THIS IS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF BLOG POSTINGS ON THE TOPIC OF GENUINE WORSHIP. YOU’RE ENCOURAGED TO READ AND INTERACT WITH THESE POSTINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

I used to work with a senior pastor who liked to give staff members a call after Sunday worship services to debrief the morning. After talking about some of the specifics (sound system miscues, bulletin layout, music selection, ushers, attendance, etc.), he would often end up with this question: “But, was God there?” Quite often, morning services that seemed to be technical disasters were, in fact, the ones in which we both sensed the presence of God. Likewise, some of the best crafted productions seemed to lack that which is, alone, important. Ultimately, this was his criteria for whether or not it was a morning full of smoothly processed events, or an actual engagement with the Almighty.

I agree with him wholeheartedly to this day. As a pastor, I would regularly proclaim the obvious truth that, if God is not with us, this is a waste of time, and technically not even “worship.” If God is with us, only then can other things matter.

I’ve been to countless services (many of which I have led) that have provided no tangible or intangible evidence of God’s actually being present. I’ve sung “Surely the Presence of the Lord is In This Place,” and felt the internal conviction to ask forgiveness for lying … because, surely, I was not sure. Despite many of these services having begun with an invocation, calling upon God to be present with His people, more often than not the reality of the presence of God was assumed by faith – faith in the propositional truth that God is everywhere (so therefore here), or faith in the verse that says “where two or more are gathered in my name, I am surely with you,” or faith in the efficacy of prayer (We prayed in Jesus’ name + God answers prayer = He must be present… though we have no sensual data of any kind to support our belief). In this way, we Evangelicals quickly become Thomistic, believing that the Aristotelian “substance” we experience is a service that is rich, divine, and full of life, though the “accident” is a Godless gathering in no way engaged in anything spiritual.

This isn’t good enough for me any more. If there is one guarantee I would like to make to the church gathered for worship, it is that they will encounter God there. But how do we gauge this? Can it be quantified? Can my pastor friend ever, with confidence, say “I think God was there”?

Jesus says in John 4:23-24 that “The hour is…now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” To worship “in spirit” is to have a point of connection with God that is initiated, provided and empowered by God Himself. In short, when worship is true and genuine, God must be there. If not, it isn’t a brand of worship that is of interest to God, and therefore it shouldn’t be of interest to us, either.

Worship must be in-spired, Spirit-infused, God-breathed. God must be there. His presence is everything.

Good day to you all, men of Mesa!

I had an outstanding trip to Italy, where I enjoyed teaching a course on the history of the Early Church to a group of college students from Liberty University. Now, I have a few days to get over jet lag, and prepare for what I think will be an exciting July and August for Mesa Area Ministries, and for Fourth Seed.

. . . . Saturday Breakfast

As you all hopefully know, our next Fourth Seed Men’s Breakfast will be on the first Saturday of the month in July, which is the 5th. I know…we’re taking a bit of a risk here, in that many of you will be having wild 4th of July gatherings, and may be challenged to get out of the rack early the next morning. I’m hoping you will not only rise to the occasion, but will also bring a friend!

Superstition Springs Golf Club  *  Saturday, July 5  *  7:00a  *  $5 donation encouraged

. . . . Blog Study

For those looking for a weekly Bible study opportunity, Karen and I will be hosting a 9-week study at our home on Thursday evenings, beginning next week, July 3rd. The study, entitled Genuine Worship, is a composite study from my years as a worship pastor, a teaching pastor, and my studies in the history of theological development in the church. What, exactly, are Christians “supposed” to do when they gather? At the end of a worship service, how does one evaluate whether it was “good” or “bad”?

Each Thursday night will feature a specific trait of genuine worship (so, even if you can’t come every Thursday, come when you can - each week will be self-contained). And, during the week, I will be blogging on that particular trait/topic. Even if you can’t join us on Thursdays, make it a point to hit the Fourth Seed blog daily, starting July 7th, for what I hope will be a great group study.

More soon…I look forward to seeing you all soon, and continuing our growth together in Christ.

God’s best, Bill

You are all encouraged to join us this Saturday morning for the 4th Seed Men’s Breakfast.

7:00 am

Superstition Springs Golf Club (NW corner of Power & Baseline)

$5 donation requested (though you are free to give more!)

Bring a friend (they don’t have to live in Mesa)

Our last day in our Acts study takes us from one of the least-talked-about stops on Paul’s journeys (Malta) to one of the most famous (Rome). Rome was a planned destination, Malta wasn’t. Rome was rife with controversy, Malta wasn’t. Rome was urban and complicated, Malta wasn’t. Rome would receive a most extraordinary epistle, not Malta. Still, I’ve got to believe that Paul held a special, soft spot in his heart for those backward Islanders who offered him rock-star status!

INSIGHTS

A sensational time in Malta. I think it’s cool that Paul was out in the cold and rain, helping the Malta locals get a fire started by gathering wood. This, rather than playing the role of prophet-executive, and letting the shipmates and other prisoners do the work.

Having been bit by a snake, public opinion offers two possible conclusions: If he swells, he’s the worst of all men. If he doesn’t swell, he’s the best of all men. No in-betweens. Isn’t that the way our culture treats celebrities? When really, they’re just wood collecting schleps like you and me!

Now, the guy who helped with the fire steps forward in the strength of the Holy Spirit. He heals an officials father, and then all heaven breaks loose, with sick people from all over Malta getting healed by Paul. It was an unexpected, unplanned, marvelous three months of ministry. No wonder they were popular, and blessed as they left the island.

(They would have another unexpected week of ministry in Puteoli in the weeks ahead).

Some more nautical detail. Their new ship was one that had wintered in the island; it was build in Alexandria, Egypt; it had an idol-hood ornament; wind descriptions; a detailed itinerary.

“And so we came to Rome.” I wonder what the dynamic was as the people left the ship. They had seen things they could hardly believe - miracles, fulfilled prophecies…that trip was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to them. Now it was time to say goodbye. Did Paul weep with many of them? Were there some he had been evangelizing who had not yet believed? Of the 276, how many will we see in heaven?…

Brothers were waiting for them at the docks. I wonder for how many days, weeks, or even months they were waiting, as the ship had been repeatedly delayed. No wonder the sight of these faithful believers warmed Paul’s heart!

Back to work. Three days later, and he’s back to the work of the gospel! Happily, the Jews in Rome have received neither hate mail or angry visitors from Jerusalem. Still, “people everywhere are talking against this sect,” so there is negative word on the street. Paul gets the chance to set the record straight.

They came in droves to Paul’s place of house arrest, and he preached “from morning till evening.” The topic: The kingdom of God, as described in the Old Testament. His closing argument from Isaiah 6:9-10, where he points out that hard-hearted unbelief was prophesied…but God-given belief will save them. It was a split “decision” - some believed, some didn’t.

As we can see, he was bold from the start, and he would “boldly and without hindrance” preach and teach about Jesus from his rental home in Rome for the next two years.

(The remaining years of Paul’s life are historically uncertain. Most believe that Paul was released after two years (AD 63), and traveled to Crete, and back to Macedonia. Some believe he went on to visit Spain, and even Britain. He was eventually imprisoned in Rome again, and was martyred around 68 AD).

CHALLENGES

1. We all have our plans and expectations as to how God will use you. But, are you open to a Malta moment today? God may have a spectacular ministry waiting for you…right behind your foiled plans and radical disappointments!

2. Do you bless people? When you have to leave them, do they bless you in return? Do you make the island a better place while you’re there?

3. Sometimes we have only 30 seconds to share…but sometimes we have 30 hours! Given the chance, could you explain the kingdom from the Old Testament? Are you equipped to understand and share the whole counsel of God?

Thanks to all of you who have journeyed through Acts with me this past month. I hope to see you all at the upcoming 4th Seed Men’s Breakfast, Saturday morning, 7:00, June 7th, at Superstition Spring Golf Club, near Power & Baseline in Mesa. We’ll introduce a new study for the month of June at that time.

God’s best to you all.

2 John 12,

Bill

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There is no other passage in scripture quite like this one. Luke’s eyewitness account is enough to please any real sailor with its attention to detail. “The winds were against us…we had sailed across the open sea…slow headway for many days…the wind did not allow us to hold our course…we moved along the coast with difficulty…sailing had already become dangerous…the harbor was unsuitable to winter in…a gentle south wind began to blow…they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore…a hurricane-force “noreaster” swept down from the island. ..so we gave way to the storm and were driven along…we passed to the lee of a small island ..we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure…the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together…Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along…they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands…neither sun nor stars appeared for many days…about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land…they took soundings…they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep…they dropped four anchors from the stern…the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away…they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea…they decided to run the ship aground…Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail…the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground…the bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces…those who could swim jumped overboard first and get to land…the rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship.”

This chapter reads like a Joseph Conrad novel! I can’t help but think that Luke was some sort of sailing aficionado — why else would we be getting such a descriptive blow-by-blow report of this action? I have to say, I personally would trade all of this detail for one chapter describing Paul’s first three years as a believer, or some details about his two years in Caesarea…or, better yet, some information about his time in Rome. Instead, the Spirit of God has moved Luke to record a sailing adventure…down to exactly how the men of the ship got to the shore, swimming or with planks!

INSIGHTS

The non-sailor that I am, I gravitate to the moments where Paul brings inspiration to the crew. In verse 10, Paul says, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” They ignored Paul. What does an ex-Pharisee/theologian/prisoner know about sailing?

Then, in verse 21, Paul chimes in again: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.” In other words, “I TOLD you so!”

But now, he takes on the role of the ship prophet: “Keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” Confident as ever, Paul shares an audacious vision with the crew. I’ve gotta believe that many if not most of the 276 people on board thought he was nuts…but he’s beginning to win over a few.

Then, he tacks on a practical admonition. “Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Not all of them bought it. He’s a preacher, not a sailor! What does he know? Rather than run aground, they try to drop anchor in deeper waters and escape the ship. Paul reiterates, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” Those attempting to go AWOL gave up their plan. So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.

Before dawn (that’s really early!), Paul has their collective attention. He encourages them to eat something (they’ve hardly eaten for two weeks!). Then, he has a sacramental moment: “He took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.” They ate until they were full, and jettisoned the rest of the grain into the sea. In verse 39, it says “they decided to run the ship aground if they could.” In other words, let’s do what Paul said. As they expected, this totaled the ship.

I’m going to take some reflective liberty here. I see the ship as an image of the world, full of all kinds of people - doers, doubters, double-crossers. All are bent on survival. God’s word is offered to help them, but they stubbornly refuse it…because it calls them to abandon their trust in their own plans and strength, and adopt of course that appears like self-destruction. “Crash, and you will live. Cling to your lives, and you will die” is the prophecy. The night before the crash, they break bread together. The next day, the ship crashes, which looks like the final blow to their personal pursuit of salvation. The “prisoners” are threatened by the soldiers, but because of the one man, they are all spared. “Everyone reached land safety.” Now, dead to their circumstantial lives (stranded on an island!), they are alive, not knowing what tomorrow will bring, but convinced that the Word preached to them had been true.

My life is a boat ride on stormy seas. Every detail matters to God. Rocked, running aground, and scattering for safety…God says “trust me, and live. I need you to proclaim the truth for me.”

CHALLENGES

1. Do we blow off divine instruction, and spend our time instead trusting ourselves, shifting our possessions around, and thinking we can save ourselves from the storms? Perhaps (no, not perhaps…for sure!) we should listen attentively to the words of God, and do what they say!

2. God often calls his people to do things that seem peculiar. When your leaders lead in a strange direction (we must all run aground!), do you embrace it prayerfully, or do you reject it practically?

3. God saves Paul so he can preach in Rome. Why has God saved you?

That was very, very long…and I was wondering what I might get out of that chapter! Thanks for reading until the end. One more day, folks! Thanks for sharing this adventure with me!

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A bit of hymn history for you today…

“He who is al­most per­suad­ed is al­most saved, and to be al­most saved is to be en­tire­ly lost,” were the words with which the Rev. Mr. Brun­dage end­ed one of his ser­mons. P. P. Bliss, who was in the au­di­ence, was much im­pressed with the thought, and im­me­di­ate­ly set about the com­po­si­tion of what proved to be one of his most pop­u­lar songs.

One of the most im­press­ive oc­ca­sions on which this hymn was sung was in the Ag­ri­cul­tur­al Hall in Lon­don, in 1874, when Mr. Glad­stone was pre­sent. At the close of his ser­mon Mr. Moody asked the con­gre­ga­tion­ to bow their heads, while I sang “Al­most Per­suad­ed.” The still­ness of death pre­vailed through­out the au­di­ence of over fif­teen thou­sand, as souls were mak­ing their de­ci­sions for Christ.

“I admit that…For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might…I threw these believers into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people.” It’s hard enough to live with the reality of our sins. But these? How does Paul live with himself after how evil he was? And how hard is it, now, to have to relive these memories, out loud in a testimony? I wish I could have heard him say these things, to hear the voice, and see his expressions…

“I started preaching this life-change…to the whole world. It’s because of this ‘whole world’ dimension that the Jews grabbed me in the Temple that day and tried to kill me. They want to keep God for themselves.” Though Paul earlier says he’s on trial because he believes in the doctrine of resurrection, he states here the real reason the Jews are so upset…that he’s bringing non-Jews into the fold.

Festus blurts out his mocking verse: “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But, to what Festus thinks is madness Agrippa says his famous words, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” You’ve gotta think that Festus felt a bit sheepish about equating what interests the King to craziness!

I love Paul’s reply: “That’s what I’m praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me—except, of course, for this prison jewelry!” Paul clearly doesn’t want to be in prison (though he accepts it as an act of God’s sovereignty)…nor does he want any follower persecuted for their beliefs. And, notice that he prays for their conversion. He’s not a hyper-Calvinist who would say “God knows who is or isn’t saved, so I’ll just preach and run.”

“This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Paul had to appeal to Caesar to get away from the Jerusalem leaders and mob, but didn’t have to appeal to get away from Agrippa and Festus! So, he’ll be whisked away to Rome (that’s tomorrow’s text).

CHALLENGES

1. Do you know people who are “almost persuaded”? Do you pray for them like they are mostly Christian, or like they are completely lost? Perhaps we need the theological reminder that “almost” still has them on a collision course with hell…and we should minister to them appropriately!

2. Your brokenness from your past can be pivotal in your testimony of today. Have you come to grips with God’s forgiveness to the point that you can humbly and honestly make reference to your past sins, for the gospel’s sake? Or, do you still needlessly try to hide those things, even though they’ve been covered by the blood of Christ?

3. Are you ready like Paul today? Ready with your testimony, ready with the gospel, praying diligently for the lost? Are there five lost people in your life for whom you are praying every day? (I’m hoping the answer is, “there are a lot more than five!”).

Tomorrow, we get nautical. Two more days!

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Two years have elapsed with Paul imprisoned in Caesarea. But now, a regime change signals that possibility that Paul might be able to get on with his traveling ministry…or at least be sent to Rome for an official trial.

INSIGHTS

“Three days after arriving.” This must have been considered an important matter by the new area ruler. He went to Jerusalem right away, and spent 8-10 days there (That time must have been a good one, since we see in v. 9 that Festus wanted to do these Jews a favor). He then convened Paul’s trial a day after his return. So, within 2 weeks of taking over his new office, he’s trying to get things resolved with Paul.

After Paul appeals to Caesar, Festus says “to Caesar you will go.” Then, he gets to wondering about his snap decision, made so quickly in his new role. He consults King Agrippa. The King is in town, in Caesarea by the sea, taking in some nice weather and coastal breezes. Over daiquiris by the pool (I made that up), he tosses out the Paul situation to him for his consideration. Agrippa is himself a Jew, but has been completely Romanized. He finds it so interesting that he wants to hear Paul himself.

So, the next day, we have Agrippa entering with flowing robes, his cabinet and servants. In contrast, in comes Paul, “fresh” from 24 months in prison. Festus’ opening statements include these admissions: “I found he had done nothing deserving of death…I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him…I think it is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.” 8-10 days in Jerusalem, and a trial in Caesarea…and Festus has come up with nothing? Or, as Paul must be thinking, “I’ve been rotting in here for two years…and nothing?”

CHALLENGES

Both of today’s challenges have to do with “the system.” We all have to battle our way through the systems of this world, and rarely do we think they are treating us fairly.

1. In your knowledge of the fact that God is sovereign, are you okay with going along with whatever the system doles out? Like Paul, can you embrace your imprisonments as His will?

2. When do you try to buck the system? Paul leveraged his Roman citizenship to keep himself from the death plots of the Jews, and perhaps to engineer a way to get to Rome to fulfill God’s promise that he would preach there. Should he have been more passive, or is it appropriate to do all we can within the parameters set before us to whatever we can to protect ourselves, and advance our causes?

In short, when do you “let go and let God,” and when do you get out there and make things happen? Your comments are appreciated.

Tomorrow, we wrap up our time in Caesarea. Only three chapters to go (then we’ll start writing our own!).

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Special thanks today to Thom Olmstead, our guest blogger!

Today we get the opportunity to see Paul give his defense (or defence, if you are British) before the governor Felix at Caesarea. The contrast between Paul and Felix is significant and the application for us is sobering and encouraging at the same time.

INSIGHTS

The legal team assembled to bring charges against Paul is impressive. Led by none other than the high priest Ananias accompanied by some of the elders, along with their lead spokesman (the lawyer Tertullus) they make up a formidable group that seek to bring Paul to a form of justice that was denied them by the Roman commander Claudius Lysias earlier. We have already seen God’s deliverance of Paul from difficult circumstances in the past and we anticipate that it will happen again. But whether God spares him (or us) or not, his plans are forged from the beginning of time and it will ultimately be for His glory.

It is interesting to note that the charges brought by Tertullus start out in a grand oratory, but end in very general terms. Paul is accused of being a troublemaker, a riot instigator, a sect ringleader, and one who desecrated the temple. Others joined in with this accusation, asserting that they were true, but no specific charges were given. Sound familiar?

Paul now “gladly” makes his defense. The word that is translated “defense” here is the Greek verb “apologeomai” derived from noun “apologia”. It is sometimes rendered as “answer” instead of defense. In our culture, the words apology or defensiveness imply something far different than what Paul was presenting here. That is very clear in how Paul responds starting in verse 11.

Paul is crystal clear and specific about what is not true about the accusations and then also (in contrast) what is true and with no apology (not apologia). He forcefully denies (in legal terms) what he is being accused of, but in no way shrinks from what he does hold to be true, that he “worships the God of our fathers, as a follower of the Way”. What an example of how to present one’s defense before a watching world.

Felix, on the other hand, is a conflicted man. The historian Tacitus says that Felix “exercised the authority of a king with the mind of a slave”. After Paul discourses on judgment, Felix is afraid, yet is still hoping for a bribe for Paul’s release. Felix, and his wife Drusilla, know much about “the Way”, but he is still intent on keeping Paul in prison to assuage his accusers. Many admire Christ and his teachings, but in the end, still trust in themselves rather than the infinite-personal God.

CHALLENGES

1. Too often in our Christian experience we talk in generalities without getting too specific. That does not seem to Paul’s problem. While there is always the need to couch the language of our “apologia” in gracious terms, we should not shun the “directness” that comes with the simplicity of the gospel. The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword”. We dare not rob it of its power by talking around it. If this is your experience, re-examine Paul’s defense in Acts 24 and pray that it would change your approach as you give to others a reason for the hope that is within you.

1. In verse 16, Paul states that he wishes to keep his conscience clear before both God and man. We see in his defense that he desires to be declared innocent of false charges against him, yet is bold in acknowledging what he is “guilty” of, and that is his faith in the God of the Scriptures and of his Lord. In the book and subsequent movie Lord of the Rings, Faramir is faced with a choice. The right choice may cause him to lose his life. In the end, he does make the right choice and when he is told that his life would be forfeit he says, “Then my life is forfeit”. Martin Luther, before the Diet of Worms stated, “Here I stand, I can do no other”. Pray that it may be the same for you and I, that we would be compelled by His grace to stand as the great saints before us have done.

Tomorrow, we look at another trial for Paul, this time at the hands of Festus, Felix’s successor as governor.

- Thom Olmstead

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The story today reads like a screenplay, with a number of roles that seem almost “over the top” in their characterizations! When actors are playing their parts, directors will often, in an attempt to get the actor to think more deeply about their character, ask them, “what is your motivation in this scene? Why is your character doing what (s)he is doing?” Let’s try to crawl into the minds of these players, to better understand what is taking place.

INSIGHTS

Ananias and the Council. These men were likely teens or young adults 30 years ago, when the ruling council attempted to stomp out the ministry of Jesus. Here they are again, trying to stomp out Paul. There were other Christians in Jerusalem (e.g., James, who would be killed within the next three years), but Paul was particularly troublesome because of his embrace of the Gentiles, and because many in the Christian sect, which had struck a peaceful level of compromise with the Yahwists in Jerusalem, shared a negative opinion about Paul. To both groups, Paul represented the potential deterioration of many things they held dear: conservative “correct” theology, firm control of the practice of their faith around the empire, the cultural, patriotic glory of their lifestyle, even their tenuous relationship with the Empire. Let’s face it: they just didn’t believe Paul was right…and, the propagation of Paul’s message would confuse and even threaten almost every aspect of their lives. To attempt to silence him made total sense.

Sadducees and Pharisees. Funny. Paul just mentions “resurrection”, and their off to the races! I admire this about these religious men. Paul’s situation is important, but it isn’t as vital as their understanding of theological truth. For them, the resurrection controversy trumps the Paul controversy…just like for us the doctrine of the trinity is more important than, say, a controversy over an evangelism method. In light of the main thing, the resurrection, the Pharisees of the group immediately embrace Paul! “We find no evil in this man!”

The 40 Assassins. “We will eat nothing until we have killed Paul!” Let’s just say I’ve never been that angry at anyone! Do you think all 40 were Sadducee leaders? Hardly…this appears to be a group of hit men, many of which probably didn’t get the theological nuances of what was going on - like infantrymen in our military today who would probably get a D in a political science class. But, they’re doing the patriotic thing, and talking a tough talk (I’m guessing most of them had several falafels before Paul finally died!).

Paul’s nephew. Talk about having a weird uncle! This nameless character truly saves the day for Paul, and is used in a mighty way to fulfill God’s prophecy to Paul that he will eventually get to Rome. When he went to talk to Paul, he probably didn’t think he would also have to talk to the commander of the police! I find myself wondering if, when word got out that he was the one who ratted on the assassination attempt, he was shunned by the Jewish community from that day on.

The commander. What a nightmare. Trying to keep the peace, the threat of mob violence, the threat of having mistakenly mistreated a Roman citizen, a complete lack of awareness of the theological issues at hand…and totally unaware that God is sovereignly controlling his every move to further His Kingdom plan through Paul! His motivation? Save my job, and get this thing behind me.

Envoy of 470 Roman Military. 470 people, to take Paul on either the 20 mile trip to Antipatris, or the 2-day, 60 mile trip to Caesarea…both starting at 9:00 p.m., and going through the middle of the night. I’m sure all of these men were excited about this duty. As you can see, the commander didn’t want to blow this one! But now he has a bunch of bitter soldiers in his camp to go with the bitter Jewish leaders in his city. (I wonder how many of these men got evangelized by Paul along the way!).

Felix. More on him tomorrow.

Paul. What more needs to be said about Paul? Firm convictions, incredibly clever, a great chooser of words, a great reader of people, and a complete trust in God’s sovereign hand.

God. Not a hair on any of the heads of any of the people in this story is unknown to God. He is orchestrating hundreds of lives here, all of which are bumping into the gospel in some way, shape or form. And, in the middle of it all, there is the personal, warm reassurance of God to our hero: “The Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’”

CHALLENGES

1. Do you care enough about theological matters to be as passionate about them as the Jewish religious leaders were? Or, are you more like one of the 40 hit-men, unaware of the real issues, but still passionately doing the work of the organization?

2. If need be, would you be willing to step into a high-level political situation to protect the interests of the gospel? Or, would you just chalk it up to God’s sovereignty, and hope/pray for the best?

3. The circumstances of your life are what they are. Today, you find yourself living out countless plots and subplots - some you enjoy, some you can’t stand. God is the director, and has every cast member exactly where he want them…including you. What is your motivation today?

We have a guest blogger tomorrow…make sure you stop by and share a bit of your Memorial Day with us!

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Today, we continue with the story, where Paul finds himself in between the proverbial rock (the truth of the gospel, from which he cannot shrink back) and the hard place (the Jewish population of Jerusalem, both Yahwists and Christians). Let’s be honest: Paul knows persecution is coming - it has been promised through prophecies on his way to town. But he will still do what he can to avoid it, all the while being faithful to his task. Jesus’ words “if this cup can pass me by” come to mind.

INSIGHTS

Paul does what he can to alleviate the tension. He speaks in Aramaic, he mentions he is a local, he drops Gamaliel’s name, he claims his Pharisee roots, he recites his resume of training, and even identifies with their violent/zealous streak, reminding them that he was a Christian hater at one time, too. Like he did with the Greeks in Athens, he finds the common ground upon which to stand.

Then, he becomes a witness. He doesn’t do apologetic theology…he simply shares his testimony. The Damascus road, the voice, the blindness, the appointment with Ananias, his conversion, and the remarkable call of God on his life…to leave Jerusalem, and go “far away to the Gentiles.”

Uh oh. The “G” word. When Paul claims that Yahweh told him to go to proclaim favor on the non-Jews, this was too much for them to bear.

Then, some nice government work: “He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.” Flog first, details later. Nice.

Then, rather than just take the flogging, Paul pulls out his Empire ID - and not just his immigration papers, but his “born a Roman” ID. (Again, he didn’t want to get flogged if he didn’t have to.) He knew his declaration of citizenship would alter the proceedings. He was right. They flinched. And, yet again, in good government fashion, he begins to plot the cover up.  How can I get rid of this problem?

CHALLENGES

1. Are you willing to bring up the muck from your past in order to better identify with the muck of people’s present conditions? It can be humiliating, as I’m sure it was for Paul every time he thought of what he’d done…but it sure is effective at building bridges. Can you think of a relationship where such a confession could help break the ice?

2. Are you ready with your testimony? In English, Paul’s speech here takes about 100 seconds. If you had 100 seconds to share with a crowd, what would you say?

3. Paul had a very threatening situation, and matched it with a very strong testimony. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in not-very threatening situations, and offer instead a not-very strong testimony. With so little threat of genuine persecution, why is it that we shrink back?

Tomorrow, Paul gets punched in the mouth, saved with the help of his niece, and finally extradited to Herod’s palace in Caesarea! See you then…

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