Opportunities to Witness

That ties in with what we're doing here at the end of Acts it ties in it reminds us that symbolic meal points this to this fact. Not just the first Sunday of the month not just the first of the year. But every day of the year has christ-followers our task is to point people to Jesus last week as we looked at 23 to 26 of Acts. We saw what is it that we ought to do we got to witness. We talked about what's the content of that witness? We talked about the life the death in the resurrection of Jesus. We talked about what that declaration means for us how we ought to live in response to the life the death in the resurrection of Christ and the book of Acts here closes with Paul who we saw on trial last week right standing before King standing before Governors and declaring the truth of the Gospel declaring his own identity with Christ. We saw him doing that then acts 27 to 28. Remember he appealed to Caesar and so they have to send him from where he's at in Judea all the way across the Mediterranean to the city of Rome because he appealed to Caesar. What is the story of Paul's Journey there to Rome and it was about as an exciting of a journey as you could get because along the way they put out at an inopportune time. They set out these soldiers and their prisoners who they're guarding Paul. Among them and they set out and there be set almost immediately with a storm in the storm is not good and it's coming at a very bad time because the weather is getting more unpredictable and more unpredictable. And so you have this discussion amongst the people on the boat, like should we just stopped here? Or should we keep going? They eventually decide though. When's a favorable wind comes up to they're going to keep going they're going to set out to sea. Well, the favorable wind doesn't stay long and they end up in the middle of a storm and I want to pick up in that storm in verse 13 of chapter 27. Now when the south wind blew gently supposing that they had obtained their purpose they weighed anchor and sail Delong Street close to the shore. But soon a tempestuous wind called the northeaster struck down from the land and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind we gave way to it and we're driven along running under the Lee of a small island called cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat after hoist it up. They used to Ports to undergrad the ship then fearing that they would run aground on the seriousness. They lowered the gear and dust they were driven along since we were violently storm-tossed. They began the next day to jettison the cargo and on the third day. They threw the ship's tackle overboard with her own hands when neither Sun nor Stars appeared for many days and no small Tempest lay on us all hope of our beer being saved was at last abandoned. Now who's riding this? This is Luke. Luke is traveling with Paul and Lucas is riding this down and he faithful physician faithful Christ follower at this point of saying yeah, I don't even think that we can get out of this all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. That's a storm Oaks.

You made it through 2020. Right you guys you guys made it through that hard year. I don't think that we faced anything like this storm. But even if everybody abandon, hope of being saved there was somebody who did not abandoned hope right Paul stands up and he begins to talk to the people on the boat and he says look, this is bad. This isn't good. You you should have listened to me when I told you not to put out to sea in the middle of the winter, but but I want you to take hope because the guy had my worship sent somebody to me and he said, He said that no one. Will lose their life in the storm stands up after everybody else has given up. Hope he stands up and says why have you given up? Hope God is still on his throne? It would be very possible church will be very possible for you to be losing. Hope I don't know if you've had joblessness. I don't know if this covid-19 fact that people that you love close to you. I don't know what circumstances 20/20 brought into your life. But what the world does not need is one more person who says Well, it can't get any worse than this. This is the worst thing ever. I can't believe this year blah blah blah and joining in the Saab Fest. There is social media and our workplace conversations right now. What the world needs is somebody who will stand up. And say, yep, pretty bleak. But as long as God on his throne, we've got hope As long as Jesus is King we don't need to fear and this is what Paul does he actually tells them look here's how it convinced. I am that we don't need to fear. Just sit down and let's eat. All right, this is where I'm going to challenge your diet plan. Maybe what 2021 needs is just some people who say you know what let's just sit down and eat a meal together. Let's not worry about politics. Let's not worry about a pandemic. Let's not worry about the world. Let's just sit down and take some food together and be reminded of how God has blessed us. Even in the midst of difficult times right verse 36. It's not on the screen. So I hope you got your Bible open then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. Everyone who saw Paul's example of Faith Paul's willingness to say God is on his throne. It's okay was themselves encouraged.

Everyone was encouraged and took some food. for themselves Church Do you want to be one more negative voice in the ear of your neighbor in the ear of your co-worker kids in the ear of your classmates? Or do you want to be one who everyone is encouraged by when they see your faith? Right? So there's the storm next we have the ship wreck right for all of Paul's trust in God that doesn't preserve the ship. For all of Paul's encouragement. It doesn't mean that they don't end up on the rocks. Look at verse 39 now when it was day, they did not recognize the land but they noticed a bay with a beach on which they planned it possible to run the ship has a short so they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the Rudders then hoisting the four sails to the wind they made for the beach but striking a wreath. They ran the vessel aground the bow stuck and remained in movable and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners lest any of them should swim away and escaped but the century in wishing to save Paul kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard board first and make the land and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land that we didn't read it but there's 276 people on this boat 276 people and every single one of them makes it to shore. Paul's encouragement to them didn't keep them from the Shipwreck, but God word still prove true when he said not one will be lost. God is faithful. Even when the ship runs aground God is faithful even when the disaster that you feared most happens. So many people because they interpret life not through a Christ oriented Lanza through a self oriented lens when disaster strikes their faith is struck down.

Has faith is not damaged by this. Paul has not lost. Hope he just saw the word of God fulfilled. Not one was Lie. Yeah, so the ship's gone. But the people the things that matter still remain in 2021 Church. Let me challenge you you may face loss. you may Have a car wreck. Your house may burn down got a funny story about that lettuce. Never funny when the house burns down. I got a story. I love from church history on that. I'll tell you in just a second. We don't know what's coming in this year. But what I would challenge you to do keep your eyes on Christ. And prioritize your relationship with others over your relationship with your stuff. The loss of a ship is nothing compared to 276 people making it to the shore alive the loss of any possession you own no matter how precious. Pales in comparison with your relationships with others we talked about this in our family a lot. What's more important people or things? Right? What's more important things that I was going to tell a story about my kids, but they're sitting here listening to me and there glaring at me. I'm glad you can't see these Expressions on their face. Right when I encouraged them right with there's one toy that to want to say what's more important people or things figure out a way to prioritize relationship and to enjoy this together. But here's what I found. I'm as guilty of it as they are walk out in the backyard. Why is my hammer laying in this melting pile of snow? Oh, yeah, I forgot it. I need my wife or any of my kids look at me if they know Dad people are more important than things. 2021 Church hear me. Jesus is King when everybody to him people are more important than your stuff. People are more important than stuff right next what we get in chapter 28, right? So storm shipwreck they make it to the shore.

Pick up in verse 1 and 28 after we were all brought safely through we've been learned that the island was called Malta the native people showed us unusual kindness for the Kindle the fire and welcomed us all because it had begun to rain and was cold when Paul was gathering a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire a Viper came out because of the Heat and fastened on his hands. See kids. I told you they were going to be snakes in here, right the snake comes out fast and understand when the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand. They said to one another no doubt. This man is a murderer though. He escaped from the sea justice has not allowed him to live. He however shook off the creature Into the Fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and sode no Misfortune come to him. They change their minds and said that he was a God now, we know from elsewhere in Scripture that the moment that was the Assumption fall would have quickly corrected them, right? It's not recorded here, but we know that he corrected them on that and we know that this is something the natives know the snakes in their area. They know this is a poisonous snake hear this guy just escaped from the sea Justice won't let him escape the snake comes out and buy some Paul just kind of shakes it off. That's a man's man right there. Tell you what kind of shakes off this poisonous snake Into the Fire and I love I love how Luke record this right they were waiting for them to swell up or else fall down dead. Right and you can kind of picture the people just kind of standing there waiting. Until it finally drops. Hold on. This guy's not affected. This this hasn't ended his life. Let alone ruin his day. Church, is that what we're portraying two people? Is that what we're for trying to people?

life-threatening disease terrible tragedy loss of a loved one Does the world see in US? I giving up and it being done or does the world CNS a faith to carry on until Christ calls us home now. I am not advocating. Snake-handling. I'm not advocating for us to go, you know Trump out through the desert stick our hands in every snake-hole. We find just to prove our faith. But I am saying that when disaster strikes when the deadly circumstances are brought into us may we be the kind of people who just shake it off and trust God with what comes next may we be the kind of people who others see and are amazed by our faith. well all of these Misadventures Fall upon Paul and his traveling companion the storm the Shipwreck the snake. They finally get things together and they finally make it to Rome and they get to Rome and what do you think Paul does? What do you think Paul does once he gets to Rome? He doesn't just kind of kick back and relax and say well, I guess I'll just wait for my trial with Caesar no heat immediately begins doing what he done in every other city that he'd been in in the book of Acts, which was go to the Jews tell him the good news of Jesus and then invite me here and he would tell them about Jesus and chapter 28 verse 17 after 3 days of being in Rome. He called together the local leaders of the Jews and when they had gathered he said to them brothers do I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers yet? I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans when they had examined me they wish to set me at Liberty because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case, but because the Jews objected I was compelled to appeal to Caesar though. I had no charge to bring again. My nation for this reason therefore I've asked to see you and speak with you since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain, right? So he calls them together and he says alright, I want you to understand why I've all educated under Gamaliel a Pharisee of Pharisees why Paul appealed to Caesar? I didn't want to spread bad rumors about my countrymen. I didn't I didn't want to bring a charge against them. but I now have an opportunity to share with you look at the response of the people and they said you and we received no letters from Judy about you and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you. What's your views are for with regard to the sex? We know that everywhere it is spoken against when the sect that they're talking about is what Christianity is the face that you and I profess their saying everybody's talking against it, but we'll hear your views out on it when they had appointed a day for him. They came to his lodging in greater numbers from morning till evening. He expounded to them testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and the prophets and some were convinced by what he said, but others just believed and disagreement among themselves. They departed after Paul had made one statement. The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your father's through Isaiah the prophet go to this people and say you will indeed here but never under And you will indeed see but never perceive for this people's heart has grown duel with their eyes. They can barely hear and with their eyes, they have closed less. They should see with their eyes and hear with your ears and understand with her heart and turn and I would heal them there for let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. They will listen Paul gathers this Jewish synagogue into his house and he for claims to them the truth about Christ look at us from morning to evening. He reasons with them from the scriptures from morning to evening is going through all the things in the law all of the things in the prophet that declare that Jesus is the Messiah that Israel has been waiting for When somebody gives Paul an open door, you know, we'd love to hear your views on this spiritual subject. All don't hesitate to rush in Paul doesn't hesitate to speak the truth and some believe and something but Paul did what he was called to do church. This is our task. This is our task to look for those open-door moments and 2 walkthrough to share the gospel as we have opportunity. One of the things that will make 20/20 this year where Jesus is lifted up and where you demonstrate that people are more important than things where you kind of shake off the stuff that happens one of the ways that people see that is you're willing to have conversations with people in our day and age it is increasingly difficult to talk to people. It is increasingly difficult to have a conversation with somebody. Normally I leave this down, but I brought it up today for just this purpose without one of these things. popping up Right, one of my one of my favorite cartoonist and I can't remember the cartoonist named but the cartoon is Bizarro if you guys if you guys seemed azzaro. All right, I love it. He's got one and it's supposedly set in heaven. And a bunch of people standing around like this.

And one Angel saying to another Angel he's like, I don't know what it is with these latest ones coming up. They just stand around and stare at their hands all day. Right. It's hard to have a conversation with people and it will be frustrating to you as you go out in the world and you want to engage you want to Bear witness to Christ and lift him up. You'll be times where people just aren't interested. But when they are when they are willing have that conversation I didn't plan this. But yesterday we had somebody who is coming to pick up some of our animals and and re-home them and we just started talking. And wicked one thing led to another and next thing, you know, we're talking about faith backgrounds were talking about relationship with Christ and with it with God and I had this moment haven't been reading this, you know thing right here. I had this moment sing all of this would be perfect for me to use as an illustration tomorrow.

And then it just that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me. And said this conversation isn't about you having a story to tell. This conversation isn't for the benefit of the people sitting there on Sunday morning this conversations for the benefit of the person standing right in front of you don't get distracted.

Have the conversation take it where it goes and trust me with the results, but don't try to make it something it's not do if if if somebody's not interested in hearing that don't beat him up. You don't don't don't pack your family Bible from the coffee table around with you to witness people and beat him over the head with it. But if people are willing to have conversation to have conversation and focus your attention on them in that moment and ask God God now you do your work. I'm going to Bear witness to the truth of your son. You take care of the rest, but Paul doesn't just limit his explanation of the Gospel to these who are willing to have the spiritual conversation with me doesn't just limit this conversation to those two are you know his countrymen he opens himself up to any opportunity to really particular way and I want to encourage you to pay attention to this in verse 30 does he live there two whole years at his own expense and welcome to all who came to him proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance church if I could encourage you in anything in 2021. This is what I would encourage you in. Lift Jesus up right point point people to Jesus in the midst of difficult times value people over possessions right shake off the difficult circumstances that, trust God with the results be open to the spiritual conversation open your home. Open your home for the sake of the Gospel. Open your home for the sake of the Gospel. Look at what Paul's doing. He live there for two whole years in his own expense and he welcomes all who came to him.

He welcomed all who came to him.

I wonder whether or not you view your home. As a place where you can introduce people to Jesus. I wonder if you view your home as something that's useful for the kingdom or useful to you. Right so often I think we get this perspective like my home is my castle.

No, no, it's not and this is that story. I was going to that referenced earlier John Wesley you guys familiar with John Wesley, you know that name founder of methodism John Wesley and just so you know his his missionary practice was to go out and preach the gospel and he would be out for months at a time before he would come back home and one time John Wesley was out preaching the gospel. And if he's riding back into his hometown, somebody comes running up to him. They say, mr. Wesley. Mr. Wesley terrible news. While you were out your home burned down. And John Wesley's response is so encouraging to me. He said no it hasn't. And no I'm telling you your home burned down and John Wesley says no it hasn't because it's not my house. The one I've been living in here Belongs to the Lord and if it has burned down that is his concern and that's one less thing for me to worry about.

your house is not your sanctuary. Your house is a tool for Ministry. There are people who would never join you on a Sunday morning to come in here. They would never accept an invitation to come and to sit here on a Sunday morning and to listen to Somebody speak from a stage who they don't know. But they would gladly accept an invitation to your house for dinner. They would gladly come over to play some cards or a board game. I am convinced of this everything that I've read everything that I've seen in our culture tells me that the future Evangelistic success of the church. Will not be in this building through an altar call. The future Evangelistic success of the church will be around dinner tables. Sitting in living rooms having a conversation with people in a place that makes them feel loved look some of you say my home is my castle. No, it's not. It's Jesus's and he's entrusted it to you and say that you will you use this for the sake of my kingdom. Will you use this to share the gospel with others like Paul you're paying for it. Right? You're you're expending funds on this don't waste those funds use them for the kingdom. See your mortgage. See your rent as an investment in what Christ is doing in Enoch and Cedar City in New Harmony see that as a tool one of the primary to the God has given you to share the gospel in opportunity to witness. Some of you do you not you the problem is not that your home is your castle some of you are saying we'll look. I'm just not Martha Stewart, okay. Write instead of perfectly placed throw pillows. I've got last leap weeks laundry on the couch. All right. Look people don't need perfectly placed throw pillows. No matter what Martha tried to tell you, right? She went to jail. Do you want really want to listen to her anyways? hear this your neighbor who does not know Christ does not need your house to be Immaculate. He needs to know Jesus. Write your neighbor does not need a perfectly laid out seven course meal. frozen pizza in the Bible will suffice and if you feel like you don't have the gift of house cleaning or of baking or whatever. Guess what there are solutions for that those things in our modern era buy a Roomba and call it good.

order takeout And have a conversation my challenge to you is to see the home that you've been given as the primary place for expanding the kingdom of God is not the only place. But it is I think meant to be the primary Place Paul closes this book of Acts write the story closes the book of Acts. Paul was welcoming than in to his residence. Any who would come proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance? There could very easily come a day. Because it happened elsewhere. Around the globe where the government would say to us to the church. Yeah, you can't meet there anymore. You can't you can't gather on a Sunday morning?

But guess what? You still have your house? You still have those opportunities you'll still have neighbors? the future of the church Is around the dinner table not sitting in rows. I want you guys to hear me 20 21 like 20 20 is going to be full of challenges. It's going to be full of changes. It's going to be full of all sorts of that wood. threatened You threaten your face?

But sit with the word of God and let this guy do not your resolutions. lift Christ High No matter the circumstances. value people over things shake off the difficult things that come and demonstrate faith and trust in God.

Have conversations with those who are open to them and invite people into your home.

Do the power of the Holy Spirit? Guess what would happen if that was your 2021? He may not be the easiest year. You've ever had may not be the best year you've had. But it would certainly be the most Christ glorifying Kingdom building year. You've ever had those simple things. You have a choice we can focus on the difficulties or we can focus on God's provision in the midst of those difficulties. You guys know, I talked about it last week. I'm going to talk about it. Again. This is really like part one and part two, but I knew you guys would let me preach 5 new Chapters at once. Your throwback to last week in The Lord of the Rings. I told you this is one of the best works of fiction in the English language. One of my favorite sections is when Sam gamgee is encouraging Frodo who's carrying the ring of power to well. Anyways, you have to read the story to understand it, but they're in the really dark time. And Sam says this he says it's like in the great stories. Mr. Frodo the ones that really mattered full of darkness and danger they were and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened, but in the end, it's only a passing passing thing this Shadow even Darkness must pass a new day will come and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Even the darkness must pass and search we know from the gospel that are hoping that Darkness passing. If not in getting a pay raise. If not in having an easier 2021 and we did a 2020 our hope that moment when the shadow passes in The Sun Shines out the clearer is when Christ return. When Christ returns all that is broken will be set right when Christ returns.

Everything will be Joy. until then We point others and we remind ourselves to look towards that hope the 2021 whatever it bring. It is an opportunity for you to point yourself in the point others to the hope of Christ. It is an opportunity for you to Bear Witness. To the truth of the Gospel. The only question is will you see it that way? Or will you miss the opportunity slip Ray?