In August 2004, Gene Banister, a Christian teacher, reports, “We have been studying with a group of 49 students in Bahrain. This week, 31 of those 49 were baptized. We hope there will be more baptisms soon. We are told we will soon be studying with a large group of students. The church in Bahrain has roughly doubled in the past two months.
Our brother “A,” whom we reported as missing in Yemen, has returned. Unfortunately, he suffered the loss of one eye in the event that occurred this time. His wife expressed his joy that he still has one eye so that he can read the BIBLE. I wish I could tell you more about what is happening in Yemen. I know some are in jail.
The news in Libya has been good. We have some new students. The church is doing well there.”
Today is January 16, 2005. Brother “A” that was mentioned is Abdel Youssef, a brilliant, dedicated young Muslim who became a Christian the first of 2004 by email contact with Gene Banister. In the brief time that Abdel was a Christian, he shared the gospel with and personally baptized about 400 people. Right now, there are over 10 congregations in 4 Arab countries with a total of over 1000 new Christians who know Christ today largely because of the amazing work of Abdel Youssef. During this time he was beaten three times. The third time they gouged out one of his eyes. But Abdel would not stop confessing Jesus as the Christ and spreading the gospel to other Muslims. He was still recovering from his third beating and the loss of his eye when a group broke into his home and beat him to death. He was killed the third week of last October by radical Muslims who hated him for converting to Christ and more so for converting others.
He has a wife and children who are in hiding now.
Why would a young man with a wife and children put himself and them in such danger? What do you think motivated Abdel’s deadly determination?
Paul’s words in Acts 20:20-24 provide us some insight.
20 … I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
The last chapters of Acts focus on another man with a deadly determination. In fact, some have seen a parallel between Paul’s journey to Jerusalem and Jesus’ journey there. Three times the scriptures record warnings of what will happen to Paul when he arrives in Jerusalem, and three times Jesus warns the disciples of what will happen to himself when he arrives in Jerusalem. Both Paul and Jesus were told by friends not to go. Both Paul and Jesus adamantly continued their course in spite of what they knew would happen. Both were convinced that they were doing the Father’s will. Both were willing to die for the cause. It may be that Paul regarded this journey as walking in the footsteps of his Lord and Master. Have you ever been warned against doing something that you knew you had to do?
Illustration: On a movie there were three teenagers exploring in the bush of Africa. One young man was a native African, the other two teens were a brother and sister from America. These three came to a small bluff and peered over to see a sleeping rhino under a tree. The native African looked at the American boy and with a twinkle in his eyes winked, picked up a small stone, and quietly slipped up behind the sleeping rhino and put the stone on its back. Then he sneeked back up to the Americans and grinned. The brother looked at his sister and said, "You’ll never understand this, but I have to do it!" as he began to sneek down to take the rock off the rhino’s back. His sister was horrified and whispered, "No! Don’t do it! Are you crazy!" But he went on just the same.
People will risk their lives for a lot less than the cause of Jesus Christ. Deadly Determination shows up in us more ways than we realize.
As we follow the journey of Paul to Jerusalem today lets see what we can learn about our own priority systems. As we study, keep this question in mind: what am I most determined to do? What motivates me most?
The conclusion of Acts begins in chapter 19:21. (This is an outline of the rest of this book). Paul’s resolve comes at a time of great victory for the gospel in Ephesus. He and his companions have been preaching there for about three years and so many are turning to Christ there that even the economy felt the effects. The market for silver idols and magic arts plummet. In fact, those who were making silver idols stir up a riot! Few things stir up more emotion than tampering with one’s wealth or one’s religion. In this case, worship of Diana was connected with big business in Ephesus, so a threat to this religion was also a threat to a significant economic sector of business there. Christian faith impacts business and religion. And some people don’t like change. How do you suppose people in this area would feel about us as a church if we were able to effectively shut down the sales of lottery tickets, alcohol, and pornography in Chattanooga? Do you suppose we might have some enemies?
In Alajuala, Costa Rica the public school needed English teachers. Steven and a few others offered to teach English there at the church of Christ building using the Bible as a text. They thought it would be a great success if they could get 30 – 40 students. To their amazement over 250 signed up. Within weeks the Catholic priest went to the school officials and tried to shut them down. When the school refused the priest, he began preaching lies about them telling his congregation they should oppose it. He even recruited some of the denominational leaders to join him in the attack. They lost most of their students because most were either Catholic or involved in one of the protestant churches that this priest recruited. Steven said they finally dropped the class.
But back to Acts… So a riot is stirred up here in Ephesus over the spread of Christianity and its effects on idolitry and the economy. Fearlessly, Paul wants to go in among this rioting crowd! Now let’s think for a minute. He’s the one they are mad at. Look at 19:29-31. Paul wants to stand with his companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, but the other Christians and friends of Paul won’t let him go. You have to admire his loyalty. But his presence there would probably only cause the death of all three of them. Once again, Paul reveals his deadly determination. As it turns out a sensible town clerk is able to bring order and sends the crowd home at the end of chapter 19.
Chapter 20:1 tells of his departure from Ephesus after things finally settle down. Then Luke abbreviates about a years work into a single verse in 20:2. During this verse Paul helped organize and round up the gifts of the Gentile churches that he wanted to bring to Jerusalem. And, during this time he wrote 2 Corinthians as he was dealing with huge opposition from the Judaizers who moved in on the church there. He also wrote Romans, perhaps his most important letter, and probably other letters. Titus begins working with Paul during this time. Also, Aquilla and Priscilla move back to Rome somewhere in here because they are mentioned in Romans 16:3. Luke abbreviates his report about this period because he wants to keep our attention on something else. From here on, Luke’s focus in Acts will center on Paul’s trip to Jerusalem and then to Rome.
And it was full of dangers. The Jews plot to kill him over and over. They get their hands on him at least once and nearly do kill him. But on the journey to Jerusalem the Holy Spirit tells him time and again what lies ahead, not to stop him but to prepare him. Let’s look at those warnings here:
At Miletus talking with the Ephesian elders:
20:22 "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
At Tyre among the Christians there:
21:4 And after looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
When the reach Caesarea just 65 miles from Jerusalem in the home of Philip:
21:10 And as we were staying there for some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: ’In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’"
12 And when we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
What do you make of these verses? Is Paul just foolishly running headlong into trouble, (like taking the rock off the rhino?), or is he being obedient to God in going but being assured that it will be filled with trial and suffering?
Last spring Marcus, Bob and I were scheduled to go to Nazareth to visit Maurice and the church there. Just a couple of days before our trip the news showed lots of new violence in the area and the travel advisory warned us not to go. Remember? There were several who love us who told us we needed to stay home. But Maurice and the church there had worked very hard preparing for our coming and Maurice assured us it was peaceful there in Nazareth. We heard from one other brother who made it clear that we should go. He said, “The Christians there live in this all the time and if you really want to encourage them and prove that you care for them, go. We’ve got to learn that physical safety is not the first priority for a Christian in making these kinds of decisions.”
It certainly wasn’t Paul’s first priority. It wasn’t Abdel Youssef’s first priority. And it certainly wasn’t Jesus’ first priority.
Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”
Jesus said, “Deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me.”
Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!"
Jesus said, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will keep it for eternal life.”
The goal of the Christian is not to walk the safest path physically, but the path that Jesus leads us in, the only safe spiritual path!
The Bible says, “that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Revelation 21:7-8 God points our attention to heaven’s glory and to the judgment and says, “The one who overcomes will inherit all this and I will be his God and he will be my son, but as for the cowardly (he lists others, but note well the top of the list), their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
When we look at life through the lenses of scripture and the words of Christ we discover that the real “deadly determination” is that of the heart that will take no risks for Jesus sake. It is the determination to be silent when we should be confessing Christ. It is the determination to do nothing when we should be working for Christ. It is the determination to live life for security and selfish comforts, when Jesus Christ gave his life and shed his blood to save us and who calls us to come and follow him.
The Bible does not put a high priority on comforts and security in the world, but it does for sacrificial living in the name of Jesus for the glories of eternal security and joy.
We all know it. Deep inside, we all believe that a life given for a great cause is both an honor and a high calling. The adventure of the faith that Jesus calls us to includes danger and hardship as well and the thrill of knowing that our lives are given for the highest purpose a man or woman can live for.
I close with these words from Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
You see... everyone lives by a deadly determination - it just depends on which kind of death you are determined to die.
Will you die to sin and self and live to Christ for eternal glory?
Or will you die in sin and selfishness and live for this world but spend eternity in torment?
What are you determined to do?
