The Mission: Be Ready (Part 1)
Acts: The Mission of the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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PREP:
PREP:
Communion Cup up front for me.
Have mics in front row for deacons.
Order of service needed for each deacon
prepare my son to dip audio on communion songs that we pray during
INTRO:
Sometimes, in life, we are not adequately prepared for things that we should be ready for. For example,
Sometimes, in life, we are not adequately prepared for things that we should be ready for. For example,
How many of us left the house on time this morning?
How often do we fail to follow our planned schedule?
When deadlines approach, how often do we fail to meet deadlines? Or, if we do meet deadlines, is the quality of work submitted really what it should have been?
When we tough financial times arrive, do we regret that money squandered should have been saved?
When we walk into a meeting or fellowship opportunity, how frequently do we have little or nothing of value to contribute because we were not mentally preparing for those opportunities to lead, persuade, and promote?
Statistics reveal we are not ready!
Two studies agreed that 15-20% of all people are chronically affected by procrastination and at least 25% of adults consider procrastination to be a defining personality trait.
70% of all college student consider themselves procrastinators.
74% of people surveyed went to bed later than planned once a week with no external reason for doing so.
Procrastination can reduce a person’s potential income by as much as $15,000.
Procrastination contributes to 322 days of lost employment and chronic procrastinators comprise as much as 57% of the unemployed population.
Procrastination also impacts our relationships within the church body.
After a conversation, have you ever thought, “I wish I had thought to say this instead. I missed an opportunity there.” Sometimes procrastination is the cause of those missed opportunities because we were not ready for more meaningful interactions.
Procrastination at home prevents maintenance of church facilities, it causes time crunches leading to lost conversation opportunities, it puts us in frenzy mode so that we are fighting fires all the time/looking backward all the time, instead of looking forward
(read next lines carefully)
As a nation, we struggle to be ready. Our state of readiness, or lack thereof, significantly impacts our joy. In one survey, 94% of people indicated that procrastination has a negative effect on their happiness. In another survey, over 80% of students reported feeling negative emotions after procrastinating.
God’s will is for us to experience abundant, consuming, overflowing joy! Jesus spoke in Jn 15:11, saying, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” and, then right before ascending, Jesus told the about 120 disciples to go, wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. They waited joyfully and they didn’t waste their time. They didn’t procrastinate, instead they were “continually in the temple, praising and blessing God” (Lk 24:53).
This morning and also next week, I want to show you that Paul was not a procrastinator. In Acts 21:13 (ESV), he told the Ephesian pastors and his eight companions, “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When Paul said those words, he was not saying, “I am almost ready.” (pause) He was not saying, “When the time comes I will be ready.” No, Paul was completely ready months, even years before he spoke those words.
I want to show you from Acts 21:27-36 that Paul was completely ready for whatever suffering awaited him in Jerusalem!
(Ignore) Paul’s Arrest (Acts 21:27-36)
(Ignore) Paul’s Arrest (Acts 21:27-36)
These next verses detail Paul’s arrest, and as you follow along, you might want to highlight or otherwise mark words or phrases which describe how Paul was persecuted. Beginning in verse 27 we read that...
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
Asians, possibly from Ephesus, betrayed Paul. An act of betrayal, and murderous intent are not fruit of the Spirit, so this situation this could not have been instigated by God-loving, Spirit-empowered people! We find the Asian’s accusations in verses 28-30....
Note the Jews’ accusations. (vv28-30)
28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
Paul knew that worshipping at the temple exposed him to great risks, and I love this about Paul. Spirit-empowered people cannot do anything but worship! Even though danger was close, Paul was compelled to be with other believers. If the Jerusalem church was going to be healed, Paul needed to follow through with the strategy… seeing those four men’s vows fulfilled.
Then those murderous Jews from Asia, cried out for help… “let’s get together and do something about this! Paul needs to be silenced!” And they knew just what to say to manipulate the crowd. Look at their accusations in verses 28-29...
Accusation 1: Paul was anti-Jew.
This was a false accusation. Scripture has clearly revealed that Paul was a Jew of Jews. Before his salvation, Paul took great pride in his Jewish heritage and loved being a powerful and prominent Jew. After his salvation, Paul was so burdened for Jews that he went to them first in every city he was in. Paul loved his own people so much that he was on the temple mount at his own peril so that some of them might even be saved!
Accusation 2: Paul was anti-law.
This accusation encompassed lots of issues, but Paul was innocent of those charges also. These accusations were made while Paul was completing Jewish law and was also assisting four men to also keep the law.
Paul upheld the law in other things as well. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul recommended women not worship without head coverings. Paul convinced Timothy to become circumcised in Acts 16:3. Paul observed the Passover in Acts 20:6 and several other passages and most scholars agree that Paul was in such a hurry to get to Jerusalem so that he could observe the Days of Pentecost and Feast of weeks (kind of like our Thanksgiving celebration).
This in and of itself is really interesting. Many historic things happened and all converged in all of Israel’s past on the days of Pentecost, If this was indeed the celebration taking place here, God again caused a major Jewish holiday to coincide with a major date in church history.
Accusation 3: Paul was anti-temple.
Interestingly enough, these were the same accusations brought against Jesus 22 years earlier in
Mt 26:59-61… (2 slides)
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’ ”
(SLIDE w/ Accusation 3)
Why mess with a working plan? Lets make false up charges, let’s play on the Jews’ love of the temple, and try to legalize murder that is in our hearts. Wow, the gossip! Wow, these people were gullible!
Wow, people were not following the rules of communication! 1. Be honest - we can find no honesty here. 2. Keep current - nope. Those Asians allowed grudges to fester and boil causing them to become murderous. 3. Attack the problem, not the person - clearly, they preferred attacking the person. 4. Act don’t react. Emotions ruled that day. Act on facts? What fun is that? I’ll do it my way, thank you very much. So in Acts 21:28a the crowd was “crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place.” Gossip, Lies, Chaos, hatred, and chaos were the laws of that moment!
Something significant happened in Acts 21:30...
30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
The temple gates were shut to Paul never to be opened to him again. In fact, the temple is not mentioned again in Acts. The Jews were making a statement “Christianity is not welcome here, Jesus is not welcome here.”
Didn’t something significant happen at the temple also when Christ was crucified? The veil was torn when Christ died on the cross! Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit were anti-temple because Jews worshipped the building instead of God who was supposed to be worshipped there. When Christ died, God, through the tearing of the veil, declared that worship at the temple by way of priests and sacrifices was no longer necessary for salvation!
Paul was not anti-temple. The temple was anti-Paul. Throughout Acts we have read that synagogue “gates” if you will had been closing to him and to Christianity in most communities. So, during the 15 years prior to this chapter, churches had been moving out of the temple and into marketplaces, lecture halls, places by the river, and believers’ homes
Here, in Acts 21:30, the boom of those slamming gates echoed throughout the world announcing, “Christianity and Judaism do not worship the same Jesus.” Here is another fun fact. Why do Jews worship on Saturday, but Christians on Sunday? Because the temple gates had been slammed shut. Early Christians set an example that Christianity is NOT Judaism. Would you please turn backward a page or two and read Acts 20 verse 7?
(pause, let people read it on their own) - Acts 20:7 (ESV) 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
What day of the week was that Christian church meeting? Sunday! The Roman calendar we use today was established one hundred years before the event in that verse. Christian’s sabbath is on Sunday, the Jew’s sabbath was on Saturday. Christians follow and worship Christ together wherever they may meet but the Jews follow the law and worship at the temple. The temple made by hands is not nearly as important as the temple of human hearts.
(pause)
Note that Paul’s arrest was similar to Christ’s. (21:30-36, Mt 26-27)
If you marked up your Bible when we read verses 30-36 earlier, those words of persecution jump off the page. We recognize that Paul endured much persecution. Words like “seized” “dragged” “seeking to kill” “beating” “arrested” “bound” brought into the barracks” and “carried” show just how intense this situation was and most of these words were also used to describe Jesus arrest, trial, and crucifixion in Matthew chapters 26-27.
(SLIDE: Temple Mount and Antonia Fortress. Note that there are two slides and will auto transition to the second one after 40 seconds)
In verse 31, we read “that all Jerusalem was in confusion” This was also remarkably similar to Jesus’ own arrest and trial. It is also interesting how quickly soldiers intervened in this situation.
31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
The Romans had built a garrison named Fort Antonia attached to the temple mount. Romans were smart. They knew that political chaos would likely begin on the temple mount! God caused the political situation to spare Paul’s life. However ungodly the Romans were, God used them to protect Paul.
I find it fascinating that the non-religious people were kinder than religious people! The government, represented by the tribune, Claudius Lysias, was unknowingly honoring God and the Jews, who were supposedly God-fearing people were the villains. As the soldiers carried Paul to safety, the mob yelled, “Away with him.” Please fast forward to Acts 22:22 and read along...
22 Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”
Didn’t the crowd shout something similar during Jesus’ trial? They shouted “crucify him! Crucify Him!” Paul’s arrest looked similar to Christ’s. Paul knew what Christ had suffered and was prepared to suffer like Christ did...
Are we ready?
Are we ready?
Are we ready to be persecuted?
Paul had prepared for persecution as an athlete should prepare for the Olympics. Paul knew the deep current of hate that flowed through the Sanhedrin council. He had been a part of that council. He had been an instrument of that council and personally contributed to the murder of hundreds, if not thousands of Christians. Acts 9:1 declares that Saul had been breathing “threats and murder.” He knew what was coming because he contributed to the culture of persecution.
We know the severity of what we should be preparing for! We read from Acts that hateful people may brutally murder us. We know from church and current history that our personal money and property may be seized. We may be imprisoned or fined. The government may try to force our spouse to divorce us, they may take our children from us in an attempt to indoctrinate them with hatred against Christianity.
I am realizing just now that I have not yet proved just HOW Paul was ready. I have not shown you from Scripture what he did, and said that proves he responded like Christ did. Please study that for yourselves by reading on in the next two chapters of Acts. You will discover that Paul indeed WAS READY!
Persecution is not the only thing we need to be ready for.
Are we ready for hard times that life will naturally bring?
Our bodies are decaying. Are we ready in case the doctor announces that one of us has terminal cancer or a life-altering disease? Are we ready for a brother of sister in the faith to betray us? Are we ready for when our children might abandon the faith or walk away from the love of our family?
Would we have been ready to minister to Colleen if Archie had died on the operating table Wednesday?
Are we ready to meet our Savior face to face and hear the final verdict? What will he say to you? Will he say, “you wicked and slothful servant”? Will he say, “depart from me, I never knew you”? Will he say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”?
Are we deliberately getting ready for hard times that will come?
(pause)
What does being ready look like?
Being ready looks like faithfulness. (Acts 21:27-36; Is 53)
If you read ahead in Acts, you will discover that Paul was ready because he remained faithful. Paul knew he was ready because he had faithfully endured much difficulty already. Faithfulness is going to places God commands us to go and doing things God commands us to do even when great threat looms ahead.
You might argue, “But Pastor, I work 35-70 hours a week! How in the world can I be ready when I have to spend so much of my week providing for my family?” And I would respond that God put you exactly where you need to prepare you for what is to come. If you really believe your work prohibits you from becoming a more faithful Christian, you should pray really hard about that. Either you are missing opportunities to be faithful, or God is moving you on to another employer. Pray about that.
Being ready means faithfully speaking God’s truth in every conversation.
You might argue, “I am not allowed to promote God all the time! I work at school and can’t talk about God. My boss at my company said anyone standing against homosexuality or certain political agendas will be fired!” I would challenge you to remember all the times in the book of Acts when Christians who boldly stood for His truth became untouchable! Christians must boldly proclaim God’s truth and we can do this with confidence because nothing man can do can ever separate us from the love of Christ.
You might argue, “I am not allowed to talk about God at work. ” I would ask in return, “Do you trust God to provide for you in case you get fired?” To our whole family this morning, I ask, “Are we ready to financially support a brother or sister who loses their job for promoting OUR Savior?” We need to be ready… that time approaches!
Are you ready or are you procrastinating? Here’s how you can tell. Can you confidently state: “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” You will know you are ready by your attitude… do these impending challenges suck your joy or are ready to joyfully move ahead?
This morning, we are observing communion and it is fitting to end the message with Isaiah 53 which proves Jesus was ready for the cross and the death he must suffer. When we are ready, we will so greatly value Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf that we cannot do anything but promote Christ. Here’s what Is 53 says beginning in verse 1...
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
If Jesus did that for us, what are we ready to do for him? (pause) “As Tammy and Christina come up to lead us in a song, please use this time to open the wrapper on your bread.”
(transition into communion service)
Congregational Song (Tammy and Christina)
Me: Before we partake in communion, 1 Corinthians 11:27–28 warns us to examine our hearts. Those verses say, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” While the song quietly plays, please use the time to pray… we should confess our sin to God and humble our hearts before Him. After a couple of verses, Andrew will lower the volume on the song and Jay will pray.
(Song playing in background)
Jay Prays
Me: Please take the bread in your hand while I read 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 (ESV), “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Eat the bread)
Paul Prays (CUE SONG)
ME: “Please use the time as this next song plays to reflect on the work Christ began in your life. Praise God for the cross, and pray that God will make you ready to bear your own cross. Please wait to open your wrapper until the song ends so the crinkling sound doesn’t distract from worship. After a couple of verses, Ken will lead us in prayer.”
(Song playing in background)
Ken Prays
ME:“If you have not done so already, please open your wrappers and prepare to drink the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:25–26 (ESV), “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” “Lets drink the cup together....” (Drink the cup)
(CUE SONG) ME: Mark 14:26 tells us that after Jesus’ last supper “when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Ladies, would you lead us in another song?
(Tammy and Christina: Lead us in Song)
Me: Pray
PRAYER IDEAS:
We covet your willingness to accomplish a very hard thing… leaving your home, your throne, and the Father ans Spirit to take on human form, and die to bear the full weight of that penalty because you love us so much.
We covet your joy! That same joy you had every step of the way because you knew your actions would cause your children to spend eternity with you! Please give us that same joy in the hard things you have called us to bear and may you make us ready to do hard things for your glory. We praise your great and powerful name.
Dismiss: Please remember that we are collecting for the deacon’s fund and we look forward to the fellowship right her at 6pm tonight.