Missions Paul

God moves small.

Acts 22: 8 “Who are you, Lord?” I asked. “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

Why did the voice not say, “I am Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, but the Son of the Living God”?

Why was it simply, “Jesus of Nazareth”?

I believe it shows hat Christ demonstrates his divinity in the lowliest and most ordinary despised places of this world.

1. Paul has no doubt been using the title ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ in a slanderous way. He is now on the floor stunned by the brightness of the light of the One he slandered.
2. Nothing good came out of Nazareth, apparently (John 1:46). It was a very small village. It typifies the many places in the world that are forgotten, unimportant and struggling. Paul is now hearing a heavenly voice who says he is from an earthly place that is so small it is never mentioned in the Jewish Scriptures.
3. After Jesus had been put to death Paul had continued to threaten and then imprison and kill any followers of this Nazarene. He has now been stripped of his authority and power and realises that persecuting the followers was futile because Jesus cannot be stopped.

It is better to find divinity in the ordinary, heaven on earth and the true power within persecution that sustains.

Not everyone finds this. But on this Damascus Road Paul was one who did. He would never be the same again.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene.

God moves small, don’t miss Him.

HE & I

Acts 22:7 “I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, “Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?”

So Paul has begun his defence to the Jewish crowd and gives his testimony of what happened on the Damascus Road. It is a repeat of what Luke wrote in Acts 9.

Except it isn’t actually the same of course. Luke wrote “He fell to the ground …” and Paul is now speaking of himself, “I fell to the ground … a voice say to me …”

Is what people say about you the same as what you say? An autobiography and a biography are not the same, though some autobiographies are ghost-written, but a memoir is different to both of them.

Have you ever listened to someone talk and you become confused because the detail isn’t the same as you remember? You know there is an inaccuracy because you were there! Can history be wrong?

Here Paul and Luke are agreeing. “He fell, I fell, a voice spoke to him, a voice spoke to me.”

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

This is my story.

I fell in surrender and submission of my life to Jesus.

I heard the gospel message, I was a sinner and He came and rescued me.

This is it my friends, your story.

Let people write this about you because this is what happened.

Let your He and I be the same.

Protect history.

Brightness

Acts 22: 6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.”

Madam X is an Elim Church planter in an Islamic nation. One Saturday in September 2016 having never been told the truth about Jesus she began to meditate on a verse from the Quran in Surah 1:6 “Guide us in the right path”. Suddenly in the corner of the room a ‘bright light’ filled the room as Jesus revealed His identity to her. She fell to the floor and her life was never the same again!

Paul in his testimony remembers the time of the bright light. It wasn’t the middle of the night and the light shone in the darkness. This was noon, it was light, but THE light was so much brighter.

I have heard first-hand accounts from many who have met Christ and every one of them saw a bright light. The light of Christ is more than just shining brightly in the darkness, any light can do that, but it shines brightly at noon, in the light. That is bright! Christ can penetrate the light, any light. He is brighter than the mid-day sun.

Whatever hope this earth can produce or joy and power, Jesus beats them all!

 

How is not as important as what happens.

Acts 22:5 “…as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.”

“There are people still alive who know what I was like. They know what I did. I got reference letters from them to introduce me to their counterparts in Damascus. They recommended me to them so that I could bring back the Christians to torture and imprison them.”

It is the high priest!

It is the whole Council of the Sanhedrin!

It is the leaders in Damascus!

So what?

The outcome is not justified by how important the means of getting there is.

Let us not be fooled!

1. Just because the most respected of leaders brings a good reference, it doesn’t make it right.
2. Just because there is a consensus of opinion, it doesn’t make it right.
3. Just because there is an agreement and the door opens, it doesn’t make it right.

Don’t be deceived.

 

Zeal alone is never enough.

Acts 22:4 “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison”

“This is what I did with my zeal …

I persecuted …

I put to death …

I arrested men and women …

I threw them into prison …

I did all this with my zeal for God.

My zeal would go to any lengths to protect the Torah and His Name.”

All Paul had was zeal for God. He did not have love for humanity.

Sole passion can be dangerous. It can blind us to the truth and most definitely to grace and mercy. Passion can hurt people.

Be careful what you are passionate for. Don’t just hold on to that and nothing else as it will lead you to do things you never thought you would do.

 

This is where I have come from but it is not where I am staying

Acts 22:3 Then Paul said:  “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.”

If we indeed need reminding Paul is being accused of rejecting Judaism and encouraging the Gentiles not to think of converting the Jewish way of life. Here is Pauls defence and it gives us a glimpse into the man:

1. This is my city (Jerusalem). I was brought up here. I know it and the people.
2. I studied under the famous teacher of Israel.
3. I have been thoroughly trained:
   1. I know all your laws
   2. I know about the Sabbath rules
   3. I know what is expected and needed in the Temple worship.
   4. I have memorised the Torah.
4. I have been zealous as you are and have been willing to kill non-Jews if that was needed.
5. I am one of you.

This is where I have come from but it is not where I am staying. I have changed dramatically. I will never forget my upbringing but I am a work in progress.

The language of the people

Acts 22:2 “When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.”

They had expected Greek and Paul could have spoken it. But if he had it would have only confirmed that he was worthy of death being someone who was turning away from Judaism.

But he spoke in their mother tongue, in Aramaic. It was some proof to show them that he would not dishonour the Hebrew Scriptures as an Aramaic-speaking man and they were wrong to try and get rid of him. Whether it did or not remains to be seen as we continue to read the account. But for now, it silenced them.

What can you give, do or tell of yourself that may cause people to listen? How can you build a bridge so that they give you their attention?

Maybe before you give the message to a person you focus on how you deliver it. Maybe people are not put off Christ because of the message but the messenger. Maybe the Church has lost ground in being able to communicate effectively and the presentation offends and becomes a greater stumbling block to the message.

Maybe you need to learn another language. The language of the people.

There is a nicer place to be at

Acts 22:1 ““Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

The way Paul addresses the crowd is how Stephen did at his defence in chapter 7 verse 2. It appears to be that this was the Jewish way in order to show respect.

However let’s not forget that the people Paul is now respecting were the ones who were trying to kill him only a short while ago!

This is extravagant and amazingly instant forgiveness from Paul or it is because he refuses to stoop to the level they are at and will not be disrespectful no matter who the people are and what they have done.

Maybe today you have been hurt. Maybe people are talking about you. It could be that you have been disrespected or worse. But you have a choice how you respond and conduct yourself. Don’t lose your dignity. Don’t be unkind. No matter how bad you feel. You can hold your head up high and speak to people how you would want to be spoken to. You can be better than your enemy and those who have been against you. You can rise to a nicer level.

 

Silence the noise

Acts 21:40 “Having received the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:”

Paul speaks to them in their mother tongue, in Aramaic. But that wasn’t what silenced the crowd so that he could speak. It was the use of his hand.

What did he actually do?

Did he put his finger to his mouth to suggest they should be quiet?

Did he wave his hands downwards to suggest they settle down?

Maybe,

Whatever he did he did not antagonise them further, so he didn’t give any rude gestures that’s for sure!

Sometimes in order to be heard we need to silence the crowd of voices. We need to find a way to capture the attention of people. If we are going to communicate the love of God then we need to overcome the disputing and competing voices.

I am not sure how that applies to you but Paul knew what he should do and it worked.

 

 

Use your life story well

Acts 21:39 “Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

Paul prepares to defend himself.

“I am a Jew, like those outside trying to kill me”

“I am from a special Jewish city of Tarsus”

He could have said he was also a Roman citizen.

But if that had been leaked to those outside then maybe they would have waited for an opportunity to finish off the job of killing him. Hence the need to stress his Jewish citizenship and upbringing.

He had the wisdom of choosing which part of his curriculum vitae to use.

There are aspects of our past in all our lives which can be used in the present. We just need the wisdom on which experiences to draw from, which qualifications to state and when to declare these.

Yesterday I had the privilege of ordaining some new reverends in Swaziland. I have that title myself and sometimes I use it if I want access to some place. Sometimes I use my qualifications. Sometimes I use my childhood narrative to win friends, to perhaps find bridges that can be shared in conversation and to ultimately gain influence.

Be thankful for where you come from and your story of life for nothing is wasted it can always be used for the good.