For example, if you remember in the Old Testament, Moses sent out the ten spies to scout out the land and they came back and gave their report.
Some of them gave a very negative report. They said that they should not attempt to invade the land because there were giants in the land, and they would be like grasshoppers.
In other words, even though God promised them the land, in their estimation they would be smashed!
Caleb gave a very positive report. We read in Numbers 13:27-30, “And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
Isn't it strange how a group of people can see the same thing, and give two different reports?
In our text, the Apostle Paul met with the leaders of the church at Jerusalem and gave them a REPORT of what God had done among the Gentiles.
Paul was warned several times not to come to Jerusalem, but he chose not to heed the warnings, because he wanted to witness to his Jewish brethren. No one can accuse Paul of giving a negative report when it came to what God was doing. His report brought praise to God, but at the same time it brought about a problem.
Look at-
I. THE PARALLEL IN THIS SITUATION
The first thing we see is:
A. THE PRAISE
Look at verses 15-22, we read, “And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.”
WHAT WAS HE DECLARING UNTO THEM?
Two things:
(1) How God was providing salvation for the Jews.
(2) How God was providing salvation for the Gentiles.
Notice, when he declared this, the Bible says, “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord…”
This was THE PRAISE , but let us look at-
B. THE PROBLEM
Look at verses 20-21. We read, “And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs..”
Look at the problem.
Illus: When Paul gave his report of praise, the Jewish leaders said (paraphrase), "Paul, we have something we need to talk to you about. Since you came to Jerusalem, you have been able to see how the church has grown into thousands. " They said, "Paul, among these believers there is a nasty rumor that you are teaching the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake the law of Moses. That is, you are teaching them they do not need to circumcise their children, and they are not required to walk after the customs of their forefathers. "
Actually, Paul was teaching them what the Bible said about salvation, but you can rest assured that anyone who gossips behind someone’s back will give their own slant on the situation.
Gossip is a terrible thing. The devil has successfully used this tool to destroy church after church. Notice the congregation had grown into thousands, and the leaders knew that this gossip had traveled among everyone of them, and they felt that Paul should at least know about the rumors.
lllus: In the courts of our land, when a man is accused of a crime, he is brought before a jury and the evidence is produced that he is guilty, or either there is a lack of evidence to prove he is innocent. The members of the jury listen to both arguments, and then they discuss the evidence and make their decision based on the preponderance of the evidence they heard.
Such evidence as, "I heard” or someone saying, "I was told this, or that," is not permitted as acceptable evidence.
Yet, time after time hearsay is passed around, and is accepted by Christians before they ever even take the time to hear the other side of the story.
Illus: A Sunday School teacher asked her class to tell her the difference between "gossip" and “a conversation.”
A little boy said, "Teacher, I can answer that. A conversation is when three ladies are talking and gossip is when one leaves.”
Illus: Someone said, “It must have been difficult at times for Adam and Eve to have a conversation, because they had no one to talk about.”
Christians always have someone to talk about.
Illus: Some go home every Sunday and have Preacher's Stew for lunch. Have you ever wondered why it seems like preacher's are gossiped about more than anyone else?
lllus: Let me ask you a question. “Why do the liquor producers get mad when a preacher stands in the pulpit and exposes them as being individuals who will do anything to get the almighty dollar, even ruin homes, make children homeless, ruin careers, and ruin a man's health and happiness?”
Why? The reason the liquor crowd gets mad is because they do not like being exposed.
Let me ask you again, “Why does Hollywood always cast the church, and preachers, in a bad light?”
Because, especially years ago more than now, preachers would stand in the pulpits and preach against the way they exalt murder, drinking, adultery, drugs etc.
They would get mad because they did not want to be exposed as an institution that would produce anything, just so long as it would make them money.
Why are preachers gossiped about more than anyone else? Because preachers stand in the pulpits and declare what God's Word states.
In James 1:26, we read, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”
Many do not like this to be preached, because it exposes them for what they are. The Bible says their religion is worthless.
Paul gave his report, and it brought about praise from those leaders who had personally heard what God was doing through them.
While God was doing GREAT THINGS THROUGH HIM, the devil was trying, through rumors, to do GREAT THINGS TO HIM, to try to stop him.
II. THE PROPOSAL IN THIS SITUATION
Look at Verses 23-26. We read, “Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.”
This is the proposal, look at-
A. THE PLAN
Paul, prior to this time, had written to the Galatians and to the Romans. He told them clearly that believers in Christ were no longer under the law, but under grace (since Christ had come).
James was saying (paraphrase) , “Paul, the problem is not what you have preached to the Gentiles, the problem is that you have preached this same gospel to some of the Jews among the Gentiles."
They were making a difference between the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians.
James proposed a plan to try to square Paul off with some of these Jewish Christians. He told Paul, “We have four men here who have taken a Nazarite vow. "
Illus: The Nazarite vow was taken by Jews, who for a certain period of time would wholly give themselves over to the things of God. The vow could be for a few days, weeks, months or even years.
During this time, the man taking the vow would not cut his hair, like Samson of the Old Testament, but once that time period was concluded, he would go to the temple with his head shaved, and offer up a sacrifice.
James said, “Paul, as you know, sometimes men who do this do not have much money to buy a proper sacrifice, and it is considered to be a meritorious thing for someone to buy the sacrifice for them.”
“Paul, to gain the good favor of these Jewish believers, we suggest that you do as these men, shave your heads and offer up a sacrifice.”
Many feel that Paul was wrong to go along with this plan, since he recognized that the Law of Moses had nothing to do with salvation.
We should not be critical of Paul. He understood something that a lot of Christians do not understand. We have to accept each other on the spiritual level that we are on.
Illus: If you remember, in Corinthians, he dealt with the problem of food that had been offered up to idols. Paul had no problem eating meat set before an idol in a sacrifice. He was mature enough to understand that meat is meat, and placing it before an idol does not defile the meat.
He wrote in 1 Cor. 8:7-8, “ Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.”
But look at verse 13, we read, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.”
Paul publicly followed through with this plan.
Look at verse 26, “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.”
This is why he had wanted to go to Jerusalem all along, even though he was warned not to go. He wanted to be able to minister to his own people, and he was not going to allow their ignorance to stand in the way between him and them.
Conclusion:
I. THE PARALLEL IN THIS SITUATION
A. THE PRAISE
B. THE PROBLEM
II. THE PROPOSAL IN THIS SITUATION
A. THE PLAN
B. THE PUBLICIZING
