Category: Devotions

Rudeness

Acts 26:24 “At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

1. Using your left hand to shake hands
2. Opening gifts as soon as they are given.
3. Showing the soles of your feet.
4. Crossing your legs.
5. Arriving on time v arriving late.

All the above are examples of rudeness within cultures. Often those who go outside of their cultures end up being rude without realising it and it is very funny and no offence is taken. But then there is rudeness that the whole world would agree on, the one that Festus indulged in. So here are 5 more rude examples and lessons to be learnt from the outburst of Festus.

1. The rudeness of interruption.

King Agrippa had given Paul permission to defend himself and so Paul was in the middle of his speech talking to the King, not to Festus, when he is interrupted by Festus.

The lesson is this: Wait your turn, it will come, don’t steal someone else’s.

2. The rudeness of noise:

Festus waded in to Paul’s defence shouting. Interestingly his accusation of Paul fitted himself. Was Paul deaf? Was Festus angry and so raised his voice? I don’t believe so. He was shouting for the benefit of the crowd.

The lesson is this: Do not let your focus be on trying to please the crowd.

3. The rudeness of false praise:

Festus would have seen Paul with his books and parchments, he would have heard him expound on the Prophets and the Law of Moses. Paul was indeed a learned Pharisee. Paul knew more about the Jewish religion than he did. Festus was being truthful, he acknowledged it but he certainly didn’t recognise it.

The lesson is this: It is best not to notice than to notice and then disregard or disrespect it.

4. The rudeness of insult:

Festus cannot be accused of being ambiguous. Everyone heard and knew what he thought of Paul. Paul was suffering from insanity, he was not normal.

The lesson is this: Don’t label people ever.

5. The rudeness of assumption:

Festus not only knew Paul was mad but he knew how he became mad. His great learning had turned him mad. My friend is doing a maths qualification and in his exam he needs to show his working out of the equations as a way of being tested.

The lesson is this: You may be wrong in your conclusion. But you may also be wrong in your working out of that conclusion. The journey is often more important than the destination.

FIRST

Acts 26: 23 “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

Of course Jesus wasn’t the first to rise from the dead was he?

I can think of 3 from the Old Testament: The widow of Zarephath’s son, the Shunammite woman’s son, the man raised out of Elisha’s grave.

I can think of 3 from the New Testament: The widow of Nain’s son, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus of Bethany.

He wasn’t the first, so why did Paul say he was?

It was this phrase, this title, which got Paul into the most trouble. His preaching of the resurrection of Jesus was an offence because of what he called Jesus. The ‘first to rise’ is the same title as that of ‘firstborn’ which he uses in Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15; he borrows it from Psalm 89:27 “And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” It was a title belonging to the Jews for their King of all Kings, their Messiah. Paul takes it and uses it for Jesus. See how he does it in Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

When Paul uses the words firstborn or first, he is saying Jesus is pre-eminent, he surpasses all others. His birth is first. His resurrection is first, it is supreme. And out of which flows a message to the Jews and to the Gentiles. A message of light and hope flows from the fact that Jesus is supreme.

This week last year my friend died. Yesterday I learnt that a Pastor’s wife died suddenly. I am within a whatsapp group text trail at the moment and as I write this I see a text from a wife of a church planter in West Africa whose husband died 2 weeks ago. She writes, “I have been on my own now for 2 weeks and I am still so numb.” How do people find any hope after death? It is only because of the ‘first to rise’, only because of Supreme Jesus who promises resurrected life to those who die in Him.

How do you face the challenges before you today? Again it is only when you make Jesus supreme, first and foremost in your life. Only then will light and hope fall upon the challenges set before you. Some days there are no answers. Some days there is no daylight. It is those days in particular that the only thing to do is to kneel before the pre-eminent one, the first to rise from the dead, make Him supreme in your life for that is who He is. Do that and the pieces will fall into place.

Our helper.

Acts 26:22 “But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen”

This is what Paul experienced: “Whether blind or with sight, chased or safe, seized or free, imprisoned or travelling, facing death or life, God has helped me every day of my walk with Him. To this very day, even now, before the grand King Agrippa, God is helping me.”

What about us?

Look back. How far? As far back as you can remember.

He has helped you.

Hebrews 13:6 “So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Can you also say Psalm 118:6 with confidence?

Perhaps today should be a day of confidence not weakness as you recall the daily help you have received. The One who has helped is helping you right now.

Maybe these Scriptures will benefit you as you mediate on them:

Isaiah 41: 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Do you know why?

Acts 26:21 “That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.”

Some people don’t know why.

They go through life with an increasing heart of bitterness not knowing the real cause. They don’t know why they were treated that way.

They don’t know why they were rejected.

‘Why didn’t I get that job? Why was I overlooked for that promotion?’

‘My face doesn’t fit’ is how they internalise the results for they don’t know why.

There are so many from pew to pulpit who either haven’t sought out the why, or haven’t been told, or if they have will not accept the why.

There are many good people with tormented souls because they have so many unfinished chapters of their life.

If you are going to be seized and nearly killed, you want to know why! Paul did.

It was because his preaching stated that the Gentiles were equal to the Jews with regards what once only belonged to the Jews, the experience of grace and forgiveness.

Many know why the event of their life was wrong but that only feeds the anger. Knowing why helps to see the failings of the human nature in others and perhaps in ourselves. Knowing why can lead to improvement if we have the attitude to learn.

Have you asked why lately? Maybe it is impossible for the ones who know why took it to their grave. Nevertheless, find a friend, talk through what happened, it might be many years ago, ask God that you and your trusted friend can find the reason why. Perhaps you will and it will help you live by closing a chapter of your life. If you don’t then ask God to use the reason positively for His glory in your life even though you have to completely trust Him for the why on this earth.

Change your Damascus first.

Acts 26:20 “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”

First to Damascus. He was going there anyway. He was going to commit wrong. He was going to arrest or kill as many Christians as he could. Now he goes to right that wrong.

What wrongs need righting today?

It could be the wrongs you have committed or what others have done. In the past or present, the wrongs of commission or omission. Today, make it right. Speak and act differently. Clear up the mess nearest to you.

In Damascus:

• He met a close friend to be, Ananias, who prophesied over him.
• He was baptised in water here demonstrating his new beginning as a follower of Jesus.
• He preached about Christ fearlessly.
• As a result instead of giving persecution to the Christians he received it from his fellow Jews.
• Yet he grew even more powerful in his proving Jesus was the Messiah.
• He decided to change his name here, a new identity for a new day.

You can have a new day wherever you are.

You don’t need to start at the other end of the world. You can start now in your Damascus. Where maybe your peers are expecting certain results you can give different ones. You can shock them by declaring a new mind, a new heart and a new walk.

Damascus is one of the oldest cities in Syria and it has always been its capital city. You only have to google the name and up come horrifying images of a devastated city. It is ranked as the 7^th worst city for quality of life.

Wherever Damascus is for you today then don’t let it become like this. Stop the onslaught of the enemy. Start to right the wrongs and have a new declaration of life not death.

I WILL NOT SAY NO!

Acts 26: 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.”

When God reveals, speaks and directs your life, you can say NO.

You would probably not think you were saying NO to God.

When the sneers come, you might say NO.

When the hurt and rejection is felt, you might say NO.

When the door slams shut, when it seems impossible, you might say NO.

The list can go on and you may have a sentence you could write today which is very similar.

In each and every sentence, if the vision from heaven is not present in that sentence, then you might say NO.

If you allow the problem or obstacle to be bigger than the vision, then you might say NO.

If your eyes are diverted from the vision to something else, it would be then that you would in effect be saying NO.

Let us all join Paul today and say ‘I will NOT say NO!’

Amen. Let it be!

 

The power of serving.

Acts 26: 18 “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Paul had been appointed to be a servant. What does that servant do?

Reading this verse we immediately recognise Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, ⁷ to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

This is prophecy of the Servant Jesus and the call for all of us whose purpose is to serve.

Only the brave can serve like this. Paul says how he was called to turn people from the power of Satan. This is a battle against evil and deception. It is going into that battle not with all guns blazing using techniques of the world and shouting orders, taking command. No. It is taking a towel and a basin of water to serve and find a way to:

• Let people see it doesn’t have to be all gloom there is another way.
• Let people see that they don’t have to remain with feelings of guilt.
• Let people see that they don’t have to be outside the group of acceptance.

Gloom, guilt and group acceptance are still the continued attacks of the enemy on those outside and inside the Church.

Paul was purposed to battle against those things by serving. So are we.

The amazing rescue

Acts 26:17 “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.”

“Are you ready to pay the price?” were my closing remarks to a Finnish couple yesterday who came to meet me to discuss Elim opening its first church in that beautiful  nation.

“We are already doing so,” was their reply.

Some of the most exciting church planters are those who are reaching their own. Boureima and Susanna Diallo are reaching their own in West Africa and face constant threats, they pay the price.

There is a price to pay and the accusations are many:

• You are one of us but you no longer behave or sound like us.
• You are breaking your own cultural norm.
• We invested in you; you were our hope, now you have become dangerous to our future.

But it is the same for those crossing culture:

In 1938 Kenneth McGillivray was the Pastor of Penzance Elim Church and in 1940 he became a missionary to Mongolia. He along with Elim Missionary Joseph Payne were arrested and subjected to physical torture (accused of being a spy) within an internment camp in Shanghai for 4 years, it was there he contracted Malaria. He survived and was released and in 1946 he returned on furlough, got married and then returned with the gospel! He and his wife Winnie paid the price for crossing culture continually.

There is a price to pay and the accusations are many:

• Fears and threats from those you are reaching out in love to as they think you are there to harm them.
• “You don’t belong here.”
• They do not want to change.

Paul would be trapped many times in his life between the rejection of Judaism and the Gentile world.

His own didn’t want him and those he went to didn’t want him.

Jesus told him right at the beginning that he would be rescued.

Maybe today you find yourself in one of those places or stuck in the middle and you are paying the price. Your own reject you and those ahead of you don’t want you. Maybe you simply need an amazing rescue from an amazing God. The promise of Jesus to Paul is still the promise to you. The promise is simply this: there is no place where you go or where you become trapped that my hand cannot reach you.

David was able to say in Psalm 116:6 “When I was in great need, he saved me.” Job said in 23:10 (Amplified) “he knows the way that I take.” (He has concern for it, appreciates it and pays attention to it). He knows where you are. You may be a long way off like the Prodigal son. You may be like Moses, someone who became a nobody. Your best days are over. Forty years ago you made the biggest mistake that altered your whole life. You may be like Elijah, running away, you’ve had enough and are asking what the point of life is. You may be like the woman who lost her husband and with that her future, her life, her security. The only thing she had in her house was a little oil. The Old Testament is full of these people needing the rescuing hand of God.

Don’t give up, don’t lose all hope. He knows where you are. He will always know where you are. God likens the Exodus to Him carrying His people on eagles wings (Exodus 19:4). Look back on the times when the only way you got through that time/event was because He carried you. Isaiah says He carried our sorrows (our punishment). On the cross Jesus carried your punishment of sin. Jesus walked the narrow path. It got narrower and narrower people left him, the disciples turned back, denied him, betrayed him, the road got so tight that his father left him. God took Jesus down the narrow path and into a ‘spacious place’ of the eternal home. It is a place of no restrictions and no limitations. He did all that for you to demonstrate that He is the rescuer. One day in eternity we will stand before a vast place, a timeless place and we will rejoice that the great rescue is complete. Today the spacious place exists in our hearts. A seed of heaven is in our lives. It is a place of freedom, a place of love, a place of power, a place of blessings and miracles. God has performed an amazing rescue already. But He can rescue you today and He will rescue you tomorrow. He will rescue you from your own and those who are not like you. He will rescue you from your friends and from your enemies. He will rescue from those you used to journey with and He will rescue you from those who would never join you. He will rescue you from misunderstanding and jealousy and He will rescue you from fears and prejudice. There is nowhere that He cannot reach you. He will bring you home.

5 levels of courage

Acts 26: 16 “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.”

Get up

Stand on your feet

You are appointed

With a purpose to serve

With a purpose to witness of Jesus.

There are 5 levels to Paul’s commissioning. These are still levels that are put before each one of us. They are in order of the degree of sacrifice that is needed within any commissioning of God. It takes courage to move through the levels.

Get up. There are too many references to list of the times when Jesus told people to get up. With the instruction comes the power to do what he asks. However, it takes courage to change your position, to do what you have not been able to do. It takes courage to get up.

Stand up. Perhaps people have knocked you down or God did, but sometimes there is a safety in the dirt that prevents the change of stance. To change would be appearing to welcome another knockdown. To stand up means you are ready, you have strength, you will not be moved. It takes courage to stand up.

You are appointed.  Paul was a Pharisee, he was appointed by man to protect and promote Judaism. Man chose him for this task. He has the full backing of the Sanhedrin and the High Priest. Being appointed by man can be encouraging and even empowering. But that is nothing compared to knowing that the Lord has appointed you, that He has chosen you, that He knows you and wants you.  In the same way even if man rejects you, even if they don’t see the potential in you, even if they say ‘NO!’ as the friends of Jesus did when he tried to share with them his appointment, it matters not. God appoints where man disappoints. It takes courage to hold on to this and to know you are appointed.

With a purpose to serve. Paul wasn’t given a title, he was given a purpose. Man gives titles but God gives purpose. Purpose will take you further than titles will. Titles may open up doors for opportunity but purpose gives you the ability to do what needs to be done behind that opportunity. Notice it was a purpose to get back on the floor. He had just come from the floor and now he is being instructed to spend his life serving from a lowly position. It is a whole different matter moving to a lowly position of serving after God has dealt with you. It takes courage to serve.

With a purpose to witness of Jesus. This is the third time Paul gives his Damascus Road testimony, he was not afraid to witness of what he had seen of Jesus. But his life would be one of continually witnessing of what he was seeing in who Jesus is. This witness would ultimately lead to his death. Our witness may not lead to death but it will surely lead to our surrender. This is the highest call, surrender, it is not popular, you will have to lay things down, you will have to forego comfort. It takes courage to witness.

 

Knowing who he is reveals His ways and my ways.

Acts 26:15 ““Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.”

Paul couldn’t answer the question of Jesus, “why do you persecute me?” He couldn’t because he didn’t know that a) Jesus was alive and b) that his persecution of the followers of Christ is a persecution against Christ. So he thought of his own question to ask the questioner, “Who are you Lord?”

Paul didn’t know. He was blinded to the knowledge of Christ.

Throughout important stages of my life I have asked, “Who are you, Lord?” I ask because though I know He is alive I didn’t know what He was doing with my life. In my pursuit of knowing who He is I then understand His ways. My drawing closer to Him reveals what He is doing in me. This is my question to ask and me alone.

‘Who are you, Lord?’ is also a discovery of knowing who I am and what I am doing. Paul didn’t know he was persecuting Christ, but after he asked the question, he did. I want to know my ways or more importantly what He thinks of my ways, ‘who are you Lord?’