Category: Devotions

Face it. Deal with it. Move on.

Acts 28:24 “Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.”

Even a super-apostle finds there are times when people think he is not telling the truth! So that encourages you and me who swing from those who are convinced and follow and those who refuse to believe what we are saying is true.

A few days ago someone wrote to me and told me they believed I was lying over a certain matter. I was obviously telling the truth but faced with the frustration of not knowing how else to convince the person who would not believe. People either look at you with disdain because they think you are manipulating the truth or with sympathy because they think you are misguided. But what do you do when people will not believe you?

Jesus instructed us to shake the dust off our feet when we left a town that did not welcome or listen to us (Matt 10:14). When his disciples turned away and refused to follow him, Jesus asked the Twelve if they wanted to do the same (John 6:66).

1. There will be people who will not believe you. Face it.
2. This is not a sign that you should alter your course. Deal with it.
3. It is important to know who is really with you. Move on.

 

Dates and Diaries

Acts 28: 23 “They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.”

You will have seen how we have just finished the first World Conference for Elim leaders.

The date had been set 10 months previously.

It gave the 102 delegates from 32 nations the time needed to get their visas amongst other things to be in the UK. Sadly there were many who couldn’t get their visa and were not here.

They had time to prepare themselves in prayer to come. It gave them time to talk to their own leadership teams about what questions they should bring with them.

It gave time for the number of leaders who were coming to be totalled.

We had time to prepare the necessary arrangements from transport to accommodation to the churches who would host them at weekends and to the arrangements in the conferences. We were ready. We all were because a date had been set.

When the leaders of the Roman Jews told Paul we want to know more about the ‘sect’ he could have immediately launched into a defence of it. But a date was arranged.

It is wise to slow a conversation down and arrange a date in the future to meet because it gives both sides time to prepare.

Some people have nothing in their diary and are therefore not prepared for anything. Some people’s diaries are too full and therefore have no preparation time for the event. Dates and diaries are essential and when used correctly can help to shape our lives efficiently and more effectively.

Learners ask questions

Acts 28: 22 “But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”

They should be praised for wanting to know Paul’s views. They had heard damning reports about this Christianity and they sought for the thoughts of Paul.

“What are your thoughts on this matter?” If only more people would ask that question.

Instead of passing judgment on what they do not know: “what do you think?”

Instead of carrying out certain actions: “what do you think?”

Instead of pretending to know everything: “what do you think?”

Never get to a place or a position in life when you do not have to ask that question.

Success is not being able to answer every question but it is to be able still find the question and ask the right person.

Ask someone today, “what do you think?”, you may grow through that answer.

Lies or truth

Acts 28:21 “They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you.”

Were they lying? It would be strange that the mob from Jerusalem had not contacted their friends in Rome about this disturbing man called Paul, who they believed should be put to death.

Were they telling the truth? Had they not heard from Jerusalem because the mob there knew they wouldn’t win in such a stronghold for Roman citizens so didn’t inform the leaders there? Did the Roman Jews returning from Jerusalem miss this whole debacle? Did they return before it all commenced with the attacks against Paul?

We have all known people who feel justified to lie. What they want outweighs how they get it. Similarly we all know times when we feel justified not to believe what is being portrayed as the truth.

I wonder how Paul is feeling as he hears this. Does he believe them or not? Does he care?

If Paul was in a panic in prison then what they said would matter.

If Paul needed help from anyone no matter who they were then what they said would matter.

If Paul was crying out to God for a change of circumstance then what they said would matter.

But he wasn’t.

Paul was at peace, he was where God wanted him to be. And so are you, you are strategically placed today, so whatever man says to you it doesn’t really matter whether they have a hidden agenda or not, whether they are lying or telling the truth, you are where God wants you to be.

Paul only looked to God for help not man. The help Paul wanted was open doors not from house arrest but open doors for the gospel. And so do you. You don’t need any man to help you. Your help comes from God alone.

Paul didn’t need a change of circumstance; he wanted to optimise every circumstance. And so do you. You don’t need to be lifted out of a situation you simply need the creative keys to make something of it.

So don’t worry what man says, whether they are hiding something, you don’t hang on their every word but the Word of God who leads and guides you every day.

Declare loudly what you know

Acts 28:20 “For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”

Paul found that within his limitation he had opportunities of being certain of the need for the gospel.

What is the ‘hope of Israel’? Paul on trial before Agrippa says in 26:6 “And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.” It is Jesus, He is the hope for Israel. The Message says “It’s because I believed it and took it seriously, committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors”

When the Church is contained, its voice can still be heard. How does the suffering Church carry on when the enemy presses in on them? I have seen it but Revelation 12:11 says “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” If you are limited today, pressed down and contained you need to declare loudly what you are certain of.

Written perhaps only 100- 200 years after Paul’s speech in his trials:

I believe in God, the father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Holy Catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

That’s what I’m certain of. This is what is of most importance. It is Jesus.

Battling with circumstance for the calling on your life.

Acts 28:19 “The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people.”

Because they did that

I had to do this

But not for the reason they think.

 

They objected because they wanted to see Paul put to death.

Paul had to appeal to Caesar using his Roman citizenship which gave him the right to do so.

The reason being was not to better himself or even preserve his life so that he could enjoy it but because Paul was called to take the gospel to Rome.

 

Because they did that

I had to do this

But not for the reason they think.

 

What has happened to you? What stands against you? (For Paul it was the Jewish mob) For me it is ….

Are you now even more determined that you are willing to change? Are you compelled to take the opportunity to reposition yourself? (For Paul it was his citizenship ticket to Rome) For me it is ….

What is of utmost importance to you that means you will not let go of it? (For Paul it was the gospel) For me it is ….

 

It doesn’t matter if people understand you now, they will later.

 

 

Examinations

Acts 28:18 “They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death.”

I have never met anyone who likes examinations.

Whether that be an exam regarding a subject of learning or a driving test perhaps we enter into those arenas with nervousness that at that moment we will forget everything we have learned and fail the test.

But then there is the examination like what Paul faced. This was not a test about his learning but about his conduct and outlook. Man scrutinising man. The Romans had been handed a list of accusations of Paul and they were looking deeply at each one. To fail this examination would have meant death by the hand of the Jews. Paul was not guilty he had done nothing wrong.

In the year 2001 I had been taken to an employment tribunal by a member of my staff who was bringing a false charge against me because I had no other option but to remove him from office. The scrutiny I faced was something I had never experienced in my life before. After 9 months of the case continuing the day came when the judgment was passed. It was that I had done nothing wrong and the case was dropped. I remember walking away from the court that day and how my feelings were mixed with relief and thankfulness but a whole lot of relief too.

We know that one day we will be examined by our God. The judgment seat of Christ will be where we give an account for our lives here on earth. How we lived our lives, how we loved others and Him. Whatever happens on that day (and I hope no one is behind me in that queue listening to my examination!) we know that there will be no death as a punishment. We will survive that examination because of the sacrifice of Christ and how much more will we rejoice and be thankful for the shed blood of Jesus on that day!

But we know there is another examination for those who have rejected Christ. Our task on this earth is to make sure we do everything to let people know that they do not need to take this examination. That today they can opt for the examination that guarantees freedom with no death. Amen!

 

Open doors for the gospel

Acts 28:17 “Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.”

It was during his time under house arrest, chained to a guard that he wrote Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon.

However you may describe your situation, chained or confined, you can find a way to overcome that limitation. Paul couldn’t get to the synagogue or the marketplace to preach but that didn’t stop him, he called his audience to him. He found a way, he found the open door for which he asked his friends to pray for, Colossians 4:3.
Maybe we should be less concerned about open heavens and more concerned about open doors. Open heavens are sometimes for stationary people not going anywhere. Open doors are for people on the move, crossing borders, moving out and into enemy territory.

Open doors come through prayer. Paul writing from his limitation doesn’t pray to be released from prison but instead asks his Colossian friends to “pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah “(Colossians 4.3).

Open doors can be found behind closed doors. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he makes it clear that the gospel had spread because others were praying for open doors: “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly” (Philippians 1.12-14). What appeared, on the surface, to be a “closed door” for Paul (his imprisonment) had actually turned into an “open door” for him to preach Christ among the authorities and guards who held him, to the Jewish leaders he invited to the house and it also gave confidence for his brothers to preach Christ fearlessly on the outside.

You will continue to have seasons of limitations but it will be the opportunity for you to discover what an open door really looks like.

I am here but I don’t live here.

Acts 28:16 “When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.”

It was during his time under house arrest, chained to a guard that he wrote Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon.

He knew where he was physically, there was no doubt in his mind, as we see when he wrote to Philemon v9 “Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—“

You may know where you are today. You can describe your condition and the place where you have ended up in life. It may not be where you would have chosen. You may have hoped for better things. It can be a lonely place when there are more years of life behind you than in front of you and the signs of any progress are extremely limited.

This is where I am. However, it is not where I live.

Paul was actually not under Roman guard, he was not under house arrest, contained, limited, not free to travel like he had been, restricted from reaching the many churches that he still wanted to reach. He was not at that place. Paul saw it differently, Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12 …

“I am limited under Roman guard but that is not where I am living my life.”

“I am blessed in the heavenly realms.”

“I am seated with Christ.”

“I am making the wisdom of God known.”

“I am fighting unseen powers.”

Get new revelation today on your position. Wherever you have landed, no matter how difficult, this is not where you live.

 

It can start well …

ACTS 28:15 “The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they travelled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”

Several years earlier Paul had written to the believers in Rome, “… since I have been longing for many years to visit you … Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea … so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.” (Romans 15)

The Forum of Appius was a market town and the Three Taverns was a lodging place approximately 49 miles outside of Rome, a resting place before entering the city which was approximately a day’s journey.

The believers of the church in Rome who Paul had written to were now receiving Paul with great honour. Their action was similar to that of a king who would be welcomed outside the city and then brought into it. Paul thanked God and was encouraged.

Things would change though. People do change.

By the time of Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome these are his words, “At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them” (2 Timothy 4:16). As he stood before Nero the church under great persecution deserted him, just as they did Jesus.

Hold praise lightly because persecution and hardship can change all of that. The encourager can be silenced so we need to find a way to engage with life with all that is thrown at us without the encouragement to sustain us.