Gospel Battleground
Acts • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 12 viewsWhen flawed but God-dependent, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus, the power of God distrubs the powers that be.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Gospel Motivations for Gospel Proclamation
Gospel Motivations for Gospel Proclamation
Interrogative:
Interrogative:
Question: What happens when flawed (15:36-41), mission-focused (16:6-10), Spirit-led (16:6-10) believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus?
As flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the graceless power of false religion (16:11-15).
As flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disrupt the possessive power of the god of this world, Satan (16:16-18).
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the unfulfilling power of idolatry (16:19)
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the unstable power of civil authorities (16:20-24).
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the inherent power of self pity and self-preservation (16:25-29).
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the destructive power of a hopeless heart (16:30-34).
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the cultural (or compelling) power of status rights (16:1-5, 20-24, 35-40).
Timothy had the right to not be circumcised as a believing Jew of mixed parentage, but he refused to exploit this status for personal comfort. He strategically gave up the self-centered use of this right of status for the greater spread of the gospel (16:1-5).
Paul & Silas had cultural rights to better treatment as Roman citizens, but refused to exploit this status to avoid suffering for the sake of the gospel, and thus strengthened younger believers for the suffering they would experience. They strategically gave up the self-centered use of this right of status for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25).
, , ,
Paul & Silas after suffering, chose to leverage their status as citizens and “employed [their] rights for the good of others” (Unger, 159) (16:35-40). When it promoted the mission and the people to whom he ministered, Paul leveraged his status for the sake fo the gospel. They strategically employed the others-focused use of this right of status for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25), and God vindicated them.
, ,
Jesus Christ himself refused to leverage his status as the Son of God to his own advantage, but took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. He becomes an example of others-focused use or disuse of rights of status for the sake of the glory of God (), and God vindicated him.
Answer developed inductively: The power of God disturbs the powers that be when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus.
Answer developed inductively: The Power of God disturbs the powers that be when flawed, Spirit-led believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus.
Application:
Application:
Proclaim the gospel, which is the power of God unto Salvation...
…led by the Spirit...
…leveraging your rights for the sake of the mission...
…expecting opposition...
…refusing to cave to the powers of self-pity and self-preservation...
…waiting for God’s vindication of his gospel proclaimers.
Sermon
Sermon
Introduction:
Introduction:
Auto Repair Evangelism: Our car’s air conditioner recently failed, but that wasn’t the biggest or most recent failure of the week. I was at the repair shop twice this week, with the same two gentlemen helping me behind the counter that I have interacted with multiple times in the past. At other occasions I had gotten to share the gospel with each of them in summary. On these particular occasions, twice in one week mind you, I was self-absorbed and task oriented. How I was feeling and what I had to get done was a greater priority in my mind then the two souls in front of me.
When the clear moment came, and the Holy Spirit opened a brief door, I stumbled, stuttered, spoke briefly, and just like that, the opportunity was gone. I walked out of the garage mentally kicking myself.
Ever feel like a failure in your gospel witness? I am sure many of us do. And it isn’t ignorance of that task that is keeping us from gospel witness, is it?
Our Lord’s marching orders could not be more clear as to our responsibilities:
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18
We might fail at gospel proclamation because we lack proper motivation; or perhaps proper perspective; or we have distorted priorities; or we we are fearful of the outcome; or we just don’t think it will do anyone any good in a particular instance; or maybe we recognized our weakness and failures and think: God can’t use me.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matt 28:16-20
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
We might fail at gospel proclamation because we lack proper motivation; or perhaps proper perspective; or we have distorted priorities; or we we are fearful of the outcome; or we just don’t think it will do anyone any good in a particular instance; or maybe we recognized our weakness and failures and think: God can’t use me.
Sometimes we fail at gospel proclamation because we lack proper perspective: what truly matters in life.
Other times we fail at gospel proclamation because we have distorted priorities: what is most important in this moment.
Other times we fail at gospel proclamation because we are fearful of the outcome: will we be shamed or embarrassed.
Other times we fail at gospel proclamation because we just don’t think it will do any good in a particular instance: this person would never want to hear.
Would you turn with me to ? This morning, I would like us to follow the steps of several men that you and I can identify with. You may have heard of at least one of them before. He used to be a religious terrorist, destroying lives and decimating families for a false system of religion; blasphemer of the one true God, a persecutor of the true followers of God, and insolent opponent to God himself (, ). But that was Saul. His name is now Paul. He has been converted by the power of the gospel of the Risen Christ, the very One whose followers he used to persecute. But he is still a flawed man.
One of the beauties of Scripture is how God allows us to see the ones we typically describe as “heroes” covered in warts and weaknesses. We see the Patriarchs waffle back and forth from fear to faith. We shake our heads as David commits adultery and murder. We sigh as Solomon accumulates wives. We groan as Peter, cursing, rejects ever even knowing Christ.
But he is still a flawed man. One of the beauties of Scripture is how God allows us to see the ones we typically describe as “heroes” covered in warts and weaknesses. We see the Patriarchs waffle back and forth from fear to faith. We shake our heads as David commits adultery and murder. We sigh as Solomon accumulates wives. We groan as Peter, cursing, rejects ever knowing Christ.
blasphemer, zpersecutor, and insolent opponent (, Acts 8:3).
If you look at the paragraph right before , you will see Paul with some warts. He is, after all, a flawed human being. While we sometimes think we couldn’t identify with Paul, indeed, we can. describes the wartiness of two men, Paul and Barnabas. Two missionary giants, back from a victory at the Jerusalem council for the truth of justification by grace through faith alone apart from the works of the law, these two men prepare to return to missionary work from Antioch. And they have a falling out. Barnabas wants to take his cousin John Mark. Paul can’t fathom why they would take a man who had previously deserted them. Scripture doesn’t tell us who was right and who was wrong. We won’t try to lay blame this morning either. But what we do see is warty, flawed men. Men whose flaws create a schism so sharp and deep, that they part ways.
But after parting, they both return to the mission: Barnabas takes Mark and heads to Cyprus (). Paul takes Silas and they head to Syria and Cilicia ().
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .
Paul is undoubtedly a flawed man (). But notice also...
that Paul is a man focused on the mission (). Verse 41 ends with the phrase that Paul and Silas were “strengthening the churches” of Syria and Cilicia. Verse 5 echos this thought as the churches in Derbe and Lystra and Iconium “were strengthened in the faith”. And couched between these two phrases is a little note about a third edition to the team: Timothy. Now Timothy was considered a “half-breed”. His mother was Jewish but his Father was Greek (). This means Timothy would not have the distinctive characteristic that set Jews off from all those around them, as a reminder of the covenant God made with Abraham. That distinctive characteristic was circumsicion. At this point, we must be aware that Paul’s modus operandi upon entering a town or village was to find where the Jews of that area gathered, typically a synagogue; Christianity at this point was still viewed by many as a sect, a part of Judaism, rather than something altogether different. The fact that Timothy was “well-spoken of” and a godly young man would mean nothing to Jews who knew he had a Greek father. They would assume he was uncircumcised, and Timothy’s effectiveness in the mission would be compromised. So for the sake of the gospel, Paul has Timothy circumcised, and Timothy willingly submits. Paul, Timothy, and Silas are flawed men, yes, but they are also men who are radically mission-focused.
But notice that contained in the next paragraph, there is a recurring theme.
But notice that contained in the next paragraph, there is a recurring theme.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
These men are also Holy Spirit-led. We are not told how the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of Jesus, leads them, but he does so by “forbidding” them to preach in Asia or modern day Turkey and “not allowing them” to go into Bithynia. Then, Paul has what is called “the Macedonian Vision”:
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Theological Aside: We need to briefly remind ourselves that the book of Acts is not normative. That is, it is not to be read as an instruction manual for Christian living. Acts is an historical narrative, describing events that happened, not prescribing that we seek to replicate those events. It is important to note this here, because it would be a mistake to think that we must await a vision from God to know his will. Two out of the three times God is leading in these 5 short verses, he does so quietly through the Holy Spirit indwelling these men. Today, believers are led as they walk in obedience to the Word of God on a daily basis. We ought to be very wary of using language like “God spoke to me” or “the Spirit told me” to do something. God has spoken, yes, but he has spoken through his Word, and through his Christ, Jesus.
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the deceptive power of false religion (16:11-15).
We are not prophets in the true biblical sense of the term, receiving a “word from the Lord” and messages and burdens from the Lord to communicate to others. No, rather he guides believers as we “walk in the spirit” (), are “led by the Spirit” (), and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). We don’t need any more communication from God to know his will. We obey his revealed will, and God will lead by means of His Spirit, with no verbal communication or visions necessary.
Back to Paul and Silas and Timothy, and we see that these men are flawed, mission-focused, and Spirit-led. God has finally opened a door, and they are walking through it.
If we were to take a poll of believers here, I would guess that a very high percentage of us would acknowledge that we are flawed, that we want to be mission-focused, and that we truly desire to be Spirit-led. But so often, there is still a disconnect in our lives between these good desires, and our actual gospel witness, isn’t there? This morning, I would like us to ask and answer a question in order to motivate us towards Gospel Proclamation. It is a question focused on possibilities, a question focused on the future, a question focused on what God might choose to do through flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers:
The power of God through the proclaimed gospel disturbs the deceptive power of false religion (16:11-15).
Question:
Question:
What happens when flawed (15:36-41), mission-focused (16:6-10), Spirit-led (16:6-10) believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus?
What happens when flawed (15:36-41), mission-focused (16:6-10), Spirit-led (16:6-10) believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus?
Let’s follow these men into the city of Philippi, and see what happens:
Enter the city (v. 12)
Stay several days
On Sabbath: head to the riverside, probably the Gangites. They had undoubtedly discovered there was no synagogue in Philippi — 10 Jewish men were needed to establish a synagogue. It was customary for there to be a place of prayer or worship near rivers and streams outside of the city limits.
Group of women gathered; they “spoke to the women who had come together” (v. 13) One is a wealthy woman, named Lydia. Her business was the production of purple material, made from a certain kind of shell. Purple was the color of royalty. But more importantly, Lydia was a God-follower. This means that she was Gentile who had converted as much as possible to Judaism. She worshipped Yahweh, the one true God. But she did so in a system of religion that had long since failed. Filled with dead works and lifeless law-keeping, Lydia’s religion was deceptive. It didn’t work. But here she is, with other women, perhaps from her seashore-to-clothing-rack business, being spoken to. Flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers are proclaiming the gospel message, and what happens?
14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 16:
1. As flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the grace-less power of false religion (16:11-15).
1. As flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the grace-less power of false religion (16:11-15).
This woman Lydia, is the very first convert to Christianity in Europe. Christ is building his church in Europe, beginning with Lydia, and he does so by disturbing and destroying the deceptive power that false religion holds on her soul. And notice this is entirely a work of God, using the means of a human proclaimer: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” When believers proclaim the gospel fo the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the deceptive power of false religion. And Lydia’s entirely household comes to faith in the risen Lord Jesus, and they are publically baptized. And notice what happens when Lydia receives the grace of God through Jesus Christ; she herself reflects that graciousness towards others in hospitality, compelling the traveling missionaries to use her home as their home-base (v. 15). God has powerfully worked to disturb the grace-less power of false religion through the proclamation of flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers.
But that isn’t all God does when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ:
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
What a stunning occurrence: while the actual event is spread out over many days, Luke restricts it to a short paragraph. The word translated “divination” tells us that this slave girl is possessed by either a pythian demonic spirit, named after the demonic spirits that would speak through the Oracle at Delphi giving prophecies about the future, or it is the name of the demonic spirit, Python. Either way, the situation can be summed up in this way: This young girl is under the possessive power of the enemy of God, Satan. The god of this world not only has her blinded to any internalization of truth, the god of this world also has her entirely in his possession, with one of his evil minions controlling her. This young lady is in a hopeless position. She is crying out truth day after day, hour after hour: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”
We aren’t sure how Paul was able to put up with this for “many days”. But we do know he was becoming increasingly annoyed. And why not? The phrase “the Most High God” could refer to any number of gods in the Ancient Near East, and he and his message were getting the dubious endorsement of a demon. Confusing the gospel message, and discrediting it by associating with it, Satan is using this slave girl for his own ends, and it becomes too much for Paul.
He commands it to “come out” in the name of Jesus Christ”. And what happens? Immediately, it comes out.
2. You see, when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disrupt the possessive power of the god of this World (16:16-18).
2. You see, when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disrupt the possessive power of the god of this World (16:16-18).
We don’t actually know what happens to this little slave girl. She disappears from the narrative. I am hopeful we will get to meet her in heaven. I am hopeful that after experiencing such a radical disruption of the possessive power of Satan, her master, that she turns with joy towards the life-giving, grace-filled, freedom-producing power of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
But there is another power at work… not in her, but in her owners. It is the power of idolatry. Her owners had gotten quite wealthy on their little slave girl’s prophecies and fortune-telling; Luke describes it in verse 16 as “much gain”. Their hope was in a golden calf of sorts, an idol that could line their pockets and provide for their needs without end, or so they thought. But just like every idol, their idol could not provide for them indefinitely. They find “their hope of gain”, their assurance of continued wealth and security, was now gone. And they are not very happy about it.
3. Here we see that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disrupt the unfulfilling power of idolatry (16:19-21).
3. Here we see that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disrupt the unfulfilling power of idolatry (16:19-21).
Paul and Silas are dragged by them to the marketplace [slide], the hub of city life, and they bring them before the rulers of the city, the magistrates. They trump up charges against them, seeking revenge for the death of their idol. The charges are based on anti-semitism “they are Jews”, on disturbance of the peace - “they are disturbing our city”, and on ethnic traditionalism “they advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.”
The situation seems to be spiraling out of control at this point. The crowd that has gathered from every corner of the marketplace begins to attack Paul and Silas as well. Apparently Timothy and Luke have avoided the wrath of these slave owners, but Paul and Silas are feeling the brunt of it. All because they faithfully proclaimed the gospel of the risen Christ.
But it gets worse, because the civil authorities feel threatened. The populace they are to govern is out of hand. A mob is forming, and law and order is at stake. And for an empire dedicated to keeping the peace, a mob is a recipe for disapproval from Rome. So the magistrates, deceived by the charges and eager to maintain their control, refuse to investigate the charges, and have Paul and Silas strapped and beaten. We don’t know if they were stripped naked for maximum humiliation or simply stripped to the waste, But we know that with a bundle of bound rods each, two men would have pummeled Paul and Silas over, and over, and over again. There was no restraint to the violence. It was cruel and it was painful. After that, they are handed over to the jailer, put into the innermost part of the prison, and put in stocks.
4. And we must pause to note that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God may powerfully work to disturb the unstable power of civil authorities (16:22-24).
4. And we must pause to note that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God may powerfully work to disturb the unstable power of civil authorities (16:22-24).
Any message of a higher power will be perceived in the lost world as a threat to civil authority. Religious liberty is so unpopular in some quarters these days because, in part, it requires the acknowledgement of everyone that there may be a higher power that has a say in issues civil authorities want full control over.
So now, look to verse 25. Paul is licking his wounds in prison, planning his revenge on these civil authorities, while Silas is bewildered and embittered against the sovereign God that wouldn’t deliver his faithful witnesses out of the hands of their enemies, right?
NO! They are “Praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners are listening”… This, brothers and sisters, is a beautiful example of the radical witness of congregational worship. Beaten, bruised, battered, and broken, Paul and Silas lift their voices not in rage, but in prayer; they lift their hands not with clenched fists, but with words of praise and worship to their powerful God. The power of self-pity is broken, and in its place burns a sacrifice of praise to God.
I love verse 26. “And suddenly there was a great earthquake.” You have to love Luke’s writing style here. There can be no doubt that this earthquake was under the sovereign control of God. But from the perspective of those in Philippi, there was yet another earthquake. These were not uncommon in this area of the world. But this one was a “great earthquake.” And it happened precisely the moment two of God’s gospel-proclaimers were in prison. The power of God began to shift tectonic plates as if they were dishes on a dinner table, and the earth ROCKS in response. And God’s power is so controlled and so focused, the prison remains standing, but the prison doors burst open, and the chains and stocks holding the prisoners are “unfastened.”
Complete freedom! God has vindicated the gospel proclaimers! Quick, Paul and Silas, Make a run for it! Dash out the door, head on up the road; there is more territory to cover, and more people need to hear your message! Paul, Silas, what are you doing? Why aren’t you leaving? Because they have a higher calling then self-preservation. They are engaged in the mission of the Great Commission, and in this particular instance, the power of self-preservation has been disrupted by the power of God.
5. You see, when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the powers of self-pity and self-preservation (16:25-29).
5. You see, when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the powers of self-pity and self-preservation (16:25-29).
Notice Paul and Silas, standing in awe of the power of God, and looking into the jailer’s chambers. They see him silhouetted in the upraised dust, and he has drawn his dagger sword, has it held high to plunge into his neck or his heart. He mistakingly thinks the prisoners has escaped, the most disgraceful event for any Roman jailer. To reclaim his honor, he must commit suicide. The earthquake has brought him to the end of himself, and the only remedy for the hopeless situation is death.
But before he can plunge the sword through his flesh, listen to Paul cry out with a loud voice in verse 29: “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!” The jailer is stunned; he calls for lights, runs in, fearful and trembling, and falls down before Paul and Silas. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
What a glorious question, and Paul and Silas has a ready answer. Perhaps in unison they respond, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” A message of repentant faith in the risen Lord Jesus is the answer for a searching question from a hopeless heart. They continue to preach the gospel to the jailer and to his entire house (v. 32). He and his entire house respond to the gospel message! The destructive power of a hopeless heart has been crushed by the power of God. The jailer washes their wounds, and the jailer and his family declare through the picture of baptism that they have been washed from their sins by the risen Lord Jesus.
6. It is no secret, that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the destructive power of a hopeless heart (16:25-29).
6. It is no secret, that when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the destructive power of a hopeless heart (16:25-29).
Once again, we are confronted with the fact that a person visited by the grace of God in salvation then seeks to embody that grace; he sets food before his honoured guests and rejoices with them in his new found faith in Christ. From the text it would seem that they celebrated into the early hours of the morning. After all, it was midnight when the earthquake struck.
Verse 35 draws our attention to the fact that it is now day. The magistrates send the police to the jailer’s residence, which was probably on top of the jail itself, and command that Paul and Silas be released. The jailer returns with the good news:
And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.”
Acts 16:
The magistrates give no reason to the jailer, so the jailer has no reason to give for this turn of events. Perhaps the beating and the alleviation of the mob plus the earthquake put the magistrates in a generous mood. Regardless, it would seem that the story of God’s Work in Philippi is just about over. But not quite.
Paul speaks up:
But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”
Acts 16:
To understand what is going one, we need to understand that citizenship was very highly valued in the Roman empire, and archaeology tells us that in no city was it more important and valued more highly than in Philippi. This may be why only in the epistle to the Philippians does Paul mention citizenship.
If you were a Roman citizen, no matter where you were found in the Roman empire, you benefited from a Roman form of local government and law in local and external matters. You benefited by being free from tribute and taxes (except land taxes). You also benefited by having the whole legal system found on Italian soil
There were three different law codes that “shielded Roman citizens from humiliating punishments in public, such as beating with rods” (Lex Veleria, Lex Porcia, Lex Julia, Larkin, 243). Additionally, a Roman citizen was always “entitled to a trial before a punishment was administered.”
The rights that were Paul and Silas’ as Roman citizens had been violated. So Why is Paul Just Now Bringing this up? Why didn’t he bring it up when they were dragged before the magistrates in the marketplace (v. 19)? Or when the slave owners called them “Jews”? That would have been the perfect time to clarify, “Jews, yes, but Roman Citizens as well.” Some commentators gloss over this by saying there was no time or opportunity in the chaos, but I think this interpretation misses the bigger point. The bigger point, I think, is this:
7. When flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the cultural power of status rights (16:1-5, 20-24, 35-40).
7. When flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the cultural power of status rights (16:1-5, 20-24, 35-40).
Let me explain:
I don’t think it is a coincidence that at the beginning, middle, and end of the account of the Gospel’s spread into Macedonia via Philippi, we have believers making choices regarding the use or non-use of their rights. They are deciding whether or not they will leverage their rights. But rather than making these choices in a self-focused vacuum, they submit these choices to their overarching mission of gospel proclamation.
Summary
Summary
Timothy strategically gave up the self-centered use of his right of status for the greater spread of the gospel (16:1-5).
Paul and Silas strategically gave up the self-centered use of their right of citizen status for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25).
Paul and Silas strategically exercised the others-focused use of this right of status for the spread of the gospel (16:35-40), and God vindicated them.
Paul and Silas strategically gave up the self-centered use of their right of citizen status for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25).
Body
Body
Notice with me back in verses 1-5, Luke introduces us to Timothy. Timothy had the right to not be circumcised as a believing Jew of mixed parentage, but he refused to exploit this right, this status for personal comfort. Timothy strategically gave up the self-centered use of his right of status for the greater spread of the gospel (16:1-5).
Then, in the middle of the account of the Gospel’s spread in Philippi, Paul & Silas had cultural rights to better treatment as Roman citizens, but it would seem that for the sake of the gospel, they refused to exercise this right to avoid suffering . Rather than avoid suffering by exercising their rights, it would seem that they chose to endure suffering in order to strengthen the fledgling believers (Lydia’s household and perhaps the formerly-demon possessed slave girl) for the suffering they would later experience, and that Paul would encourage them about in a later epistle. Paul and Silas strategically gave up the self-centered use of their rights for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25).
, , ,
However, at the end of this narrative, after enduring suffering, Paul & Silas chose to leverage their status as citizens and “employed [their] rights for the good of others” (Unger, 159) (16:35-40). When it promoted the mission and the people to whom he ministered, Paul leveraged his status for the sake fo the gospel. The public vindication of these men as Roman citizens would have helped to legitimize the work they had started, the church at Philippi. Any earlier leveraging of this right, and it would have undermined their gospel witness to the fledgling church. They strategically employed the others-focused use of this right for the spread of the gospel (16:20-25), and God vindicated them.
Consider the platform that this strategic choosing of when to leverage rights gave Paul. Listen to what he says to the Philippian believers later:
, , ,
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Ultimately, Paul himself could call the believers to an action he himself had modeled for them:
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
So then we must ask the question: Where did Timothy, Paul, and Silas learn this choice of leveraging rights based on what would further the spread of the gospel and thus, the glory of God God? Where did they receive this model? The answer is to be found in Paul’s later epistle to these dear Philippian believers:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
So then we must ask the question: Where did Timothy, Paul, and Silas learn this method of leveraging status for the sake of the gospel and for the mission of God? The answer is to be found in Paul’s later epistle to these dear Philippian believers:
So then we must ask the question: Where did Timothy, Paul, and Silas learn this method of leveraging status based on what would further the spread of the gospel and thus, the glory of God God? Where did they receive this model? The answer is to be found in Paul’s later epistle to these dear Philippian believers:
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
PHil 2:5-
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil 2:
Jesus Christ himself refused to leverage his status as the Son of God to his own advantage, but took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, for our sakes. Jesus Christ himself is the ultimate example of others-focused use or disuse of rights for the sake of the glory of God (), and God vindicated him.
And when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus, God powerfully works to disrupt and subvert the cultural power of rights.
Here we come to what I believe is the big idea of the account of God’s work in philippi through Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke:
We began with this question:
Question: What happens when flawed (15:36-41), mission-focused (16:1-5), Spirit-led believers (16:6-10) prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ?
Answer: God powerfully works to disturb the powers that be for his own glory.
Application: So What?
Application: So What?
What are the takeaways for us as believers in the 21st century? Application begins at a very basic level:
Acknowledging that you are flawed...
The secret’s out. Every single person in this room is flawed. Go ahead, look around, and then look at me, preaching this message. Each of us, preacher included is flawed. We are hesitant when we should be bold, weak when we should be strong, fearful when we should be full of faith. Let’s be willing to admit to one another what is so obvious: we are flawed human beings. And we are flawed believers. And then, just as quickly, let’s lift each other’s arms and support one another in the work God has called us to do. Let’s rejoice that God uses broken, flawed vessels in his work so that he might be glorified! Be willing to admit that you are flawed, and then refuse to allow that to keep you from proclaiming the message of the grace of God found in the person of Christ.
...Proclaim the gospel, which is the power of God unto Salvation...
This shouldn’t be a surprise. At a very basic level some of us after a message like this need to own up to our failure to proclaim the gospel as we know we ought to, repent of our silence, and seek the grace of God to obey him this week.
The gospel is the same gospel; it’s the same message that the Holy Creator God who demands and deserves our obedience, meets us in our rebellion and sinfulness ain Jesus, the Son of God, takes upon himself flesh so that he might become the wrath-absorbing sacrifice for our sins, dying on a cross so that we might have life. God stamped his approval upon the finished work of Christ by raising him from the dead, vindicating him before all of his enemies, and exalting him at his right hand. He know invites anyone to come to him in repentant faith, turning from their sin and their idolatry to him and to him alone. What must one do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you WILL be saved! No amount of working and earning can secure the favor and grace and mercy and forgiveness of God; it must come through Jesus Christ alone.
So proclaim the gospel this week: to your husband, to your children, to your unsaved family, to your co-workers, to the lady that compliments your outfit in the store, to the man talking politics with you in line at the grocery store, to the Jehovah’s witness that comes knocking at your door. Proclaim the gospel!
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
May we have such an eagerness this week. It is the only hope for mankind.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
What a glorious message! What a gracious gospel!
…led by the Spirit...
…led by the Spirit...
Whether it’s in our battle with sin or in the communication of the gospel, we must be Spirit-led. And we cannot be Spirit-led if we are not Scripture-immersed. In Paul tells the Ephesians to be controlled by the Spirit in a similar way that alcohol controls and affects every facet of a human being; in a parallel passage to this, , he swaps out this idea of being controlled by the Spirit for the phrase, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” If you want to be controlled by the Spirit, lead by the Spirit, if you want to keep in step with the Spirit, then you must allow the Word of Christ to dwell in you richly.
So read the Word this week. Memorize the Word this week. Meditate on the Word this week. August would be a great month to join Lakewood’s Bible reading program. We will spend 31 days reading 50% of the books of the Bible, 33 books in 31 days. In less than 30 minutes a day for 31 days we as a church family can be filled with the Word of God and allow it to dwell in us richly through Scripture memory and meditation.
Then, allow the Word of God to lead you this week as you walk in the Spirit, obeying his every prompting. When you feel lead to pray for someone, don’t hesitate, pray! When you feel led to say something encouraging to a brother or sister in Christ, say it! And when you feel led of the Spirit to open your mouth and proclaim the gospel, open it and proclaim! Spirit-led and Spirit-dependent.
…leveraging your rights for the sake of the mission...
…leveraging your rights for the sake of the mission...
Here is where application may begin to get uncomfortable. We live in a society that prizes rights. Within our founding documents as a nation is the statement that God has given inalienable rights to every human, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While this is understandable from a political perspective in laying out the workings of a government, we as gospel proclaimers must follow the example of Jesus in humility, making difficult choices about when to leverage our rights and when not to. And the overarching consideration ought to be, I think from this passage, not self-preservation, but gospel-proclamation.
Will exercising this right, in this instance, allow for a greater gospel platform?
Will exercising this right, in this instance, contradict the message that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone?
Will exercising this right, in this instance, give the right opinion about who Jesus Christ is, and what he can accomplish?
Will exercising this right, in this instance, demonstrate that Christ is more precious and more valuable than anything else?
…expecting opposition...
…expecting opposition...
When you humbly proclaim the gospel, led by the Spirit of God, expect opposition.
Expect the forces of Satan to oppose the spread of the gospel, looking to confuse the gospel message, turning it ever so slightly so that it is no longer good news, but condemning news.
Expect idolaters to howl in rage when their idols are dismantled and turn against you, the gospel proclaimer, because you are the visible representation of the idol-destroying gospel message.
Expect civil authorities to act in their own self-interest, angered by your submission to a higher power than their own, threatened by your proclamation that the once-dead now risen Jesus Christ is Lord.
Expect it.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
…refusing to cave to the powers of self-pity and self-preservation...
…refusing to cave to the powers of self-pity and self-preservation...
The power of self-pity and self-preservation have been broken in the believer. We have been freed by the grace of God in the person of Jesus Christ to live a life of self-forgetfulness, recklessly loving God and others, and proclaiming the gospel of grace to all.
Your gospel witness may cost you a promotion; but your life isn’t about your advancement, but Christ’s preeminence.
Your gospel witness may cost you friendships; but your life isn’t about your glory, but God’s.
Your gospel witness may cost you a relationship — a spouse or a close relative — but your life has been radically changed because you have been adopted into the family of God and are a co-heir with Christ.
Your gospel witness may cost you your freedom, but your life isn’t about your life, your liberty, and your pursuit of happiness; it is about Christ’s life in you, your freedom in Christ, and the pursuit of God’s glory and your eternal joy.
…praying for God to open the heart of the religiously deceived and the hopelessly burdened...
Do you believe that there are men and women like Lydia all along the waterways of Wisconsin? She may not be down at the river to pray; they she be walking the streets of your neighborhood, deceived by the lies of Roman Catholicism that good works earns God’s grace. She may be walking her kids along the Fox River, or the Bark River, or the Pewaukee River, deceived by the lies of Mormonism or Islam. He may be having a business meeting at a cafe along the Milwaukee River or headed with you to a meeting along Lake Michigan. Men and Women like Lydia are all around us, religiously deceived; and it may be that God has placed you where he has placed you so that through your gospel proclamation, he will open the heart of him or her to receive the truth of the gospel.
Do you believe there are men and women like the jailer, facing the destruction of a hopeless heart? Some are actually guarding inmates at our prisons, angry and frustrated at the evil in the world and the lack of justice in society. Some are addicted to the power of pornography because of an empty, broken life. Some are addicted to the destructive power of opioids because of their own destructive hopelessness due to the circumstances of life. Some are addicted to work, because just a little more money is what they need to fill that empty, broken heart. They may be waiting to hear you publically praise God for his work in your life, longing for someone who has an answer to the destructive power of their hopeless heart. Do you hear them crying all over Lake Country? Their lips may be closed but their actions are screaming for salvation—What must I do to be saved? What will remove my hopelessness, restore my honor, remove my guilt, change my life? You have the answer, and it isn’t porn, it isn’t work, it isn’t money, it isn’t suicide, it isn’t opioids. The answer is so much better. The answer is Jesus!
So pray for opportunities. Ask that God would lead you to a Lydia or a jailer
…waiting for God’s vindication of your gospel proclaimers.
Brothers and sisters, I must warn you. If you open your mouth to speak for your Savior this week, there is a slight chance you will be beaten. There is a greater chance you will be bullied. There is an even greater chance you will be berated. But you cannot, you will not be eternally shamed. God will vindicate your gospel proclamation. It may not be right away; it may not be seen in this life. But one day, the message you proclaim will be visibly acknowledged by all as the truth, worthy of obedience. One day, the risen Lord Jesus will be seen as Lord, the truth of will be a reality:
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And brothers and sisters, our gospel proclamation will be vindicated!
So, dear ones, acknowledging that you are flawed, proclaim the gospel message, which is the power of God unto salvation. Do so led by the Spirit of God, leveraging your rights for the sake of your gospel proclamation, expecting opposition, refusing to cave to the powers of self-pity and self-preservation, praying for God to open the heart of the religiously deceived and the hopelessly burdened, and waiting for God’s vindication of his Christ, and those who proclaim him as Lord.
Because when flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers prioritize the mission and proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord Jesus, God powerfully works to disturb the powers that be.
Alternative Endings:
Alternative Endings:
7. When flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the cultural power opinion (16:35-40).
7. When flawed, mission-focused, Spirit-led believers proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ, God powerfully works to disturb the cultural power opinion (16:35-40).