Missions Paul

Acts 15: 1 “Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

There is no length that people will go to put people right. But there are certain people who will put themselves out to make sure others are put out if they do not comply.

A 300 mile journey to Syria was nothing so long as people were corrected. Correction was more important than celebration.

Gentiles could not become Christians unless they first became a Jew. Be circumcised, become a Jew, then you can be a Christ follower. The immoral were coming to Christ and these certain people introduced a different gospel. They were challenging the gospel of grace. There was no celebration, just criticism.

Sinners love grace.

The self-righteous hate grace.

Tony Campolo tells about being invited to speak in Honolulu one time and having trouble getting his body to adjust to the ten-hour time shift from his home in Philadelphia. He wound up wide-awake at three o’clock in the morning drinking coffee in an all-night diner. Presently the door opened, and in came about eight women laughing and talking loudly. Campolo soon deduced that they were streetwalkers finished with their evening’s work and relaxing before going home to sleep. One, named Agnes, mentioned to her friend that the next day would be her thirty-ninth birthday. After the group had left, Campolo got a bright idea. He said to the gruff proprietor behind the counter, “Did you hear that one woman say tomorrow was her birthday? Whaddya say we throw her a party? I’ll come back tomorrow night with some decorations, and let’s surprise her with a cake and everything!” The man’s wife came out of the kitchen. Both of them said, “That’s a wonderful idea. Let’s do it.” Twenty-four hours later the little diner was decorated with streamers and balloons. A festive sign was taped to the mirror. The couple had put the word out and a large assortment of night people were gathered. When the prostitutes came in for their usual coffee, the shout went up: Happy Birthday Agnes!” The woman stood speechless as the singing began. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. Nobody had shown her genuine kindness in years. The owner brought out a birthday cake with candles. Agnes was in such shock that she had to be reminded to blow them out. She paused again, “Well, cut the cake, Agnes!” the proprietor said. She finally found words. In a whisper she said, “Please… I just… I just want to keep the cake. I’ll take it to my apartment down the street… just for a couple of days. Please let me keep the cake.” No one knew how to respond, but no one could think of a reason to refuse her request. So out the door she fled, holding the cake as if it were the Holy Grail. An awkward silence filled the room. Campolo finally broke in with a bold suggestion: “I have another idea – why don’t we pray?” Without hesitation he began to voice a prayer for Agnes, that God would bless her on her birthday, that God would bring peace into her life and save her from all that troubled her… At the amen, the diner owner said, “Hey you didn’t tell me you were a preacher? What kind of church do you preach at?” Campolo thought a moment, cocked his head sideways, and then answered with a grin, “I preach at the kind of church that throws birthday parties for whores at three-thirty in the morning!” What happened next was the most poignant moment of all. The man squinted at Campolo and announced, “No… no, you don’t. There is no church like that. I would join a church like that.” [from The Kingdom of God is a Party]

What kind of church are you part of? One that criticises or one that celebrates?

A long time

Acts 14:28

“And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.”

How long was a long time? Some say up to five years based on the fact that the journey ends around AD46 and the Council of Jerusalem starts in AD51.

What we do know is that during this time Paul learnt of a group of Jewish believers who had infiltrated the new Christians in South Galatia and began to undo the truth of the gospel. Therefore Paul wrote his first letter to his churches, to the Galatians.

Luke says they spent time with the disciples meaning they strengthened them and taught them.

But what is also probable is that Paul continued preaching in the region and with that came more suffering for the gospel. He would write in 1 Corinthians 11: 24-27 “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.  I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

Luke doesn’t write about these moments anywhere. Guess where these events took place? In the time frame of verse 28, the 5 year silent years.

Five unrecorded years and which can be easily overlooked and yet they contained so much.

First glances can overlook really important facts and detail. We need to be careful what we skim over.

 

 

Open doors

Acts 14:27

“On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles”.

Every missionary likes to come home to those who sent them. The church gathered to hear the stories of God’s grace. The team had completed their first missionary journey. To be home and share how God has worked through their lives was one thing but of most importance was the response from the Gentile world. They had responded to the gospel! God had opened a door.

Missionaries are not as concerned with open heavens as much as open doors. Open heavens are for stationary people inside buildings. Open doors are for people on the move, crossing borders, moving out and into enemy territory. What missionaries have learnt about open doors is that:

1. Open doors come through prayer. Paul writing from a Roman Jail 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).
2. 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, and also gave confidence for his brothers to preach Christ fearlessly on the outside.
3. Open doors can be missed. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows us that our neighbour who we are called to love is anyone who is there. The Samaritan cared for the Jew simply because the Jewish man was there. He wasn’t going looking for a Jew to care for. It was an open door.

In one sense we are called to be missionaries whether in Jerusalem or to the ends of the earth. Therefore we should all seek for God to open doors so that we can share the gospel. Maybe He will do that today for you!

Grace

 

Acts 14:26 “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed”.

This morning I have the joy of meeting with a missionary couple who are on furlough from the field. There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting and listening to their stories of all that has happened since we were last together. Furlough is a leave of absence often to return home. But then this couple will return to the same place and continue with the work.

Paul and his team were not on furlough. They had completed the work. Disciples had been made, churches planted and elders appointed to lead and manage those churches. They came back to the church carrying stories of transformation and also probably the scars of mission with all that they had gone through.

Every Church should aspire to be an Antioch- Syria church in sending its people on mission. The team were successful in part because of the support that Antioch had given them. However the success of the mission is attributed to these words: “they had been committed to the grace of God”. The grace of God had sustained them, empowered them and enabled them to complete the work.

This afternoon I will have the equal joy of meeting a lady being sent by her church to the mission field. I will talk to her about this very point. I want her to understand that the grace of God will be there every day of her mission.

And you friends, wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, His grace is sufficient for you. Grace will find you and keep finding you. Grace will endure and secure and enable you.

Be sent and committed to the grace of God.

Nothing much to report

Acts 14:25

“and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia”.

How strange that all we have happening in Perga is that they preached. Who preached? What happened? Signs and wonders? What was the response, good or bad? Luke doesn’t mention it. Was it seen as failure? That would be an assumption to make.

Today some Church leaders will look back on their Sunday and be able to report amazing things which happened. Some will have nothing much to report and that may be actually okay. Maybe they will just say ‘I preached’.

Today you will go to work perhaps, you will go about the same duties at home, you will do whatever you normally do on this day, nothing startling will happen. You will look back on the day and it will not have had anything special happen. There will be nothing much to report.

And that is our life. It is not about valleys or mountains but just on the plains, normal, ordinary days with nothing much to say. But we did what we are called to do. We fulfilled our responsibility. We were faithful. Sometimes we live with such great expectations of a miraculous powerful day that though we may not get that we then have to make the small mundane things sound awesome and we devalue the truly powerful moments of our lives. We need to learn that normal nothing to report days are good days also.

So go on enjoy that nothing to report day!

Just get through it

Acts 14:24

“After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,”

Some days you just have to go through it and keep going.

They had decided to return to Antioch where they had been originally sent out. Maybe they were going back to raise further funds for the next missions trip.

What we do know is that unlike the other cities when they returned to Pisidia they just carried on through. This was the place they had shook the dust off their feet when the crowd rejected Pauls message. Did they just journey through because they had made a decision to forget Pisidia?

Of course we do not know.

But what I do know is that there are times for whatever reason that we should not stop and admire the view. We should just go through it as best as we can. This place is not your destination nor is it a resting place. It is a going through place. Do not be distracted or attracted to whatever you see around you, just keep walking through.

Today may be a painful day, the memories can be painful perhaps or it could even be a monotonous day, walk through it, you can get through.

 

Leadership

Acts 14:25 “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”

Every Church that was planted a leadership was put in place. Every Church needs leadership. Without leadership the Church will decline in many ways. So with careful planning, prayer and even with fasting, people were chosen to bring leadership to that Church.

As a small boy I knew I would lead. I had a small group of peers of different ages ranging from 12yrs to 3yrs of age and we would meet in the garage for me to show them my leadership skills. This amounted to a list of strict rules that hung on the side which included the most important one ‘obey the leader at all times’. This last rule was the reason I could not let my brother into the gang as I couldn’t trust he had the ability or desire to follow it. I still think he carries hurt towards me for this rejection.

Over the years I have tried to follow certain principles of leadership wherever I have been and in whatever role. I have failed in all of these but I keep picking myself up and trying again. Thankfully I believe I have come a long way since my childhood leadership!

Here are those principles with a bible passage where I get it from if you want to study further:

1. Problem solve by thinking bigger.

This is the ability to hold 2 opposing thoughts and then create a new thought or solution which is superior but yet contains an element of each. 1 Kings 3: 16-28.

2. Process successful change.

This is the ability to spot the need, see how the future can be different and then through clear communication inspire others to initiate the change. Joshua 1:1-5, 10-11.

3. Live in unity with yourself.

The ability to pull one’s public and private world together to live truthfully. Psalm 51:6

4. Kick some leaves.

The ability to regularly be alone, to walk out from the place of responsibility in order to think and know who really is the boss. Luke 6: 12

5. Focus on ‘who’ not ‘what’.

The ability to make people great who will then make your vision great. Acts 1:8

6. Endure at all costs.

The ability to keep walking through the pain which will then equip you to walk in power. Luke 4:1-2, 14.

7. Understand what others miss.

The ability to know the ‘time’ for leadership, to see when leadership is needed and naturally rise to the challenge in a particular setting. 1 Chronicles 12:32.

8. Believes, no matter what happens.

The ability to remain with hope and in hope when all around there is no reason to do so. Job 13: 15-16.

9. Moves down not up.

The ability to serve for absolutely no personal gain. John 13:1-17.

10. Protecting enthusiasm.

The ability to get people to do what they are passionate about instead of trying to get them to be passionate about what they are doing. Romans 12:6-8

 

Why not pick one of these today and apply it whatever situation you are in? Maybe today leadership is needed exactly where you are.

 

Acts 14:22

“…. strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.”

Paul and his team are back in the 3 cities where they were persecuted, slandered and plots were made for their deaths and in fact Paul was stoned to death or at least near-death. What was their message? “Disciples of Jesus hold strong for suffering is the path to the kingdom.”

The kingdom of God refers to realm, dimension, principality or empire. Often it is understood to be the rule of God.

I live in the United Kingdom and we have a monarch. But she doesn’t rule, she reigns. I wonder if we have lost some understanding of the kingdom by not thinking more about His reign in favour of His rule.

We sing more about His rain meaning His provision and blessing than about His reign. Rain down on me is our cry. I want to sing more about Him reigning over me. I want to be reminded that He is sovereign, He is crowned and sitting on a throne and that He has supreme authority and influence.

What is the pathway to the understanding of that reign? It has to be suffering. It can be no other. How can a victory after victory, blessing upon blessing, where the sun is always shining on us, ever leave us with the need of knowing He is sovereign? It cannot. We do not need to know this when life is easy.

But when you have more questions than answers and when the pain is in your breath you need a Monarch who is in charge of it all.

Suffering takes you to the feet of His reign. His reign over our lives is only understood by those who suffer. They go hand in hand.

I remember reading a few years ago a survey from George Barna which said that two out of five evangelical Christians “deny the possibility that pain or suffering could be a means of becoming a better, more mature” Christian. So many reject suffering as being unnecessary. In my experience the suffering church has more to tell me regarding the authority of God than any other. I am better with the broken. I understand reign more.

Christians are suffering now in North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Eritrea to name the top 10 nations for persecution.

We ourselves will suffer from all kinds of diseases and disappointments. Circumstances change overnight. Tomorrow turns everything around. The truth is we suffer. But it is only when we do are we then in realisation of His kingdom reign.

The return

Acts 14:21 “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.”

How incredible it is to read that Paul and his team returned to those 3 cities they had so much trouble in. It proves their love for the people and the desire that the people come to know Jesus.

My son who is 23yrs old plays tennis and though I have tried my hardest with prayer and fasting I have never won one match against him since he was 15yrs old. It is a shameful fact for a father! The reason being is simply he has the power to return the ball better than I have. There are other reasons like he can run faster but let us not go down the slippery slope of despair. To play the game of tennis it is all about whether or not you can return the ball over the net. It doesn’t matter what has happened if you want to stay in this game you had better return that ball.

The Christian life is all about your attitude of returning to the place God has called you for. What has been served in this life to you may have led to defeat or disappointment but those experiences have no hold over you if you can still decide to return.

My close friend of over 30 years has made a return this last year. It was very difficult for him to do so. A failed marriage, broken promises, rejection, loneliness and a dry wilderness experience gripped him in a place he was never meant to be in. I remember taking him for a meal 18 months ago and I did my best to bring him back to where he should be but all I saw was a man who was ‘stuck in a moment and you can’t get out of it’ (happily quoting a U2 song!). However, 12 months on, he has made a full return. I am astonished at the favour of God on his life. It is amazing what can happen if a person finds the resolve to return.

Maybe today you have to return.

A return to trusting God for your situation.

A return to childlike faith again.

Promises and hopes may be lost – blessings, ministries, miracles, testimonies that belong to you. You can find them again. Maybe some were fantasy – but some were given by God, you made note of them. Get after them again, pray for them again.

Decide you won’t waste another day. Realise that what you do today has far reaching consequences for your tomorrow. Whatever you pursue today, tomorrow you will find.

I believe everyone can return to the place the enemy removed them from.

But I believe it takes 2 things: resolve and love. A passion not to be counted out and a desire for people.

Go on, get it over the net today.

 

 

 

Who do you have?

Acts 14:20 “But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe”.

Most probably unconscious and certainly looking like he was dead or near death, Paul was dragged out of the city and dumped there. In the minds of the Jewish crowd Paul was finished, his mouth shut for good, his missionary journey ended, he was dead. That’s what the enemy loves to do with people. His plan is to do that for you.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Paul was on his own? Of course, he would have died. There are times when you have to walk a journey alone, there is no other way. If you are a leader of people then you understand the loneliness of that position at times. As we continue in our discipleship then sometimes there is no Simon to carry our cross. But these are exceptions to the rule. The rule is do not be alone, it is not good to be alone is still the ancient principle. Do not do life alone and there is no need. Embrace the people around you. Bring them onto your team of life. If one friend has to walk away from you for whatever reason then find another friend to replace them.

By the early 2000’s I had built a Pastoral team of 3 plus an exciting leadership team. The 3 of us complimented each other with strengths and weaknesses, our team days were fun, we were on a journey together, raising the bar on each other, I was happy! Then within only a few years the team unravelled as one of them left to lead their own church which I fully supported and was really pleased. The other ventured into a whole new ministry and moved back to their home and family which I was again excited for and supported. I believed I had played a part in both their journeys and felt privileged to have done so. But I was devastated too. I really was. I missed them so much. Team days are not so much fun with one! Staff Christmas parties became a quiet reflective time!

I actually remember a prayer I prayed which said something like, “Lord that’s it. I will do this on my own now. I am not investing in any more team!” It is so good that at times God doesn’t listen to us!

Within a year I began building a team again. Why? Because that is what we all should do. We need people around us.

Paul built a team. They were with him at his worst hour. They gathered around him and a miracle took place. Some people are needing miracles today but the need for people to be with them, the need to share with someone, to have their burden carried by another is the greatest need. Everyone can rise again. If you are dumped to one side, left for dead, then you can get up and go again just like Paul did. One day you can have devastation, then your Saturday morning can come and you are all alone, but I still continue and need to believe in the next day. Maybe you like me are waiting for the next day. Friends with people around you, the next day does come.

This is what I have learnt and am still learning:-

To those who once walked in the promises of their God but now wallow in self-pity, bitterness and hurt – YOU CAN RISE AGAIN.

To those who have long since given up the fight, their armour and weapons of war are stored up with dust, their youthful passion for souls and their energy to give up all for one soul to find Jesus is now a faint dream, hear the wake-up call – YOU CAN RISE AGAIN.

To those who couldn’t hold on any longer, something had to give, you gave away your destiny, you broke up your potential, you ruined your desires and were ruined by new ones. You can regain your footing, it’s time to walk – YOU CAN RISE AGAIN.

To those who came under a stronghold that so gripped their life it paralysed them. An area of your life is now not functioning like it used to, you feel a lesser man, as a woman you feel your beauty has been taken, you are tarnished, you are stained and impure. But listen – get up – YOU CAN RISE AGAIN.

It may be that for the shouting it’s all over, your faith is dead, your anointing is dead, that relationship is dead, you cannot pretend anymore, you have got to be realistic and say ‘It’s over’. It’s never over till the Master has touched you and called you to get up. YOU CAN RISE AGAIN.

How? Let people back in to your life. Be in a community. Find team. Go to your intercessors. Unburden. Let people carry you. Do not be alone.