Repentance

 As written at Utmost for His Highest today: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chamber

"Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation… —2 Corinthians 7:10
 
"Conviction of sin is best described in the words:
My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.
 
"Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.

"The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant."

Every Christian should know confidently that there is one true living God and that repentance is real.  Repentance should be the event that brings all Christians to tears, whether our own or others.  It is too precious, when sincere, not to be broken over.  Repentance breaks the bonds on a person's heart and allows God to enter in.  It is a hallelujah moment.  It is also a deeply personal moment between a person and God.

Political Idolatry

One of the signs that an object is functioning as an idol is that fear becomes one of the chief characteristics of life. When we center our lives on the idol, we become dependent on it. If our counterfeit god is threatened in any way, our response is complete panic. We do not say, ‘What a shame, how difficult,’ but rather ‘This is the end! There’s no hope!’

This may be a reason why so many people now respond to U.S. political trends in such an extreme way. When either party wins an election, a certain percentage of the losing side talks openly about leaving the country. They become agitated and fearful for the future. They have put the kind of hope in their political leaders and policies that once was reserved for God and the work of the gospel. When their political leaders are out of power, they experience a death. They believe that if their policies and people are not in power, everything will fall apart. They refuse to admit how much agreement they actually have with the other party, and instead focus on the points of disagreement. The points of contention overshadow everything else, and a poisonous environment is created.

Another sign of idolatry in our politics is that opponents are not considered to be simply mistaken but to be evil. After the last presidential election, my eighty-four-year-old mother observed, ‘It used to be that whoever was elected as your president, even if he wasn’t the one you voted for, he was still your president. That doesn’t seem to be the case any longer.’ After each election, there is now a significant number of people who see the incoming president lacking moral legitimacy. The increasing political polarization and bitterness we see in U.S. politics today is a sign that we have made political activism into a form of religion. How does idolatry produce fear and demonization?

Dutch-Canadian philosopher Al Wolters taught that in the biblical view of things, the main problem in life is sin, and the only solution is God and his grace. The alternative to this view is to identify something besides sin as the main problem with the world and something besides God as the main remedy. That demonizes something that is not completely bad, and makes and idol out of something that cannot be the ultimate good.

…In political idolatry, we make a god out of having power. 

• Tim Keller   - http://dailykeller.com/the-signs-of-political-idolatry/

Love in Action - Part II - Romans 12

 ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

If a brother or sister needs something, share with them.  I would add here to share it in the spirit of agape.  That is, give with no thought of return.  Do not give and count the gift on a ledger.  Let it go and be a gift.  Give in the same spirit that God gave Jesus.  We should look for opportunities to share and give.  We should pursue it.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

This speaks for itself, but it is incredibly difficult.  This goes along with the thought of giving the Lord thanks in all things.  The fact that Paul wrote this is incredible.  He had been persecuted many times.  He is very direct in saying to not curse them, but to bless them.  This is the right response from a Christian who realizes that all people are created by God for His purposes.

Some Bible interpretations believe that is only for believers to believers.  That is, if other believers are persecuting you, bless them and don’t curse them.  But it leaves out the rest of the world who Christ died for.  Paul’s own actions demonstrate that he did not curse those who were not believers.  Therefore, I believe this applies to the believer towards all people.

 ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

The world’s motto is, “laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.”  But this is not true for the believer.  As a follow to verse 9, love one another sincerely.  If something wonderful happens to a brother or sister, rejoice with them.  Be excited.  Don’t be envious or jealous.  In sincere love, celebrate!  Similarly, when someone is mourning, if you love them your heart will hurt also, mourn with them.  Do not do this in loud fake wailing as was custom of that day, but with heartfelt pain, share the hurt.

 ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not live in strife with one another, but in harmony.  This suggest we can all live as part of the same song.  Let’s all live together as a song of worship to God, each person playing or singing their part. 

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

This is basically the third time he has written do not be proud.  In verses 3 and 10, he indicates that we should not think too highly of ourselves and should lift others above ourselves.  In much the same thought, here we should be willing to associate with those most of society might class as lesser or lower in importance.  It is obvious very important for us to be aware that we are all sinners and we can be a humble sinner loving everyone sincerely. 

We should not be egotistical or have a swollen importance or believe we are so wise that we are above others.  This was evident back then in the Jewish council and Sanhedrin.  Christ came as a servant and fellowshipped with the outcast.  Solomon said in Proverbs 26:12, “See you a man wise in his own conceit?  There is more hope of a fool than of him.”

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

This is so very difficult.  I want to say that the vengeance is the Lord’s and He’ll use me to do it.  But that is taking matters into my own hands.  This verse makes the assumption, or is stating the unsaid truth, that evil will happen to you.  But we are specifically instructed not to do evil to those who do evil to us.  In fact, we are to do what is right.  We do not give people what they deserve just as we do get what we deserve as sinners.  By doing so, even those who are against us will realize that what we do is right.  It might make them hate us more, but there will be no doubt of our character or in the God we follow if we are careful to do the right thing, especially when there is no reason to do it.

 ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

In as much as you can do to live at peace with others, do it.  Do the part that is your responsibility.  If others refuse to live at peace that is upon them, but of the part you can control, do what you can to live at peace.

 ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

This is follow-up to verses 17 and 18.  Don’t repay evil for evil, live at peace with everyone, and do not take revenge.  I am like the Irishman who was hit on the cheek, he got up and turned the other cheek.  Then he was hit on that cheek also and he was hit so hard it knocked him down.  So, he got up and beat the other fellow up.  Someone asked why he did that after turning the other cheek.  He answered, “Well, the Bible says to turn your cheek, and I had only the other cheek to turn.  The Lord didn’t tell me what to do after that, so I did what I thought I ought to do.”  And this is what most of us do.

Let the Lord avenge in His way at His time.  The moment we take the matter into our own hands and strike back, we take the matter out of God’s hands.  This is not easy, but there is yet a further step to take.

 ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Not only are we not to repay those who do evil upon us and to try to live peacefully with them, but we are to treat them like fellow human beings!  This takes the Spirit of God living out from within us.  It is so difficult to love the unlovable, but to love those who purposefully oppose us and do intentional acts against us, that is other worldly, that is of God.  By the same Spirit that mercifully held God’s power from destroying us as sinners, that Spirit can indwell us and allow us to be merciful to those who are our enemy.

In sincere love, without pride, we should feed them if they are hungry and give them drink if they are thirsty.  Even if they do not understand the why and it makes no worldly sense, our actions should be understood as right and good.

Lastly, we are not to fight against the world by the ways of the world.  If we try to fight evil using the means of evil, we will be sorely defeated.  Instead, be who you are created to by God and in the perfecting of the Spirit.  In so doing, you will be able to do good and be good and that will overcome evil.

Love in Action - Part I - Romans 12

⁹ Love must be sincere. 

I tend to think that this first sentence in verse 9 is a following description to showing mercy to others cheerfully.  Our love for others, and ourselves, must be real.  A feigned affection is a lie.  People have a particular disdain for liars.  No one likes to be spammed.  No one wants to realize they’ve paid for junk when they were told it was a good product.  And no one wants to believe you really care about them when you don’t.  Humans are very good at detecting this insincerity in others.  The difference is usually in the followed actions that show that love.

The word hypocrite means to play a part.  In acting you get your cue then you say the right thing at the right time.  The Greek word for a stage actor is hupokrites and this is the origin of our word hypocrite.  It is a person who pretends or acts like they have virtues, morals, or religious beliefs that they don’t actually possess.  Or it is a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude which they do not practice in their private life.

A believer following Jesus must be genuine because the Holy Spirit is working from within, transforming his/her life by “renewing” the mind.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  Believers can be changed into an image similar that appears as the glory of the Lord.  The minute that we assume a pose and pretend to be something for the acceptance of the world it becomes impossible for us to know the will of God.  But if we yield to God, if we let what He has created in us on the inside become what we are on the outside, the will of God for the believer becomes good and fits us exactly.  Our will and God’s will become matched.  It is wonderful not to have to act the part of being Christian, but just be natural and let the Spirit of God move and work through you.  This is where you find joy and content.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be purposeful in what is important to you.  Hate what is against God.  Despise what isn’t of God, for God, or following God.  If something is pulling you away from God, despise it, do not take joy in it. 

Instead, grab hold of what is good and hang on!  Don’t let it escape your grasp.  “Cling” or “cleave” to it as though it is a life line.  Be stuck to what is good, welded or cemented to it.

 ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Since we belong to one another as fellow members of the body, let us be devoted to one another.   “Love the brethren in the faith as though they were brethren in blood (Farrar).”  Do it in love, sincere love, for the other.  Respect one another, lift them up as more important than yourself.  As said earlier, do not think more highly of yourself, but think more highly of one another.

 ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

If there is one thing I could use more of, it is zeal in spiritual work.  It is so very easy to get discouraged and doubtful with regard to the results of your effort.  This makes it hard to have an excitement, an internal fire, in doing the work of God. 

At one point, Paul was a prisoner, was stuck at sea in a storm and had not eaten for 14 days, then he was shipwrecked, and then he got bit by a snake trying to build a fire.  How much zeal would you have at that point?  Would you have been discouraged and doubtful with regard to why God still had you alive?  Would you be wondering what the point was to keep going on?  Yet, Paul defied death by not getting sick from the snakebite and through it all was able to witness and testify and be an image of the glory of God by saving all his shipmates and the leader of the people on the island. 

Paul instructs us not to just try to have some zeal, but to never be lacking in it.  It should always be a part of our effort and emotion.  How is your zeal, your spiritual fervor?  What can be done to make it never lacking?

Does everything we do in zeal and fervor serve the Lord?  When we are doing our day-to-day business, are we looking at how it serves the Lord?  When we communicate with others, are we looking at how it serves the Lord?  When we live closely with our wives and children, are we looking at how it serves the Lord?

 ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

The first part and the last part of this verse are bookends to the middle.  During affliction be patient, but wrap it with a joyful hope while being faithful in prayer.  There should be an internal satisfaction in our hope knowing God has a perfect plan and we are a part of it.  I don’t understand it, but I have hope because God loved so much He sent Jesus.  And I’ll be faithful in my prayer, acting upon my hope, seeking conversation with God. 

Our circumstances may not warrant rejoicing.  Certainly, Paul’s were not, yet we know that our future is held in the strong and secure hands of God.  His promises are not slack.  Our problems or troubles have come to pass, they have not come to stay.  

Humble Service in the Body of Christ - Romans 12

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Paul had performed some extraordinary things while following God.  He had gone to on mission trips to spread the Good News and started many churches in Asia.  He had been significant in his preaching and teaching at those churches and at Antioch.  He had confronted the Jewish leaders and Sanhedrin and witnessed to all of them.  He had been protected by the Romans as a Roman citizen. People had been healed from his garments and he had brought someone back from the dead.  Because of all of this, he could believe that he was more important as a child of God than others.  He intentionally says this as he opens this thought, “for by the grace given me I say to every one of you”.  It is by God’s grace - it is a gift of God that I don’t deserve – that I am teaching you this thing.  He is saying that he is a humble sinner just like you, not the great Paul, and this is important for you to understand when you read this.

And so, his first sentence following that is, “do not think of yourself more highly than you ought”.  Paul says it is by God’s grace that he is writing this, so like him, you aren’t all that you think you are and you should not think of yourself too important.  Instead, have a realistic view upon yourself as a sinner believing in faith upon Jesus just as everyone else.  All of us who believe, including Paul, has to have faith in Jesus as the Son of God.  We are all dependent upon His death and resurrection for life.  So, don’t think you are any more or less than everyone else.  Be realistic in your place.

Once we understand that, then we must realize that while all of us have that commonality, we are very different in our function and gifts.  Further, we belong to each other.  We are all a part of the body of Christ and we all have different abilities and actions to do. 

Several gifts are defined here: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leading, and showing mercy.  I do not believe Paul wrote this as an all-encompassing list of gifts, but to say that there are many different gifts as there are many different parts of the body and whatever your gift is, use it.  Your gift is a member of the body of Christ and it belongs to the body.  Do not handicap the body by not functioning.  Use the gift given to you by the grace of God.

Now, I do find that the word description behind each of the gifts he defines is important.  Prophesy in accordance with your faith.  Your ability to prophesy is measured by the assurance and conviction of truth in your heart.  If you have doubt it will be difficult to prophesy.  Serving, teaching, encouraging, and giving are very straight forward.  If your gift is leading, you must do it diligently.  They must be intentional, steadfast, and hard-working.  If your gift is leadership, do not be slack in that work.  If your gift is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.  It isn’t enough to just show mercy, you must do it with a cheerful spirit.  God did not begrudgingly withhold His power and save man.  He did it out of His great love for all mankind.  He extended His hand down to us and when we take His hand, I do not believe God has a frustrated “about time” attitude, but rather we are told that a heavenly choir sings and praises God for every salvation.  Someone with an intense love for others extending mercy should do so with a sincere effort and out of a cheerful heart.

A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Why should we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice?  “In view of God’s mercy” it is reasonable and it is our “true and proper worship”. 

What is God’s mercy?  “Smite me, Almighty Smiter” said Bruce in the movie Almighty Bruce.  Isn’t mercy God not smiting us all to ashes for the evil within us?  God’s mercy is God’s power under control.  Certainly, we have all disobeyed the Words and call of God upon our hearts at some time.  We knew what was right and what was not and we did what we wanted, not what we knew was right.  Therefore, we all deserve to die and be separated from God.  Yet, He chose not to let that be our fate, but to provide another option to reunite us with Him.  That is God’s mercy.  It is God’s grace being imparted upon you and I for no other reason than God extended His mighty love towards us, undeserving sinners.  We didn’t earn it, but it was given to us.  We were guilty, but had the sentence removed.

Our bodies are a free gift of God.  We indwelt them when we were born.  It is all we have when we are born and we will give it up when we die.  Paul is reasoning that in light of the enormity of God’s mercy, which spared our souls, we should consider that offering our bodies as a sacrifice a reasonable thing.  In fact, he says it is more than just an any act, it is an act of worship.

What are our bodies?  Well, it is your physical body, that its actions would be those that honor God.  It is every way that we are able to express ourselves: your mind, your affections, your will.  But it is more than that, it is following God in this physical world.  We have many choices every day.  We can tithe or not tithe; we can curse or not curse; we can be kind or not be kind; we can hate or not hate; we can serve someone else or not serve; we can put others first or ourselves first; etc.  If we set our hearts to follow God, because He is God, even if we do not understand everything or why and have to overcome our own ideas of what we should do, it is a living sacrifice.  And this is an act of worship to God as a means of praise and acknowledgment that He is God and we are not.

 ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

As we discussed with living sacrifice, a part of it is not conforming to the pattern of this world.  The only way to do that is to be in God’s Word and in communion with Him.  Assuming you sleep eight hours each night as you ought and spend another two hours eating and commuting, that leaves 14 hours of activity.  Let’s take away eight for work.  That leaves six hours of activity.  How many of those six hours are receiving input from the world and how many are receiving input from God?  It is difficult to not be conformed to the pattern of this world if all we see, hear, and study is this world. 

Kenneth S. Wuest  writes in the book, Romans in the Greek New Testament, an interpretation of this verse that says: “And stop assuming an outward expression that does not come from within you and is not representative of what you are in your inner being, but is patterned after this age; but change your outward expression to one that comes from within and is representative of your inner being, by the renewing of your mind, resulting in your putting to the test what is the will of God, the good and well-pleasing, and complete will, and having found that it meets specifications, placing your approval upon it.”

The word “transformed” indicates that our thoughts and wisdoms will be changed into something other than what we know.  Our mind will become renewed; it will have new life.  Once this happens, we will be able to know God’s will.  Paul says that we will be able to test and approve God’s will.  This indicates to me that Paul went through some times where maybe he wasn’t sure, or he had taught many people who didn’t know how to know what God’s will was.  Without the renewing of the mind to know God, you can’t know what God’s will is, and His will is good, pleasing, and perfect.

Paul Preaches at Rome - 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. ¹⁸ They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 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. 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.”

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

Paul reaches out to the Jews!  This is amazing as most people would not do this.  Paul reaches out to settle any disagreements among them right away.  He finds that they are interested in knowing what is it the Way is about.  I have to believe that Paul was excited for a chance to preach and teach them about Jesus.  Any other person would have groaned over it knowing it would bring conflict, but Paul seems to welcome any opportunity to speak to the Jews hoping that some might believe, even just one.

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. ²⁴ Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶ “‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 

Paul’s final statement to the Jews is to quote to them how God describes the reality of their relationship with Him.  They hear but don’t understand; they see but don’t perceive what they see; their heart is hardened; if their heart was open He would open their ears and eyes and they would understand and repent and be healed.  But, they won’t, so God extends His grace to everyone.  They listen for God and hear.

Do we listen for God with an open heart or is our heart hardened?

Do we want to know God better?

When is the last time you were moved by the Spirit?

³⁰ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

The last lines of Acts tell us that Paul wasn’t in a prison, but he was trusted to stay in an apartment.  He saw visitors.

I think the very last line is really a summation of Paul’s life.  It is what Paul was purposed to do and there are very few who do it today.

Proclaim the kingdom of God.  Teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Do this with boldness and with no restrictions!

The Book of Acts doesn’t end here, but ends with the Rapture of the saints.  It ends with the coming of Christ for His own.  Until then, the Spirit working within those who believe is the continuing story of Acts.

Paul Ashore on Malta and Arrival at Rome - Acts 28

28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. ² The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. ³ Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. ⁴ When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” ⁵ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. ⁶ The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

God has used Paul through his perceptions of the future to show everyone on the ship that God is real.  Because of Paul, everyone on the ship has lived.  Now, after two weeks of battling a storm at sea and surviving a shipwreck, prisoner Paul is bitten by a viper trying to make a fire.  He was indeed appointed to suffer for Christ sake.  We would say that he was, “snake-bit”, literally.  Everywhere he went bad things were happening, yet God is using them to show who He is through Paul.  The same is happening here.  God is using this snake bite experience so Paul can witness to these people who God is.

⁷ There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. ⁸ His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. ⁹ When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. ¹⁰ They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Paul, who had not died from the snake bite, now heals the ruler’s father and all the sick on the island.  God is honoring Paul by continuously filling him with His Spirit.  I have no doubt that Paul witnessed to Jesus as he is being used to heal. 

There just aren’t enough words to describe the work of God through Paul.  Sure, he has been through an extraordinary shipwreck, bitten by a snake, and he’s still a prisoner of Rome.  All of these are seemingly bad things.  Any one of these and we might have a shaky faith.  But Paul presents God through them all.  Because of his faith, all the sailors live and all the islanders are healed.  Is it no wonder Paul could write that everything is done according to God’s purpose.  He had lived it.

¹¹ After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. ¹³ From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled 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. ¹⁶ When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.

After all the events of getting to that island, they have no problems at all getting to Rome.  They travel uneventfully there and quickly.  God obviously wanted Paul in Malta to share the gospel.  It is also noteworthy that Paul received encouragement from other believers.  He had great faith and God's power was evident in Paul, yet he still needed encouragement from fellow Christians.  What an important lesson to each of us to be in constant encouragement for one another.

The Shipwreck - Acts 27

²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. ²⁹ Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. ³⁰ In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. ³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

14 days in a violent storm!  Wow.  That is frightening.  No wonder these men were hopeless.  Now we have an attempted mutiny by way of just leaving the ship to its own destruction.  Yet Paul intervenes saying they have to all stay together or God won’t save any of them.  The centurion and soldiers believe Paul.  They are now all following God through the man of God.  There are no atheist in a foxhole and these men are becoming believers now that their lives are in jeopardy and they see no hope in any other place.  

³³ Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. ³⁴ Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” ³⁵ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ Altogether there were 276 of us on board. ³⁸ When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

Paul urges them to eat so they will live.  He reassures them that none of them will die.  Everyone witnesses Paul thanking God for the meal.  They have been in a violent storm for two weeks; they have lost all their cargo; they have lost hope of staying alive; they have even attempted a mutiny; they haven’t eaten much at all in two weeks just trying to survive; and now they witness Paul thanking God for the food.  They must have marveled at Paul’s worship!

³⁹ When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. ⁴⁰ Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. ⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

The ship is wrecked and all make it to shore.  I imagine there was a lot of arguments and disagreements over killing the prisoners, yet the centurion won the conversation.  I also imagine that everyone was really, really happy to get off that ship and stand on land.  That must have been a very welcome experience no matter how it happened.

When you’re on a boat and something happens, mechanical problems or you get sick, the single greatest thing is the first step on land.  Your mind rests because it knows that you’re safe.  So much can go wrong on the water.  Getting to land is a sense of salvation in the physical world.  You gain some hope.  We are all wrecked in a sea of sin and in danger of being lost.  It is only through Jesus that we are saved and brought onto dry land.  He alone is our only hope.

The Storm - Acts 27

¹³ When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴ Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. ¹⁵ The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, ¹⁷ so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸ We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹ On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

The “Nor’easter” is a reference to a violent windy storm lasting several days coming over water from the northeast direction.  The term is Euroclydon in other interpretations.  The ship gets caught into this and they are just trying to survive.  They go to great lengths to stay afloat.  They have thrown their cargo over and lost all hope of economic profit in order to sit higher in the water.  They have removed and thrown over anything of weight trying to avoid hitting bottom and losing the ship.  They have even put ropes around the bottom to hold it together.  They are worried about dragging bottom and the ship tearing apart leaving them in the sea in the middle of the storm.  The storm is so large and long that they haven’t seen the sky for days.  They have lost hope for survival.

²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Paul stands up and says “I told you so.”  Was it his intent that they know that he was right for his sake?  No, only so that they might listen to him now.  He is saying, “Hey guys, God showed me this would happen and you did not believe me.  Now He is showing me that all of you will live, so don’t be hopeless, this will happen because I have faith.”  It is a testimony to them of the God he serves.

Paul Sails for Rome - Acts 27

27 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. ² We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

Luke uses personal pronouns throughout this trip of Paul’s to Rome.  It is obvious that Luke accompanied Paul on the trip.  This trip could be called Paul’s 4^th missionary journey.  While he is bound by chains, the gospel message and Spirit of God within him is not bound.

³ The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.  

I imagine that families or friends of prisoners were responsible for clothing and food for them, otherwise they were getting rags and scraps.  In Haiti, which is what I imagine the standard of living to be somewhat like, family members and friends are responsible for welfare of you in the hospital and prison.  Otherwise, you are not taken care of.   

⁴ From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. ⁵ When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. ⁷ We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. ⁸ We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

They are having an extraordinary difficult time sailing across the Adriatic.  They are moving very slow, even for a sailing ship. 

⁹ Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, ¹⁰ “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” ¹¹ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. ¹² Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

Because of the slow trip, they are now sailing at a time of the year when the winds and storms are known to be difficult and dangerous.  Also, Paul is a prophet.  He is given glimpses into the future by God as he walks with God.  So, out of concern for the men with regards to their profits in trade and their very lives, he advises them not to travel.  However, the centurion listens not to the prisoner, but to the captain of the ship, which is reasonable by man's wisdom. 

People do this every day.  They listen to the wisdoms of the world and take their best guess on if they should go or not go.  The world is doomed without God.  Only God knows when we should go or not go.  He alone holds the future in His hand.  He alone protects us and guides us in tomorrow.

Paul Witnesses to King Agrippa - Part II - Acts 26

¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 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. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 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— ²³ 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.”

Paul again is leaning in here.  After such a profound experience, he followed the instructions.  He has been preaching to the Gentiles just as he was shown to do.  And this is why the Jews want to kill him.

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.”

Festus, knowing the peculiarity of the Jews to believe God’s blessings are for them alone, erupts against Paul’s claim that Moses said God’s Message is to the Gentiles.  No Jew would say that the Messiah they have been waiting on came not just for them, but for everyone also.  Blasphemy!  But it is the what Jesus did as He is the Truth.

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Paul, who anyone would reason should be more interested in making his defense to not be in chains and a prisoner, is working to witness directly to the king and whoever is willing to hear the Message of salvation.  He is singularly focused on presenting the gospel in any way that he can.  Verses 28 and 29 are better presented in my opinion in the NKJV:

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

²⁹ And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

These two interpretations have different meanings in my opinion.  One infers that the king is tempted and intrigued regarding belief.  One only mentions that he recognizes that Paul is trying to convince him.  One mentions time, yet one doesn’t mention it at all.

³⁰ The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹ After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Paul has now spoken to kings and he has suffered much for Christ.  He has once again witnessed to Jesus and testified of Jesus in his life.  He has simply presented his story of how Jesus met him and changed him.  Paul’s story is part of Jesus’ story.  There is still more suffering to bear unfortunately.  He has been found innocent by the king and governor of the region.  How does Jesus in your life add to the story of Jesus?  If you were put on trial, what would be your witness and testimony?  Is Jesus in it?

No matter what the king decides about the gospel, it is clear that Paul is going to Rome now.

Paul Witnesses to King Agrippa - Part I - Acts 26

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ² “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

His defense is for any Jew from anywhere that might have something to say against him.

⁴ “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

He is on trial because of his hope in a promise from the God of the Jews, his God.  This hope is in the resurrection of the dead.  King Agrippa knew the Mosaic Law and the Jewish background.  He knew they were awaiting a Messiah, a Savior. 

⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

He worked for them and did their work.  They know him well.  He was very diligent in opposing those who follow Jesus.  He was more diligent than even the chief priests were prosecuting those of the Way. 

¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

Paul leans in as he tells this part of his testimony.  He refers to “King Agrippa” several times.  He is speaking directly to him and it infers how personal this part of the story is to him.  It is as if he is saying ‘listen closely to this’, it is miraculous.  Paul is also witnessing directly to the king.

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 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. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ 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 centers his testimony on the intervention of Jesus into his life.  He is the center of Paul’s story.

Who is in the center of your testimony?  Is it you?  Is it others?  Or is it Jesus?  If you are a Christian, it should the intervention of Jesus into your life.  He should be at the center of your story.

Festus Consults King Agrippa and Paul Stands Before Agrippa - Acts 25

¹³ A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. ¹⁴ Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. ¹⁵ When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.

¹⁶ “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. ¹⁷ When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. ²¹ But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”

Now, Paul will witness to a king, just as he had been told he would by Jesus when he was in Damascus. 

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷ For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Paul gets to witness to the king and rulers with all the pomp and circumstance of it.  This had to be a regal setting.

Festus is in a bind here.  If Paul is guilty of sedition he should be put to death.  If he is not guilty, he should be freed.  Festus admits that there is no proof of the charges against this man.  He has appealed to Caesar but I have no charges to list.  He is also saying, I don’t want to rule him innocent when all of the Jews hate him and cause riots and mobs against him.  This is what he is really saying and he is putting that decision up the ladder.  He would rather the Jews despise Agrippa whom they never see rather than him who they will see often and have to respect his authority daily.

Paul is given this regal setting before this king.  He does not use it to defend himself.  He uses it to present the gospel message.  He is intent upon presenting Jesus to the king and all who are present.

Paul's Trial Before Festus - Acts 25

25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ² where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³ They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴ Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵ Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

Two years later, Paul gets to defend himself in another trial with another regional leader.  The Jewish leaders again come to make charges.  Festus makes a very diplomatic visit with the Jewish leaders as a means for peaceful leadership change and in an effort to maintain peace.

⁶ After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷ When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.

⁸ Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

⁹ Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?” 

Even though none of the charges against Paul can be proven and the fact that Paul is a Roman citizen, Festus's desire to be liked having just spent over a week in Jerusalem with these Jewish leaders, persuades him to try to do this.  He is rewarded when the people in his region have order.  He is seeking to do them this favor of transferring Paul to Jerusalem.  

¹⁰ Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

¹² After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Paul says to heck with these Jews and their court.  I’m in a Roman court and it can be ruled here now.  But since no one will rule because it is not politically expedient, Paul takes it out of their hand.  He is using his Roman citizenship to do the will of God.  Paul was told with encouragement from God that he would go to Rome.  This appeal to Caesar is the ticket to Rome.  Also, the further away from the Jewish leaders he gets, the less their accusations have meaning.  They are unable to stir up riots and create mobs outside of Jerusalem and around Roman authority.  Like it is, they’ve had two years to get witnesses from Asia to witness to his sedition there and do not have any.  The Roman authority care about their laws and courts, not about Jewish law which is outside of the Roman law.  Without a mob, the Jewish leaders know they will not get Paul convicted.  This is the last time we hear from the Jewish leaders.

Paul Witnesses to Felix and Drusilla - Acts 24

²² Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Paul is in prison, but he is given a lot of liberties.  Felix wanted to hear more about the Way.  The Jewish position was very non-compelling to Felix and since they brought up the commander Lysias, he would hear from him.  I don’t know if Felix ever talked to Lysias because Felix never decided on Paul’s case.  Felix should have freed Paul because there is no proof he has broken a Roman law.  But Felix is a politician and he wants peace in his region.

History writes that Felix was a freed slave.  He had forged his way to the front through cruelty and brutality.  The Roman historian, Tacitus, says that Felix “through all cruelty and licentiousness he exercised the authority of a king with the spirit of a slave.”  He as a brutal person who enjoyed great pleasures.

Drusilla, his wife, was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I.  Her father killed James as is recorded in Acts 12.  Her great uncle killed John the Baptist and her great grandfather tried to kill the Lord Jesus Christ.  (per J. Vernon McGee commentary)

This is the judge for Paul.

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Paul is now witnessing to those in regional authority.  He has access to the those with the most power in that region.  He is also witnessing to someone who has interest in this Way.  Somehow, a seed has been planted in their life so they want to hear more.

Why does teaching about righteousness, self-control and judgment scare people?  Because everyone knows they aren’t righteous, they don’t have self-control, and a judgment could be true!  Felix and Drusilla get a personal witness from Paul about Jesus.  This is an amazing demonstration of God’s grace to provide this opportunity to them. 

Felix postpones his decision to believe in Jesus for a more “convenient time”.  It should be noted that there is never a convenient time for sinners to believe.  “Today is the day of salvation.” Unfortunately, he cannot let go of the world of politics and there is no mention of Felix believing.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Two years.  And we think our court system is slow.  Two years in prison “as a favor” to the Jews.  How would you like to be in prison as a favor for someone else for nothing more than believing and preaching about Jesus?  The real question is, would you be willing to do that for your Lord?