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Past Ponderings

Monday, April 22, 2019

PONDERING... Will You Rise For Him? (Acts 14:1-7)

Will You Rise For Him? (Sunrise Service)
GIST: As Christians, we should speak with power even when the words aren’t popular, because only Jesus can make a difference.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:1-7
Sunrise services are a special time. They give us an opportunity to get up early and remember what happened that first Easter morning when the women found an empty tomb!
I’m going to be honest with you, getting up early is a personal conviction of mine, and has recently become a source of spiritual warfare for me. As silly as that sounds, I struggle getting out of bed in the morning. I need that prolonged time in God’s Word, and oftentimes, I snooze too long. That’s an aside, but I wanted to mention this so that you could be praying for me. Sure, I could make a million and a half excuses about how my schedule leads to me getting to bed later...etc., but the fact of the matter is, I know I need to be better in this, and I value your prayers.
We’re going to spend a few minutes in Acts again this morning because that’s where God has placed me☺️. But as we look at this, I’m not trying to expound any novel sounding truths. I just us to remember what that empty grave means to us as Christians. See, since Jesus really rose from the dead, everything is different. He literally changed everything. I know I’ve quoted this story before, but it always hits home with me, so I’m going to quote it again. In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard To Find”, she has her villain, an escaped murderer, say these words: ““Jesus was the only One that ever raised the dead… and He shouldn't have done it. He shown everything off balance. If He did what He said, then it's nothing for you to do but thow away everything and follow Him, and if He didn't, then it's nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left the best way you can-by killing somebody or burning down his house or doing some other meanness to him. No pleasure but meanness," he said and his voice had become almost a snarl.” (O’Connor)
Without Jesus, there is no meaning in life. There is no reason not to be completely self-absorbed. BUT, since Jesus really did come and really did rise, the entire purpose of our life has changed. Now, we should want nothing more than to throw off everything and follow Him. Let’s read Acts 14:1-7 together this morning.


"1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.”


Again, the gist I have for us this morning is not complicated, and it’s not new, but it is something we need to remember, especially on a day like today. As Christians, we should speak with power even when the words aren’t popular, because only Jesus can make a difference.
First→


I. As Christians, We Should Speak With Power
Look again at what happened when they entered the city. “1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.”  How were they speaking that people were being saved like this? They were sold out to Jesus. They came here with a single purpose: proclaiming Jesus. They loved these people enough to risk their lives to tell them this truth they so desperately needed. They were dynamically changed by Jesus and passionate that others experience this same life-changing love!
That’s how we should speak too. There’s no formula to it. It doesn’t involve any special chanting or extra talents. It’s just loving God with your whole heart and loving people enough to really tell them about their need for Him. But as simple as that sounds, if we’re honest, this isn’t always our reality. I mentioned a few months back that I had read Holiness by Henry Blackaby and how much it had convicted me. One portion that struck me most was when he was speaking specifically to pastors about complaining if they don’t see spiritual growth in their congregations. He made this observation that I haven’t been able to shake (no do I particularly want to!): “Oh, Lord, if Your people can walk in sin and listen to me preach week after week without change, then there's something wrong with this preacher. Not with them, with me.” (Blackaby).
We should speak with power because we’re people who are letting Jesus transform us every day. His Words are powerful, not ours. So speaking in power means letting Jesus use you, and we should speak with this same power→


II. Even When The Words Aren’t Popular
They entered the city and people were saved...and then there was much persecution! Look at this, “2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” We’ll experience this too. There will be people who hear the message of Jesus and because their hearts are still blind in their sin, they will seek to put an end to His proclamation. We need to be aware of this. There will be people who claim indifference toward Christ. However, more often, those who oppose Him do so actively. It isn’t enough just not to believe personally, they will take the charge to stop others from believing, as well. More than just anticipate this, however, we need to guard ourselves and those around us against this. The passage said they came stirring people up and poisoning minds. Knowing the truth of God’s word and helping others do the same is a vital part of the Christian life. So often we hear people say that it’s just blind faith that causes us to believe. That’s not true. Jesus came as the way, the truth, and the life. While there are things about His movement we may never understand, the truth of His good news, that He really is the Savior we need, is not based on speculation that can be disproven. We need to be so grounded in this truth that it doesn’t matter what mental gymnastics are done around us, we can stand firm.
I love this next part→ “3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.They faced persecution...so they stuck around! God was moving and continued to move by working through them in amazing ways. Therefore, it didn’t matter that people were standing against them. God was moving, so they stayed!
“4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.” Eventually, their lives were threatened, and they realized they wouldn’t be able to do any more good here for now, so they left. BUT they didn’t stop sharing the Gospel! They left and kept preaching. AND, spoiler alert, after they finish moving through this area, they come back!
So they spoke with power even when it wasn’t popular→


III. Because Only Jesus Can Make A Difference
Why were they so devoted? They knew this vital truth→ only Jesus makes a difference. We can’t save the world. We can’t save ourselves. Jesus can, and Jesus will save all who call upon His name. This world is heading to Hell. We can yell about that, or we can weep. We can complain about the injustices and immorality that are rampant, or we can point people to the One who can come in and transform their hearts completely.
Again, it reminds me of that Casting Crowns song, “Only Jesus”. The bridge repeats this. “Jesus is the only name. Jesus is the only name. Jesus is the only name to remember!”


TAKEAWAYS
1. How boldly are you proclaiming?
2. Whose praise are you seeking? God’s or the world’s?
3. Do you believe only He can make any difference?



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