Responses to the Gospel

1 A BEAUTIFUL SWAN LANDED BY THE BANKS OF A RIVER • WHERE A CRANE WAS LOOKING FOR SNAILS. • FOR A FEW MOMENTS THE CRANE VIEWED THE SWAN IN WONDER • AND THEN ASKED: "WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?" • "I COME FROM HEAVEN!" REPLIED THE SWAN. • "AND WHERE IS HEAVEN?" ASKED THE CRANE. • "HEAVEN!" SAID THE SWAN, "HEAVEN! • HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF HEAVEN?" • THE BEAUTIFUL BIRD WENT ON TO DESCRIBE • THE GRANDEUR OF THE ETERNAL CITY. • SHE TOLD OF STREETS OF GOLD, AND THE GATES • AND WALLS MADE OF PRECIOUS STONES; • OF THE RIVER OF LIFE, PURE AS CRYSTAL, • UPON WHOSE BANKS IS THE TREE WHOSE LEAVES • SHALL BE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS. • ALL THIS AROUSING THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE CRANE. • FINALLY THE CRANE ASKED: "ARE THERE ANY SNAILS THERE?" • "SNAILS!" REPEATED THE SWAN; "NO! OF COURSE THERE ARE NOT." • "THEN," SAID THE CRANE, AS HE SNAPPED UP ANOTHER SNAIL. • "YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HEAVEN. I WANT SNAILS!" • HUMAN BEINGS HAVE AN AMAZING TENDENCY • TO WANT WHAT THEY WANT, THE WAY THEY WANT IT • WHEN THEY WANT IT, WHERE THEY WANT IT. • AND TO UTTERLY REJECT • ANYTHING DOES NOT FIT THEIR WANTS • GOD HAS OFFERED US ETERNAL LIFE • THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS…. • AND YET.. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE • WHO HEAR THIS OFFER AND DECIDE • IT IS JUST NOT WHAT THEY WANT • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK • AT THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THOSE WHO TRUST IN CHRIST • AND THOSE WHO REJECT GOD’S OFFER OF SALVATION • AND HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO EACH OF THESE • TURN TO ACTS 13:44 • PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD COME TO PISIDIAN ANTIOCH • PAUL HAD BEEN ASKED TO SAY A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT • AT THE SYNAGOGUE AND HAD PREACHED • AND AMAZING SERMON ABOUT GOD’S GRACE • AND JESUS’ DEATH & RESURRECTION • PAUL HAD TOLD THEM THE OFFER • OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST • AND THE PEOPLE BEGGED THEM TO COME BACK THE NEXT SABBATH ACTS 13:44–45 THE NEXT SABBATH NEARLY THE WHOLE CITY ASSEMBLED TO HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. BUT WHEN THE JEWS SAW THE CROWDS, THEY WERE FILLED WITH JEALOUSY AND BEGAN CONTRADICTING THE THINGS SPOKEN BY PAUL, AND WERE BLASPHEMING. GOD’S WORD BRINGS BIG RESPONSE • SOMETIMES WE GET A BIGGER RESPONSE THAN WE EXPECT • WE TALK ABOUT GOD, FORGIVENESS, SALVATION • AND THE NEXT WEEK THE WHOLE CITY SHOWS UP • NOW THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME • BUT IF WE SPEND VERY MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT GOD • WE MAY GET A BIG RESPONSE • SOME FOLKS SAY WHEN LUKE WRITES • NEARLY THE WHOLE CITY ASSEMBLED TO HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. • HE IS EXAGGERATING…AND IT IS POSSIBLE • BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT LITERALLY MOST OF THE TOWN SHOWED UP • THEY MAY HAVE BEEN STANDING OUTSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE • ITS NOT ABOUT HOW MANY • THE POINT IS THAT IT WAS WAY MORE THAN EXPECTED GOD’S WORD BRINGS NEGATIVE REACTIONS • BIG RESPONSES CAN LEADS TO NEGATIVE REACTIONS… • YOU WOULD THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE EXCITED A LARGE CROWD • BUT, SEE THESE PEOPLE THEY WERE JUST REGULAR FOLKS • LUKE SAYS; WHEN THE JEWS SAW THE CROWDS, THEY WERE FILLED WITH JEALOUSY • IMAGINE WHAT THIS MUST HAVE FELT LIKE • WE HAVE AROUND 50 PEOPLE HERE ON SUNDAY • AND SUPPOSE SOME FELLAS FROM OUTTA TOWN • CAME ALONG AND TALKED ABOUT • SOME NEW WAY TO COME TO GOD • AND THE NEXT SUNDAY WE HAD 1000 PEOPLE • STANDING AROUND OUTSIDE WANTING TO GET IN TO HEAR THESE FELLAS PREACH….. • NOW, I LIKE TO THINK I WOULD BE EXCITED • FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE SHOWING UP TO CHURCH • BUT THE TRUTH I MIGHT GET JEALOUS • THEY ARE NOT JUST JEALOUS OF THE SIZE OF THE CROWD • THEY WERE ALSO JEALOUS OF THE GOSPEL ITSELF • THEY BEGAN CONTRADICTING THE THINGS SPOKEN BY PAUL. • AND THEN IT SAYS THEY ,WERE BLASPHEMING • THE WAY THIS IS WORDED MEANS THAT • WHEN THEY CONTRADICTED PAUL THEY • MADE INSULTING.. FALSE STATEMENTS… AGAINST GOD. • THEY ATTACKED THE GOSPEL MESSAGE…. • IF WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS • IF WE PREACH THE GOSPEL, • AND WE HAPPEN TO GET A BIG RESPONSE… LIKE PAUL GOT • WE MIGHT WANT TO BE READY FOR SOME FOLKS TO GET JEALOUS • THEY MIGHT ATTACK US, THEY MIGHT ATTACK THE GOSPEL • IT JUST NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO GET JEALOUS • AT THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS • JUST HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REACT WHEN THIS HAPPENS? ACTS 13:46–47 PAUL AND BARNABAS SPOKE OUT BOLDLY AND SAID, “IT WAS NECESSARY THAT THE WORD OF GOD BE SPOKEN TO YOU FIRST; SINCE YOU REPUDIATE IT AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, BEHOLD, WE ARE TURNING TO THE GENTILES. “FOR SO THE LORD HAS COMMANDED US, ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’ ” GOD’S WORD CALLS FOR A BOLD RESPONSE • BE STRONG IN HOW YOU RESPOND TO A REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL • WE ARE CALLED TO TAKE THE GOSPEL TO EVERYONE • WHEN WE DO THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE • WHO ARE ABUSIVE IN THEIR REJECTION OF GOD’S OFFER • I HAVE HAD PEOPLE THROW CANS AT ME, CUSS ME, EVEN PUSH ME.. • DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES • SOMETIMES IT IS BEST TO WALK A WAY • OTHER TIMES WE NEED TO RESPOND BOLDLY • IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION • THERE IS A VERY LARGE CROWD PRESENT • A CROWD THAT NEEDS THE GOSPEL • WALKING AWAY IS NOT AN OPTION • SO, PAUL AND BARNABAS SPOKE OUT BOLDLY AND SAID, • AND WHAT THEY SAY IS SO PERFECT • SINCE YOU REPUDIATE IT AND JUDGE YOURSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, • BUT NOTICE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE REJECTION OF THE GOSPEL • THEY HAD REPUDIATED OR REJECT GOD’S OFFER OF SALVATION • AND IN DOING SO THEY HAD JUDGED THEMSELVES • AS NOT WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE…. • LET’S BE HONEST… YOU ARE NOT GONNA • MAKE A LOTTA FRIENDS WHEN YOU TELL THEM SOMETHING LIKE THAT • BUT… SEE… PAUL IS REALLY TALKING TO THE CROWD… • THE GENTILES GATHERED AROUND • EVEN THOUGH HE SAID THIS TO THE JEWS IT IS REALLY FOR THE GENTILES • HE WANTS THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS • WHEN YOU REJECT THE GOSPEL OFFER…. • THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT BY REJECTING • GOD’S OFFER OF SALVATION WE ARE REALLY JUDGING OUR SELVES • MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD SOMEONE SAY • “HOW CAN A LOVING GOD CONDEMN ANYONE TO HELL?” • PAUL ANSWERS THAT QUESTION RIGHT HERE • GOD DOES NOT SEND ANYONE TO HELL • EVERYONE IS ALREADY HEADED TO HELL • GOD OFFERS SALVATION FROM HELL • AND WHEN SOMEONE REJECTS THAT OFFER • THEY CONDEMN THEMSELVES • THEN PAUL AND BARNABAS SAY • BEHOLD, WE ARE TURNING TO THE GENTILES. • AND THEY EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE DOING THIS GOD’S WORD CALLS US TO ACTION • WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO IN HIS WORD • SEE, PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE NOT • TURNING TO THE GENTILES FOR PERSONAL REASONS • IT IS NOT OUT OF SPITE, IT IS NOT CAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE THE JEWS • THEY ARE TURNING TO THE GENTILES • BECAUSE THE LORD HAS COMMANDED US, • AND TO MAKE SURE THESE JEWS GET IT • THEY QUOTE THE PROPHET ISAIAH ISAIAH 49:6 HE SAYS, “IT IS TOO SMALL A THING THAT YOU SHOULD BE MY SERVANT TO RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB AND TO RESTORE THE PRESERVED ONES OF ISRAEL; I WILL ALSO MAKE YOU A LIGHT OF THE NATIONS SO THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH TO THE END OF THE EARTH.” • JUST LIKE GOD CALLED PAUL AND BARNABAS TO BE LIGHTS • HE HAS CALLED ALL OF US TO BE LIGHTS • BEING A LIGHT MEANS TAKING THE LIGHT • THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD • WE SHINE OUR LIGHT BY WHAT WE SAY • BY HOW WE LIVE.. BUT TO SHINE THE LIGHT • YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE LIGHT • AFTER AN ACCIDENT AT A TRAIN AT A CROSSING • AN OLD SIGNAL MAN WHO WORKED THE CROSSING APPEARED IN COURT • AFTER A SEVERE CROSSEXAMINATION, HE WAS STILL UNSHAKEN • HE SAID HE HAD WAVED HIS LANTERN FRANTICALLY, BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL. • THE FOLLOWING DAY HIS BOSS CALLED HIM INTO HIS OFFICE. • "YOU DID WONDERFUL YESTERDAY, • "I WAS AFRAID AT FIRST THAT YOU MIGHT WAVER." • "NO, SIR," REPLIED THE SIGNAL MAN, "BUT I WAS AFRAID THAT SNEAKY OLD LAWYER • WAS GOING TO ASK ME WHETHER OR NOT MY LANTERN WAS LIT!"— • IF YOU ARE GONNA BE A LIGHT IN THE WORLD • YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE YOUR LANTERN IS LIT. • IF YOU ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT GOD • SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IS GONNA REJECT WHAT YOU SAY • SOMETIMES YOU CAN JUST WALK AWAY • BUT IF THERE MIGHT BE JUST ONE PERSON • STANDING AROUND WHO DID NOT REJECT GOD’S WORD • THEN YOU NEED TO STAND UP AND BE BOLD • AND PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL • AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO REJECT GOD’S OFFER • AND SHINE THAT LIGHT THE LIGHT OF GOD • SO THAT THOSE STANDING NEAR CAN HEAR AND SEE IT… • YOU NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THOSE THAT ACCEPT IT…. ACTS 13:48–49 WHEN THE GENTILES HEARD THIS, THEY BEGAN REJOICING AND GLORIFYING THE WORD OF THE LORD; AND AS MANY AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED. AND THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS BEING SPREAD THROUGH THE WHOLE REGION. GOD’S WORD EMBRACED • A KEY THING WE NEED TO NOTICE IN THIS EVENT • IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE JEWS OF THE SYNAGOGUE • AND THE GENTILES IN THE CROWD • THE JEWS NOT ONLY REJECT THE GOSPEL • THEY ARGUE AGAINST IT BLASPHEMED • BUT WHEN THE GENTILES HEARD THIS, THEY BEGAN REJOICING AND GLORIFYING THE WORD OF THE LORD; • TO GLORIFY THE WORD OF THE LORD • IS TO GIVE IT PRAISE AND HONOR • TO DECLARE IT RIGHTEOUS AND WORTHY • THOSE WHO REJECTED IT BLASPHEMED • THOSE WHO ACCEPT IT GIVE GOD GLORY • THIS IS A HUGE CONTRAST • BUT THERE IS ANOTHER CONTRAST HERE • LUKE HAD SAID THE JEWS HAD JUDGED THEMSELVES • UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE • BUT WITH THE GENTILES • AS MANY AS HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED. • THIS IS THE GREATEST CONTRAST POSSIBLE • THOSE THAT REJECT THE GOSPEL • JUDGE THEMSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE….. • OF THOSE WHO REJOICE AND GLORIFY THE WORD • ALL WHO ARE APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE • BELIEVED… TRUSTED… HAD FAITH IN… JESUS CHRIST • LUKE’S POINT…. IS THAT WE SEND OUR SELVES TO HELL • THOSE HEADED TO HEAVEN WERE APPOINTED TO GO THERE… • NOW…. THIS BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING QUESTION • DOES GOD APPOINT… OR DO WE CHOOSE? • AND THE ANSWER IS YES TO BOTH… BOTH ARE TRUE • GOD APPOINTS AND WE MUST CHOOSE, WE MUST BELIEVE • OF COURSE, SOMEBODY IS GONNA SAY • HOW CAN BOTH BE TRUE.. • NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT A SATISFYING ANSWER • BUT THE ANSWER IS.. CAUSE GOD IS GOD. • GOD IS NOT A BIGGER, SMARTER, WISER HUMAN • HE IS GOD AND I.. FOR ONE.. AM VERY GLAD • THAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM • WE DON’T REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN BE • THAT GOD APPOINTS AND WE MUST CHOOSE • WE JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT…. THAT IS HOW IT IS • AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO ACCEPT GOD’S WORD • DON’T WASTE TIME ON THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL • BE SURE TO PUT YOUR TIME AND ENERGY • INTO THOSE WHO TRUST IN CHRIST • WE FOCUS ON THOSE WHO TRUST • BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE • NOTICE THE IMPACT THESE PEOPLE HAVE • THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS BEING SPREAD THROUGH THE WHOLE REGION. • THEY BELIEVED IN THE WORD OF THE LORD • THEY GLORIFIED THE WORD OF THE LORD • THEN THEY SPREAD THE WORD OF THE LORD • MR. KIMBALL, A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, IN 1858 • LED A BOSTON SHOE CLERK TO GIVE HIS LIFE TO CHRIST. • THE CLERK, DWIGHT MOODY, BECAME AN EVANGELIST • AND IN ENGLAND IN 1879 AWAKENED EVANGELISTIC ZEAL • IN THE HEART OF FREDERICK B. MEYER, • PASTOR OF A SMALL CHURCH. • F.B. MEYER PREACHING ON AN AMERICAN COLLEGE CAMPUS, • BROUGHT TO CHRIST A STUDENT NAMED J. WILBUR CHAPMAN. • CHAPMAN, ENGAGED IN YMCA WORK, • EMPLOYED A FORMER BASEBALL PLAYER BILLY SUNDAY, • TO DO EVANGELISTIC WORK. AND THE LIST GOES ON. • WE PUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY INTO THOSE THAT TRUST IN CHRIST • BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT THEY CAN HAVE ON OTHERS • BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT OPENLY REJECT THE GOSPEL ACTS 13:50–52 BUT THE JEWS INCITED THE DEVOUT WOMEN OF PROMINENCE AND THE LEADING MEN OF THE CITY, AND INSTIGATED A PERSECUTION AGAINST PAUL AND BARNABAS, AND DROVE THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRICT. BUT THEY SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET IN PROTEST AGAINST THEM AND WENT TO ICONIUM. AND THE DISCIPLES WERE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH JOY AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. NOTICE THOSE WHO REJECT GOD’S WORD • THIS WHOLE EVENT IS ABOUT CONTRAST • WE SEE ANOTHER CONTRAST HERE • THOSE WHO ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL TOOK IT TO THE WHOLE REGION • BUT THOSE WHO REJECTED IT • CONVINCED THE POWERFUL PEOPLE OF THE TOWN • IN TO RUNNING PAUL AND BARNABAS OUTTA THE AREA • THIS KINDA STUFF IS GONNA HAPPEN • I BEEN RUN OFF FOR TEACHING A BIBLE STUDY AT A SKATEBOARD PARK • I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE APARTMENT PROJECTS • SOMETIMES WE STAND UP BOLDLY • SOMETIMES WE WALK AWAY • AT THE SYNAGOGUE PAUL AND BARNABAS HAD ANSWERED BOLDLY • HERE SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET IN PROTEST AGAINST THEM AND WENT TO ICONIUM • THERE IS A TIME TO BOLDLY RESPOND • AND THERE IS A TIME TO KNOCK OFF THE DUST AND WALK AWAY • IT CAN BE HARD TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE • BUT IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE SOMEONE PRESENT • MIGHT NOT REJECT GOD’S WORD… THEN ERR ON THE SIDE OF BOLD GOD’S WORD ACCEPTED • THERE IS ONE MORE CONTRAST HERE.. • THE JEWS HAD INCITED PERSECUTION • BUT THE DISCIPLES WERE CONTINUALLY FILLED WITH JOY AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. • THOSE WHO REJECTED GOD’S WORD WERE • BITTER, PETTY, AND CAUSED TROUBLE • THOSE WHO TRUSTED IN CHRIST • WERE JOYFUL AND SPIRIT FILLED • REALLY…. THIS IS HOW ALL CHRISTIANS • SHOULD LIVE ALL THE TIME • THIS IS THE GOAL OF COMING TO CHRIST • REJOICE ALWAYS…. YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT • BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT • BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST… FOR THIS TO HAPPEN • SOMEONE HAS TO TALK ABOUT GOD • THE GOSPEL HAS TO BE PRESENTED FOR SOMEONE TO ACCEPT IT • AND WHEN SOMEONE ACCEPTS IT • THEY SHOULD LIVE A LIFE THAT IS DIFFERENT • A LIFE THAT IS IN CONTRAST • TO THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED THE GOSPEL… • THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL HAVE JUDGED THEMSELVES • ALL THOSE WHO ARE APPOINTED WILL TRUST IN CHRIST • WHOEVER CHOOSES TO HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST’S WORK ON THE CROSS • WILL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN WITH GOD • WE ARE ALL CALLED TO TELL PEOPLE THE GOOD NEW, THE GOSPEL • SOMETIMES IT WILL BE ACCEPTED • SOMETIMES IT WILL BE REJECTED • WHEN IT IS REJECTED WE MAY NEED TO WALK AWAY • OR WE MAY NEED TO BOLDLY SPEAK UP • IF THERE IS EVEN A CHANCE SOMEONE MIGHT NEED TO HEAR GOD’S WORD • WE NEED TO STAND STRONG AND BOLDLY PROCLAIM • THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES US AND WANTS…. 83