2023-05-28 Love In Action

LOVE IN ACTION (Acts 20:1-6) May 28, 2023 Read Acts 20:1-6 - An elderly lady asked a little girl, "How do you do, my dear?" She replied, "Fine, thank you." The lady paused then asked, "Why don't you ask how I am?" The child calmly replied, "Bc I don't care." So human, isn't it? Aren't we often this way about our Xn family. Some are hard for us to care for, if we're honest. But that's not like Jesus: I Jn 3:16-17: "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" Lay down our lives for others? Wow! Acts 20:28b: we are to "care for the church of God, which he obtained by his own blood" - literally by the blood of His own, that is Jesus. That sets a high standard when it comes to loving others. Paul showed love in many ways - praying for people, sharing their burdens, teaching them the sometimes hard ways of God. Paul loved God's people. This text reveals four ways he exhibited that love - that we can, too. I. Paul Loved by Encouraging Paul's about to leave Ephesus after nearly 3 years when a riot breaks out, incited by local idol producers whose business tanked when people turned from idols to Christ. Paul's opponents went after him and his companions. That left Paul with unfinished business. He "sent for the disciples." Why? To encourage them before departing. Rather than thinking of his need to get out of town, he is concerned for those who will left behind. This is more than a pep talk. "Encouraging" is a lovely word, παρακαλέω (to call alongside) = encourage, comfort, help. The word is used of the HS = "Comforter" bc He helps people see life from God's perspective, thus encouraging, comforting and helping because God is, bc God loves and bc God is involved. Our strength for the day is - we belong to Him. The Master of the universe is our master; and He's got it all under control. Paul couldn't tell the Ephesians persecution wouldn't come. It would! But Paul could encourage: Isa 43:1b: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine; 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." That was a promise to Israel, but that truth applies equally to the Ephesians - and to us in Eaton. So Psa 94:14: "For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage." Take heart! No circumstance in life is a match for the love and grace of God. Nik Ripken in The Insanity of God tells of visiting David Chen's house church in China. Persecution was persistent. One night, Nik got an amazing question: "Do the people in other countries also know about Jesus - or is He still known only in China?" Nik told them there were millions all over the world who loved Christ and prayed for them. They could hardly believe it. One man responded: "Do you mean people in your country know that we believe in Jesus? Do you mean they know that some of us are suffering for our faith? Do you mean they haven't forgotten us and that they pray for us?" Nik assured them they were greatly loved, never forgotten and always prayed for. It was a holy moment for those believers. That's encouragement: the reminder we are for each other and God is for us all. The greatest encouragement: God loves and God is here! II. Paul Loved by Confronting After encouraging the Ephesians, 1b) "he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece [Corinth]." This actually covers at least 18 months of time. To get the full pix, we need a little background. Paul was in Ephesus nearly 3 years, but Corinth was always on his mind. That church was a problem child from the start. Paul planted it on his 2nd journey and spent nearly2 years there. The people were gifted, but poorly led and greatly troubled. A major issue was their laxity on sexual issues. They had a temple with 1,000 prostitutes and had the general permissive Gentile mindset regarding sex - worse even than our own culture. So early on in Ephesus, Paul wrote a letter: I Cor 5:9: "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world." He's clarifying he'd previously had immoral Xns in mind, not society in general. If you avoided all sexually immoral people in general, goodbye world! Purity in church was his goal. We know of this letter only by this reference. Sometime later, Paul got a report from Corinth. I Cor 1:11-12: "For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." That wasn't all Chloe's people reported, and Apollos too, back in Ephesus by this time (I Cor 16:12). We see this in I Cor, which was actually the 2nd letter he sent. It addresses multiple issues - abuse of the Lord's supper, continuing sexual immorality, law suits between believers, problems with tongue-speaking and others. They were a mess, and I Corinthians was written to help them. Paul eventually sent both Titus and Timothy to try to help. Meantime, false teachers came to discredit Paul in Corinth. He made a quick trip from Ephesus that didn't go well. He considered another visit, but II Cor 2: 1) For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you." No one had defended Paul on that quick trip to Corinth. Rather than risk a repeat, he sent a letter with Titus - loving, well-intentioned but hard- a painful letter. Now, as he leaves Ephesus, he's still had no word from Corinth. He hopes to find Titus in Troas - but doesn't. II Cor 2:12: "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia." Paul found an open door to preach in Troas, but no Titus. So he moved on. Corinth plagued his mind. So from Troas, he crossed the Aegean to Philippi. He arrived in a troubled state. II Cor 7: 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn-fighting without and fear within." What the fighting without was about we don't know. But the fear within - well, that was about to be relieved. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, . . . 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it-though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us." The Corinthians had been grieved by Paul's letter, but then repented. Paul's heart soared at that news. He writes II Cor in response - his 4th letter to them - then goes to visit at last for 3 months. Paul loved enough to confront. These were a mixed-up bunch, but he did not write them off. He wrote a tough letter, not to give them a piece of his mind - but hoping to restore them. II Cor 2:4: "For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you." This is tough love - confronting, but in a compelling, compassionate way. Paul practiced what he preaches in Gal 6:1: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Today we confront too little, but with too much harshness and spiritual pride. Confrontation requires broken hearts and loving spirits. Someone visiting London's Westminster Chapel when Lloyd-Jones pastored there was awestruck by the authority of the Word preached there. He said LJ was a "steamroller" of biblical truth, but added, "a very gentle steamroller." I love that. Oh, that we would be sticklers for truth, but with the gentleness of Christ who was filled with grace and truth. We need both in equal measure. III. Paul Loved by Doing During 3 months in Corinth, Paul wrote Romans, giving further insight into his mind. Rom 15:25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem." For months he's been collecting from Gentile churches for the saints in Jerusalem who are suffering greatly from famine. Now it's time to deliver. Messengers from Paul's churches are gathered in Corinth for that very purpose -- Sopater (Berea), Aristarchus and Secundus (Thessalonica) in Macedonia; Gaius (Derbe) and Timothy (Lystra) in Galatia; and Tychicus and Trophimus (both probably from Ephesus) in Asia. Luke probably represented Philippi, and Titus Achaia (Corinth). The funds are collected and ready for delivery The intention was to catch a ship taking Jewish pilgrims to Passover in Jerusalem. But there was a glitch. The Jews in Corinth hadn't forgotten how two of their leaders, Crispus and Sosthenes, had converted to Xnty. They'd lost in court to Paul. When they found he was carrying a lot of money to Jerusalem by ship, an easy target, they set out to kill him. But Paul found out. So rather than sail directly east, Paul and his delegation headed north on foot for Philippi. His companions then went ahead to Troas while Paul and Luke spent Easter in Philippi, joining the rest in Troas 5 days later. Can you see, Paul loved by doing? He went out of his way to collect funds for the saints in Jerusalem, then endangered his own life getting it to them. He lived I Jn 3:18: "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." In others words, love isn't what you say; it's what you do. Paul knew how to say love, but he knew how to do love as well! He'd seen how His Master loved Him even to death, and he's doing the same. A young boy bought a dozen eggs for Mom. But he tripped and broke the eggs all over the sidewalk. A few people gathered to comfort him, telling him how sorry they were. But one man held out a dollar. He said, "I care a dollar's worth. How much do the rest of you care?" That's the issue. How much do we care? We show love by doing - whether it's delivering a meal, giving a ride, building a platform, visiting the sick - all the ways we often overlook, but ways to show we love God by loving His church. IV. Paul Loved by Discipling Note that Paul didn't do all this on his own. He involved others. Now, he's in Corinth with 7 other men to finish it off. What is he doing? He is discipling. These are the fruit of his ministry, and now he is showing the unity of the body of Christ by having Gentiles deliver aid to Jews they've never met. Why? Bc they're part of the same body - the body of Christ. So, those who have come to Christ thru Paul are now with him in mission. They exemplify II Tim 2:2: "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." Paul has taught these men by word and by deed; now they're doing the same. Paul's no Lone Ranger evangelist. He brings others along, teaching, discipling, and furthering ministry through them. Conc - So, do we love the church like God does?! Enough to encourage. Enough to confront when necessary, to do for others what they cannot do for themselves - to be involved as a disciple and as a discipler? Years ago a young soldier was coming home from overseas. The man's mother sent a newly hired driver was sent to the station to pick him up, but the driver asked, "How will I recognize him? There will be many returning soldiers there." The mother replied, "Look for someone helping someone else." And sure enough, as the train pulled in, the driver saw a man assisting an elderly woman with her baggage. He had his man. That could be us! - loving God's church by offering encouragement rather than criticism; prayer rather than gossip; offering to take a meal, fix a door, watch the kids for an hour, visit the sick rather than merely saying, "God bless you." Beautiful picture, isn't it? And by God's grace, it can be us. Let's pray. DONE 7