Reading: Acts chapter 28 verses 23-31.
ill:
Train story - focus on the wrong thing.
Ill:
• Then 'War Time Speeches of Winston Churchill'.
• During the second world war November 1942:
• As Hitler's Luftwaffe had invaded English skies,
• Britain was feeling the dread of his enlarging shadow,
• The country was asking the question;
• "How long can they endure the unrelenting darkness of their situation?"
Prime Minister Winston Churchill:
• Needed to answer that question.
• What could he say to give the people hope & courage?
On November 10th, he addressed a worried audience at the Lord Mayor's Day Luncheon:
• Slowly and in his own particular style,
• He spoke these immortal words:
"Now is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning".
How appropriately these lines fit the final verses of the book of Acts:
• We have recorded, the church's beginning,
• With its setbacks and struggles,
• And in chapter 28 it is ending,
• But by no means has the story ended, just the record of Dr Luke.
• So it truly is 'the end of the beginning'.
And today we and many other Christians worldwide:
Are fulfilling the words of Jesus, that he spoke in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18b:
"I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it".
We are his church:
• Although Acts chapter 28 is soon to be concluded, Acts 29 is still going on!
• Although by now of course, we are probably chapter 2,000.....
And we are very much still in a wartime situation:
• Facing difficulties & struggles from within,
• Facing the bombs of criticism & ridicule from without.
In fact these last few verses of Acts chapter 28:
• Dr Luke paints for us, a wartime portrait of our Christian battle,
• Sometimes there is victory, often there is defeat,
• But always there is hope,
• Because one day, we SHALL be victors.
By way of quick review:
• Paul's passion, his vision, his desire,
• Has always been to bring the Gospel to Rome.
• After a stormy and extended trip, they arrive at this great city,
• Which is a strategic hub of ancient political activity.
• But things didn't work out as Paul intended (vs 16):
• He was locked up in a small room, under house arrest.
• But as the saying goes: "You can't keep a good man down".
• Or to apply it to Paul: "You can't keep a good preacher quiet".
Although he was under house arrest:
• He quickly got on with his favourite pastime,
• Preaching & teaching.
(1). Declaration of the Gospel:
That meant of course that people had to come to him,
Verse 17 is an illustration of that:
"Three days later Paul called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled".
Verse 23:
"They arranged to meet Paul".
Verse 30b:
"Paul welcomed all who came to see him".
Initially Paul's ministry in Rome:
• Verses 17-22 tell us:
• He had targeted the Jewish people with his message,
• When he did that in Jerusalem & Asia:
• He faced resistance, he faced opposition.
But verse 22 tells us that these Roman Jews:
• Were open to his ideas and wanted to hear him further,
• Just the words Paul wanted to hear,
ill:
Giving an alcoholic an opportunity to drink.
Giving Paul an opportunity to preach.
(2). Method and Message:
Verse 23:
"They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying.”
“From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets".
Paul has a threefold method of communication:
(a). "Explaining":
• The Greek word for "explaining" means:
• "To lay out, to set forth".
Dr Luke used that word in Acts chapter 11 verse 4:
• To describe how Peter explained things;
• In a logical orderly sequence.
Pause and Apply this:
• At times in our evangelism and witnessing:
• We should remember that declaring truth is not always enough.
• It is not only what goes out that is important,
• But what is received.
• Were as the simple gospel is exact and right for some,
• Others will need to have their brains taxed,
ill:
The net:
• Brian Greenaway, ex hells angel.
• Dr David Rosavear, PHD, C Chem, FRSC.
Quote C.S. Lewis:
"If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all".
So for these type of folks:
• Leaders of the Jews,
• The intellectuals, the highly educated.
• Paul explained his message by laying out arguments,
• Accurately and in a logical order.
(b). "Declared" or "Testified".
• The Greek word literally means:
• "To declare emphatically".
Quote: It's been said;
"You can have a hot head and win an argument or you can have a hot heart and win a soul".
Paul seems to have both:
• From morning until night Paul argued and testified passionately about Jesus.
• Morning until evening, bet your glad he's not preaching this evening!
(c). "Convinced" or "Persuaded".
Paul is not out for a good debate:
• This is not an entertaining academic debating contest,
• These are matters of life and death.
Paul has based his argument:
• On the Law of Moses and the Prophets, making his words;
• Particularly relevant & understandable,
• And also very effective,
• As he shares with this Jewish audience.
Verse 23b shows us the two themes he argued:
• "The kingdom of God".
• "Preached Jesus".
And using the background of the Old Testament scriptures:
• He paints a picture of Jesus the Messiah,
• His mission, his agony, his glory.
• And as the debating draws to a conclusion:
• To a completion.
(3). What would be the response?
• Well it would be typical of what Paul experienced all through his ministry:
• Verse 24: "Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe".
Inevitably an argument erupts between these two groups:
• Now they are caught up in their own disagreement,
• And some of them decide to leave.
We often link Christianity with Peace:
But don't forget the other side of the coin:
Matthew chapter 10 verse 34-36: Jesus said:
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword".
When an individual responds to Jesus may bring division between:
• Husband & wife, or Parent & child,
• Brother & brother, or Friend & friend.
Because the claims of Jesus:
• Cause a person to go in another direction,
• To take aboard a new direction, new priorities,
• There can only be 'one' of 'two' reactions;
• Division or harmony.
ill:
Pulling in the same direction, or in opposites.
Notice how the apostle Paul reacts:
• You and I might try to pacify the crowds,
• Saying; "Let's be friends and just agree to disagree".
Don't forget:
• The Jews had a powerful lobby in Rome,
• And we wouldn't want to get on their bad side.
(5). Reaction to the Jews:
Paul saw that the Jewish leaders were divided:
• Some believed, accepted the testimony of Paul, teaching of the O.T.
• While others said, "That's ridiculous, let's get out of here".
Paul aware of the black & white nature of the gospel:
• Doesn't pull any punches,
• He goes straight for the jugular.
• He knows there is going to be conflict,
• In fact he points that out to his hearers,
Verse 25b-27:
"The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your fore-fathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
Now pause and apply:
• Aren't you amazed of Paul's grasp of the scriptures,
• Don't forget, this is spontaneous,
• Paul didn't know what was going to happen,
• This is spur of the moment stuff, but, but he knew his scriptures.
Personal question:
• How well do you know your Bible?
• From morning to night Paul argued the case for Christ,
• And all he had was the Old Testament.
• Take away ??? How would you get on?
Paul for his finale, his conclusion applies the prophecy of Isaiah to these people:
Verse 25b-27:
"Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
You will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
For this peoples heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn,
and I would heal them.""
• And because these Jews are behaving as stubbornly as the Israelites in Isaiah's day:
• Paul sombrely adds, verse 28:
"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen".
With that statement:
• And that word "Gentiles",
• These non-believers take their leave,
• Many of them angry and hot under the collar,
• But some of them convicted by this new teaching.
Just pause for a moment to apply it:
• Everything Paul argues is based on the scriptures,
• That is the bedrock, the foundation to everything.
ill:
You can fall ........Out a window,
........You can fall off a roof top,
........But you can't fall off the floor.
This book:
• Is our floor, our foundation.
• If we build on it, we will not fall!!!
• Whenever we talk spiritual issues,
• Let's not forget "the word".
Now suddenly in Acts chapter 28, we are brought to a conclusion:
(6). Conclusion to the Book.
In the last two verses of Acts Dr Luke adds the finishing touches to his wartime portrait.
• In doing so he doesn't fill in the specifics,
• About the Christians in Rome, or even Paul's trial and eventual death.
But he does paint for us a lovely picture:
• Of a balanced, open & hopeful ministry,
• That we can emulate, we can copy.
There are three things that ought to be seen in the Christian church in every generation:
a). Universal Acceptance:
Verse 30:
"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and (Saw all – no!!! It doesn't say that) …………………(he) welcomed all who came to see him".
Paul's door was OPEN to anyone:
• Rich or poor, - Jew or Gentile,
• Slave or free, - Soldier or civilian.
Unlike many of our fellowships:
• There was a real cross section of people,
• A real cross section, broad and colourful.
Quote poem: Leslie Flynn (When the saints come storming in):
"Believe as I believe, no more, no less;
That I am right, and no one else confess;
Feel as I feel, think only as I think;
Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;
Look as I look, do always as I do;
And then, and only then, I'll fellowship with you".
If we act that way:
• Folks will never hear about Christ,
• Let's open our doors;
• Whether church, home even our lives,
• And welcome all who come.
b). Solid Content.
Verse 31a:
"He preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ".
Notice he did two things:
• He preached,
• And he taught.
Paul's two themes:
• If a shopkeeper came to see him;
• He talked about how they related to business.
• If a mother:
• How they related to the family.
• If a philosopher;
• How they defined all of human existence.
Ill:
Copied his master i.e. water, bread, shepherd.
c). Non-defensive Style:
Verse 31a: "Boldly and without hindrance".
Paul taught people in an open, unhindered style:
• Because these folks were coming to him and not hindering the gospel,
• He could be boldly open with them,
• He didn't have to guard his words:
• For fear he might be attacked, or persecuted.
Instead:
• He could be vulnerable and warm,
• Helping others come to know the Lord.
Apply: There is a place for intellectual argument:
• There is also a place and a time,
• To be open and honest and admit we don't know it all.
• God can use our honesty and sincerity,
• As well as our brains.
ill:
• High flying city motorist who was lost in the country;
• He saw a farmer leaning on a fence, chewing a bit of straw.
• He said to him: "Which way to the motorway?"
• Farmer replied; "I Dunno".
• Motorist said; "Well where's the road to Southampton?"
• Farmer replied; "I Dunno".
• Motorist said; "Well where's the nearest city?"
• Farmer replied; "I Dunno".
• Motorist said; "Well what's this road, where's it lead too?"
• Farmer replied; "I Dunno".
• Motorist said; "You don't know much do ya?"
• Farmer replied; "No! But I aint lost".
Sometimes in talking to folks that's the best answer:
• "I don't know, but I aint lost",
• Or "I'm not sure, but this I do know".
Final Comments:
1). The church's message is positive not negative.
• A message full of hope and freedom,
• Not just a set of do's and don'ts.
2). The church's message is broad not exclusive.
• It appeals to everyone,
• Regardless of a person's appearance or background.
3). The church's message is active not passive.
• Even from his small room,
• Paul was leading a revolution.
• Not using swords or spears or human weapons.
• But the message of Christ & word of God.
4). The church's message is relevant not dated.
• Many churches & Christians may present it,
• In a dated an old fashioned way.
• But the message of Christ,
• Is exactly relevant, applicable, suited to us all!!!
Final question: Have you applied it?
