Author: missionspaul

The right question

Acts 24:8 “By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

Tertullus ends his prosecution. He hasn’t brought any witnesses. He hasn’t brought any proof, he just sounds convincing or at least convinced that Paul is guilty. Now he tells Felix to examine himself. Was he hoping Paul would trip himself up under examination? However what he says is a lesson for us today:

Examine for yourself.

Don’t believe everything people say.

Learn what is true.

The key to this is not to focus on the right answer but the right question.

The right question does more than unearth the answer but it brings to the surface a greater understanding for everybody, even the one answering the question.

The master of this was our Master, Jesus. I am not sure how many questions he asked, I am sure some Bible search engine has that number recorded, however, we only marvel at how skilled he was. These questions are for every generation as well. When you see a few I have listed below, how would you answer?

  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? (Matthew 5:46)

  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)

  Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)

  Why are you so afraid? (Matthew 8:26)

  Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? (Mark 9:50)

  Why are you trying to trap me? (Mark 12:15)

  Are you asleep? (Mark 14:37)

  Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mark 14:37)

  Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)

  Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? (Luke 14:31)

  Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)

  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? (Luke 22:27)

  Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? (John 20:15)

  Friends, haven’t you any fish? (John 21:5)

  Do you love me? (John 21:17)

  What is that to you? (John 21:22)

So today find the right question, examine yourself, bring in to the light the truth and understanding that everyone needs.

Don’t let me progress too much.

Acts 24:6 “He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.”

The only time Christians are referred to as Nazarenes is here in this accusation of Paul being the leader of the Nazarene sect. The word sect at that time meant simply a group that has divided from something, namely Judaism.

So what was the Nazarene sect?

They were not Jews because they held to Jesus the Nazarene being the Messiah.

They were not Christians as we know it now because they held to the Laws of the Torah, to circumcision, Sabbaths etc.

They were persecuted.

They fled Jerusalem just before its fall in AD70 and spread but declined in number as the ‘Church’ distanced itself from their original beliefs and practices.

Evolution is a beautiful thing. To see generations of development from an original creation whether in works or thought is amazing. We are thankful for the development within the medical fields, look how far advanced we have become?!

But don’t you ever feel the pull back to the beginning, even only a couple of generations where the Christian belief and practice seemed sterner perhaps, maybe too legalistic for today, yet clearer, unmuddled and simple? Have we progressed too far?

Distance isn’t always a good thing. Development isn’t always right though we are told it is. We think what we have now is what Paul had and what Jesus had, it isn’t. Yet we say we are influenced by Paul and we follow Jesus the Nazarene. But do we?

Today I am conflicted. Do I run forward or turn back?

Today a colleague and friend begins a fast and his action reminds me that the practices of old are still essential for today.

Let me grow but let me not break from the foundation of my faith. Let the house I build compliment the foundation. Let me not progress too much.

 

The plague

Acts 24: 5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world.”

The Message says, “We’ve found this man time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world”

The Amplified says, “For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world”

A troublemaker, a disturber of peace, a public menace, stirring up riots and instigating dissension, this is the accusation labelled against Paul’s gospel work.

These are the comments from people who are afraid of the power of the gospel.

Tertullus uses a word meaning ‘plague’ that the NIV has translated ‘troublemaker’. Paul carries a plague and is infecting people all over the world. What is that plague? The gospel of Jesus Christ! The reason for this approach is two-fold: 1) It was true to some degree as we have seen in the effects from Paul’s preaching in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth and 2) It appeals to Felix’s desire of keeping peace within its empire.

Why are the gospel messengers being persecuted in many parts of the world? It is because they are speaking the gospel and the gospel disturbs. It disturbs culture, tradition, the way of life and even laws of the land. There is no soft gospel. There is no gospel that accommodates. The gospel is the message of surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. It demands change. It demands our all. It will change everything.

St. Augustine knew what the gospel could do. He had lived a wicked life before he became a Christian. Somewhat later one of the women who had been involved with him in his youthful sins spotted him on the city streets. She called, “Augustine, Augustine, it is I.” Augustine began to run way from her, and as she followed him he finally looked back over his shoulder and said, “But it is not I.” He was not the man he had been, the man she had known. The gospel had changed him. It changes all of us if we give it a chance in our lives. There will always be people who will oppose that change.

So what are you carrying? A soft gospel? Or a gospel that disturbs? The good news is that sin can be defeated in a person’s life and they can be reunited to God through Jesus. Any other gospel that has sin removed or that doesn’t demand the Lordship of Jesus isn’t good news at all.

So today let us join forces with gospel-carriers all around the world who are disturbing the religious and non-religious but who are bringing joy, love, peace to many people. Let this year be a year of disturbance. Let us be a menace to Satan. Let us cause trouble in hell and on earth for those who want to walk away from Jesus. Let the good news resound!

 

 

Cut to the chase.

Acts 24:4 “But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.”

Happy New Year!

Why did Tertullus think he was wearying Felix after only speaking 2 sentences which were praising his work as the governor of the province?

Permit me some reading into the text here … but I don’t think the flattery was working, something was showing on the face of Felix that he was either bored already or that he was not interested in long introductions, he wanted to get to the matter and get it over with. He had already hoped to be able to pass this case on to someone else but finding out Paul was from Cilicia meant he had to deal with it. But he would deal with it quickly.

Between Christmas and New Year I filled the car with rubbish and took it to the rubbish tip. It is what I always do at this time of the year as we accumulate so much rubbish. Once again the vast majority of the rubbish was packaging from either food or gifts. The food and gifts are always smaller than the packaging. I wondered at what the cost would be if I totalled my plastic throw-away. Whatever it was it would be a substantial amount. I knew that what I was doing that day was adding to the world’s problem of what to do with all the plastic? The Ellen MacArthur foundation recently produced shocking results from their research:

• 95% of plastic packaging material (worth $80-120 billion each year) is thrown away after one single use.
• After 40 years of recycling only 5% of plastic is recycled into a similar quality item.
• If plastic leakage is not quenched by 2050 the oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight.

On a return flight from Indonesia recently I stopped over in Bali for several hours and went down to the nearest beach looking forward to some idyllic picture that we all dream about. I was horrified to see the whole beach inches deep with plastic waste washed up from the sea.

Plastic waste is a problem.

So is plastic packaging that comes out of our mouths at times.

This year I want to commit to less plastic waste. What I mean is this: I want to listen to less plastic-waste that comes out of mouths in order to package up the real reason for speaking and of course I want to speak less plastic-waste myself. In other words I want to:

Cut to the chase.

In films, when one scene ends and another begins the action is said to ‘cut’ from one scene to the next. If a film ‘cuts to the chase’, it moves onto a car chase scene for example. The expression compares the important matters to be discussed to a car chase scene.

This year I want to cut to the chase.

I want to get to the point.

I don’t want to waste time listening to plastic words about me or anyone in order to flatter the situation. What is the heart of the issue?

Encouragement alone is good.

Encouragement with a motive-to-get is flattery. This is plastic and it cannot be recycled for anything.

I reckon I am going to save a lot of time this year by cutting to the chase. Will you join me?

 

 

Who’s your hero?

Acts 24:3 “Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.”

Felix was given a title … most excellent.

Felix was given total praise … profound gratitude.

Felix’s work was akin to being all-powerful … in every way.

Felix’s work was akin to being all-present … everywhere.

Omnipresent, Omnipotent, total praise and a title. Sounds like God!

Since day one Satan has been tempting us to become ‘like God’ (Genesis 3:5).

In our desire to be like Christ motive is everything.

Thirty years ago I had my hero’s. They were in high office, well-known, charismatic personalities and gifted and I would follow them. Whilst some would follow the stars of sports and music, I would hero worship the preachers and the healers.

Today thankfully I have lost those heroes’. My hero’s don’t have a title, they look very weak not powerful and they are not known across the stages of the Christian world, they live in the back and beyond of nowhere important and yet when I am with them they stir me to pursue God with my praise.

There is a fine line. We must thank people when they have done well, we must appreciate and show gratitude where it is deserved. Those receiving it should receive it and be encouraged to pursue God even more who grants all things. But we must end the hero-worship.

When I hold conferences across the world and bring leaders together, within the pack of information that every delegate receives beforehand it will say something like this, “Don’t bring your titles and dress casually”. I am not concerned that the leaders may believe they are some cult-figure, my concern is others may think that and give praise to them what is due to God.

A cult-figure cannot be spoken against.

A cult-figure is never wrong.

A cult-figure has an attraction either in appearance, riches or displays of power.

A cult-figure is not God but is the way people grow and experience God.

A cult-figure will always want to remain in place.

Every man of God is a man.

Every dynamic woman is a woman.

God is God.

The higher they are built up the harder they will fall when you come to the realisation they are only human after all.

The red carpet always belongs to God.

Resist any more bootlicking!

Acts 24:2 “When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.”

• Flattery takes small elements of truth but ignores the serious failings. (History writers talk of the rebel groups that Felix silenced but also the many divisions that he caused)
• Flattery panders to the need to be liked. (“We … you”, Tertullus was saying ‘we like you’)
• Flattery is for the purpose of gaining some benefit. (Tertullus begins his prosecution with flattery because he wants Paul dead)
• Flattery magnifies the person beyond recognition, to the point of it no longer being an exaggerated praise, it is a blatant lie. (Felix did not reform the nation)
• Flattery cannot be spotted by simply listening to what is being said, it has to be seen in the context of the situation. (The context is Paul standing there and the “…case…”)

The truth is probably that we have all been flattered at some point in our lives and enjoyed it and we have all used flattery.

Flattery is a sin and we need to distance ourselves from it.

I am sure we never use flattery in order to bring down some other person as Tertullus tried regarding Paul. But our reason could be important need and we may even feel godly need. Flattery is not far from us especially in the age of social media and promotion. We need wisdom.

Pastors need people.

People need to be needed.

Churches need ministries.

Ministries (and mission departments/agencies) need money.

We are never far away from the line of flattery.

Paul was able to say of his leadership team, “We never used flattery”, let us all be able to say this. (1 Thessalonians 2:5)

Maybe these 3 simple questions will help:

• Is this true?
• Is this self-praise?
• What do I gain?

So why have I titled this blog the way I have?

Well that is because of the verse in Job 32:22 “for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.” But I love how it is wonderfully worded by the Message:

“Do you three have nothing else to say? Of course you don’t! You’re total frauds! Why should I wait any longer, now that you’re stopped dead in your tracks? I’m ready to speak my piece. That’s right! It’s my turn—and it’s about time! I’ve got a lot to say, and I’m bursting to say it. The pressure has built up, like lava beneath the earth. I’m a volcano ready to blow. I have to speak—I have no choice. I have to say what’s on my heart, And I’m going to say it straight— the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I was never any good at bootlicking; my Maker would make short work of me if I started in now!”

Say it straight, stop licking boots!

You are always enough!

Acts 24:1 “Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.”

You may only have your name at times but your name is enough.

There has been five long days of waiting to see who would descend from Jerusalem to Caesarea.

Amongst the elders were two significant men:

• The high priest Ananias Nedebaeus, a cruel and violent man who according to historical writers would steal the tithes from the priests and give huge bribes to both Romans and Jews.
• A lawyer called Tertullus, though his name suggests he was Roman that is not necessary so, but neither is their proof of his Jewish heritage. He wasn’t chosen for his nationality but his ability to speak and bring the accusation. He was a professional in every sense.

Then of course there was Felix the governor. He had deceived and manipulated his way from being a freed slave to being appointed by the Emperor to govern the province. The historian Tacitus described him as ‘cruel and licentious’. He would do anything for a bribe and we will find out he was hoping to get money from Paul for favours.

Do you get the picture?

Descending on you are Ananias and Tertullas. These two men represented expertise in the Jewish law and also the Roman law: the law of God and the law of man. Standing in the judge’s seat is someone who cannot be trusted in any way. Then there is you.

Paul.

He has a sinful past.

He describes himself as the least of the apostles.

He carries a thorn in the flesh.

He is like you and me.

Friends, whatever has descended upon you today, no matter how high and mighty or how official they be, they may have the powers to change your life for the good and for bad, remember this, you are standing there.

Paul.

“I used to be called Saul. But my name changed when God changed me.”

“I am a changed man. God did a work in my life. I will never be the same again.”

You are more than your name.

Do not be intimidated by those who are more experienced or have fancy titles, who bring their accusations, who can tie you up in oratory knots, who can manipulate, who desire your flattery to entice them to be kind to you, who threaten and who are known for carrying out those threats.

Who are you? Who do you belong to? You are more than your name! You belong to the One who is higher, who is far and beyond and who is up, close and personal and in your life today. “Greater is He that is in us ….”

 

5 keys to sorting out arguments

Acts 23:35 “Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.”

The Apostle Paul is standing before the most leading authoritative figure in his life so far. Felix, the Governor, has been handed a letter from Claudius Lysias, the Roman Commander regarding Jewish accusations against Paul, a Roman citizen.

Felix has to decide what to do.

There are times when we have to decide on 2 opposing parties or when someone airs a grievance and wants us to bring a satisfactory judgment for them. Sometimes the accusers just want us to believe them and take everything that is said as true and join their side. Maybe it would be better if we adopted the practice of Felix from this verse:

1. Take whatever is presented to you seriously and make at least one early decision to show it. (This whole verse shows Felix being responsible)
2. Everyone deserves to be heard fully. (‘I will hear your case’ actually means ‘I will hear you in full’)
3. Protect the accused. (Paul was kept under guard for his safety, he was no danger to Felix)
4. Keep the accused near you. You will know more about them by keeping them closer than distancing them. (Herod’s palace was now used by Felix and his soldiers as his living quarters)
5. Get everyone in the room. (Felix waited for the accusers to arrive)

Perhaps if we followed these 5 practices we would get less situations to sort out or certainly would be more diligent in our judgments.

5 filter questions for busy lives

Acts 23:34 “The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia …”

“Does this come under my authority? Is this my responsibility?” Those are the questions that were going through the mind of Felix, the Governor of Caesarea. If Paul had come from another province other than Cilicia then Felix would have been glad not to have dealt with the case. However, Cilicia was indeed under his authority.

This time of the year is good for reflection as we look back on all that has happened in the last 12 months and of course what is ahead of us. Maybe the busyness of our lives will benefit from holding in place a filter of questions that are taken from this verse we have read today:

1. Do I need to read this? Not every circular should be read, regulate the hours you spend on spam (we don’t read our spam emails but we are never away from Social Media, which often is spam!). Once you ascertain its importance then there is a similar question to ask but even more necessary…
2. Is this for me? Not everything that comes to you is for you.
3. What question do I need to ask and to whom? Information is everything.
4. Can this be given to someone else? Other people may be able to deal with it better than you.
5. Am I responsible for this? Knowing what you are responsible for is crucial for life. Just because others expect you to take action doesn’t mean you do.

Being busy is good. However we must regulate our lives so that it remains good.

The Master’s plan

Acts 23:33 “When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.”

The letter started, “Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings…” and now Felix was holding the letter and had been delivered the parcel … Paul!

During the whole Christmas period we have been handing cards, letters and gifts to people we love. It is a lovely moment and one that we enjoy.

But there will be many today who feel they are being ‘handed over’ and it may not be so pleasant and it may be confusing. Children from broken families that are not amicable, the elderly who are upset for needing to move into a nursing home and those battling illnesses which seem to have the upper hand. There are all kinds of reasons that people can find themselves today not in control of their lives anymore.

The Christmas story appears through one lens like it is being controlled by worldly leaders and situations. From another angle everything was in the Master plan, but on earth sometimes it doesn’t feel like that.

Jesus later said it would be very difficult for those who followed him: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” (Matthew 24:9)

He of course experienced being handed over: “Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.” (Mark 15:1)

Jesus knew this experience that perhaps you or someone you love knows today. This out-of-control feeling, of being handed over, this circumstantial leading of their life rather than their own choosing.

In one of the first sermons of the early church we are told very clearly what we should hold on to in such an experience: “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” (Acts 2:23)

If you are a follower, then keep following even though you may feel the hand of man, you are sitting in the palm of God’s hand and master plan.