“Are You Ready to Die?”
[Acts 21:1-16]
October 24, 2010 Second Reformed Church
Are you ready to die?
I didn’t ask if you want to die. I don’t want to die – I’m working hard to be healthier and live as long as possible. I hope none of you want to die right now. But, if it were necessary, would you be ready – are you ready now – to die?
Last week we saw that the Holy Spirit told Paul that he would not see the Ephesians again. So he called the pastors and elders together and gave them one final address. He told them that he had given them the entire Gospel – all they needed to know for salvation – and this was against those who were saying there was an additional knowledge they needed besides Jesus. He told them to watch out for the false teachers – to search them out – warn against them – and remove them. He told them to give of the blessings that God has given them in thanks to God. And he told them that the Holy Spirit was sending him to Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit promised him torture and imprisonment.
After weeping with Paul, they accompanied him to the ship that would take him to Jerusalem, and Paul and his companions sailed.
This morning’s Scripture is largely a detailed itinerary of where they went and how long they stayed in each place:
From Melitus, they sailed along the coast of Turkey, they sailed to Cos, then next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. There they changed ships and boarded one bound for Phonicia – in what we would now call Syria – north of Israel. And as they sailed, they passed by the island of Cyprus – it was on the left as they sailed by – landing in Syria at Tyre. In Tyre, the ship unloaded it’s cargo.
Did you ever read texts like these and wonder, “Who cares?” Who cares if they went to this place and that place and spent this number of days and had to change ships and then unload the cargo? What’s the point? The point is that this is evidence that this is not mythology, but history. These mundane details suggest the truthfulness of the history. If this was mythology, these common details would not be specific, and they probably would have been left out all together.
Once in Tyre, Paul and his companions stayed with the disciples there for seven days. And while they were there, the Holy Spirit told the disciples in Tyre that Paul was going to Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit promised Paul torture and imprisonment. The disciples were naturally upset about this and they begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul said he could not resist the Holy Spirit, and he was going. So the disciples of Tyre and their wives and families went with them to the beach and kneeled and prayed and said farewell to one another.
Then they went south to Ptolemais, where they spent one day with the disciples there.
The next day they went to Caesarea, in Israel, and entered the house of Philip. Do we remember Philip? We haven’t heard about him in some time, but he was one of the first deacons (6:5), and the Holy Spirit had sent him to preach the Gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch (8:5), and then he had preached his way north through Israel and settled in Caesarea.
Paul and his companions stayed with Philip and his four unmarried daughters – who prophesied – for many days. And while they were with Philip, a prophet named Agabus came to them from Judea. Do we remember Agabus? The Holy Spirit had sent the prophet Agabus to Saul and the disciples to warn them that a severe famine was coming to Jerusalem – in particular – so the Church, led by Barnabas and Saul, collected money to help the church in Jerusalem (11:27). This time the prophet Agabus came to the house of Philip and walked up to Paul and took Paul’s belt and then bound his own hands and feet, prophesying that the Holy Spirit said that the owner of the belt would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles once he reached Jerusalem.
Now Paul’s companions couldn’t take it any more and they, with the household of Philip and others, begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
What was the Holy Spirit up to? Everywhere Paul went, the Holy Spirit told the local disciples about Paul being tortured and imprisoned in Jerusalem. Why did He keep telling them and upsetting them?
Historically, the Christians would soon come under the greatest persecution they ever faced. So, it is likely that the Holy Spirit was confirming what would happen to Paul so they would be ready and not overcome and dismayed, but rather trust in God and His Plan instead.
But Paul had had enough, “What are you doing to me – weeping and breaking my heart?” “I understand you’re upset, but this isn’t helping me. I am not looking for a way out – I’m not looking for someone to kill me. You know this is God’s Plan.”
“For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul was ready to die – for the Name of the Lord Jesus – for the Gospel – as a witnesses to Jesus and His Salvation. For Jesus’ Sake, he was willing to die.
Paul wrote to the Philippians, “As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again” (Philippians 1:20-26, ESV).
Paul tells the Philippians: “I want you to understand that whether I live or die, my goal is to honor Christ – to glorify Him – in my body. My desire is that I live in a way that Christ is honored and that I die in a way that Christ in honored.
“For me it is a win-win situation: if I live, then I can continue to live, honoring Christ, preaching His Gospel, carrying out all those things He has set before me to do. And if I die, then I will be in Paradise with Jesus. And, to tell you the truth, even though – if the choice was up to me – I would have a hard time decided whether to live or die, my goal is to die and be with Christ because that is far better – for then I will be unable to sin and I will look forward to being raised imperishable – holy – perfected. But, for now, God has made it clear to me that I am to remain in my flesh for your progress and joy – for the maturing of your faith, and to give you additional reason to glorify Christ Jesus.”
Please understand: Paul was not suicidal. He was not trying to find an easy way out of the suffering that he was continuing to endure. What he was saying was that he existed for Christ – to glorify Him – and if he should live, he would do everything he could to make Jesus and His Gospel known. But, if he should die – for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel – he was not only ready, he was joyful to do so because it would bring him into glory with Jesus – Who is his life and hope and future.
We see this theme throughout Paul’s letters in particular: the Christian is to live his or her life as a witness to salvation in Jesus Alone. We are to live in such a way that other’s attention is draw from us to Jesus. We are to be signs that point to Jesus and say, “Look at Him Look to Him See Who He is and what He has done ”
And if we are living for Jesus – to be sign-posts to Him – there may even be times when people ask why we do or do not do certain things, and then we can tell them, “I do all I can not to cheat on my taxes because Jesus gave His Life for me. I do all I can not to break the law, because Jesus has freed me from slavery to sin. I give to the food pantry because Jesus gave His Life for Me. I spend time reading my Bible because Jesus loves me and I love Him, and I want to know Him better. I try to live a life of thanks to Jesus.” And so forth.
We Christians are also to be ready to die as a witness to salvation in Jesus Alone. In the early Church and in many parts of the world today, Christians were and are put to death for confessing faith in Jesus. Would we be willing to stand for Jesus and submit to execution if it comes to this country?
If Mayor Smith or Governor Christie or President Obama got a bill passed that confession of Jesus as Savior was punishable by death, would we be ready? Would we say – in the face of that threat, “I believe”?
I would like to believe that I would accept death, rather than renounce Jesus, but it’s hard to say until we’re in that position, isn’t it?
We can help to prepare ourselves:
First, let us consider our sin. Let us understand that without salvation in Jesus Alone, we are looking at suffering eternally. That’s the fact: God is infinite and infinitely holy and all sin is against Him, so sin requires infinite punishment.
Second, let us consider what Jesus did. The Holy Son of God left His Throne, became a human, lived under God’s Law – never sinning – submitted Himself to torture and death at the hands of sinful men, suffered the infinite punishment that we deserve – for each one of us who will believe, and since He is God and sinless, He survived, rising from the dead, ascending back to His Throne, crediting our accounts with His Righteousness – His Sinlessness. So now, when God looks at we who believe, He sees, because of Jesus, a holy people for Himself that He welcomes into His Kingdom.
And third. Let us consider how thankful we ought to be for the gift of Jesus – for God rescuing us from our sin and making us His people for Jesus’ Sake. And let us be thankful in our hearts and minds and souls, but also in our bodies. Let us speak and act differently from the world. Let us seek to live out our joy in Jesus through both our words and deeds, no matter what God has for us – whether peace or sorrow, health or illness, long life or violent death.
Paul understood who he had been in his days of self-righteousness and arrogance as a persecutor of the Church – of Jesus Himself. He understood the Amazing Love that changed him into the man he then was as an apostle of Jesus Christ. And Paul was thankful to God – no matter what he had to endure for the Gospel. So, if God would be glorified, if the Gospel would be advanced, if people would believe in Jesus through Paul’s death, then Paul was ready to die.
Are you?
How could the disciples respond to this, but to say, “Let the will of the Lord be done”?
So they accompanied Paul from Caesarea to Jerusalem, and Paul lodged with Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple.
Let us pray:
God of Life, we don’t like to think about death and dying, and we naturally want to avoid suffering. Help us to believe that whatever happens to us – if it honors the Name of Jesus – if more people end up hearing and believing the Gospel – then we can endure all things for Christ, and be joyful that in life and in death, we have witnessed to Him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Reformed Wisdom
“The harmlessness of error is a modern discovery.” – John Dick, Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles, 329.
"The Best Wine" Sermon: John 2:6-12
“The Best Wine”
[John 2:6-12]
October 21, 2010 Old First Presbyterian Church
Why did Jesus change the water into wine?
We may remember when I was last with you we looked at the fact the Jesus and His mother, Mary, went to a wedding in Cana, and when they ran out of wine, Mary, knowing that her Son is Divine, told Him to do something about it. Jesus rebuked Mary and told her that it was not His hour – that is it was not time for Jesus to submit to the will of humans which would culminate in His humiliation on the cross. However, Mary makes the curious comment to the servants, to do whatever Jesus says.
Jesus had told Mary that it was inappropriate for her to command Him to provide wine, but Mary understood that if providing wine was according to the Will of His Father, Jesus would do it, so Mary told the servants to do whatever He said.
We are told that there were six twenty or thirty gallon jars which were used to carry water for purification rites. That is, they contained water with which a person was washed to remove sin – to purify them. We will remember that the baptism of John the Baptist was with water – a purification rite – where a person was cleansed of his or her sins – not because he or she got wet, but for having faith in the Savior that God was sending.
Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water, and they filled them to the brim. We might wonder what they were thinking: they weren’t lacking in water; they were lacking in wine. What good was filling the jars up with water? Yet we see in their immediate response that they respected Jesus, so they did what He said.
It is important to note that we are talking about 120 to 180 gallons of water. That is a lot of water. Knowing that there was that much water, as Calvin points out, attests to what happened being a miracle. If the servants had shown up with several small jars of wine, it could be argued that they got it from the market or a neighbor’s, but since it was such a vast quantity of wine, it could only have appeared as a miracle.
It also shows us the apparent foolishness of the ways of God. Paul wrote, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ... But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even the things that are not, to bring to nothing that things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (I Corinthians 1:18, 27-31, ESV)
Jesus told the servants to bring the wine to the master of the feast – the one who had organized it – to let him taste the wine. And when he tasted the wine, he tasted the best wine he had ever had – and he didn’t know where it came from – the servants didn’t tell him – Jesus didn’t tell him. And he called the bridegroom to him and complimented the bridegroom for going against culture – which usually served the good wine first, and then when people were tipsy, gave them the poor wine. Instead, he had saved the very best wine for last
Why didn’t Jesus say He had changed the water into wine? Why didn’t the servants say that Jesus had turned the water into wine? As an example fo the foolishness of God’s Ways – that God has chosen to work through human beings rather than just brazenly announce Himself and His Savior. Doesn’t it seem it would be more effective for God to supernaturally announce Himself and His Savior over a cosmic loudspeaker, rather than have human beings preach His Word week after week? But God in His Sovereign Wisdom has chosen to use us and to bring His Gospel to the world through what seems foolish to us.
In the changing of water into wine, we also see symbolism of regeneration – what God does to us in salvation. The servants filled the cold, stone jars with water, and God changed that water into the best wine. Similarly, God in salvation takes we who were spiritually dead – like a cold, stone jar – and fills us with God the Holy Spirit, causing us to come to spiritual life. This is the promise that was made in Ezekiel’s day: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV).
Yet, with all that being said, we have not said why Jesus turned the water into wine.
After John records the response of the master of the feast, he tells us this: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.” Ah. Jesus changed the water into wine to manifest His Glory. What does that mean? It means that Jesus changed the water into wine to show – to attest – to prove – that He is the Savior, God in the Flesh.
Jesus could have stood up and called to the master of the feast, “Everyone, I am Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God, the Long-Awaited Savior, God in the Flesh. And to prove to You Who I Am, I will change these six jars – these six barrels – of water into best wine you have ever tasted.” He could have done that. But He didn’t. He called the servants aside quietly. They followed His instructions, but didn’t tell the master of the feast where the wine came from. The master of the feast thought the wine came from the bridegroom, and he, apparently, did not contradict that assumption.
So to whom was the Glory of Jesus Manifested? To the servants, the disciples, and Mary. To those whom God in His Sovereign Will and Wisdom chose to reveal it at that time. And they believed.
Jesus accomplished what He set out to do in that act: He changed the water into wine, revealing His Glory to the servants, the disciples, and Mary, and they believed in Him as the Savior Whom God sent.
How ought we respond to this? How then ought we to live?
Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31, ESV). Just as Jesus manifested His Glory, we are to do all things to His Glory. How do we do that?
Just as God worked through the servants to magnify Jesus and show His Glory to them, God also works through us to magnify Jesus and show His Glory. Is it the call of a servant to direct attention to himself or herself? Is it the job of a waiter to bring attention to himself or herself? Is it the job of a busperson to bring attention to himself or herself? No, they are there to point beyond themselves.
God has called us and put us in positions that we might point to Him and show Jesus to be Who He is to others. We wait in the shadows and direct the spotlight on our Savior through all we say and do. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, ESV).
Understand, Jesus is not calling us to be obnoxious: we are not called to file our taxes and then confront everyone we come in contact with saying, “I paid my taxes honestly and to the best of my understanding because I believe in Jesus ” Being obnoxious draws the spotlight on us; it takes the glory away from Jesus.
A more appropriate case would be if a friend were trying to get you to cheat on your taxes, and you said that you couldn’t cheat on your taxes because of what Jesus has done for you in salvation. That puts the spotlight on Jesus and draws the glory to Him. That is how we are to be – glorifying Jesus by showing that the reason for all that we do and say – except our sin – is in thanks to Him for Who He is and what He has done for us.
So let us bring forth the best wine, showing the manifesting of Jesus’ Glory – that He is God the Only Savior – in all that we do and say.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for manifesting the Glory of Jesus before the servants and disciples and Mary and us. We ask that You would help us to draw attention to You and Your Glory and Your Salvation through Jesus Alone. And may we be in all things, to Your Glory. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
[John 2:6-12]
October 21, 2010 Old First Presbyterian Church
Why did Jesus change the water into wine?
We may remember when I was last with you we looked at the fact the Jesus and His mother, Mary, went to a wedding in Cana, and when they ran out of wine, Mary, knowing that her Son is Divine, told Him to do something about it. Jesus rebuked Mary and told her that it was not His hour – that is it was not time for Jesus to submit to the will of humans which would culminate in His humiliation on the cross. However, Mary makes the curious comment to the servants, to do whatever Jesus says.
Jesus had told Mary that it was inappropriate for her to command Him to provide wine, but Mary understood that if providing wine was according to the Will of His Father, Jesus would do it, so Mary told the servants to do whatever He said.
We are told that there were six twenty or thirty gallon jars which were used to carry water for purification rites. That is, they contained water with which a person was washed to remove sin – to purify them. We will remember that the baptism of John the Baptist was with water – a purification rite – where a person was cleansed of his or her sins – not because he or she got wet, but for having faith in the Savior that God was sending.
Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water, and they filled them to the brim. We might wonder what they were thinking: they weren’t lacking in water; they were lacking in wine. What good was filling the jars up with water? Yet we see in their immediate response that they respected Jesus, so they did what He said.
It is important to note that we are talking about 120 to 180 gallons of water. That is a lot of water. Knowing that there was that much water, as Calvin points out, attests to what happened being a miracle. If the servants had shown up with several small jars of wine, it could be argued that they got it from the market or a neighbor’s, but since it was such a vast quantity of wine, it could only have appeared as a miracle.
It also shows us the apparent foolishness of the ways of God. Paul wrote, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ... But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even the things that are not, to bring to nothing that things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (I Corinthians 1:18, 27-31, ESV)
Jesus told the servants to bring the wine to the master of the feast – the one who had organized it – to let him taste the wine. And when he tasted the wine, he tasted the best wine he had ever had – and he didn’t know where it came from – the servants didn’t tell him – Jesus didn’t tell him. And he called the bridegroom to him and complimented the bridegroom for going against culture – which usually served the good wine first, and then when people were tipsy, gave them the poor wine. Instead, he had saved the very best wine for last
Why didn’t Jesus say He had changed the water into wine? Why didn’t the servants say that Jesus had turned the water into wine? As an example fo the foolishness of God’s Ways – that God has chosen to work through human beings rather than just brazenly announce Himself and His Savior. Doesn’t it seem it would be more effective for God to supernaturally announce Himself and His Savior over a cosmic loudspeaker, rather than have human beings preach His Word week after week? But God in His Sovereign Wisdom has chosen to use us and to bring His Gospel to the world through what seems foolish to us.
In the changing of water into wine, we also see symbolism of regeneration – what God does to us in salvation. The servants filled the cold, stone jars with water, and God changed that water into the best wine. Similarly, God in salvation takes we who were spiritually dead – like a cold, stone jar – and fills us with God the Holy Spirit, causing us to come to spiritual life. This is the promise that was made in Ezekiel’s day: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV).
Yet, with all that being said, we have not said why Jesus turned the water into wine.
After John records the response of the master of the feast, he tells us this: “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory.” Ah. Jesus changed the water into wine to manifest His Glory. What does that mean? It means that Jesus changed the water into wine to show – to attest – to prove – that He is the Savior, God in the Flesh.
Jesus could have stood up and called to the master of the feast, “Everyone, I am Jesus of Nazareth, Son of the Living God, the Long-Awaited Savior, God in the Flesh. And to prove to You Who I Am, I will change these six jars – these six barrels – of water into best wine you have ever tasted.” He could have done that. But He didn’t. He called the servants aside quietly. They followed His instructions, but didn’t tell the master of the feast where the wine came from. The master of the feast thought the wine came from the bridegroom, and he, apparently, did not contradict that assumption.
So to whom was the Glory of Jesus Manifested? To the servants, the disciples, and Mary. To those whom God in His Sovereign Will and Wisdom chose to reveal it at that time. And they believed.
Jesus accomplished what He set out to do in that act: He changed the water into wine, revealing His Glory to the servants, the disciples, and Mary, and they believed in Him as the Savior Whom God sent.
How ought we respond to this? How then ought we to live?
Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31, ESV). Just as Jesus manifested His Glory, we are to do all things to His Glory. How do we do that?
Just as God worked through the servants to magnify Jesus and show His Glory to them, God also works through us to magnify Jesus and show His Glory. Is it the call of a servant to direct attention to himself or herself? Is it the job of a waiter to bring attention to himself or herself? Is it the job of a busperson to bring attention to himself or herself? No, they are there to point beyond themselves.
God has called us and put us in positions that we might point to Him and show Jesus to be Who He is to others. We wait in the shadows and direct the spotlight on our Savior through all we say and do. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, ESV).
Understand, Jesus is not calling us to be obnoxious: we are not called to file our taxes and then confront everyone we come in contact with saying, “I paid my taxes honestly and to the best of my understanding because I believe in Jesus ” Being obnoxious draws the spotlight on us; it takes the glory away from Jesus.
A more appropriate case would be if a friend were trying to get you to cheat on your taxes, and you said that you couldn’t cheat on your taxes because of what Jesus has done for you in salvation. That puts the spotlight on Jesus and draws the glory to Him. That is how we are to be – glorifying Jesus by showing that the reason for all that we do and say – except our sin – is in thanks to Him for Who He is and what He has done for us.
So let us bring forth the best wine, showing the manifesting of Jesus’ Glory – that He is God the Only Savior – in all that we do and say.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for manifesting the Glory of Jesus before the servants and disciples and Mary and us. We ask that You would help us to draw attention to You and Your Glory and Your Salvation through Jesus Alone. And may we be in all things, to Your Glory. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Reformed Wisdom
"The duties of the ministerial office are so various and weighty, the temptations are so great, and the consequences of error and negligence are so fatal, that incessant vigilance is indispensably necessary."– John Dick, Lectures on the Acts of the Apostles, 327.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Jonathan Edwards and the Prayer Meeting
The pastor plans to attend a one-day conference on the Ongoing Relevance of Jonathan Edwards tomorrow. For that reason, there will not be a prayer meeting at the church. Please pray alone or in groups. We will plan to resume our meetings on the 30th.
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Pastor's Day Off
Due to a regular commitment, the pastor has changed his day off from Monday to Tuesday. Please update your phone etiquette, such that when you call on Tuesday, you now begin the conversation, "I know it's your day off, but..."
Sunday, October 17, 2010
"Give It Away" Sermon: Acts 20:17-38
“Give It Away”
[Acts 20:17-38]
October 17, 2010 Second Reformed Church
After Paul arrived in Miletus – in southwestern Turkey – he sent for the elders of Ephesus – and that would include both the pastors and elders. Why?
Paul had spent about three years with the Ephesians – possibly more than any other group – and he had some final things he wanted to tell them and remind them of – because he did not believe, based on what the Holy Spirit told him, that he would ever see him again.
He begins by assuring them that from the first day he set out through Asia – what we call Turkey – Paul served the Lord with humility and in tears as he suffered at the hands of those who hate the Gospel. However, he never backed down because of persecution; he always preached the whole Word of God – everything he knew – to both the Jews and the Gentiles – urging all of them to repent and believe in salvation through Jesus Christ Alone.
This is not pridefulness – this is not bragging. Paul is stating the facts – that despite his suffering, he did not withhold anything of the Gospel from them. That was important for them to know because, already, there were false teachers going around after Paul saying that they had a further revelation of Jesus Christ – a deeper wisdom – a greater knowledge – that they sought to impart.
Paul needed to assure them – and we need to be assured – that what we have in our Bible is everything that God has said and all that we need to know for faith and life. And salvation is in Jesus Christ Alone. Period. We add nothing – we merit nothing – towards our salvation – and God does not have some secret that we must learn for salvation beyond the Bible.
The Mormons say that the Bible is not enough. The Christian Scientists say that Bible is not enough. The Muslims says that the Bible is not enough. The Roman Catholics say that the Bible is not enough.
Jesus is enough. What God has revealed to us in His Word is enough. What more could God do but send His Son to save us apart from our works?
Paul told the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit was urging him on to Jerusalem and that he didn’t know what was going to happen to him, except that the Holy Spirit told him that he would be imprisoned and afflicted wherever he went.
How would we react to that kind of message from God? “Go to Trenton, and there you will be tortured and imprisoned.”
How does Paul respond to this?
“I do not account my life as of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Was Paul suicidal? No.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, telling them how God had refused to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” saying that God’s Grace was enough. “For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (II Corinthians 12:10, ESV).
Was Paul a masochist? Did he enjoy suffering? No.
The first thing that we ought to understand this morning is that the number one purpose of your life and my life and Paul’s life and the life of the Ephesian elders – and every Christian – the number one purpose of our lives is to glorify God by witnessing to others of salvation in Jesus Alone.
Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18, ESV).
Paul is not saying that we should deny that suffering exists, or that it is painful and undesirable, or that is causes discomfort and sadness. No, we are right to feel all those things when we suffer and when others die. Yet, as Christians, we have hope in Jesus of the life in glory yet to come. So we can press forward, looking to our Hope, enduring suffering and persecution and loss in this life, but not being destroyed by it, so long as we are pressing forward in our goal of spreading the Gospel to the whole world.
I have sarcoidosis. Thus far it is an incurable and, ultimately, fatal disease. Some days I feel pretty well, other days I feel horrible. Some times I end up in the hospital. I see many doctors and take many pills to cope with the effects of the disease and the side-effects of the medications. If I did not know that Jesus and His Gospel is the sure hope of salvation, I would probably hate God. I would be full of self-pity and anger. I don’t like being sick and feeling pain. If I could be completely well, I would gladly be so, and I do spend time researching, going to doctors, and relying on their wisdom.
However, I know the Glory is coming, and through Jesus Christ, I will be received into the Glory and perfected and made holy for His Sake. So, for now, I endure my Jerusalem, and strive to achieve the purpose for which I was created: to glorify God by living my life as a witness to others of salvation in Jesus Alone.
What about you?
Paul continues talking with the Ephesians, telling them that he will never see them again, and so he wants it to be clear to them that he is innocent of their blood, because he had declared the whole counsel of God before them.
We will remember that God told Ezekiel to prophesy, and God told him that if he prophesied and the people ignored him, their blood would be on their own heads, but if he did not prophecy, their blood would be on his head. This is what Paul is alluding to – he is warning the Ephesians that he has taught them everything they need to know, so if any refuse to receive Jesus and His Salvation Alone, Paul is innocent of their unbelief and the punishment that will follow.
Then Paul tells the elders to watch over the flock very carefully – over their parishioners– those whom God has given to them to teach and lead – because wolves were coming to mislead the flock and steal them away – false teachers would do everything they could – inspired by the devil and his angels – the demons – to steal them away. And Paul warns them that the wolves come from two places – from the world – which we would expect – those people out there and their crazy and evil ideas – but also from within the Church. It is a terrible but true thing to know that there are people in leadership and in ministry who – consciously or subconsciously – desire nothing more than to lead people away from Christ.
We famously note the TV preachers who are only in the ministry for the money they can get. But money is not the only reason that people wrongly go into the ministry. Some people go into the ministry to tell people that everything that Bible says is wrong. Some people go into the ministry to lead people into the worship of other gods – gods who are not gods, but illusions or demons. Elders, we must watch out that the people who come into worship are not misled or abused or taken advantage of – and we must check each other that we are not preaching and teaching things contrary to the Scripture. And to do that, we must know the Scripture and believe.
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15, ESV). “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, ESV).
The reality is that there are people and creatures fighting against the Gospel, seeking any way that they can to lead people away from Christ and His Salvation, and to confuse us in what we believe and what is True. Let us watch over the flock earnestly.
Paul tells the elders to work hard, with tears, building up the inheritance of the teaching of the Apostles and the whole Word of God. Christianity is not a game; it is not a social club. We are fighting on behalf of Jesus for the souls of the lost. And thanks be to God that Jesus tells us that He will lose no one – no matter how our lives go, despite our sin and failings, Jesus is victorious, and all those He intends to save and bring into His Kingdom will be there. Our work is hard and painful – and joyful – and in the end we have the sure hope that Jesus will accomplish everything He has intended to do, without fail. So we have neither reason to be lazy, nor to despair.
The value of our lives, then, is found in following Christ in thanksgiving for His Salvation. Our salvation is entirely God’s Work, and God’s Plan cannot fail. Still, we are called to work hard for the Gospel – not for our salvation – not to merit God’s Gift – but because God works through us to accomplish His Purposes, and we rightly show God thanks for all that He has done for us – and especially for our salvation – as we follow Him in obedience and see to glorify Him by being witnesses to salvation in Jesus Alone.
Paul tells them that he was even willing to work to support himself, not receive his needs from the Church – which was his due as a minister of the Gospel – but for the sake of the Gospel and the witness he was making, he took nothing from them. And he gave that as an example to them to inspire them to work hard and to provide for the needs of the poor and the suffering and the needy.
And then he told them to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” What was Jesus saying?
Jesus was not denying that the person who receives from another gets a blessing. Every time we give to someone, the person who receives the gift gets the blessing of the gift. If you give me a gift, I would be blessed by it; if I give you a gift, you would be blessed by it.
What Jesus was saying is that giving reflects God’s Nature. Paul wrote, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, ESV). God’s Joy was made full in giving His Son to glorify Himself and save us from His Wrath and our sin. God was blessed through the giving of His Son to accomplish salvation. We could give nothing to God to make ourselves worthy or to earn our salvation.
Listen to this amazing word: “[let us look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). Jesus received joy – Jesus was blessed – through giving Himself – through the Incarnation, His Life, Death on the cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.
What does that mean for us?
When we hear Jesus say, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” we ought to also hear, “We fulfill our joy by giving our all away.” As we give away our things, our money, our time, our ability – everything we have and are, for the sake of the Gospel – we are blessed – we receive joy
“Now wait a minute,” some of you are thinking. “Are you saying that Jesus wants us to give away every last cent we have? Are you saying that we should neglect ourselves and our families and our obligations and all become monks or nuns?”
Not at all. Let us remember a few things:
First, God gave us the Creation to enjoy. Everything that is was given to us for us to enjoy – to see God in and to experience joy through. We do not have the authority to abuse and destroy the Creation – we are to steward the Creation with the same care that God shows for us. Yet everything – except sin – is for our joy.
Second, God promises to provide for all of our needs each day. We pray that in the Lord’s Prayer – and it is a promise – “give us this day our daily bread.” God will provide everything we need to be God’s people and to accomplish God’s Plan for today. We may not receive everything we want. We may not receive what we think we need. But God will provide us with everything He knows we need. And God has given us minds to plan and budget so we know what we really need and what is above our need.
Thirdly, God has promised to bless us with more than we need to keep and use for ourselves. How do we know that? Because God has commanded us to give ten percent of our gross income to the Church. Ten percent of our salary, ten percent of our Social Security. Ten percent of our pension. Ten percent of all of the gross income we make is to be given back to the Church. That is money that we do not need to live on, but is given to us that we might give back that offering to God in thanksgiving.
Fourth, God has given many of us more than we need, more than ten percent that we are to give to the Church, but blessing upon blessings over that – not just in money, but in time and talent, and all variety of spiritual gifts that we can use to bless the Church and others.
“Well, what I have is mine. I earned it, and I don’t see anywhere in the Bible that says I have to give it away. I’m saving it for my retirement – my kinds – my grandchildren – my nieces and nephews.”
That’s partially right: God has given us minds and we ought to be wise with everything He has given to us and use it and invest it well. Most of us ought not to just give everything away without thinking. And it is good and biblical to help our family – especially those who are in need. You and I may be the ones God uses to provide for the needs of our relatives.
The point is not that we have to give. The point is that when we give, we receive blessing and joy. And as we are able and willing – the more that we give – and remember – not just in money, but in time and talent, etc. – the more we give, the more blessing and joy we receive.
The point is that we ought to think over what God has given us in every area and ability and consider how we might best use what we have been given to the Glory of God. What is the best way I can use my abilities and my time and my money to show others that God is glorious and that there is only salvation through Jesus Alone?
And consider this: after your needs are met and you have given your thanksgiving offering to the Church, the more you give away, the less you have to worry about If you give away your money, you don’t need to worry about it being stolen or taxed. If you give away your boat and your ninety-six inch TV, you don’t have to worry about them being stolen. If you donate your time to working at the Church, volunteering to help the needy, and so forth, you won’t have to worry about getting bored. If you give away the things you don’t need, you won’t have to worry about dusting them or finding a place to store them, much less their being stolen.
Jesus is not saying we have to live as impoverished hermits. What Jesus is saying is that God has given all of us blessings in many ways, and He wants us to use them – steward them – invest them – in the best, most God-glorifying way. And, as we do that, we will be blessed and filled with His Joy.
Trust God and see what happens.
After Paul said all these things to the Ephesians, he knelt down before them and they wept together – because Paul had told them he would not see them again, because Paul was looking towards martyrdom.
They embraced him and kissed him and sent him on the ship to Jerusalem.
And so let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for the witness of Paul and his farewell to the Ephesians. We thank You for showing us that we exists to glorify You by showing others Your Salvation through Jesus Alone. Help us to find value in our lives by following Christ in thanksgiving for our salvation. And help us to be good stewards of all You have blessed us with, even as You bless us and fill us with Your Joy as we give wisely of all You have given us. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
[Acts 20:17-38]
October 17, 2010 Second Reformed Church
After Paul arrived in Miletus – in southwestern Turkey – he sent for the elders of Ephesus – and that would include both the pastors and elders. Why?
Paul had spent about three years with the Ephesians – possibly more than any other group – and he had some final things he wanted to tell them and remind them of – because he did not believe, based on what the Holy Spirit told him, that he would ever see him again.
He begins by assuring them that from the first day he set out through Asia – what we call Turkey – Paul served the Lord with humility and in tears as he suffered at the hands of those who hate the Gospel. However, he never backed down because of persecution; he always preached the whole Word of God – everything he knew – to both the Jews and the Gentiles – urging all of them to repent and believe in salvation through Jesus Christ Alone.
This is not pridefulness – this is not bragging. Paul is stating the facts – that despite his suffering, he did not withhold anything of the Gospel from them. That was important for them to know because, already, there were false teachers going around after Paul saying that they had a further revelation of Jesus Christ – a deeper wisdom – a greater knowledge – that they sought to impart.
Paul needed to assure them – and we need to be assured – that what we have in our Bible is everything that God has said and all that we need to know for faith and life. And salvation is in Jesus Christ Alone. Period. We add nothing – we merit nothing – towards our salvation – and God does not have some secret that we must learn for salvation beyond the Bible.
The Mormons say that the Bible is not enough. The Christian Scientists say that Bible is not enough. The Muslims says that the Bible is not enough. The Roman Catholics say that the Bible is not enough.
Jesus is enough. What God has revealed to us in His Word is enough. What more could God do but send His Son to save us apart from our works?
Paul told the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit was urging him on to Jerusalem and that he didn’t know what was going to happen to him, except that the Holy Spirit told him that he would be imprisoned and afflicted wherever he went.
How would we react to that kind of message from God? “Go to Trenton, and there you will be tortured and imprisoned.”
How does Paul respond to this?
“I do not account my life as of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Was Paul suicidal? No.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, telling them how God had refused to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” saying that God’s Grace was enough. “For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (II Corinthians 12:10, ESV).
Was Paul a masochist? Did he enjoy suffering? No.
The first thing that we ought to understand this morning is that the number one purpose of your life and my life and Paul’s life and the life of the Ephesian elders – and every Christian – the number one purpose of our lives is to glorify God by witnessing to others of salvation in Jesus Alone.
Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18, ESV).
Paul is not saying that we should deny that suffering exists, or that it is painful and undesirable, or that is causes discomfort and sadness. No, we are right to feel all those things when we suffer and when others die. Yet, as Christians, we have hope in Jesus of the life in glory yet to come. So we can press forward, looking to our Hope, enduring suffering and persecution and loss in this life, but not being destroyed by it, so long as we are pressing forward in our goal of spreading the Gospel to the whole world.
I have sarcoidosis. Thus far it is an incurable and, ultimately, fatal disease. Some days I feel pretty well, other days I feel horrible. Some times I end up in the hospital. I see many doctors and take many pills to cope with the effects of the disease and the side-effects of the medications. If I did not know that Jesus and His Gospel is the sure hope of salvation, I would probably hate God. I would be full of self-pity and anger. I don’t like being sick and feeling pain. If I could be completely well, I would gladly be so, and I do spend time researching, going to doctors, and relying on their wisdom.
However, I know the Glory is coming, and through Jesus Christ, I will be received into the Glory and perfected and made holy for His Sake. So, for now, I endure my Jerusalem, and strive to achieve the purpose for which I was created: to glorify God by living my life as a witness to others of salvation in Jesus Alone.
What about you?
Paul continues talking with the Ephesians, telling them that he will never see them again, and so he wants it to be clear to them that he is innocent of their blood, because he had declared the whole counsel of God before them.
We will remember that God told Ezekiel to prophesy, and God told him that if he prophesied and the people ignored him, their blood would be on their own heads, but if he did not prophecy, their blood would be on his head. This is what Paul is alluding to – he is warning the Ephesians that he has taught them everything they need to know, so if any refuse to receive Jesus and His Salvation Alone, Paul is innocent of their unbelief and the punishment that will follow.
Then Paul tells the elders to watch over the flock very carefully – over their parishioners– those whom God has given to them to teach and lead – because wolves were coming to mislead the flock and steal them away – false teachers would do everything they could – inspired by the devil and his angels – the demons – to steal them away. And Paul warns them that the wolves come from two places – from the world – which we would expect – those people out there and their crazy and evil ideas – but also from within the Church. It is a terrible but true thing to know that there are people in leadership and in ministry who – consciously or subconsciously – desire nothing more than to lead people away from Christ.
We famously note the TV preachers who are only in the ministry for the money they can get. But money is not the only reason that people wrongly go into the ministry. Some people go into the ministry to tell people that everything that Bible says is wrong. Some people go into the ministry to lead people into the worship of other gods – gods who are not gods, but illusions or demons. Elders, we must watch out that the people who come into worship are not misled or abused or taken advantage of – and we must check each other that we are not preaching and teaching things contrary to the Scripture. And to do that, we must know the Scripture and believe.
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15, ESV). “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16, ESV).
The reality is that there are people and creatures fighting against the Gospel, seeking any way that they can to lead people away from Christ and His Salvation, and to confuse us in what we believe and what is True. Let us watch over the flock earnestly.
Paul tells the elders to work hard, with tears, building up the inheritance of the teaching of the Apostles and the whole Word of God. Christianity is not a game; it is not a social club. We are fighting on behalf of Jesus for the souls of the lost. And thanks be to God that Jesus tells us that He will lose no one – no matter how our lives go, despite our sin and failings, Jesus is victorious, and all those He intends to save and bring into His Kingdom will be there. Our work is hard and painful – and joyful – and in the end we have the sure hope that Jesus will accomplish everything He has intended to do, without fail. So we have neither reason to be lazy, nor to despair.
The value of our lives, then, is found in following Christ in thanksgiving for His Salvation. Our salvation is entirely God’s Work, and God’s Plan cannot fail. Still, we are called to work hard for the Gospel – not for our salvation – not to merit God’s Gift – but because God works through us to accomplish His Purposes, and we rightly show God thanks for all that He has done for us – and especially for our salvation – as we follow Him in obedience and see to glorify Him by being witnesses to salvation in Jesus Alone.
Paul tells them that he was even willing to work to support himself, not receive his needs from the Church – which was his due as a minister of the Gospel – but for the sake of the Gospel and the witness he was making, he took nothing from them. And he gave that as an example to them to inspire them to work hard and to provide for the needs of the poor and the suffering and the needy.
And then he told them to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” What was Jesus saying?
Jesus was not denying that the person who receives from another gets a blessing. Every time we give to someone, the person who receives the gift gets the blessing of the gift. If you give me a gift, I would be blessed by it; if I give you a gift, you would be blessed by it.
What Jesus was saying is that giving reflects God’s Nature. Paul wrote, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, ESV). God’s Joy was made full in giving His Son to glorify Himself and save us from His Wrath and our sin. God was blessed through the giving of His Son to accomplish salvation. We could give nothing to God to make ourselves worthy or to earn our salvation.
Listen to this amazing word: “[let us look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV). Jesus received joy – Jesus was blessed – through giving Himself – through the Incarnation, His Life, Death on the cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.
What does that mean for us?
When we hear Jesus say, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” we ought to also hear, “We fulfill our joy by giving our all away.” As we give away our things, our money, our time, our ability – everything we have and are, for the sake of the Gospel – we are blessed – we receive joy
“Now wait a minute,” some of you are thinking. “Are you saying that Jesus wants us to give away every last cent we have? Are you saying that we should neglect ourselves and our families and our obligations and all become monks or nuns?”
Not at all. Let us remember a few things:
First, God gave us the Creation to enjoy. Everything that is was given to us for us to enjoy – to see God in and to experience joy through. We do not have the authority to abuse and destroy the Creation – we are to steward the Creation with the same care that God shows for us. Yet everything – except sin – is for our joy.
Second, God promises to provide for all of our needs each day. We pray that in the Lord’s Prayer – and it is a promise – “give us this day our daily bread.” God will provide everything we need to be God’s people and to accomplish God’s Plan for today. We may not receive everything we want. We may not receive what we think we need. But God will provide us with everything He knows we need. And God has given us minds to plan and budget so we know what we really need and what is above our need.
Thirdly, God has promised to bless us with more than we need to keep and use for ourselves. How do we know that? Because God has commanded us to give ten percent of our gross income to the Church. Ten percent of our salary, ten percent of our Social Security. Ten percent of our pension. Ten percent of all of the gross income we make is to be given back to the Church. That is money that we do not need to live on, but is given to us that we might give back that offering to God in thanksgiving.
Fourth, God has given many of us more than we need, more than ten percent that we are to give to the Church, but blessing upon blessings over that – not just in money, but in time and talent, and all variety of spiritual gifts that we can use to bless the Church and others.
“Well, what I have is mine. I earned it, and I don’t see anywhere in the Bible that says I have to give it away. I’m saving it for my retirement – my kinds – my grandchildren – my nieces and nephews.”
That’s partially right: God has given us minds and we ought to be wise with everything He has given to us and use it and invest it well. Most of us ought not to just give everything away without thinking. And it is good and biblical to help our family – especially those who are in need. You and I may be the ones God uses to provide for the needs of our relatives.
The point is not that we have to give. The point is that when we give, we receive blessing and joy. And as we are able and willing – the more that we give – and remember – not just in money, but in time and talent, etc. – the more we give, the more blessing and joy we receive.
The point is that we ought to think over what God has given us in every area and ability and consider how we might best use what we have been given to the Glory of God. What is the best way I can use my abilities and my time and my money to show others that God is glorious and that there is only salvation through Jesus Alone?
And consider this: after your needs are met and you have given your thanksgiving offering to the Church, the more you give away, the less you have to worry about If you give away your money, you don’t need to worry about it being stolen or taxed. If you give away your boat and your ninety-six inch TV, you don’t have to worry about them being stolen. If you donate your time to working at the Church, volunteering to help the needy, and so forth, you won’t have to worry about getting bored. If you give away the things you don’t need, you won’t have to worry about dusting them or finding a place to store them, much less their being stolen.
Jesus is not saying we have to live as impoverished hermits. What Jesus is saying is that God has given all of us blessings in many ways, and He wants us to use them – steward them – invest them – in the best, most God-glorifying way. And, as we do that, we will be blessed and filled with His Joy.
Trust God and see what happens.
After Paul said all these things to the Ephesians, he knelt down before them and they wept together – because Paul had told them he would not see them again, because Paul was looking towards martyrdom.
They embraced him and kissed him and sent him on the ship to Jerusalem.
And so let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for the witness of Paul and his farewell to the Ephesians. We thank You for showing us that we exists to glorify You by showing others Your Salvation through Jesus Alone. Help us to find value in our lives by following Christ in thanksgiving for our salvation. And help us to be good stewards of all You have blessed us with, even as You bless us and fill us with Your Joy as we give wisely of all You have given us. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Reformed Wisdom
“So true is it universally that what men keep they lose, and what they part with they retain, and the highest happiness is to create and diffuse it.” – John Eadie, Paul the Preacher, 349.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
"Do You Fall Alseep During the Sermon?" Sermon: Acts 20:1-16
“Do You Fall Asleep During the Sermon?”
[Acts 20:1-16]
October 10, 2010 Second Reformed Church
We will remember, last week we saw the Ephesian craftsmen almost causing a riot because they were losing business by people leaving their idolatry and following Jesus. But the town clerk stepped in and got the crowd to disperse.
After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and sailed back to Greece to disciple the Christians there. After three months, some Jews plotted to kill Paul as he sailed back to Turkey – so, rather than sail back, Paul retraced his steps back up through Greece to Neapolis – just east of Philippi – reaching it during Passover. After Passover, Paul, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychius, and Trophimus sailed to Troas – on the Northwestern coast of Turkey – where they met up with Luke and others. And they stayed there for seven days.
Has your mind ever wandered during the sermon? Have you ever fallen asleep during the sermon? I would guess that everyone – including me – has, at times, had their mind wander – and some of us may even fall asleep from time to time. Growing up, we always knew how well my grandfather slept through the sermon by how heartily he thanked the minister for the sermon on the way out.
On the first day of the week – on the Lord’s Day – on Sunday, Paul and the disciples gathered in a third floor room, where they shared a meal and the Lord’s Supper – as they did every time they gathered for worship – and then Paul preached – until midnight. If Paul began speaking at 6 PM – that would have been six hours of preaching.
The room was crowed and lit by lamps. There weren’t enough chairs, so people even sat in the windows. And there was a young man, Eutychus, who was sitting in one of those third floor windows, after eating, in a crowded room, listening to Paul preach for – perhaps six hours – and Eutychus fell into a deep sleep – and fell backwards out the third floor window to his death.
The people ran down to the ground where Eutychus lay – and the people were greatly alarmed that he was dead. And for those who say, “Oh, he was just knocked out” – the physician – the doctor – who was on the scene, Luke, says he was dead – and the people were “greatly alarmed,” which indicates that they understood that he was really dead.
And just so you know – the point of this text – what we are supposed to receive from this text – is not that God will kill people who fall asleep during the sermon. Nor is the point that long sermons kill. We need to continue:
Paul bent down over Eutychus’ body and took him in his arms, and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is still in him.” The word “life” here is the Greek word, psyche, which here refers to the “life-principle” – the “breath” that God put into Adam to make him a living being (cf. Genesis 2:7, naphach).
The people who saw Paul’s actions would have been reminded of two occasions in the Old Testament:
The prophet, Elijah, had been staying with the widow of Zarephath and her son while he was on the run from King Ahab. And one day, the son became ill and died, and the widow blamed his death on Elijah. But Elijah took the boy and lay him on his own bed. “And he cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon this widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?’ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.’ And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘See, you son lives.’ And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth’” (I Kings 17:20-24, ESV).
Elijah’s successor, Elisha, met up with a barren Shunammite woman, and he told her that God would give her a son. And she did bear a son. But one day, the boy started to have severe pains in his head, and he died. “When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bead. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, ‘Call this Shummanite.’ So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’ She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out” (II Kings 4:32-37, ESV).
And we will remember that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha got sick and died, and when Jesus arrived, He wept. “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe you sent me.’ When he said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go’” (John 11:39-44, ESV).
And, of course, we remember the most important and most famous resurrection – the Resurrection of Jesus, when Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb and found it empty and were greeted by angels who told them that Jesus was alive and to go and tell His disciples. They went and told them, and they ran back and checked. “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni ’ (which means Teacher)” (John 20:9-16, ESV).
So Paul brought Eutychus back up to the third floor, ate some more, celebrated the Lord’s Supper again, and preached to them until sunrise – another six hours. “And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.” That is a very understated way to say that they were rejoicing, praising God and giving thanks, because God raised Eutychus from the dead – giving him back to his family and people.
And that is the first thing that we should understand from this text: God is able to raise the dead.
And then we ought to consider if that fact is important for us and our lives – and the answer is “yes ”
Paul tells us, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (I Corinthians 15:12-19, ESV).
Paul argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not raised from the dead. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then we have been lying about God. If Jesus was not raised, then we shall not be raised – and we are damned in our sin.
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has also come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ” (I Corinthians 15:20-23, ESV).
But, Paul tells us, the fact – the historical fact – Christianity stands or falls on this historical fact – Jesus did rise from the dead. Through Adam’s sin, death came to every human, and through Jesus, all those who believe are assured the resurrection to everlasting life.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18, ESV).
“Behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:51-53, ESV).
The resurrection of the sons of the two women shows us that God is able to raise the dead. The resurrection of Lazarus shows us that God can raise the dead. The resurrection of Eutychus shows us that God can raise the dead. But the Resurrection of Jesus –
Brothers and sisters, receive the promises and understand that if God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus’ Human Body was perfected and glorified, our bodies will be perfected and glorified. This life is not the end, and we who believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation will be resurrected, perfected, and glorified, made like Jesus, for His Sake and for His Glory.
That should leave us “not a little comforted.” Eutychus’ resurrection ought to remind us of Jesus’ Resurrection and that we who believe will also be resurrected to everlasting life with Jesus in the Kingdom.
Having this history should encourage us to live the life we are called to live as we hold fast to the sure Promise of Jesus.
Paul writes, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (I Corinthians 15:54-58, ESV).
Let us not deny that death is awful and sad. Death is the last enemy that we have to face as believers. Death is horrible – the last corruption – the culmination of destruction in our bodies. But the day is coming when death will die (cf. I Corinthians 15:26). So let us rejoice – not desiring to suffer and experience death – but let us rejoice and not fear – knowing that death is not the end – death will die – and we have the sure hope and promise – the victory – that we will be raised to life – just like Jesus – forever to be with Him.
And let us work hard for our Lord with all that we are until our day comes or until the Lord returns. For what we do for Christ and His Gospel is not in vain. It is the Word of Life, the Power of the Resurrection.
The people took Eutychus home, rejoicing in his resurrection and comforted in the knowledge and assurance of the resurrection which is to come unto life for all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation.
Paul went to the ship, and he and his companions sailed to Assos – going south down the western coast of Turkey. Then to Mitylene, Chios, Samos, stopping in Miletus on the southwest coast of Turkey– and bypassing Ephesus – hoping to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.
Let us pray:
God of Life, we thank You that You have proven Your Power and Your Promise by raising a number of people from the dead. We especially thank You for raising Jesus from the dead, so we can know that we will be raised from the dead and received into the life everlasting. With that fact before us, give us the grace to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
[Acts 20:1-16]
October 10, 2010 Second Reformed Church
We will remember, last week we saw the Ephesian craftsmen almost causing a riot because they were losing business by people leaving their idolatry and following Jesus. But the town clerk stepped in and got the crowd to disperse.
After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and sailed back to Greece to disciple the Christians there. After three months, some Jews plotted to kill Paul as he sailed back to Turkey – so, rather than sail back, Paul retraced his steps back up through Greece to Neapolis – just east of Philippi – reaching it during Passover. After Passover, Paul, Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychius, and Trophimus sailed to Troas – on the Northwestern coast of Turkey – where they met up with Luke and others. And they stayed there for seven days.
Has your mind ever wandered during the sermon? Have you ever fallen asleep during the sermon? I would guess that everyone – including me – has, at times, had their mind wander – and some of us may even fall asleep from time to time. Growing up, we always knew how well my grandfather slept through the sermon by how heartily he thanked the minister for the sermon on the way out.
On the first day of the week – on the Lord’s Day – on Sunday, Paul and the disciples gathered in a third floor room, where they shared a meal and the Lord’s Supper – as they did every time they gathered for worship – and then Paul preached – until midnight. If Paul began speaking at 6 PM – that would have been six hours of preaching.
The room was crowed and lit by lamps. There weren’t enough chairs, so people even sat in the windows. And there was a young man, Eutychus, who was sitting in one of those third floor windows, after eating, in a crowded room, listening to Paul preach for – perhaps six hours – and Eutychus fell into a deep sleep – and fell backwards out the third floor window to his death.
The people ran down to the ground where Eutychus lay – and the people were greatly alarmed that he was dead. And for those who say, “Oh, he was just knocked out” – the physician – the doctor – who was on the scene, Luke, says he was dead – and the people were “greatly alarmed,” which indicates that they understood that he was really dead.
And just so you know – the point of this text – what we are supposed to receive from this text – is not that God will kill people who fall asleep during the sermon. Nor is the point that long sermons kill. We need to continue:
Paul bent down over Eutychus’ body and took him in his arms, and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is still in him.” The word “life” here is the Greek word, psyche, which here refers to the “life-principle” – the “breath” that God put into Adam to make him a living being (cf. Genesis 2:7, naphach).
The people who saw Paul’s actions would have been reminded of two occasions in the Old Testament:
The prophet, Elijah, had been staying with the widow of Zarephath and her son while he was on the run from King Ahab. And one day, the son became ill and died, and the widow blamed his death on Elijah. But Elijah took the boy and lay him on his own bed. “And he cried out to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon this widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?’ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.’ And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, ‘See, you son lives.’ And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth’” (I Kings 17:20-24, ESV).
Elijah’s successor, Elisha, met up with a barren Shunammite woman, and he told her that God would give her a son. And she did bear a son. But one day, the boy started to have severe pains in his head, and he died. “When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bead. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, ‘Call this Shummanite.’ So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’ She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out” (II Kings 4:32-37, ESV).
And we will remember that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha got sick and died, and when Jesus arrived, He wept. “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe you sent me.’ When he said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go’” (John 11:39-44, ESV).
And, of course, we remember the most important and most famous resurrection – the Resurrection of Jesus, when Mary Magdalene and the other women went to the tomb and found it empty and were greeted by angels who told them that Jesus was alive and to go and tell His disciples. They went and told them, and they ran back and checked. “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni ’ (which means Teacher)” (John 20:9-16, ESV).
So Paul brought Eutychus back up to the third floor, ate some more, celebrated the Lord’s Supper again, and preached to them until sunrise – another six hours. “And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.” That is a very understated way to say that they were rejoicing, praising God and giving thanks, because God raised Eutychus from the dead – giving him back to his family and people.
And that is the first thing that we should understand from this text: God is able to raise the dead.
And then we ought to consider if that fact is important for us and our lives – and the answer is “yes ”
Paul tells us, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (I Corinthians 15:12-19, ESV).
Paul argues that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not raised from the dead. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then we have been lying about God. If Jesus was not raised, then we shall not be raised – and we are damned in our sin.
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has also come the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ” (I Corinthians 15:20-23, ESV).
But, Paul tells us, the fact – the historical fact – Christianity stands or falls on this historical fact – Jesus did rise from the dead. Through Adam’s sin, death came to every human, and through Jesus, all those who believe are assured the resurrection to everlasting life.
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (I Thessalonians 4:16-18, ESV).
“Behold I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (I Corinthians 15:51-53, ESV).
The resurrection of the sons of the two women shows us that God is able to raise the dead. The resurrection of Lazarus shows us that God can raise the dead. The resurrection of Eutychus shows us that God can raise the dead. But the Resurrection of Jesus –
Brothers and sisters, receive the promises and understand that if God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus’ Human Body was perfected and glorified, our bodies will be perfected and glorified. This life is not the end, and we who believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation will be resurrected, perfected, and glorified, made like Jesus, for His Sake and for His Glory.
That should leave us “not a little comforted.” Eutychus’ resurrection ought to remind us of Jesus’ Resurrection and that we who believe will also be resurrected to everlasting life with Jesus in the Kingdom.
Having this history should encourage us to live the life we are called to live as we hold fast to the sure Promise of Jesus.
Paul writes, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (I Corinthians 15:54-58, ESV).
Let us not deny that death is awful and sad. Death is the last enemy that we have to face as believers. Death is horrible – the last corruption – the culmination of destruction in our bodies. But the day is coming when death will die (cf. I Corinthians 15:26). So let us rejoice – not desiring to suffer and experience death – but let us rejoice and not fear – knowing that death is not the end – death will die – and we have the sure hope and promise – the victory – that we will be raised to life – just like Jesus – forever to be with Him.
And let us work hard for our Lord with all that we are until our day comes or until the Lord returns. For what we do for Christ and His Gospel is not in vain. It is the Word of Life, the Power of the Resurrection.
The people took Eutychus home, rejoicing in his resurrection and comforted in the knowledge and assurance of the resurrection which is to come unto life for all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation.
Paul went to the ship, and he and his companions sailed to Assos – going south down the western coast of Turkey. Then to Mitylene, Chios, Samos, stopping in Miletus on the southwest coast of Turkey– and bypassing Ephesus – hoping to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.
Let us pray:
God of Life, we thank You that You have proven Your Power and Your Promise by raising a number of people from the dead. We especially thank You for raising Jesus from the dead, so we can know that we will be raised from the dead and received into the life everlasting. With that fact before us, give us the grace to be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Reformed Wisdom
“Alas! That so many in modern times regard so little the first day of the week, or weary on it for the coming of the second, reckoning Sunday a mere interruption between Saturday and Monday, or otherwise profaning it in the pursuit of lawless pleasure or pastime. And even of those who ‘come together,’ how many stay away for very trivial reasons, a passing cloud throwing a chiller shadow upon their souls as it does upon the earth, and betoking a fall in their religious affections deeper than the depression of the barometer. If one may thus absent himself, why may not all; the minister, too, as well as any of the people? Who keeps at home for such a paltry reason from a scene of secular enjoyment, or the place of ordinary business? Are there not many sicknesses so cunning in their coming and going, so endowed with forethought never to invade a weekday, but to appear with the dawn of the Sabbath and disappear on its evening? Is it not a law of our nature that difficulties grow with indulgence, and if weather regulate church-going, other barriers will soon make themselves be felt – irregularity followed by long pauses, and ending in utter spiritual remissness and death. Does not such fluctuation in duty deprive one of the divine promise, and may it not rob him of the very word which was adapted to his benefit? And if heaven is an eternal Sabbath for which recurring Sabbath prepares, how can one hope to enjoy it who cries out as to ‘the weariness’ of the periodic rest on earth – who fins not exceeding luxury in social worship, or who regards not the day which God has blessed and sanctified as the happiest, holiest day of all te seven?” – John Eadie, Paul the Preacher, 297-298.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
"Watching the Bottom Line" Sermon: Acts 19:21-41
“Watching the Bottom Line”
[Acts 19:21-41]
October 3, 2010 Second Reformed Church
This morning we conclude Paul’s two-year ministry in Ephesus: he had returned to the city to minister among the people who had come to faith in Jesus Alone for their salvation, and when he arrived, he found that there were still people who knew of Jesus, but who didn’t believe in Him Alone for salvation. So he preached to them and explained the Resurrection, and they believed and the Holy Spirit indwelt them and caused them to bear fruit.
God worked miracles through Paul and his clothing, as well. And the non-Christians – seven exorcists in particular – tried to use Jesus’ Name – without believing in Him – to cast out demons – resulting in them being rebuked, beaten, stripped, and chased away by the demon-possessed man. So, we saw that there are angels and demons, and to use Jesus’ Name when a person doesn’t believe in Him is using the Lord’s Name in vain.
However, the Christians of the city who had not gotten rid of all the things which are incompatible with the Christian faith – their practice of magic, for example – responded to the exorcists’ beating by repenting and burning their books – worth two hundred and fifty years salary. And we saw that sanctification – becoming holy – is a process that God works out in and through us.
After all these things occurred, Paul decided to return to Greece to minister among the Christians there. And then he said he wanted to finally make it to Rome – where there were already Christians, as we saw in the meeting of Priscilla and Aquila. But first, he had some things to tie up, so he sent Timothy and Erastus on ahead of him.
Suddenly a disturbance arose – nearly a riot – due to the Way – due to the life that the Christians were living in Ephesus and what that meant for the rest of the community. And a man named Demetrius, “a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis [also known as Diana], brought no little business to the craftsmen” –he gathered the craftsmen of the city together:
“Men of Ephesus, you know that our wealth comes from selling the statues of Artemis and her temple. We make our living off of selling these silver shrines. You are also aware of Paul and how he has persuaded a great many people in most of Asia to believe that the gods are not gods – that Jesus Alone is God. The upshot of this is that our sales have plummeted. We are losing money hand over fist, and if we don’t watch the bottom line, we will be bankrupt and out of business very soon.
“And, it may come that the great goddess Artemis will also be counted as nothing, and she will be deposed – her magnificence lost – the great goddess whom all of Asia now worships.”
Demetrius may not have been a theologian, but he knew how to protect his business – he saw his profits falling because people weren’t buying the statues and shrines, so he called the craftsmens’ guild together and stirred them up – pointed out that they would all be out of business soon if something wasn’t done. Oh, and Artemis might also lose her rank as goddess.
Let us understand, first, then, that Jesus and His Salvation are worth more than anything and everything else in all of Creation. The person who believes savingly in Jesus will be willing to lose everything for Jesus’ sake, because He is of greater value.
Paul wrote to the Philippians against some false apostles, who called themselves, “super apostles,” “I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from of the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:4-11, ESV).
Paul said, “If you want to talk about pedigree, I have the perfect Jewish pedigree. If you want to talk about obedience to the Law, I have been obedient. But pedigree and obedience – good works – cannot save – I am still a sinner, damned to Hell and the reception of the Wrath of God – unless... Unless Jesus gives me faith. Unless Jesus gives me His Righteousness. Unless Jesus saves me from the Wrath of God. And because Jesus has done that for me, everything else – compared with Jesus and His Salvation – is nothing – because it cannot save me from my sin and the penalty for it.”
That’s what the Ephesian Christians believed. That’s why they burned their magic books. That’s why they stopped buying the silver gods and temples. They were not only worthless, but they were contrary to the Truth of Jesus.
But the craftsmen were watching the bottom line. More than truth, they were concerned about their business failing. And there is an extent to which we can understand that. But if we think about it for a moment – they could have made and sold other things out of silver. Yet, there was devotion to Artemis – to Diana. And so, Demetrius gathered the craftsmen.
His words were persuasive, and the craftsmen became enraged – about the loss of their businesses – and began chanting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ”
A riot started, and when the people saw two of Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, they grabbed them and brought them into the theater – when court was held.
Paul found out what had happened and tried to force his way into the theater, but the disciples would not let him go in – it was too dangerous – the crowd was out of control. Even some of the Asiarchs – the leading officials of Ephesus – who had become Paul’s friends – warned him not to try to enter the theater.
And the crowd continued to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” And others cried out other slogans. You see, Luke tells us that the craftsmens’ guild had grown into a large mob – and most of the people had no idea why they were there – they just got caught up in the frenzy of being in a mob and yelling – and they went along for the ride.
And then Alexander, a Jew, stood up before the crowd, wanting to make sure that they did not associate Christians with Jews – because most people understood Christianity to be a sect of Judaism at that time. But as soon as they heard him say he was a Jew, they drown him out screaming, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ”
Luke records that for two hours the crowd cried out: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” Can you imagine?
At that point, the town clerk – something like the mayor – stood up and quieted the people: “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?” “Good citizens, of course Artemis is great. The whole world knows that her temple – the grandest temple in the world – is here in Ephesus. And in it we have the sacred stone which fell from the sky. Everyone knows and believes this. There is no reason to get in such an uproar. No one has doubted that this is true.”
“Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.” “Since these things are true, don’t do anything you’ll be sorry for. These men have not said anything against Artemis or used her name in vain. They have not defaced her temple.”
“If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” “However, if there are any legal grounds to prosecute these men, Demetrius and all you of the craftsmens’ guild, you know we are civilized people – there is a court system and people to pass judgement. You know very well how to file a claim and see that a trial commences. But what is happening here is nearing a riot. Do you really want the government to come in to stop us from rioting? Especially when we have no cause to riot?”
“And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”
We see, then, that the town clerk ruled in favor of the Christians in this case, because they had not actually done anything wrong. It was the craftsmen who were causing a riot and not following proper legal procedure, which was wrong.
So, let us understand, secondly, that if we are following God and doing what is right, ultimately, we have nothing to fear from the government.– or authority in general.
We may remember what Paul wrote to the Romans: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:1-7, ESV).
How then ought we respond to the near riot of the Ephesian craftsmen?
Let us follow the laws of our towns and countries, so long as they do not cause us to sin. Let us respect, assist, and encourage the leaders that God has given us in whatever way we are able. Let us pray for them. Let us vote and take part in other peaceful political and social gatherings as we are able and have something worthwhile to contribute. (Let’s not just join the crowd because there’s a crowd).
Let us not be antagonistic or rude or derogatory towards those who believe differently from us. We ought to do everything we can to have people see us in a good light for the sake of the Gospel. We do wrong to antagonize people such that they will not listen to the Gospel. Let us be humble and speak the Truth in love – not being willing to back down from our convictions, but stating what is true clearly, strongly, and politely.
And, most importantly, let us reflect and consider what we have been given in Salvation through Jesus Christ Alone. Let us consider what Jesus did in coming to earth, living, dying, rising, and ascending back to His Throne. Let us be in awe and wonder of all that Jesus did to the Glory of the Father and for our salvation – not because we deserved it, but because it pleased Him to save us.
Let us understand then that our life, our joy, our purpose, our goal is to be found in knowing Jesus and His Salvation. This is the Greatest, and our lives are fulfilled in glorifying Jesus – and a life of serving Him in thanksgiving is worth more than all the privileges and honors and cars and houses and money you and I could ever have.
Do you believe that?
If you do, then you will be joyful to know that the God Who gave His Own Son for us has met with us here this morning in worship, and He is continuing to meet with us as we soon receive the bread and the cup. And as we receive these elements, we will be given grace to help us be and do all that God has planned for us. In worship, we not only glorify our God and Savior, we receive more blessings from Him.
Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth
Let us pray:
Almighty God and Savior, we thank You for the life You have given us and for the blessings that You continue to give us as Your people, in worship and throughout our lives, that we might serve You better and with greater joy. Help us to lead lives of thanksgiving that are pleasing to You and show the Glory of the Gospel to all those around us. And may Jesus’ Name be praised. For it is in His Name we pray, Amen.
[Acts 19:21-41]
October 3, 2010 Second Reformed Church
This morning we conclude Paul’s two-year ministry in Ephesus: he had returned to the city to minister among the people who had come to faith in Jesus Alone for their salvation, and when he arrived, he found that there were still people who knew of Jesus, but who didn’t believe in Him Alone for salvation. So he preached to them and explained the Resurrection, and they believed and the Holy Spirit indwelt them and caused them to bear fruit.
God worked miracles through Paul and his clothing, as well. And the non-Christians – seven exorcists in particular – tried to use Jesus’ Name – without believing in Him – to cast out demons – resulting in them being rebuked, beaten, stripped, and chased away by the demon-possessed man. So, we saw that there are angels and demons, and to use Jesus’ Name when a person doesn’t believe in Him is using the Lord’s Name in vain.
However, the Christians of the city who had not gotten rid of all the things which are incompatible with the Christian faith – their practice of magic, for example – responded to the exorcists’ beating by repenting and burning their books – worth two hundred and fifty years salary. And we saw that sanctification – becoming holy – is a process that God works out in and through us.
After all these things occurred, Paul decided to return to Greece to minister among the Christians there. And then he said he wanted to finally make it to Rome – where there were already Christians, as we saw in the meeting of Priscilla and Aquila. But first, he had some things to tie up, so he sent Timothy and Erastus on ahead of him.
Suddenly a disturbance arose – nearly a riot – due to the Way – due to the life that the Christians were living in Ephesus and what that meant for the rest of the community. And a man named Demetrius, “a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis [also known as Diana], brought no little business to the craftsmen” –he gathered the craftsmen of the city together:
“Men of Ephesus, you know that our wealth comes from selling the statues of Artemis and her temple. We make our living off of selling these silver shrines. You are also aware of Paul and how he has persuaded a great many people in most of Asia to believe that the gods are not gods – that Jesus Alone is God. The upshot of this is that our sales have plummeted. We are losing money hand over fist, and if we don’t watch the bottom line, we will be bankrupt and out of business very soon.
“And, it may come that the great goddess Artemis will also be counted as nothing, and she will be deposed – her magnificence lost – the great goddess whom all of Asia now worships.”
Demetrius may not have been a theologian, but he knew how to protect his business – he saw his profits falling because people weren’t buying the statues and shrines, so he called the craftsmens’ guild together and stirred them up – pointed out that they would all be out of business soon if something wasn’t done. Oh, and Artemis might also lose her rank as goddess.
Let us understand, first, then, that Jesus and His Salvation are worth more than anything and everything else in all of Creation. The person who believes savingly in Jesus will be willing to lose everything for Jesus’ sake, because He is of greater value.
Paul wrote to the Philippians against some false apostles, who called themselves, “super apostles,” “I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from of the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:4-11, ESV).
Paul said, “If you want to talk about pedigree, I have the perfect Jewish pedigree. If you want to talk about obedience to the Law, I have been obedient. But pedigree and obedience – good works – cannot save – I am still a sinner, damned to Hell and the reception of the Wrath of God – unless... Unless Jesus gives me faith. Unless Jesus gives me His Righteousness. Unless Jesus saves me from the Wrath of God. And because Jesus has done that for me, everything else – compared with Jesus and His Salvation – is nothing – because it cannot save me from my sin and the penalty for it.”
That’s what the Ephesian Christians believed. That’s why they burned their magic books. That’s why they stopped buying the silver gods and temples. They were not only worthless, but they were contrary to the Truth of Jesus.
But the craftsmen were watching the bottom line. More than truth, they were concerned about their business failing. And there is an extent to which we can understand that. But if we think about it for a moment – they could have made and sold other things out of silver. Yet, there was devotion to Artemis – to Diana. And so, Demetrius gathered the craftsmen.
His words were persuasive, and the craftsmen became enraged – about the loss of their businesses – and began chanting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ”
A riot started, and when the people saw two of Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, they grabbed them and brought them into the theater – when court was held.
Paul found out what had happened and tried to force his way into the theater, but the disciples would not let him go in – it was too dangerous – the crowd was out of control. Even some of the Asiarchs – the leading officials of Ephesus – who had become Paul’s friends – warned him not to try to enter the theater.
And the crowd continued to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” And others cried out other slogans. You see, Luke tells us that the craftsmens’ guild had grown into a large mob – and most of the people had no idea why they were there – they just got caught up in the frenzy of being in a mob and yelling – and they went along for the ride.
And then Alexander, a Jew, stood up before the crowd, wanting to make sure that they did not associate Christians with Jews – because most people understood Christianity to be a sect of Judaism at that time. But as soon as they heard him say he was a Jew, they drown him out screaming, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ”
Luke records that for two hours the crowd cried out: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians ” Can you imagine?
At that point, the town clerk – something like the mayor – stood up and quieted the people: “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?” “Good citizens, of course Artemis is great. The whole world knows that her temple – the grandest temple in the world – is here in Ephesus. And in it we have the sacred stone which fell from the sky. Everyone knows and believes this. There is no reason to get in such an uproar. No one has doubted that this is true.”
“Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.” “Since these things are true, don’t do anything you’ll be sorry for. These men have not said anything against Artemis or used her name in vain. They have not defaced her temple.”
“If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” “However, if there are any legal grounds to prosecute these men, Demetrius and all you of the craftsmens’ guild, you know we are civilized people – there is a court system and people to pass judgement. You know very well how to file a claim and see that a trial commences. But what is happening here is nearing a riot. Do you really want the government to come in to stop us from rioting? Especially when we have no cause to riot?”
“And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”
We see, then, that the town clerk ruled in favor of the Christians in this case, because they had not actually done anything wrong. It was the craftsmen who were causing a riot and not following proper legal procedure, which was wrong.
So, let us understand, secondly, that if we are following God and doing what is right, ultimately, we have nothing to fear from the government.– or authority in general.
We may remember what Paul wrote to the Romans: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:1-7, ESV).
How then ought we respond to the near riot of the Ephesian craftsmen?
Let us follow the laws of our towns and countries, so long as they do not cause us to sin. Let us respect, assist, and encourage the leaders that God has given us in whatever way we are able. Let us pray for them. Let us vote and take part in other peaceful political and social gatherings as we are able and have something worthwhile to contribute. (Let’s not just join the crowd because there’s a crowd).
Let us not be antagonistic or rude or derogatory towards those who believe differently from us. We ought to do everything we can to have people see us in a good light for the sake of the Gospel. We do wrong to antagonize people such that they will not listen to the Gospel. Let us be humble and speak the Truth in love – not being willing to back down from our convictions, but stating what is true clearly, strongly, and politely.
And, most importantly, let us reflect and consider what we have been given in Salvation through Jesus Christ Alone. Let us consider what Jesus did in coming to earth, living, dying, rising, and ascending back to His Throne. Let us be in awe and wonder of all that Jesus did to the Glory of the Father and for our salvation – not because we deserved it, but because it pleased Him to save us.
Let us understand then that our life, our joy, our purpose, our goal is to be found in knowing Jesus and His Salvation. This is the Greatest, and our lives are fulfilled in glorifying Jesus – and a life of serving Him in thanksgiving is worth more than all the privileges and honors and cars and houses and money you and I could ever have.
Do you believe that?
If you do, then you will be joyful to know that the God Who gave His Own Son for us has met with us here this morning in worship, and He is continuing to meet with us as we soon receive the bread and the cup. And as we receive these elements, we will be given grace to help us be and do all that God has planned for us. In worship, we not only glorify our God and Savior, we receive more blessings from Him.
Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth Great is Jesus of Heaven and earth
Let us pray:
Almighty God and Savior, we thank You for the life You have given us and for the blessings that You continue to give us as Your people, in worship and throughout our lives, that we might serve You better and with greater joy. Help us to lead lives of thanksgiving that are pleasing to You and show the Glory of the Gospel to all those around us. And may Jesus’ Name be praised. For it is in His Name we pray, Amen.
Friday, October 01, 2010
Prayer Meeting
Due to the pastor being out of town, there will be no prayer meeting at the church tomorrow. Please meet privately or in groups elsewhere to pray.
October Sermons
D.V., I plan to preach:
10/3/10 Worldwide Communion
Acts 19:21-41 “Watching the Bottom Line”
10/10/10
Acts 20:1-16 "Do You Fall Asleep During the Sermon?”
10/17/10
Acts 20:17-38 “Give It Away”
10/24/10
Acts 21:1-16 “Are You Ready to Die?”
10/31/10 Reformation
II Thessalonians 1:1-12 “God Will Make Your Worthy”
10/3/10 Worldwide Communion
Acts 19:21-41 “Watching the Bottom Line”
10/10/10
Acts 20:1-16 "Do You Fall Asleep During the Sermon?”
10/17/10
Acts 20:17-38 “Give It Away”
10/24/10
Acts 21:1-16 “Are You Ready to Die?”
10/31/10 Reformation
II Thessalonians 1:1-12 “God Will Make Your Worthy”
Sunday, September 26, 2010
"Do The Demons Know You?" Sermon: Acts 19:11-20
“Do the Demons Know You?”
[Acts 19:11-20]
September 26, 2010 Second Reformed Church
Do the demons know you? If you were confronted by a demon, would it know you? How would it react?
Luke give us some details of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus:
First, Luke tells us that God worked extraordinary miracles through Paul as a witness and a confirmation of the Truth of the Gospel. Paul was not only able to heal through the laying on of his hands, but God worked through the handkerchiefs (literally, “sweat rags”) and aprons that touched Paul’s skin. When these pieces of cloth were laid upon the sick and the demon-possessed, their diseases left them and the demons exited their bodies.
This was an unusual and extraordinary proof that God did at that time. It is not a promise that such things would or should continue – or that such things would happen with anyone else’s sweat rags. If I gave you my shirt after worship, it would do you no good – unless, perhaps, you needed a shirt and you washed it – but it would not heal you or drive a demon out of a demon-possessed person.
Today there are people who sincerely belief that such things are still happening. There are also plenty of charlatans – con-artists – trying to get people to believe that they have the ability to do miracles through their sweat rags.
In the Middle Ages, in order to raise money, the Roman Catholic Church came up with the idea that the honoring of relics of saints could help reduce the suffering of loved ones in Purgatory and even help deliver the living from illness. This practice continues today.
If you turn your TV on Sunday morning, you’ll find the con-artists. There’s one I’ve seen who is all about increasing wealth. If you send him money, he will send you his green handkerchief, and you will become wealthy. This is not biblical – this is a con.
Now, are there people who are healed or have a change in their finances after following the con-artist’s instructions? There probably are. But such things happen today only in the Providence of God and not by magic handkerchiefs.
There were con-artists in first century Ephesus: the seven sons of Sceva – a high priest – were itinerant exorcists. There was a tradition in ancient Judaism that engaged in occult practices – in witchcraft – and by the first century, there was a great interest in the occult – witchcraft was respected and practiced among the people – even among the Jews – in clear violation of God’s Law: “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 1810-12a, ESV).
Now, that is not to say that the seven sons of Sceva were not successful exorcists. We have every reason to believe that they were successful. They had had enough success that they were making a living out of casting demons out of people – or doing something, anyway. But we also see that they were opportunists – they didn’t just rely on God or on a method prescribed in the Scripture – they looked for any new means or way to achieve the end that they were trying to accomplish. We have a saying today, “the ends justifies the means.” That is what they believed it – it doesn’t matter how you accomplish what you are trying to do – what matters is that you accomplish it.
We know this is true because Luke tells us, “[they] undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits.”
The sons of Sceva were Jews – non-believers – but they attempted to use the Name of Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. And we are certain they were non-believers because they qualified their exorcism, by saying, “I adjure you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” There were saying, “I cast you out in the Name of Jesus – who I don’t believe in – but Paul does.”
And the sons of Sceva and their supports would say, “So what? If using Jesus’ Name delivered these people from demon-possession, isn’t that all that matters?” The answer must be “no.” Why?
First, we need to remember, as we see in Job chapter one and two, the devil and his demons can do nothing unless God permits it. So, if someone has become demon-possessed, God has – at least – allowed it for His Own Reason.
Second, to use the Name of Jesus without believing in Him was to claim authority that they did not have. They were calling on Someone Whom they didn’t believe in and expecting His Support of they “efforts.”
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, to use Jesus’ Name in an exorcism, when they didn’t believe in Jesus, was to use Jesus’ Name in vain. And God will not allow His Name to be used in vain – not even to deliver someone from a demon.
This might be a good place to let you know that demons are real. Angels exist and demons exist. The difference between an angel and a demon is that the angels follow God and the demons are the angels who followed Satan – Lucifer – the devil – who is also an angel who fell
Unlike the movies and other places you hear of demons and the devil – they are not hideous creatures. Paul writes, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14, ESV). In other words, to look at an angel and a demon, you might not be able to tell one from the other. And, as we see in the Scripture, they can appear in human guise, as well.
Of course, we do not normal perceive angels and demons with our senses; they normally appear invisible to our senses. But as we see in the Scripture, there are times when angels appear in a form such that we can see them. That is not a reason to doubt their existence, however. Based on the Scripture, we can be sure that the angels and demons are among us – even in this sanctuary.
And the demons know Jesus. They hate Him; they do not worship Him, but they know very well who He is. James writes, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder ” (James 2:19, ESV). And when Jesus confronted them and exorcized them, they confessed Who He is, “And behold, they cried out, ‘O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’” (Matthew 8:29, ESV).
So with all this in mind, we return to our text: the seven sons of Sceva come to a possessed man, not believing savingly in Jesus, but they have seen Paul cast out demons in Jesus’ Name, so they say, “I adjure you by the Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” And how does the demon respond, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” “I know Jesus – He is the Son of God – the One Who will judge us on the last day. And I know Paul – he is a servant of the Son of God. But you – you do not serve the Son of God. You do not believe in Jesus as the Savior. Who are you to call on His Name? Who gave you the authority – the right – to try to cast me out in His Name?”
The demons are not omniscient – they don’t know everything – but they can tell a believer from an unbeliever. A believer has God the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, and the demon cannot enter. The unbeliever has only himself – God does not indwell him.
You may have told your children or grandchildren not to play around with the things of the devil – with Ouija boards and fortunetellers and spells and so forth – because it is dangerous to play with the demonic world. But is it even more dangerous for a non-believer to play with the things of God.
We may remember what happened when Uzzah touched the Holy Ark – which was forbidden: “And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there before the ark” (II Samuel 6:6-7, ESV). Uzzah did not recognize the ark as holy to God and profaned God by touching it, so God killed him.
We may remember more recently, in Acts chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphria sold a piece of land to give the money as an offering to the Church. And when they brought only a portion of the money, they were asked if it were the whole amount, and they lied, and God struck them dead for lying about their offering. They were free to offer whatever gift they wanted – above the tithe – but they did not realize that the offering is an act of worship, holy to God, and in lying, they profaned God, so God killed them.
The sons of Sceva did not take the Name of Jesus as Holy. They did not believe in Him savingly. So when they tried to use His Name against the demon – as just one more magic spell – one more amulet in their bag of tricks – God allowed the demon to rebuke them and ask them how they could profane the Name of God in what they were doing.
And the demon – inside of the man he was controlling – jumped on the seven sons of Sceva and beat them and tore off their clothes and sent them running from the house. That’s one thing Hollywood gets right – demons are strong – not stronger than God – but they are strong – they are nothing to fool with – especially if you don’t believe savingly in Jesus.
And three things happened:
First, all of the Jews and all of the Greeks in Ephesus heard what happened. This was big news, and it spread fast.
Second, fear fell upon all of the Jews and all of the Greeks, and the believers extolled the Name of the Lord Jesus. Why?
The non-believers were in fear because they had just seen seven of the best-known exorcists beaten, stripped, and thrown out of a house by a demon. They were afraid of the power and authority that the demon had.
The believers were in fear because seeing how God values the honoring – the hallowing – of His Name – that God would give the demon authority to attack these humans – made them look at themselves and their lives and consider if they were hallowing God’s Name – if they were treating God’s Name as Holy. And they weren’t, which is why –
Third, “also many of those who were now believers came,” – that’s very important – “also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
Some of the Christians – some of the believers – some of the Christians – who were real believers – the text is clear they were believers – some of them had continued to practice witchcraft, thinking they could serve Jesus and work witchcraft. They didn’t think it would be a problem – until they realized that Jesus is the Holy God and He will not allow His Name to be used in vain. Then, they feared, and they hauled out all of their books and other magic items which were inconsistent with the Christian faith and burned them in the public square, so everyone would know.
The scrolls they burned – their books – were valuable because books were rare, and these books – of witchcraft – would have been even more rare. Luke tells us that they estimated the value of what was burned at fifty thousand pieces of silver. Now, if it were the more common piece of silver, fifty piece of silver equaled three months pay. So, fifty thousand pieces of silver, would equal three thousand months pay – or about two hundred and fifty years pay. They took the Holiness of God seriously enough to burn two hundred and fifty years pay.
And due to this response, “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” When the Christians acted like Christians and did all they could to follow after God in thanksgiving for the gift of His Son – “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
What does this mean for us?
First, let us understand that God works through whomever God wants and however God wants. In the early days of Christianity, God did many profound miracles through people and through objects. We don’t see that today, and we ought to be on our guard against people who try to sell us magic handkerchiefs and other nonsense.
Second, let us believe what God has told us in His Word: angels and demons are real – and powerful – but they can only act as God allows them to act. And since Christians are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, Christians cannot be demon-possessed.
Third, let us understand that the Name of God is Holy, and we are to keep it holy. We are to let other know that it is holy and strand up when the Name of God is misused. There is nothing “French” about using Jesus’ Name in vain. God is angered when we do, and we should not be surprised if God shows us His Displeasure.
Fourth, let us turn away from all those things which are inconsistent with the Christian faith. Of course, we aren’t like the Ephesians – we don’t dabble in witchcraft – right? I googled, “psychics in Essex County” and I got 5,690 results. The horoscopes are listed in the TV Guide each week. Do any of us have “good luck charms”?
Is there anything in your life that is inconsistent with the Christian faith? The answer, of course, is “yes.” Let us do everything we can to turn from those things which are offensive to God.
But let us also see the encouragement in this passage: the text is quite clear that these were Christians who were practicing magic – witchcraft. They did not lose their salvation for their sin. You and I have not lost our salvation for our sin – thanks be to God None of us is holy yet, but we ought to be striving with everything we are – and by the Power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us – to continually grow in holiness – to become more like Jesus. When we find something in our life that is inconsistent with the Christians faith, we ought to repent of it and do what is right.
And hear what the text tells us – the demons know who the Christians are – and in Jesus’ Name, they are afraid of us, and will try to lead us into temptation that we might sin against God. But God is stronger than the devil and all his demons, so let us have faith in Him and follow Him, believing in Jesus and proclaiming His Gospel.
Let us pray –
Sovereign God, we bow before Your Holy Name. Help us to be good witnesses and faithful sons and daughters before the world. Let us be recognized as Your children by man and angel and demon alike. Help us to stand for You in difficult times and resist the ways of the world that are contrary to Your Word and Will. May we be known as You are known. And may it be to Your Glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[Acts 19:11-20]
September 26, 2010 Second Reformed Church
Do the demons know you? If you were confronted by a demon, would it know you? How would it react?
Luke give us some details of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus:
First, Luke tells us that God worked extraordinary miracles through Paul as a witness and a confirmation of the Truth of the Gospel. Paul was not only able to heal through the laying on of his hands, but God worked through the handkerchiefs (literally, “sweat rags”) and aprons that touched Paul’s skin. When these pieces of cloth were laid upon the sick and the demon-possessed, their diseases left them and the demons exited their bodies.
This was an unusual and extraordinary proof that God did at that time. It is not a promise that such things would or should continue – or that such things would happen with anyone else’s sweat rags. If I gave you my shirt after worship, it would do you no good – unless, perhaps, you needed a shirt and you washed it – but it would not heal you or drive a demon out of a demon-possessed person.
Today there are people who sincerely belief that such things are still happening. There are also plenty of charlatans – con-artists – trying to get people to believe that they have the ability to do miracles through their sweat rags.
In the Middle Ages, in order to raise money, the Roman Catholic Church came up with the idea that the honoring of relics of saints could help reduce the suffering of loved ones in Purgatory and even help deliver the living from illness. This practice continues today.
If you turn your TV on Sunday morning, you’ll find the con-artists. There’s one I’ve seen who is all about increasing wealth. If you send him money, he will send you his green handkerchief, and you will become wealthy. This is not biblical – this is a con.
Now, are there people who are healed or have a change in their finances after following the con-artist’s instructions? There probably are. But such things happen today only in the Providence of God and not by magic handkerchiefs.
There were con-artists in first century Ephesus: the seven sons of Sceva – a high priest – were itinerant exorcists. There was a tradition in ancient Judaism that engaged in occult practices – in witchcraft – and by the first century, there was a great interest in the occult – witchcraft was respected and practiced among the people – even among the Jews – in clear violation of God’s Law: “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” (Deuteronomy 1810-12a, ESV).
Now, that is not to say that the seven sons of Sceva were not successful exorcists. We have every reason to believe that they were successful. They had had enough success that they were making a living out of casting demons out of people – or doing something, anyway. But we also see that they were opportunists – they didn’t just rely on God or on a method prescribed in the Scripture – they looked for any new means or way to achieve the end that they were trying to accomplish. We have a saying today, “the ends justifies the means.” That is what they believed it – it doesn’t matter how you accomplish what you are trying to do – what matters is that you accomplish it.
We know this is true because Luke tells us, “[they] undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits.”
The sons of Sceva were Jews – non-believers – but they attempted to use the Name of Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. And we are certain they were non-believers because they qualified their exorcism, by saying, “I adjure you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” There were saying, “I cast you out in the Name of Jesus – who I don’t believe in – but Paul does.”
And the sons of Sceva and their supports would say, “So what? If using Jesus’ Name delivered these people from demon-possession, isn’t that all that matters?” The answer must be “no.” Why?
First, we need to remember, as we see in Job chapter one and two, the devil and his demons can do nothing unless God permits it. So, if someone has become demon-possessed, God has – at least – allowed it for His Own Reason.
Second, to use the Name of Jesus without believing in Him was to claim authority that they did not have. They were calling on Someone Whom they didn’t believe in and expecting His Support of they “efforts.”
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, to use Jesus’ Name in an exorcism, when they didn’t believe in Jesus, was to use Jesus’ Name in vain. And God will not allow His Name to be used in vain – not even to deliver someone from a demon.
This might be a good place to let you know that demons are real. Angels exist and demons exist. The difference between an angel and a demon is that the angels follow God and the demons are the angels who followed Satan – Lucifer – the devil – who is also an angel who fell
Unlike the movies and other places you hear of demons and the devil – they are not hideous creatures. Paul writes, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14, ESV). In other words, to look at an angel and a demon, you might not be able to tell one from the other. And, as we see in the Scripture, they can appear in human guise, as well.
Of course, we do not normal perceive angels and demons with our senses; they normally appear invisible to our senses. But as we see in the Scripture, there are times when angels appear in a form such that we can see them. That is not a reason to doubt their existence, however. Based on the Scripture, we can be sure that the angels and demons are among us – even in this sanctuary.
And the demons know Jesus. They hate Him; they do not worship Him, but they know very well who He is. James writes, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe – and shudder ” (James 2:19, ESV). And when Jesus confronted them and exorcized them, they confessed Who He is, “And behold, they cried out, ‘O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’” (Matthew 8:29, ESV).
So with all this in mind, we return to our text: the seven sons of Sceva come to a possessed man, not believing savingly in Jesus, but they have seen Paul cast out demons in Jesus’ Name, so they say, “I adjure you by the Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” And how does the demon respond, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” “I know Jesus – He is the Son of God – the One Who will judge us on the last day. And I know Paul – he is a servant of the Son of God. But you – you do not serve the Son of God. You do not believe in Jesus as the Savior. Who are you to call on His Name? Who gave you the authority – the right – to try to cast me out in His Name?”
The demons are not omniscient – they don’t know everything – but they can tell a believer from an unbeliever. A believer has God the Holy Spirit dwelling in him, and the demon cannot enter. The unbeliever has only himself – God does not indwell him.
You may have told your children or grandchildren not to play around with the things of the devil – with Ouija boards and fortunetellers and spells and so forth – because it is dangerous to play with the demonic world. But is it even more dangerous for a non-believer to play with the things of God.
We may remember what happened when Uzzah touched the Holy Ark – which was forbidden: “And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there before the ark” (II Samuel 6:6-7, ESV). Uzzah did not recognize the ark as holy to God and profaned God by touching it, so God killed him.
We may remember more recently, in Acts chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphria sold a piece of land to give the money as an offering to the Church. And when they brought only a portion of the money, they were asked if it were the whole amount, and they lied, and God struck them dead for lying about their offering. They were free to offer whatever gift they wanted – above the tithe – but they did not realize that the offering is an act of worship, holy to God, and in lying, they profaned God, so God killed them.
The sons of Sceva did not take the Name of Jesus as Holy. They did not believe in Him savingly. So when they tried to use His Name against the demon – as just one more magic spell – one more amulet in their bag of tricks – God allowed the demon to rebuke them and ask them how they could profane the Name of God in what they were doing.
And the demon – inside of the man he was controlling – jumped on the seven sons of Sceva and beat them and tore off their clothes and sent them running from the house. That’s one thing Hollywood gets right – demons are strong – not stronger than God – but they are strong – they are nothing to fool with – especially if you don’t believe savingly in Jesus.
And three things happened:
First, all of the Jews and all of the Greeks in Ephesus heard what happened. This was big news, and it spread fast.
Second, fear fell upon all of the Jews and all of the Greeks, and the believers extolled the Name of the Lord Jesus. Why?
The non-believers were in fear because they had just seen seven of the best-known exorcists beaten, stripped, and thrown out of a house by a demon. They were afraid of the power and authority that the demon had.
The believers were in fear because seeing how God values the honoring – the hallowing – of His Name – that God would give the demon authority to attack these humans – made them look at themselves and their lives and consider if they were hallowing God’s Name – if they were treating God’s Name as Holy. And they weren’t, which is why –
Third, “also many of those who were now believers came,” – that’s very important – “also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
Some of the Christians – some of the believers – some of the Christians – who were real believers – the text is clear they were believers – some of them had continued to practice witchcraft, thinking they could serve Jesus and work witchcraft. They didn’t think it would be a problem – until they realized that Jesus is the Holy God and He will not allow His Name to be used in vain. Then, they feared, and they hauled out all of their books and other magic items which were inconsistent with the Christian faith and burned them in the public square, so everyone would know.
The scrolls they burned – their books – were valuable because books were rare, and these books – of witchcraft – would have been even more rare. Luke tells us that they estimated the value of what was burned at fifty thousand pieces of silver. Now, if it were the more common piece of silver, fifty piece of silver equaled three months pay. So, fifty thousand pieces of silver, would equal three thousand months pay – or about two hundred and fifty years pay. They took the Holiness of God seriously enough to burn two hundred and fifty years pay.
And due to this response, “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” When the Christians acted like Christians and did all they could to follow after God in thanksgiving for the gift of His Son – “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
What does this mean for us?
First, let us understand that God works through whomever God wants and however God wants. In the early days of Christianity, God did many profound miracles through people and through objects. We don’t see that today, and we ought to be on our guard against people who try to sell us magic handkerchiefs and other nonsense.
Second, let us believe what God has told us in His Word: angels and demons are real – and powerful – but they can only act as God allows them to act. And since Christians are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, Christians cannot be demon-possessed.
Third, let us understand that the Name of God is Holy, and we are to keep it holy. We are to let other know that it is holy and strand up when the Name of God is misused. There is nothing “French” about using Jesus’ Name in vain. God is angered when we do, and we should not be surprised if God shows us His Displeasure.
Fourth, let us turn away from all those things which are inconsistent with the Christian faith. Of course, we aren’t like the Ephesians – we don’t dabble in witchcraft – right? I googled, “psychics in Essex County” and I got 5,690 results. The horoscopes are listed in the TV Guide each week. Do any of us have “good luck charms”?
Is there anything in your life that is inconsistent with the Christian faith? The answer, of course, is “yes.” Let us do everything we can to turn from those things which are offensive to God.
But let us also see the encouragement in this passage: the text is quite clear that these were Christians who were practicing magic – witchcraft. They did not lose their salvation for their sin. You and I have not lost our salvation for our sin – thanks be to God None of us is holy yet, but we ought to be striving with everything we are – and by the Power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us – to continually grow in holiness – to become more like Jesus. When we find something in our life that is inconsistent with the Christians faith, we ought to repent of it and do what is right.
And hear what the text tells us – the demons know who the Christians are – and in Jesus’ Name, they are afraid of us, and will try to lead us into temptation that we might sin against God. But God is stronger than the devil and all his demons, so let us have faith in Him and follow Him, believing in Jesus and proclaiming His Gospel.
Let us pray –
Sovereign God, we bow before Your Holy Name. Help us to be good witnesses and faithful sons and daughters before the world. Let us be recognized as Your children by man and angel and demon alike. Help us to stand for You in difficult times and resist the ways of the world that are contrary to Your Word and Will. May we be known as You are known. And may it be to Your Glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Review: "Your Money God’s Way: Overcoming the 7 Money Myths That Keep Christians Broke"
My latest review for Thomas Nelson is Your Money God’s Way: Overcoming the 7 Money Myths That Keep Christians Broke by Amie Streater. Product detail can be found at:
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595552324&title=Your_Money_God's_Way&author=Amie_Streater
Streater’s book is not rocket science, and it might prove helpful to those who are stuck in the “money myths” that she enumerates. My one concern would be wether a person caught in these “myths” would be able to get out of them without the help of a financial counselor; I’m not sure this book alone would solve his problems.
After the introduction, Streater enumerates seven myths, which amount to (1) money can fix my problems, (2) Christians need to do and give anything anyone asked of them, (3) I don’t have to do anything; God will take care of my responsibilities, (4) Christians can always be trusted, (5) Giving is magic – if I give, God has to give me back more, (6) I’ll worry about it tomorrow, and (7) Every impulse I have is a command from God.
Each chapter ends by explaining “God’s Way” and giving “Solution Steps” to each of the “myths.”
She ends her book recommending budgeting and working towards 10% for the Church, 10% for saving and 80% for everything else.
I think this book can be useful, but I don’t think it is the end and final answer for someone struggling with his finances.
[This review is posted on Amazon.com and my blog.]
http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=1595552324&title=Your_Money_God's_Way&author=Amie_Streater
Streater’s book is not rocket science, and it might prove helpful to those who are stuck in the “money myths” that she enumerates. My one concern would be wether a person caught in these “myths” would be able to get out of them without the help of a financial counselor; I’m not sure this book alone would solve his problems.
After the introduction, Streater enumerates seven myths, which amount to (1) money can fix my problems, (2) Christians need to do and give anything anyone asked of them, (3) I don’t have to do anything; God will take care of my responsibilities, (4) Christians can always be trusted, (5) Giving is magic – if I give, God has to give me back more, (6) I’ll worry about it tomorrow, and (7) Every impulse I have is a command from God.
Each chapter ends by explaining “God’s Way” and giving “Solution Steps” to each of the “myths.”
She ends her book recommending budgeting and working towards 10% for the Church, 10% for saving and 80% for everything else.
I think this book can be useful, but I don’t think it is the end and final answer for someone struggling with his finances.
[This review is posted on Amazon.com and my blog.]
Wisdom of the Fathers
“For to free people from a demon is not so great as to rescue them from sin. It is not demons that prevent one from attaining to the kingdom of heaven. On the contrary, they assist, albeit unwillingly, by making him who has the demon more sensible. Sin, on the other hand, expels him” – Chrysostom on Acts 19:15 in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament V: Acts, 238.
Review: "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Anxiety, Phobias, & Panic Attacks: the All-Natural Program that Can Help You Conquer Your Fears"
Douglas Hunt, MD’s book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Anxiety, Phobias, & Panic Attacks: the All-Natural Program that Can Help You Conquer Your Fears is a quick an interesting read.
Hunt’s argument is quite simple – many of our anxieties, phobias, and panic attacks are caused by a lack of the proper nutrients.
Hunt begins his book by telling the reader that an accurate diagnosis from a physician is paramount, and he stresses working with a physician throughout the book. This is excellent - he doesn’t leave the reader to figure out what is wrong and heal himself.
He then gives an overview of various disorders and what might possibly help – again – see your doctor.
Then he presents his program of determining what nutrients are lacking and making sure that one gets adequate sleep and exercise.
The book concludes with a resource and reference section, which would be useful, once one has a diagnosis.
The one down side to this book is that there are no footnotes to show how he came to his conclusion – only the reference section at the end.
Even so, there are some nutrients I am going to talk with my doctor about to see if they might be helpful to me.
Hunt’s argument is quite simple – many of our anxieties, phobias, and panic attacks are caused by a lack of the proper nutrients.
Hunt begins his book by telling the reader that an accurate diagnosis from a physician is paramount, and he stresses working with a physician throughout the book. This is excellent - he doesn’t leave the reader to figure out what is wrong and heal himself.
He then gives an overview of various disorders and what might possibly help – again – see your doctor.
Then he presents his program of determining what nutrients are lacking and making sure that one gets adequate sleep and exercise.
The book concludes with a resource and reference section, which would be useful, once one has a diagnosis.
The one down side to this book is that there are no footnotes to show how he came to his conclusion – only the reference section at the end.
Even so, there are some nutrients I am going to talk with my doctor about to see if they might be helpful to me.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Membership Class
If you are interested in joining Second Reformed Church, or if you would just like to learn more about us, we are planning (D.V.) to hold a membership class after our Reformation study at 8 PM on Thursday September 23, 30, and October 7, and 14. Please join us!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sermon: "Don't Be Discouraged" Acts 19:1-10
“Don’t Be Discouraged”
[Acts 19:1-10]
September 19, 2010 Second Reformed Church
In the past week, a number of you have come to me about being discouraged with one thing or another – frustrated that things were not going the way that you would like them to, or that things were popping up that got on your nerves.
Understand, in titling this morning’s sermon, “Don’t Be Discouraged,” I am not suggesting that we always have to be chipper, must less fake it. I am not saying that we should deny that there are times when we get down – that there are things and people that wear on us. What I mean to suggest to us is that the example that we are given in the Scripture is that even when things are discouraging – when we get down – we – of all people – ought not to lose hope.
In this morning’s Scripture, as we mentioned last week, Apollos went to minister in the church at Corinth, and while he was there, Luke tells us, Paul traveled back across Asia – what we now call Turkey – to Ephesus – as he had promised – if the Lord was willing. We will remember that he had left Priscilla and Aquila – the husband and wife team from Italy – to minister among the Ephesians while he went back to Jerusalem and Antioch. (And it was among the Ephesians that Apollos had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus through Priscilla and Aquila’s ministry.)
With all that in mind, we might find ourselves dumbfounded by what Luke tells us: Paul came across a group of about twelve disciples, who had been baptized with the baptism of John, but did not know that Jesus is the Savior. They knew about Jesus – His Teachings – but they did not know about His Resurrection. (Remember, last week we understood that to mean that they had been baptized in the manner of John the Baptist – they had been baptized for the forgiveness of sins in the Name of the Savior Who was to come.)
We would not be surprised to see Paul being discouraged: He had ministered among the Ephesians. He had left Priscilla and Aquila. They had explained the faith to Apollos, and he had gone off to spread the Gospel among the Greeks. How is it that there could be people who were baptized in the baptism of John, but did not know about the Resurrection of Jesus?
And even more bizarre, when Paul asked them if they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit – if they had received the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit – they said they had never even heard that there was such a Being. If any of these twelve were Jewish disciples, it is profoundly bizarre, because the Holy Spirit is spoken of in the Old Testament, and they should have known about Him.
Two quick examples:
“Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11, ESV).
“At last Daniel came in before me – he who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the Spirit of the holy God – and I told him the dream...” (Daniel 4:9, ESV, alt.)
If these were Greek – Gentile – disciples, it would be less bizarre, but still, it is about 54 A.D. at this time – Jesus had risen over twenty years before. Paul had been through the area with other believers preaching the Gospel. It is strange that there were those in that area who had only know the baptism of John.
Let us understand, then, that it is not enough just to know about Jesus to be saved, He must be believed in savingly. It is not enough to know all the facts of the Gospel – or the whole Bible. Anyone can memorize the Bible and know the history and teachings of Jesus. That will not save you. Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised [Jesus] from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).
What does that tell us? It tells us, as Keith Green used to say, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.”
It is possible to grow up in the church, know everything the church teaches, know the Bible inside and out, tithe each week, donate your time and abilities, serve in office, teach the Sunday School, and go to Hell. There is no salvation apart from a true, saving belief in Jesus and His Resurrection as a historical fact.
So let us make sure we know what we believe. Let us make sure that our friends and family know what they believe. Let us make a confession that clearly and honestly states whether we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead as a historical fact – or not.
Paul explained to the twelve that Jesus had, indeed, risen from the dead – that He is, indeed, the Promised Savior – and they truly believed, so Paul baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – and they were indwelt by God the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and prophesy. They evidenced their belief and the gifts that God had given them to serve Him.
After this, Paul entered the synagogue, and for three months he engaged in apologetics – in arguing, persuading, proving – that Jesus is the Christ – the Savior that God sent. Paul took the Old Testament and went through the prophecies: God said that this would happen, and it did happen. God said the Savior would do this, and Jesus did do this. And so forth. And Luke tells us that after three months of instruction and proof, “some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way [Christianity] before the congregation.”
And this is a place where it is clear that salvation is God’s Gift and God’s Choice. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain how someone could be shown with clarity and in depth that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies and then still reject Him.
Have you ever explained something – in a class or just one on one – and did everything you could to make something clear – and have the person still not understand? When I worked with John in the pipe organ company, there were times that he would explain something to me, and I would think that I had understood, but I hadn’t. And I know there were times when John just shook his head in discouragement, wondering what was wrong with me that I didn’t get it.
Or have you ever explained something – or shown something to be true – laid out all the facts that lead from point a to point b – and had the person – after the explanation – tell you that what you said was wrong? On at least two occasions that I can think of, I have presented the facts of a matter and had the person I was talking with tell me, “I don’t care about the facts, this is what I believe....”
Paul showed the Jews in Ephesus that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Savior, and some of them reacted by saying he was wrong and that Christianity was evil. Paul certainly got discouraged – he must have banged his head against the wall at times. He wrote, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28, ESV).
A good pastor – a good shepherd – will constantly watch out for the flock – to protect the flock from attack of wolves and lions – and to keep the sheep from walking off cliffs. And sometimes the pastor – and even other sheep – will look around the fold and wonder, “What is going on?” “Why are the very people who claim to be Christians frustrating the work of the Gospel? Why are the very people who ought to understand and believe being obstinant in their unbelief?”
Paul left the synagogue and went next door to Tyrannus Hall and rented a space where he preached and taught and reasoned and argued for the Gospel of Jesus Christ for two years. And Luke tells us that all of the Jews and all of the Greeks of Asia – that is, Turkey – heard the Gospel. And we know from history and the Bible that at least seven churches in Turkey came into being from Paul’s preaching: the Church in Ephesus, the Church in Smyrna, the Church in Pergamum, the Church in Thyatira, the Church in Sardis, the Church in Philadelphia, and the Church in Laodicea. If they sound familiar to you, it is because these are the seven churches the book of Revelation is addressed to.
But how could Paul go on with that type of discouragement? How could Paul preach the Gospel day after day, when people rejected what he had to say, and were violent towards him – even trying to kill him – and when the churches quickly succumbed to false teaching?
One place we find the answer is in Paul’s letter to Titus, where he writes, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14, ESV).
How did Paul go on? How can we go on? Because we know and believe that Jesus is the Savior that God has sent and God did raise Him from the dead. We know that He is Truth and He has changed us and is using us to make His Gospel known throughout the world. And we know and are assured by God the Holy Spirit Who lives in us that Jesus is returning in Glory and will bring us with Him into that Glory, into His Kingdom forever.
We have the hope of the life to come with Jesus, and it is witnessed to us and assured us by God Himself. So we can bear with the discouragements in life and in the Church by keeping our eyes set on Jesus and His Return and the Promises He has made us – for He cannot lie.
So let us pray:
Lord, we thank You that the Resurrection is a historical fact, and if we believe that it is and that You have raised Jesus from the dead, You have saved us for Yourself. Help us not to lose hope when we become discouraged for many and various reasons. Let us cling to the hope that You have given us – by speaking to us with the Truth – that You are returning for us – and the Glory is even closer now than when we first believed. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
[Acts 19:1-10]
September 19, 2010 Second Reformed Church
In the past week, a number of you have come to me about being discouraged with one thing or another – frustrated that things were not going the way that you would like them to, or that things were popping up that got on your nerves.
Understand, in titling this morning’s sermon, “Don’t Be Discouraged,” I am not suggesting that we always have to be chipper, must less fake it. I am not saying that we should deny that there are times when we get down – that there are things and people that wear on us. What I mean to suggest to us is that the example that we are given in the Scripture is that even when things are discouraging – when we get down – we – of all people – ought not to lose hope.
In this morning’s Scripture, as we mentioned last week, Apollos went to minister in the church at Corinth, and while he was there, Luke tells us, Paul traveled back across Asia – what we now call Turkey – to Ephesus – as he had promised – if the Lord was willing. We will remember that he had left Priscilla and Aquila – the husband and wife team from Italy – to minister among the Ephesians while he went back to Jerusalem and Antioch. (And it was among the Ephesians that Apollos had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus through Priscilla and Aquila’s ministry.)
With all that in mind, we might find ourselves dumbfounded by what Luke tells us: Paul came across a group of about twelve disciples, who had been baptized with the baptism of John, but did not know that Jesus is the Savior. They knew about Jesus – His Teachings – but they did not know about His Resurrection. (Remember, last week we understood that to mean that they had been baptized in the manner of John the Baptist – they had been baptized for the forgiveness of sins in the Name of the Savior Who was to come.)
We would not be surprised to see Paul being discouraged: He had ministered among the Ephesians. He had left Priscilla and Aquila. They had explained the faith to Apollos, and he had gone off to spread the Gospel among the Greeks. How is it that there could be people who were baptized in the baptism of John, but did not know about the Resurrection of Jesus?
And even more bizarre, when Paul asked them if they had been baptized in the Holy Spirit – if they had received the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit – they said they had never even heard that there was such a Being. If any of these twelve were Jewish disciples, it is profoundly bizarre, because the Holy Spirit is spoken of in the Old Testament, and they should have known about Him.
Two quick examples:
“Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11, ESV).
“At last Daniel came in before me – he who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the Spirit of the holy God – and I told him the dream...” (Daniel 4:9, ESV, alt.)
If these were Greek – Gentile – disciples, it would be less bizarre, but still, it is about 54 A.D. at this time – Jesus had risen over twenty years before. Paul had been through the area with other believers preaching the Gospel. It is strange that there were those in that area who had only know the baptism of John.
Let us understand, then, that it is not enough just to know about Jesus to be saved, He must be believed in savingly. It is not enough to know all the facts of the Gospel – or the whole Bible. Anyone can memorize the Bible and know the history and teachings of Jesus. That will not save you. Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised [Jesus] from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).
What does that tell us? It tells us, as Keith Green used to say, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.”
It is possible to grow up in the church, know everything the church teaches, know the Bible inside and out, tithe each week, donate your time and abilities, serve in office, teach the Sunday School, and go to Hell. There is no salvation apart from a true, saving belief in Jesus and His Resurrection as a historical fact.
So let us make sure we know what we believe. Let us make sure that our friends and family know what they believe. Let us make a confession that clearly and honestly states whether we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead as a historical fact – or not.
Paul explained to the twelve that Jesus had, indeed, risen from the dead – that He is, indeed, the Promised Savior – and they truly believed, so Paul baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit – and they were indwelt by God the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and prophesy. They evidenced their belief and the gifts that God had given them to serve Him.
After this, Paul entered the synagogue, and for three months he engaged in apologetics – in arguing, persuading, proving – that Jesus is the Christ – the Savior that God sent. Paul took the Old Testament and went through the prophecies: God said that this would happen, and it did happen. God said the Savior would do this, and Jesus did do this. And so forth. And Luke tells us that after three months of instruction and proof, “some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way [Christianity] before the congregation.”
And this is a place where it is clear that salvation is God’s Gift and God’s Choice. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain how someone could be shown with clarity and in depth that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies and then still reject Him.
Have you ever explained something – in a class or just one on one – and did everything you could to make something clear – and have the person still not understand? When I worked with John in the pipe organ company, there were times that he would explain something to me, and I would think that I had understood, but I hadn’t. And I know there were times when John just shook his head in discouragement, wondering what was wrong with me that I didn’t get it.
Or have you ever explained something – or shown something to be true – laid out all the facts that lead from point a to point b – and had the person – after the explanation – tell you that what you said was wrong? On at least two occasions that I can think of, I have presented the facts of a matter and had the person I was talking with tell me, “I don’t care about the facts, this is what I believe....”
Paul showed the Jews in Ephesus that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Savior, and some of them reacted by saying he was wrong and that Christianity was evil. Paul certainly got discouraged – he must have banged his head against the wall at times. He wrote, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (II Corinthians 11:28, ESV).
A good pastor – a good shepherd – will constantly watch out for the flock – to protect the flock from attack of wolves and lions – and to keep the sheep from walking off cliffs. And sometimes the pastor – and even other sheep – will look around the fold and wonder, “What is going on?” “Why are the very people who claim to be Christians frustrating the work of the Gospel? Why are the very people who ought to understand and believe being obstinant in their unbelief?”
Paul left the synagogue and went next door to Tyrannus Hall and rented a space where he preached and taught and reasoned and argued for the Gospel of Jesus Christ for two years. And Luke tells us that all of the Jews and all of the Greeks of Asia – that is, Turkey – heard the Gospel. And we know from history and the Bible that at least seven churches in Turkey came into being from Paul’s preaching: the Church in Ephesus, the Church in Smyrna, the Church in Pergamum, the Church in Thyatira, the Church in Sardis, the Church in Philadelphia, and the Church in Laodicea. If they sound familiar to you, it is because these are the seven churches the book of Revelation is addressed to.
But how could Paul go on with that type of discouragement? How could Paul preach the Gospel day after day, when people rejected what he had to say, and were violent towards him – even trying to kill him – and when the churches quickly succumbed to false teaching?
One place we find the answer is in Paul’s letter to Titus, where he writes, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14, ESV).
How did Paul go on? How can we go on? Because we know and believe that Jesus is the Savior that God has sent and God did raise Him from the dead. We know that He is Truth and He has changed us and is using us to make His Gospel known throughout the world. And we know and are assured by God the Holy Spirit Who lives in us that Jesus is returning in Glory and will bring us with Him into that Glory, into His Kingdom forever.
We have the hope of the life to come with Jesus, and it is witnessed to us and assured us by God Himself. So we can bear with the discouragements in life and in the Church by keeping our eyes set on Jesus and His Return and the Promises He has made us – for He cannot lie.
So let us pray:
Lord, we thank You that the Resurrection is a historical fact, and if we believe that it is and that You have raised Jesus from the dead, You have saved us for Yourself. Help us not to lose hope when we become discouraged for many and various reasons. Let us cling to the hope that You have given us – by speaking to us with the Truth – that You are returning for us – and the Glory is even closer now than when we first believed. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Article: "Did Jesus 'Descend Into Hell'?"
Did Jesus “Descend Into Hell”?
Rev. Peter A. Butler, Jr.
Most parishioners who say The Apostle’s Creed find themselves confessing, in one part of the creed, “He [Jesus] descended into Hell.” Is that true? Did Jesus descend into Hell, and if so, why?
Just as some general background, it is good to understand that The Apostle’s Creed was not written by the Apostles – it is an attempt at a summary of the Apostle’s teachings. And, the phrase “descended into Hell,” is not included in the earliest copies of the Creed (cf. Sacred Dissertations on the Apostle’s Creed, Herman Witsius).
What are we to make of it? That is, what are our options?
The first option is to take its meaning literally – that Jesus did, in fact, descend into Hell – the place of the damned. Those who are of this opinion look to verses such as I Peter 3:18-20 for support: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought to safety through water” (ESV).
The argument goes thusly:
Jesus was dead in the flesh and alive in the spirit after the Crucifixion and before the Resurrection, so that is when this text refers to.
The spirits who are in prison must be a euphemism for Hell.
Therefore, Jesus preached the Gospel in Hell to the damned between the time of His Death and Resurrection.
The only question one might bring to this interpretation is, “Why?” If these were the damned in Hell that Jesus preached to, what good would it do them? If they had already been condemned to Hell, how would the Gospel help them? Unless one argues that Jesus preached the Gospel to them out of pure sadism – which would be another problem, to say the least.
What then might this text mean?
The commentators admit this is a difficult text to interpret, but one possibility, as Martin Luther, William Ames, and John Rogers argue in their commentaries, is that Peter is saying that Christ spiritually presents His Gospel through His Word and through His ministers – rather than Himself Bodily – since His Death – in the same way that the Gospel was preached in the days of Noah. It was the same Gospel – but before the Son was enfleshed, just as the Son has now been re-enfleshed, resurrected, and glorified – seated at the Right Hand of the Father.
A second possibility is that the phrase simply means that Jesus was dead – really dead.
While no Christian would debate that Jesus really and truly died in His Body, this interpretation would make the Creed redundant: “He was crucified, dead, and was buried; He descended into Hell” or – according to this view, “He was crucified, dead, and was buried; He died.” What would be the point of noting His Death twice in the Creed?
A third interpretation is this: when we say that Jesus descended into Hell, what we are confessing is that He suffered the hell of not merely physical death, but the Wrath of God upon Himself for our sins. (cf. The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).
In this third interpretation, we might, like John Calvin, argue that the compilers of the Creed put the phrase in the wrong place, and that is why it has caused such confusion. It would make more sense to have the Creed read: “He was crucified, descended into Hell, dead, and was buried.”
Then we could buffet the Creed with Scripture, such a Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried aloud with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ESV).
We see then that Jesus did not merely suffer the horrific physical torture of His flogging and crucifixion, but He suffered the absolute hell of God’s Wrath being poured out on Him. In that moment He cried out with the agony of being forsaken by God the Father, we get a glimpse into the mystery of the Father’s forsaking – damning – the Son. In some mysterious way, the Unity and Communion of the Trinity was disrupted for that moment that God the Father poured out the wrath we deserved on His Son, Jesus. And let us understand the hell of this punishment was not just in the amount of wrath – enough for every sin every believer ever commits – but in intensity – rather than suffer God’s Wrath for all of eternity, Jesus suffered it – intensified – in the space of time that He hung on the Cross.
This third interpretation of the phrase is one that keeps with all of the texts and does not disregard logic. However, in the end, The Apostle’s Creed is merely a human document, and it must submit to the Word of God. So, if in any degree it does not accurately summarize the teaching of God’s Word – which is what it is an attempt to do – then it must be disregarded as false, and the Word of God affirmed as True.
Some churches have chosen to delete the phrase from the Creed in the hopes of avoiding confusion, but I would argue that this is a mistake: the early writers had a reason for putting the phrase in, and if we understand what they have written in a way that is in concert with the Holy Scriptures, then it seems it would be a good thing to leave it in – rather than delete it – and, instead, let us disciple and teach the people of God that they might better understand why the phrase is in the Creed. And why it should matter that Christ would suffer the Wrath of God on our behalf.
[This article is being published in Dynadharma (Pune, India) Issue #5.]
Rev. Peter A. Butler, Jr.
Most parishioners who say The Apostle’s Creed find themselves confessing, in one part of the creed, “He [Jesus] descended into Hell.” Is that true? Did Jesus descend into Hell, and if so, why?
Just as some general background, it is good to understand that The Apostle’s Creed was not written by the Apostles – it is an attempt at a summary of the Apostle’s teachings. And, the phrase “descended into Hell,” is not included in the earliest copies of the Creed (cf. Sacred Dissertations on the Apostle’s Creed, Herman Witsius).
What are we to make of it? That is, what are our options?
The first option is to take its meaning literally – that Jesus did, in fact, descend into Hell – the place of the damned. Those who are of this opinion look to verses such as I Peter 3:18-20 for support: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought to safety through water” (ESV).
The argument goes thusly:
Jesus was dead in the flesh and alive in the spirit after the Crucifixion and before the Resurrection, so that is when this text refers to.
The spirits who are in prison must be a euphemism for Hell.
Therefore, Jesus preached the Gospel in Hell to the damned between the time of His Death and Resurrection.
The only question one might bring to this interpretation is, “Why?” If these were the damned in Hell that Jesus preached to, what good would it do them? If they had already been condemned to Hell, how would the Gospel help them? Unless one argues that Jesus preached the Gospel to them out of pure sadism – which would be another problem, to say the least.
What then might this text mean?
The commentators admit this is a difficult text to interpret, but one possibility, as Martin Luther, William Ames, and John Rogers argue in their commentaries, is that Peter is saying that Christ spiritually presents His Gospel through His Word and through His ministers – rather than Himself Bodily – since His Death – in the same way that the Gospel was preached in the days of Noah. It was the same Gospel – but before the Son was enfleshed, just as the Son has now been re-enfleshed, resurrected, and glorified – seated at the Right Hand of the Father.
A second possibility is that the phrase simply means that Jesus was dead – really dead.
While no Christian would debate that Jesus really and truly died in His Body, this interpretation would make the Creed redundant: “He was crucified, dead, and was buried; He descended into Hell” or – according to this view, “He was crucified, dead, and was buried; He died.” What would be the point of noting His Death twice in the Creed?
A third interpretation is this: when we say that Jesus descended into Hell, what we are confessing is that He suffered the hell of not merely physical death, but the Wrath of God upon Himself for our sins. (cf. The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).
In this third interpretation, we might, like John Calvin, argue that the compilers of the Creed put the phrase in the wrong place, and that is why it has caused such confusion. It would make more sense to have the Creed read: “He was crucified, descended into Hell, dead, and was buried.”
Then we could buffet the Creed with Scripture, such a Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried aloud with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’” (ESV).
We see then that Jesus did not merely suffer the horrific physical torture of His flogging and crucifixion, but He suffered the absolute hell of God’s Wrath being poured out on Him. In that moment He cried out with the agony of being forsaken by God the Father, we get a glimpse into the mystery of the Father’s forsaking – damning – the Son. In some mysterious way, the Unity and Communion of the Trinity was disrupted for that moment that God the Father poured out the wrath we deserved on His Son, Jesus. And let us understand the hell of this punishment was not just in the amount of wrath – enough for every sin every believer ever commits – but in intensity – rather than suffer God’s Wrath for all of eternity, Jesus suffered it – intensified – in the space of time that He hung on the Cross.
This third interpretation of the phrase is one that keeps with all of the texts and does not disregard logic. However, in the end, The Apostle’s Creed is merely a human document, and it must submit to the Word of God. So, if in any degree it does not accurately summarize the teaching of God’s Word – which is what it is an attempt to do – then it must be disregarded as false, and the Word of God affirmed as True.
Some churches have chosen to delete the phrase from the Creed in the hopes of avoiding confusion, but I would argue that this is a mistake: the early writers had a reason for putting the phrase in, and if we understand what they have written in a way that is in concert with the Holy Scriptures, then it seems it would be a good thing to leave it in – rather than delete it – and, instead, let us disciple and teach the people of God that they might better understand why the phrase is in the Creed. And why it should matter that Christ would suffer the Wrath of God on our behalf.
[This article is being published in Dynadharma (Pune, India) Issue #5.]
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Review: "Requiem for Moses"
In William X. Kienzle’s Requiem for Moses, Father Koesler is asked to perform a mass for a Jewish doctor – an abortion doctor – a doctor who was an adulterer, a thief, and a murderer – as Father Koesler would find out after the mass – after the good doctor miraculously rises from the dead.
But the real question is: is revenge ever permissible? Is it possible that a person could be so wicked that his loved ones would be just in “putting him down”?
But the real question is: is revenge ever permissible? Is it possible that a person could be so wicked that his loved ones would be just in “putting him down”?
Review: "Call No Man Father"
The Pope is coming to town, and he is going to say something about “family planning.” It is not what Father Koesler wants to hear in William X. Kienzle’s Call No Man Father.
Why did the Pope decide to come to Chicago to make this announcement? Can they protect the Holy Father in such a dangerous city? And as priests start being murdered, one is forced to ask how the Pope got to be infallible, and what does the doctrine really mean?
Why did the Pope decide to come to Chicago to make this announcement? Can they protect the Holy Father in such a dangerous city? And as priests start being murdered, one is forced to ask how the Pope got to be infallible, and what does the doctrine really mean?
Review: "Bishop As Pawn"
Bishop Diego used people for his own ends, no matter what it did to them. For that, he was hated. And when he is murdered, few tears are shed.
However, the investigation does bring about much weeping, over the difference between a marriage in the Roman Church and outside of the Church, and what it means for a Roman Catholic to marry a non-Roman Catholic, and how divorce and remarriage must be handled according to Roman Law.
Father Koesler sorts it all out in William X. Kienzle’s Bishop As Pawn.
However, the investigation does bring about much weeping, over the difference between a marriage in the Roman Church and outside of the Church, and what it means for a Roman Catholic to marry a non-Roman Catholic, and how divorce and remarriage must be handled according to Roman Law.
Father Koesler sorts it all out in William X. Kienzle’s Bishop As Pawn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)