Prelude
We can often have a negative
reaction to sharing our faith in Jesus. What will they think? Will I be
rejected? Will I be embarrassed? How will I respond to their questions? Does my
life stack up?
And we can react defensively
when sharing faith seems to be against the tide, or seems to sit strangely
within the environment we are in … perhaps being under the perceived pressure
of possible personal attack. We would rather it be easier to share our faith –
and sometimes we want others, including governing authorities, to make it
easier for us.
To answer the first point …
about any nervousness – we should be seeking to grow in such a way that we
don’t have to think about sharing Jesus or witnessing to Jesus – because it
just happens naturally, as a matter of course. We are so enthralled by, and
committed to, Jesus, it just happens. If our testimony is accepted – fantastic!
If our faith is rejected, and we have done our best in presenting Jesus in the
most favourable of lights – so be it! We are NOT accountable for the results –
only for sowing the seeds.
To answer the second point …
about any defensiveness – the Gospel has always made greater gains in times of
discomfort rather than ease, in times of persecution rather than cultural
acceptance. The Gospel has tended to lose its edge when it comes into the
mainstream. It easily becomes sanitised, and the radical need for repentance
and being born again gets lost. The early church was successful in sharing the
Gospel against the tide, as Paul points out in his letter to the Philippians.
Introduction
The possibilities of
nervousness and defensiveness are addressed as we listen to Paul. Paul had
complete victory over any fear or defeatism. Paul, following a radical
conversion … from enemy of the Gospel to its chief proponent, became so
transformed that his very life spoke about Jesus. And, as Paul attracts
opposition (from those who would resist the Gospel message), he continues
undeterred in effectively sharing the name of Jesus. In so doing, and in so
BEING, Paul gains a whole lot of interest for the Gospel.
Paul embraces the adventure
of sharing the good news about Jesus, to both Jew and Gentile, through whatever
circumstances he finds himself in. Paul sees that each situation he is in, no
matter how difficult, as a God-given opportunity to make some ground for the
Kingdom of God. Paul’s level of faith-sharing never wavered under severe
testing – it actually brought an even greater contrast to the broken ways of
the world. The darker it got, the brighter Paul shone. This is why Paul NEVER
lamented his circumstances.
Paul actually saw his
imprisonment in Rome as a positive – Phil 1:12 – “… what has happened to me has
actually helped to spread the gospel”. We see this happen in sometimes very
unexpected ways. We shall see shortly (from Acts 28 e.g. v 22), that when the Gospel
was being spoken against in some quarters, this gave Paul all the more
opportunity to speak for it! Circumstances should NOT be relevant – we
should NOT let them define us or divert us – we just live for Jesus, come what
may. And lest we think this too idealistic – this is how Paul went about it, as
have many great Christian saints and martyrs over the centuries.
It’s NOT that you want
persecution, or feel superior by persecution, it’s just that what comes … is
what comes! We should NEVER allow nervousness or fear or defensiveness or
defeatism in the door! We have the Holy Spirit!! Victory will be ours in
Christ!!! The means by which we share Jesus … alter as different situations
arise; and methods change (as God reveals them to us) – while the Gospel
remains the most powerful message of hope in the world!
Paul’s Circumstances (Acts 28:16-31)
We should also read through
the incident likely lying behind these words in Philippians (that’s in Acts
28).
Due to various agenda-ridden
concerns over the direction of Paul’s message, and trumped-up charges pending
against him, Paul was placed under house-arrest, and was closely guarded (lest
he step out of line), likely chained by the wrist (Acts 28:16,20). Paul had NO
freedom of movement. You could easily see the down-side of this. Yet there was
never a sense that Paul was worried about this perceived lack of freedom. Let’s
look at this another way! Paul, being restricted to home, was able to regularly
receive visitors, and have people coming and going … interested as to why this
man had caused such a stir. Why was this man’s message such a threat
(especially to the religious and civil ruling authorities)?!
There would likely be
curiosity and strong interest in Rome … why this well-reasoned man was attracting
such opposition to his ideas. The fact that Paul (and his unique message) had
attracted opposition, actually opened a door of opportunity! And plenty came
(28:23) – just imagine the great discussions to-and-fro there would have been.
And many responded to the good sense and truth in Paul’s words – there were
people who were “convinced by what he had said” (28:24a). At the very least,
this means some wanted to know more, and at the very best, some became
‘converts’. Some were certainly now on a good path towards faith. Yes, some
didn’t believe – but that is always the case. The exciting thing is that …
there were new believers.
And Paul didn’t bother
defending himself, nor the “sect” as it was known, but rather just talked about
Jesus and His Kingdom. No … Paul was NOT worried about his lack of freedom –
for he sensed that he was where God wanted him to be. Paul’s central concern
was being faithful to the Gospel – he was in chains in the service of Christ
Jesus. Paul was always looking for new adventures of faith. Paul was so far out
of any comfort zone – no comfort zone even existed anymore. Paul was out on a
limb, and simply on fire for Jesus. Paul had been saved from his past religious
slavery … simply into a love affair with Jesus! Paul would stand with Jesus, no
matter what! And the faithful way in which he dealt with his unjust punishment
… was very impressive indeed!
Paul’s positive attitude to
his situation … spoke heaps about his relationship with Jesus!! This is a
lesson to us … that the sharing of the Gospel should NOT be restricted to only
when things are going well. In fact, finding authentic ways to share the Gospel
message under suffering, is actually far more powerful than when life is easy.
Yes, times can be tough, but we are seeing how God is entering our suffering,
and how God is gently nurturing our way forward in being effective people in
His service. Old time commentator G Campbell Morgan talked about how adverse
conditions can be the allies of our soul (and ministers of victory) in the
hands of God.
As mentioned, it is likely
that Paul was chained (perhaps loosely) to a single guard … who would be on a
four-hour shift. Think about this another way! This guard would be chained to
Paul for a four-hour period!!! And then another guard would take over. There
would be a revolving and repeating roster of guards … who would have no choice
but to listen to Paul. Paul could be chained, but the Gospel COULD NOT! It was
actually Paul who had the captive audience!! Paul may have looked forward to
the return of particular guards who had shown some particular interest or had
responded in certain ways. Paul may have also looked forward to the possibility
of a new guard being assigned to him. And we are told … that this went on for
at least two years (28:30).
Paul’s Results (Philippians 1:12-14)
Paul reflects on the results
of this back in Philippians chapter 1 at verse 12 onwards – “… what has
happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, SO THAT IT HAS BECOME
KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE IMPERIAL GUARD and to everyone else …”. It seems
certain that, as some of the guards … Paul actually refers to “the whole
imperial guard” … accepted the Gospel message, it also spread, through them, to
their wider circle, and then further throughout Rome (Phil 4:22, Acts 28:28).
Such was the power of all
this – so many came to understand, in the face of his persecution, that this
was far from pointless, for Paul was imprisoned in the service of the Jesus of
whom he spoke. And there was a further outcome, at least equally significant –
in verse 14. Paul’s positive attitude and life-orientation had served to
embolden all the other Christians. Whereas other believers may naturally have
become discouraged by Paul’s arrest and ongoing imprisonment – the opposite had
actually happened!
Just in the way the beginning
of verse 12 is phrased – “I want you to know …”, suggests that Paul was wanting
to clear up a possible misunderstanding. The church in Philippi may have had
very negative feelings about the implication of Paul’s imprisonment for them –
they could have seen this as a major setback. Yet, that is ONLY how it looked –
not how it was! Paul was very keen to say that his imprisonment was NOT
a reason to retreat – quite the contrary!!
There was purpose to be found
behind this situation. This imprisonment had NOT been detrimental, but rather
advantageous to the Gospel – NOT a disaster, but a plus! The believers in Rome
were on fire for Jesus! They too (v 14), following Paul’s example, were
confidently spreading the Word. Now, the believers in Philippi could do the
same!
We can look at the signs … and
fear and defeatism can build. Or, we can be that sort of community where we
embolden each other (through encouragement and example) … in our positive life
journey of living and sharing Jesus!
Conclusion
We need to allow God’s Spirit
to build Jesus so strongly into us … that all fear (of other people’s contrary
views) … disappears, and any defeatism (about how the world is going) … is
silenced. This DOESN’T mean we become, in any way, insensitive to the great
variety of stories out there, through which there is a great struggle around
issues of faith. Certainly we listen first, and pray next – but we surely also
keep the lines of sharing open. This simply means we fully own who we are in
our own Jesus-following life … and live that out in the public gaze.
Sometimes this means coping
with, and excelling through, the opposing barbs of people who are quite close
to us (very close to us). This can be quite painful. Sometimes we have to keep
following Jesus … when others think we are mad. In this we are in good company;
for many in Jesus’ own family circle, and in his own hometown of Nazareth …
thought, during the early stages of his ministry, that he was mad
(Mark 3:19b-35)!
Postscript
The Book of Acts dramatically
closes with this emphatic statement of the ongoing witness to Jesus. Paul spoke
with “boldness”. How might we understand “boldness”? Confidently, courageously,
clear, open, unobscured, thoroughly in the truth; publicly, without fear of
consequences. And in this there was NO hindrance!! NO effective obstacle! This
was a winning message!! The Holy Spirit was at work, such that no circumstances
could repel the Gospel as it was shared with “boldness”. And, in a way, at the
end of Acts, the ball has been passed to future generations of missionaries.
Where there are let-downs,
failed experiments, false hopes, broken promises, and unmet expectations …
everywhere – people will still respond to a positive, grace-filled,
truth-filled, clear expression of good news. People are searching, and will be
prepared to travel on a path paved with hope, sincerity and friendship …
towards the greatest of discoveries. The Holy Spirit is working, opening doors,
providing opportunities, blessing “bold” expressions of faith. Let’s fully embrace
the adventure! We are all part of Acts chapter 29. And the Gospel will NOT be
thwarted. Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment