Posts by reachchurch

Read This Week: Acts 28

Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! – Acts 28:28-31 NIV

In his book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson wrote, “We can decide to live in response to the abundance of God and not under the dictatorship of our own poor needs.” The Apostle Paul has come to the later stages of his ministry life and journey in Acts 28, and he has chosen to live in the abundance of God and not in response to his needs. 

He is on house arrest in Malta, and instead of relenting to his confinement and the weight of his imprisonment, Paul kept open house and received anyone who wanted to ask him questions or discuss the Kingdom of God. He could have fallen into depression and felt sorry for himself in his imprisonment, but instead, he chose to preach, teach, and pray with those who came to visit him. Many of these visitors professed faith in Jesus, and Paul’s mission of the gospel continued even while he was chained to a guard for 12 hours a day. Verse 31 says:

Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Paul made the spiritual and disciplined effort to abide in Christ despite his circumstances. He chose to remain obedient to his calling in the face of many justifiable reasons not to do so. The result of his faithfulness was more Gentiles heard the gospel, many came to faith in God, and the movement of the church continued to advance. Jesus said in John 15, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.” 

Paul took this to heart and availed himself to the Holy Spirit to stay connected to God, and because of it, his life continued to bear much fruit even while he sat in a house all day for two years, not being allowed to leave. During these twenty-four months, Paul also wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. So, as he abided in Christ, he continued to establish his legacy for God.

May we look at the example of Paul’s life not only in this chapter but in the whole of Acts as an encouragement to remain and abide in Christ. May we allow it to embolden us to carry out and be obedient to our place in the kingdom no matter what hindrances or challenges we face. May we see it as inspiration to bear spiritual fruit, progress in the gospel mission, and contribute to the movement of God’s church in the world.

Read This Week: Acts 27

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. In this way, everyone reached land safely. – Acts 27:13-14, 23-25, 44 NIV

There are times when we think the worst of our challenges are over. We believe the storm subsided and that we are sailing for better weather when on the horizon, there are dark, ominous clouds and a threat of another storm. These seasons are among the most confusing, frustrating, and difficult that we can experience in life. Yet, they can also be some of the most enriching, faith-building, and clarifying.

Acts 27 captures this idea for the Apostle Paul. He has endured ridicule in Jerusalem, been accused of multiple crimes, imprisoned, stood trial on two occasions, and is now boarding a boat for the voyage to stand trial in Rome. Before they set sail, Paul gives them a warning: “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the Roman centurion doesn’t listen and orders the captain and crew to begin the trip.

Once they got going, the gentle wind helping them move became a violent storm surge, just as Paul predicted. Verses 13-19 capture the scene and predicament:

The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. We were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

The storm was so bad and violent and unmanageable that after expending all efforts to withstand it, they gave up hope that it would end and they would be rescued. This part of the story is not unlike so many scenarios in our lives. We find ourselves in the storm of negative and challenging circumstances, and it seems like everything we try is not working or making it better. We want to give up and lose hope that it is ever going to end. Then, at the right time, God often shows up.

Verses 23- 26 says this, “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” It is often in our darkest and most desperate moments when God comes and stands beside us. He comes on the scene with His transcendent power and stands with us amid the storm surge. It is here when we feel His presence and are assured of his promises. It is here where we find the faith to stand up to the wind and the courage to press on amid the high waves.

The last line of this chapter is one of the great culminating statements in the entire book of Acts. It just simply says, In this way, everyone reached land safely. And that is what the Lord does for us. We go through the storm surge, get beaten up a bit, start to lose hope, and He makes Himself known. We respond in faith to His word and increase our faith and courage to take on our challenges with confidence. Then, before we even know it, the storm has been successfully navigated, and we reach land safely.

Read This Week: Acts 26

At this point, Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” The king rose and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” – Acts 26:24-30 NIV

Christian Apologist, William Lane Craig that is known as one of the great scholars and thinkers of our time, said this about belief and the reasonable nature of saving faith in Jesus Christ:

“People who simply ride the roller coaster of emotional experience are cheating themselves out of a deeper and richer Christian faith by neglecting the intellectual side of that faith. They don’t know the riches of deep understanding of truth, of the confidence inspired by the discovery that one’s faith is logical and fits the facts of experience, and of the stability brought to one’s life by the conviction that their faith is objectively true.”

The Apostle Paul is making the same assertion to Agrippa in Acts chapter 26. He is defending himself and does so as he has before by sharing his testimony of conversion and life in Christ. He states, in a logical and reasonable way, what he experienced, learned, and observed in himself and others as a follower of Jesus.

At one point, his testimony causes the crowd to erupt in anger, and Festus, the governor, interrupts and accuses Paul of being insane. But he does so not because he believed Paul had lost his mind, but because Paul’s message of salvation through Christ had convicted his heart. Paul knows this and says in verses 25-27:

“I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Before Paul responds to Festus, he offered a summary of the gospel in verse 23. So, the two officials had now been confronted with a spiritual decision because they had heard the truth. Festus refuses faith through the accusation of madness and Agrippa eludes it by his superior attitude and belittling Paul’s witness to the gospel. He said, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 

Their responses are not unlike so many today. When a person refuses to come to Christ, it is usually not because of a lack of evidence or the reasonable tenets of the gospel. The rejection comes because people ignore and reject the truth and the Holy Spirit drawing on their hearts. Unbelief is a spiritual problem, not a reason or intellectual one. 

Just like Paul testified to in this chapter, ours is a reasonable faith. The Christian life and experience is not based on a mystical fairy tale or ambiguous data from ancient times that are unsubstantiated. There is historical, factual, and philosophical evidence that not only points to the story of God but the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of this, there is no conflict between faith and reason within Christianity.

This is how we should live our lives and share our faith with others. Our confidence should come from the ongoing affirmation that our faith is logical and syncs with observable experience. At the end of the day, the truth is undeniable and no one can effectively argue against a changed life.

Read This Week: Acts 25

Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die. – Acts 25:1-2, 8-10 NIV

Acts 25 is a continuation of Paul’s trial that seems to be going on for an inordinate amount of time. He has more than adequately defended himself and disproven all the charges against him with eloquence, grace, and truth. Now he is in front of the new governor, Porcius Festus, who does not even know anything about the original Jewish plot against him. So Paul finds himself having to make his case again.

Governor Festus does not cooperate with the schemes of the Jewish leaders, but he does invite them to confront Paul again so he can review the case in person. At this time, Paul remains resolute and stands up with clarity and says, “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” He affirms his innocence again of any crime and does so with inspiring confidence in the Lord and his mission.

When Festus raises the stakes on Paul in verse 9 and asks him if he is willing to go on trial before the court in Jerusalem, the Apostle takes an even bigger stand. He says in verse 10:

“I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving of death, I do not refuse to die.”

With this tremendous statement of faith and courage, Paul undermines and destroys both the intent and case of the Jews. The religious leaders could not intimidate or make him denounce the gospel of Jesus as the Son of God because he was willing to face death for the mission. Their desire to kill him had no effect on Paul because his heart was already prepared to die for the calling that had been placed on his life.

This chapter communicates to us the reality of our trials. Sometimes they go on for longer than we want them to. Sometimes we have to endure the same attacks over and over again. Sometimes the Enemy is persistent in his accusations and desire to destroy us. But through it all, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we have to stand up. Stand up to the challenges that we face in this life and persevere with faith, strength, and an undying commitment to God’s mission.

Paul, the same person who stood trial before Festus in this chapter wrote these words in Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” After we have done all we can do, sometimes the victory comes in just being able to keep standing up.

Read This Week: Acts 24

My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. – Acts 24:12-16 NIV

Some define having a clear conscience as “an inner feeling that acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.” For the follower of Jesus, a clear conscience comes by the Holy Spirit to ensure no discernable hindrance in our connection with God or anyone else. It means avoiding sin against God or others with words, actions, or attitudes. To have a clear conscience toward people means being able to look others in the eyes without shame and know things are right with them.

In Acts 24, Paul is before Felix, a Roman Governor, addressing the charges being brought against him by the Sanhedrin. He has to listen to a presentation from Tertullus detailing his charges coming from the Jewish people. Then he is given a chance to respond to a personal charge, a political charge, and a doctrinal charge leveled against him. Felix does not examine Paul but simply gives him the chance to speak.

At this time, Paul puts on a clinic in how to properly address accusations. He does so with patience and grace, yet defends himself with boldness and confidence in the truth. He never gave up his faith, he knew his intentions of being in Jerusalem and was assured of his mission. These factors allowed him to speak with clarity and conviction about who he is. Verses 13-15 illustrates this in answer to his accusers:

They cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Paul systematically disposes of the three charges, affirms the truth of the gospel, and proclaims his allegiance to Christ in the context of his defense. He then finishes with a declaration of assurance about the rightness of his words, actions, and behaviors. He says in verse 16: I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. That was Paul’s spiritual mic drop moment. His conscience was clear before God and man. He not only defended himself against false accusations but further declares that there was no obstruction in his relationship with God and other people. He was clear.

This chapter in Acts is a tremendous example for any follower of Christ who is fielding accusations of wrongdoing or simply sharing and contending for the gospel. We should speak with clarity and conviction while maintaining faith in God’s Word, holding to the reality of what is true, and staying clear in our conscience before the Lord and other people. These things are all present in an impactful and successful life with God.

Read This Week: Acts 23

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. – Acts 23:11, 27-30 NIV

We live in an accusatory world. The daily headlines are seemingly dominated by stories of accusations, allegations, and indictment of someone. The stories range from criminal to scandalous to centered around personality disputes and political affiliations. Accusations are serious things and can often lead to the destruction of a person’s life and work even if the allegations are false.

In Acts 23, Paul finds himself dealing with some false accusations and charges from the Jewish community because they did not like his preaching faith in Jesus. Because of these baseless allegations, he was nearly killed, arrested by the Roman government, and would have to stand trial before the Sanhedrin. Because his countrymen did not like or agree with his message, they sought to slander, stop and even end his life. This ancient story seems to parallel modern society.

Alleged wrongdoing, threats, and charges of conspiracy were nothing new for Paul. His life had been filled with allegations, false charges, and danger from the beginning of his ministry. The Hellenistic Jews tried to kill him during his first visit to Jerusalem (Acts 9:29), and he was driven out of Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:50-51) and threatened in Iconium (Acts 14:5). He was stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:19-20), and the Jews tried to get him arrested before in Corinth (Acts 18:12-17).

Through it all, Paul was not deterred or hindered in his mission. He knew the gospel, and the proclamation of saving faith in Jesus for all was bigger than the allegations, accusations, and attempts of the world to stop it. God always delivered him, preserved his name and ministry, and did so again here. Verses 28-30 tell us of Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander intervening on Paul’s behalf:

This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him… I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once.

The word allegedly means to be “accused but not proven or something that is questionably true.” In our current world, the term has taken on the new meaning of assumed guilt without proof. This is a scary proposition for followers of Jesus and those who hold to, espouse, and communicate a message that is not popular or liked by the forces of our day. Yet, God intervenes on behalf of His children, and He makes way for them to continue their mission. The gospel and the kingdom will always be more powerful than empty allegations and attempts to stop the advancement of truth.

As we read this chapter, it is hard not to be impressed with the commitment of Paul to his calling. He did not look for the easy way out and he didn’t cower in the face of lies, false assumptions, and persecution from alleged wrongdoing. He was willing to suffer it all, become a prisoner, and even die for the gospel. We also see the incredible providence of God as He cares for, protects, and shields His servants from allegations that aren’t true. May we be encouraged that He will do the same for us.

Read This Week: Acts 22

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. – Acts 22:8-9, 22-25 NIV

There was a great Christian song that came out at the turn of the century written by Charles Billingsley, and part of it goes like this: “These are the marks of the mission. These are the proof of all I’ve been through, the evidence of sin forgiven. All that I have I offer to you. I followed the call wherever it led me. It was worth every step of the way. I’ve come through the dark bearing the marks of the mission.”

The lyrics to this chorus could be the life song of the Apostle Paul after his conversion on the Damascus road. We see this summarized in Acts 22 during Paul’s message in Jerusalem about his conversion to Christianity and his mission beyond that time. We also observe what happened when he proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ as the savior for the Jew and Gentile alike.

In his sermon, Paul talks about his early conduct and his persecution of the church and followers of Christ. He then tells the crowd of his amazing conversion and affirms that Jesus is alive and that he saw His glory and heard His voice. Paul then sums up his talk with his special calling and mission to carry the gospel far away from Jerusalem to the Gentiles and the outer stretches of Asia Minor. At this point, the Jews would not permit him to continue and they became enraged and combative toward him. Verses 22-23 tell us:

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.

Then something miraculous happens. Paul appeals to Claudius, the commander, and tells him that he is being punished illegally because he is a Roman citizen and has not been found guilty of a crime. The commander realizes this and releases Paul to have a fair trial before the Sanhedrin. With the help and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew how to make use of his Roman citizenship for the cause of Christ.

Acts 22 is filled with more examples of the marks of Paul’s mission. He had been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and snake-bitten on his missionary journeys. He was not afraid of being flogged or the serious misunderstandings of his message that were taking place in Jerusalem. He simply considered all of this the evidence of his forgiveness and the will of God. It was worth it to him to carry the marks.

What are the marks of your mission? Perhaps you’ve never been beaten, whipped, threatened, or physically harmed for the cause of Christ. But maybe you’ve suffered the loss of relationships, a job, friends, and emotional hardship because you call yourself a Christian, and you choose to love and follow Jesus. These are just the proof of what you’ve been through. Proof of a beautiful life with God.

These are the marks worthy of the Savior who loves us and gave His life for us. May we embrace the privilege to bear the marks of the Lord’s mission and press on with joy.