Author: missionspaul

Risk

ACTS 15:26  ^“men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

The letter continues to the Antioch believers from the Jerusalem church continues. “We sent you chosen men to deal with this circumcision issue. These were not just men they were men who had risked their lives for carrying the name of Jesus as the Lord of their life.”

We must listen to those who have given up everything for Jesus.

Like the Imam in one of our Elim nations who recently lost his wife, children and his cows on his conversion. We need an audience with him.

 

We must listen to those who do not play it safe because they want comfort for their lives.

Like our church planters in the Himalayas who through the use of helicopters and trekking the dangerous mountain areas bring the gospel to those who have never heard.

 

We must listen to those who serve under the only name they know, that of Jesus.

Like the women who stay behind with the broken and damaged women caught up in the sexual violence of the civil war of the DRC bringing hope and healing to those who have been robbed of everything.

 

That’s who I listen to and whose stories I hear and tell every day. That’s who I love to be with. I don’t have the will or the desire to listen to anyone who talks from a position of safety. Risk doesn’t need any more theorists.

Whilst that may seem far removed from you and me. We too can speak more, give more and ultimately risk more in our world.

 

Will you?

Acts 15:25 “So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul.”

Some men were chosen. These were the believers in verse 2 who were appointed to go with Paul and Barnabas. They were part of the team to go and challenge the circumcision law makers.

Men chose men. Forget the gender that is not my point. My point is that these men were chosen by God surely? Yes. But they were chosen by men.

I recently was discussing with an overseas friend about their possible ordination. They were battling because they said they didn’t need man to ordain them, God ordained them. I was able to share with them that ordination is connected to their credibility because others know the person has been tried and tested. These men from Jerusalem would never have been received by Antioch if they had not been sent by the Jerusalem church.

You see, it is a positive thing to be chosen by others for a task.

For man to see in you something that can be used.

For others to recognise gifts and skills suitable for the task.

You don’t need to wait for God to ordain you or commission you or be the One who solely uses you. It can be simply your Pastor, leader, mentor and friend who says, ‘will you?’ It is okay to say ‘YES’ to that. You don’t need some divine revelation from God that it is God leading you.

So today if you get asked to do something and you want to do it then do it!

 

 

Some people …

Acts 15:24  We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.”

So the letter is read out to the Gentile believers from the Jerusalem apostles and elders.

What is not clear is whether some leaders had left the Jerusalem church to visit Antioch in secret and they did it with their Pharisaic spirit or that they in fact were sent by Jerusalem but they overstepped their remit and began to bring their rules that had never been laid out by Jerusalem.

Some people have a personal campaign, an untested and unchallenged voice. They are the lone rangers of the church.

Some people can be within a gracious Church but come out as law enforcers. Being within grace doesn’t mean grace is within you.

Some people speak with authority without being under authority.

Some people when they speak disturb and steal peace and think this is what God does to His children.

Some people go further and do more than what was expected or asked of them. They may have an entrepreneurial passion and belief and be willing to take risks to make it happen. But breaking from the whole doesn’t mean they are right.

Some people are just some and not everyone. It can be fixed.

 

Who are you?

Acts 15:22

“Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.”

I found out lots about Silas. He would spend lots of time with Paul as a fellow missionary. He would help plant churches in many places. He is mentioned by Paul on three occasions. It is clear that Silas was an important leader of the Jerusalem church who has the confidence of Paul and the other missionaries.

I found out nothing about Judas Barsabbas except that he was chosen with Silas to go with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch after Peter and James had convinced the Jerusalem church to send them. They would tell the Gentile believers what had been decided by the mother church that they did not need to be circumcised.

Then nothing.

Some people’s names are passed down through the generational lines for amazing exploits ie Peter, James, Paul, Barnabas, Silas.

Some people’s names are known only by researching and then only a few details are mentioned ie Judas Barsabbas.

Some people are not even named, but in their own generation they are among a group of people who changed history in some way ie those people who were simply known as the apostles and elders.

Friends it doesn’t matter if in the years to come after you have long gone that the world is talking about your name. In any case sometimes their version of events is often exaggerated or sketchy or assumed.

But you can serve God in your generation, you can make a huge impact and influence now. Whether or not you are later known is not important as right now you can influence decisions, change people’s thinking and powerfully impact someone’s destiny. You can be part of a group of people who do that. In fact you already are, it is called the Church. You belong to the Church and belonging to the Church means that you share the life-changing, shape-creating landscape of the many. Maybe in 50 years or 2,000 years if Christ has not returned you will be mentioned or not.

However, today, you belong to the Church and your world knows your name. You are here not for fame but to follow the lead of the Spirit as the Church changes history.

Grace will be difficult

Acts 15:21
For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

James in standing against circumcision for the Gentiles as evidence of salvation has been showing that it was the intention of God that they be saved. But also that there should not be hindrances placed upon the Gentile to observe the law of Moses such as the food laws etc.
Then in closing we have this sombre verse.
Sombre because James is simply saying ‘this is going to be difficult’. ‘For many years the law of Moses has been preached in every city and right up to their present day it is read in the synagogues every week’.
Basically it is inherent and it is widespread. ‘This is going to be tough to keep the Gentiles in grace’.
Things haven’t changed in our generation.
Fight for grace.
The Pharisees are all around us.
Law is taught and law is digested.
Grace-killers are everywhere.
I hear of Pharisees who applaud the community projects of the church but who would rather the community didn’t come in and spoil their church.
I hear of Pharisees who point fingers at sinners but ignore their own sin.
I hear of Pharisees who know exactly what God wants and does and thinks and what He doesn’t. They know so much about God they sound higher than Him.
‘This is not the way we do things around here.’
‘I will not be moved on this.’
The laws of history can kill the grace of today.
Law is needed for no one wants lawlessness. We need discipline. We need rules. We need accountability. We need all this but NOT for the reason of proving to man that we are acceptable to God.
The fight for grace is the fight against performance.
We have a tough battle before us.
Let’s make a start today.

 

Sex, meat and black pudding

Acts 15:20

“Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.”

James has been supporting Peter and Paul saying that the Gentiles do not need to be circumcised in order to prove their salvation. It is never Jesus plus.
But now James clearly shows that for everyone who comes to salvation it is most definitely Jesus less. Jesus less their sin.
You cannot bring all your baggage with you. There is a weight allowance.
This is not a compromise for circumcision. This is not about working for salvation or some performance.

1.Idol-polluted food: this is not just food, that is not the focus. It is ‘idol-polluted.’
Throughout the Bible we are told not to associate with idols. Much of the Gentile food was linked to worship of gods. We are prohibited within the 10 Commandments to worship other gods in anyway.

2. Idol-polluted immorality: we are living in days of deep debate over sexual practice within the Church. But James here is referring to the common and well known sexual activity that was associated with idolatry.

3. Idol-polluted animal meat and blood: Nothing is mentioned about the strangulation of animals. However, we do know that Paul believed that the demonic spirits were involved in idolatry (1 Cor 10:20). Early Christian writers wrote that if we ate strangulated animals the blood will still be in them and we may well partake with the demonic (Origen).

So the whole point is this: come to Jesus but let go of idolatry.
It is not about food, sex, meat from strangled animals or black pudding (thankfully!)
It is about idols.
Idols are things we look to in order to find God.
Idols are found in the world but are in the church.
We idolise people, places, programmes and we become in danger of worshipping those things, they move from idols to gods.
Jesus only.
It is not Jesus plus circumcision.
But it is Jesus less idolatry.
Don’t idolise food. Consume food don’t let food consume you.
Don’t idolise sex. Sex doesn’t define you nor should it saturate your life.
Don’t idolise the demonic. The demons are here in every culture, look around, find them, some reading this will point to the witch-doctor and others will point to the horoscope. Find them then unfollow them.

Jesus less.

 

Let them come.

Acts 15:19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

Let’s make it easy for people to find God.

Let them see our love in the Church and our love for the world

Let them see a surrendered Church, that we have been to the cross.

Let them see our acts of kindness.

Let them see our acceptance of all people.

Let them see our grace and forgiveness.

Let them see our hands reached out towards them.

Let them see an alive Church.

Let them see a Church that has come out from the grave.

Let them see a Church not stuck in death and religion but moving in life and relationship with Jesus.

Let them see their experience of God is as valuable as the other person.

Let them see there is no class, no distinction, God’s children are equal.

Let them see that their identity is not defined in anyway by this world but by Christ. Let them see a powerful Church.

Let them see the river flowing with many streams of water.

Let them see a Church that believes the best is yet to come.

Let’s not make it difficult for people. Let them see Christ, His body, the Church.

 

 

He has known

Acts 15:18

“…things known from long ago.”

James is quoting Amos in the defence of the gospel being given to the Gentiles. In 5 words he reminds us that God has known about the Gentiles and what He would do a long time ago.

We serve and worship a God who has known from long ago.

What has He known?

Everything!

All His works! James sees that Amos proves that all the things God does were planned by Him a long time ago. The conversion of the Gentiles wasn’t some new thing. It had been thought of and then spoken of by God throughout the prophetic periods of time.

The new thing that is taking place in your life, which you may enjoy or maybe stretching you, God knew.

As I embark on what seems to be the greatest challenge of my life I rest assured in His unfailing grace and His predetermined plan for my life. This challenge He ordained before I was born. The same is true for you.

If there is any comfort I can bring to you today it is this, He has known. If He has known then He also knows how it will turn out. If He knows how it will turn out it means He will be there on results day, on the judgment day, on assessment day or whatever day you face ahead of you.

For me it is enough He has known what is happening now and what will happen tomorrow and that Him being there for me is all that I need, whatever the outcome.

 

God changes us not man

Acts 15:17 “that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things”

James is quoting Amos to defend his position that circumcision is not needed for salvation.

Amos generations ago said this new work of God would happen, the work of salvation for the Gentiles. More importantly there is no mention that the Gentiles have to change to become Jews, they remain Gentiles bearing the name of God.

Isn’t that amazing?! No man will change people who belong to me says God. God does the changing not man.

An eternal lesson that is still appropriate even for us Gentiles in our generation. Demanding people who are saved by God to change in order to be accepted into the church or into our clique is the same problem that James was having. So put the list of rules away and let us all follow the Spirit and let God bring about the change not anyone else. Amen?

He rebuilds

 

Acts 15:16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it”

 

So James uses Amos 9:11-12 and he sees very simply that the Judaism in his generation had rejected the Messiah and in doing so had fallen down. But the new work of God was that he would begin to build the church made up of Jew and Gentile.

 

Whatever has fallen down God can rebuild. It may because of our doing or just simply the circumstance of life. But God is the lifter of my life, is He yours?

 

He rebuilds me and He restores me. And I come forward again.

 

Do you know what I am saying? Do you know this God today?