arrested in Jerusalem. Sometimes He destines for us to go through tough times too - but there is an end, a place where trials end, and where He gives great rewards. o (Ajith Fernando in his commentary makes this point) Unity of the body is more important than personal protection We see Paul going to extreme lengths to maintain unity in the body at Jerusalem. He did not fight the brothers when they lambasted him for supposedly teaching things that offended the Jews. He even paid money for the vows of four Christian brothers. Fernando says: "Within the one kingdom of God, we may have different roles but we work for the same King; therefore we will help each other at personal cost to ourselves, and never do things that will hurt the other." |
>>Show/Hide Comments<<