What We Should Do

 Acts 26:20 (NIV) – "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds."

There are several sentences in the Bible that tell us what it means and takes to become a Christian. John 3:16 is the most quoted of these: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV)

Romans 10:9-10 is another succinct passage describing our part in the salvation Jesus brings. Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8 and 6:23 are also important, and John 1:12 says, “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (ESV)

Acts 26:20 is not often included in lists of verses we memorize, but it is the apostle Paul’s summary statement of the objective of his ministry. He was speaking to the highest-ranking audience he ever had with both the Roman Governor Porcius Festus and King Herod Agrippa. He had a chance to explain why he had sacrificed everything to follow Jesus and answer the call to take message of Christ’s hope throughout the known world.

Paul had a rare opportunity and limited time. He had to make every word count. Verse 20 is the succinct culmination of what he asked people to do to follow Jesus in three steps that are still essential steps in experiencing the life change and eternal life Jesus can bring today: 

Repent – This is not a popular word in our culture, but it is still the first step in becoming a Christian. It means a mind, heart, and attitude change. It is a recognition that many of the things I have done and wanted to do are not good. This sin has infected each of us and cuts us off from God. (Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23) Instead of seeking my own selfish and evil desires, when I repent, I admit I need help and can’t do it on my own. That leads to the second step Paul proclaimed.

Turn to God – No other person, program, or medication can set us free from sin. Jesus Christ came to earth as fully God and fully human. His death on the cross and Resurrection from the dead set us when we believe in him. (Romans 5:8 and 6:23) Those two first steps – repenting and turning to God – enable us to receive eternal life and a restored relationship with God (John 3:16), but the process is not over.

Demonstrate Repentance by Action – Following Jesus is a lifelong journey. If we truly repent, we will hate evil things we have done in the past. We will want to live differently. What we could not do one our own, we can when we turn to God as his Holy Spirit works in us to form us into the people he wants us to be. Being a Christian starts with a decision of faith, but that is not all it involves. Our actions should show we are changed people.

Where are you on the journey? If you have not yet come to place of taking each of these steps, I encourage you to do so today. Say to God, “Lord, I know I have done wrong. I repent. I turn to you and ask your forgiveness. I believe in Jesus Christ and that his death paid for my sin. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and empower me to live your way in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” When you pray a prayer like this, you will begin the life God has that billions of Christians have experienced since the apostle Paul first said these words.

Vision vs Opportunism

Acts 25:11 (ESV) – ”If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”

 

For several decades, writers on leadership – both Christian and secular – have attributed vision-casting as one of the key skills of great leaders. These leaders envision a great future for the organizations they lead, share them with the people of those organizations in a clear and compelling way, then lead the now motivated people and the whole organizations forward to make vision a reality. As wonderful as this picture is, reality is usually a whole lot messier.

 

This idea of vision assumes all necessary components and resources to bring that vision to reality are available to the leader. Yet, that is almost never the case. So many people and circumstances are out of control. Some leaders have shifted away from a priority of vision-casting to opportunism: seeking to recognize and take advantage of opportunities when they appear. An extreme version of this opportunism can dismiss planning of any type as futile. Surfers cannot create they waves they love. Yet, even the surfer waiting for the opportunity of a big wave has to plan enough to be on the beach with surfboard in hand to catch that wave when it comes.

 

How Paul wound up in Rome is an interesting example of a combination of vision and opportunism. As we saw in an earlier PowerWords, Acts 23:11 describes Jesus appearing to Paul and giving him a clear vision of testifying for him in Rome. Notice that the vision Jesus gave did not include a plan on how to get to Rome or a timeline of when it would happen. Jesus also did not tell Paul to figure it out for himself. For two years (Acts 24:27) nothing seemed to happen that was making that vision any more real or bringing it any closer as Paul withered away in the Caesarean prison.

 

Then, a change of governors meant that Paul had a chance to speak to those in power and share his story. He knew, as Roman citizen, he had a right to appeal to Caesar. He knew that, as a provincial governor, Porcius Festus had the authority to grant the appeal. Luke does not tell us if Paul had been strategically planning to use this as the way to make the God-given vision a reality or if Paul spontaneously reacted to a way to avoid the risk of death at the hands of the Jews as they plotted to kill him on the way to Jerusalem (Acts 25:3 & 9). Either way, both the circumstances and the ultimate journey to Rome were out of Paul’s control. Yet, he had one thing he could do at that moment in time, and he took advantage of that opportunity. He appealed to Caesar, and he got to Rome. The vision became a reality.

 

So many things we enjoy in life today came because someone had a vision, developed a plan, and led others to make that vision happen. Yet, much of what each of us deals with is beyond our control. We cannot control everything, but we can control some things. It is important to have our plans ready, but do not miss the unexpected opportunities when they come.

Don’t Put Off Your Most Important Decision

Acts 24:24-25 (ESV) – After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

 

Often the biggest decisions come with the biggest prices yet promise the biggest rewards. It can be natural to put those decisions off because we fear losing something in the face of a very hopeful, yet uncertain, outcome. Unfortunately, though, those opportunities usually do not last forever. If we hold off deciding too long, we miss our chance.

 

That was the case for the Roman Procurator of Judaea named Claudius Felix. He had been governing the Province of Judaea for several years but had earned a reputation as a cruel and corrupt leader. The First Century Roman historian Tacitus described him as “indulging in every kind of barbarity and, exercising the power of a king with the spirit of a slave.” (Histories V:9) Felix had good reason to be afraid when he heard Paul talk about the coming judgement and the faith in Christ it takes to be ready for it.

 

Felix knew what was at stake. He knew his life was not characterized by righteousness and self-control. He had hurt many people for his own gain and glory. He also understood from the conversations he had with Paul that coming to Christ would mean repentance, that is turning to God and turning away from evil actions and thoughts. Yet, it would mean eternal life and the peace and purpose life with Christ brings to any of us who believe, even today.

 

Felix had a lot to lose. He was already well paid as a Roman procurator, but he was obviously used to getting a lot more through bribery. Verse 26 tells us Felix hoped even Paul would try to bribe him, but that never happened. After two years of indecision, Felix was shipped back to Rome and replaced with the much wiser and fairer Porcius Festus. We have no historical record that Felix ever did believe in Jesus. Putting off the decision of faith may have temporarily alleviated his fearful alarm, but it did not give him eternal life. Both contemporary historians Josephus (Jewish Antiquities XX:8) and Tacitus (Annals XII:54) tell us his earthly reputation and legacy was also stained by his failure to change his evil behavior.

 

What decisions have you been putting off lately? Is there an action you should take before the opportunity passes?

A Savior is Born unto You

Luke 2:11 (KJV) – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

 

Merry Christmas! As you reflect on the most special holiday of the year, your mind may go to these often-repeated celebrated words the angel shared with the shepherds who were watching their flocks that night on the hills outside of Jerusalem. This incredible story provides a beautiful picture and so much to reflect the significance of Christmas and the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Yet, when we hear something so many times, it is easy to forget how special, significant, and important it is.

 

Look at the second and third words in the historic and traditional King James Version of this verse above: “unto you.” Yes, the Greek humin means what to you or unto you means in English. It can convey both direction and benefit. In a sense, these words can seem ridiculous. If a couple has a baby, it would make sense that baby was born to (or KJV “unto”) them. It is now their child. They will be responsible for caring for that child, for raising that child, and for loving that child. As every parent knows, raising a child is a difficult, expensive, and often frustrating job. Yet, few of us want to give our children away because there is a joy beyond measure that comes with that child. So, you can celebrate you neighbors’ new baby and say to them, “Congratulations on the new baby born to you today!”

 

Yet, look again at the angel’s words. That angel did not speak to the parents of the child. The angel spoke to shepherds who more than likely had never met Mary or Joseph and who would not be helping raise the baby Jesus in any respect. Why did the angel say, “Unto you is born…”?

 

The answer to that question is the reason we celebrate Christmas over 2,000 years after that event. The words just before and just after this short phrase give us that answer. In Verse 10, the angel told the shepherds the good news of great joy was for “all the people.” That good news is still good news for us today. As part of humanity, it applies to you me.

 

What is the good news? Verse 11 tells us: The Savior, who is Christ the Lord, is born.

 

A savior is one who rescues others who are unable to save themselves. A lifeguard’s actions can save a child from drowning in a swimming pool. A skilled surgeon can become a savior from an otherwise life-ending heart attack. Those saved could not save themselves. Jesus came as the Savior of all mankind.

 

Another angel told Mary’s husband Joseph what that meant in an appearance before Jesus was born in Matthew 1:21: “He will save His people from their sins.” (NAS) A sin is any action, thought, or motive other than what God would want us to do. Of course, every one of us has intentionally or unintentionally sinned many times. (Romans 3:23) We may think, “It’s no big deal. Nobody’s perfect.” Although that is true that no one except Jesus is perfect, it is an enormous deal because our sins separate us from God forever. (Isaiah 59:2) There is nothing we can do on our own to overcome those sins, but what we could never do, God did for us by sending Jesus. (Romans 5:8) His death and Resurrection on our behalf covered our sins and restored our relationship with God. Yet, like any gift, we must accept it to receive it. When we believe in Jesus, He saves us. (John 3:16)

 

The best news ever is that this Jesus Christ, the Lord, is born to you. When you receive Him as Savior, you get the best Christmas present ever. Merry Christmas!

 

Necessary

Acts 23:11 (ALT) – On the following night, the Lord stood by [Paul] and said, “Take courage! As you testified about me in Jerusalem, so also it is necessary to testify about me in Rome.”  

  

Does God cause everything that happens or do our human decisions and actions determine the future? This is one of the great mysteries of human history for people of faith. Scholars, leaders, and ordinary people have debated this for millennia. If we believe that God is all powerful and guiding the world toward a certain conclusion, it is hard to see how our actions can make a difference. Yet, as we look around us, we see that many things happen because we and others choose to act that seem like they would not happen otherwise.

 

This verse above contains a three letter Greek word that powerfully holds this mystery in place: dei. I translated it as “necessary” here, because the word carries the idea that God has willed something to happen in the future without clearly stating whether it is a human’s responsibility to make it happen. In other words, “Paul, it might happen anyway, or you might be a part of making it happen, but this has to happen: You will testify about me in Rome.”

 

Luke, the writer of Acts, wants his readers to know there is no question that Jesus gave Paul this message. It was necessary for Paul to speak about Him in Rome. Was this a command or a prediction? Dei could convey either. As I read the rest of Acts, though, I believe Paul perceived this as both God’s sovereign will and Paul’s personal responsibility.

 

In Acts 25:11, while on trial before Festus, the Roman Governor of Palestine, Paul seized the opportunity given him as a Roman citizen and appealed to Caesar. This was his decision and it guaranteed fulfillment of Jesus’ “necessary” future event. We find out in the next chapter, Paul would not have had to go to Rome because of the Roman law (Acts 26:31-32), but his appeal meant he was going anyway. This would seem to indicate Paul’s decision is what got him to Rome.

 

Yet, another visit, this time from an angel, in Acts 27:23-24, shows God intervened to prevent certain shipwrecked destruction of the ship Paul was on. Paul had no choice in this outcome, whether for the storm or the saving. He tried to get the crew to stay for the winter on Crete, but the captain was not willing to listen to a lowly prisoner. A late season storm blew the ship far off course and the experienced sailors expected to sink until the angel’s message brought them comfort and hope, using that same Greek word, dei: “You must stand before Caesar.”

 

Paul and everyone else on the ship survived and arrived on the island of Malta before making the final leg of the journey to Rome and making the “necessary” happen. So, who did it? Was it God? God’s intervention certainly saved them all from sinking at sea, but what about Paul? There is no question his choice to appeal to Caesar at the proper moment was part of what got him to Rome. In a mysterious way we cannot fully understand with our limited human perspective, both divine providence and the action of human will determined a future outcome.

 

We see mysteries like this throughout the Bible, and I believe it is still true today: Is God sovereignly at work? Yes! Do our individual decisions determine much of what happens to us? Indeed! How do these seemingly incompatible realities work together? I do not fully understand all of this in spite of a lifetime serving, loving, and studying God and His word, but I do know God’s ways are far above mine. (Isaiah 55:8-9) I know He is at work in ways I cannot see, but I also know His providence does not replace my responsibility. I will trust God, and I will act when I can, knowing God will ensure the necessary will happen whether through or beyond my action.

Persuasion Principles

 Acts 21:38 (ESV) – Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”

Have you ever had to speak to a tough crowd? Did you try to get someone else to agree with you who started that conversation with a differing opinion? It is almost always difficult to persuade others, but the apostle Paul was a master at it. Most of Acts Chapter 22 helps us see how Paul attempted to win over his toughest crowd ever: devout Jews worshipping in Jerusalem convinced that Paul was defiling the temple. (Acts 21:28) His way of persuasive communication is still recommended today:

         1)   Recognize and Seize Opportunities to Speak

Paul had come to the temple with a few other Jewish Christians who were all fulfilling a vow according to the Jewish Law. Although they had followed the Law, some non-Christian Jews from Ephesus saw them in the temple and assumed they brought their Gentile traveling companions, which would have been against that Law. They started an uprising in response that forced the Roman tribune to take Paul prisoner in an attempt to calm down the riot. (Acts 21:23-36) Most of us would probably have been scared to death at that point, but Paul never forgot his mission. He recognized he had the attention of thousands of devout Jews plus the protection of the Roman army and a great position to speak to them all from steps that oversaw the temple courtyard. (Acts 21:40) Paul could not have planned this nor had he prepared in advance, but he recognized the opportunity and asked the tribune for a chance to speak to the people. You may have no notice for your best changes to share a life changing message. Will you recognize it? Will you be ready?

    2)   Speak the Listeners’ Language

 Being raised in a Jewish home in a Roman city gave Paul two huge benefits for the occasion. The first was that he was bilingual. He won the tribune over immediately and was spared a vicious beating by addressing him in Greek. (Acts 21:37) The tribune was shocked and worked to give Paul what he asked for. Yet, when Paul turned to the people in the court below, he addressed them in the Hebrew Dialect of Aramaic, the language they spoke at home with their families. That caught their attention, too. (Acts 21:40) Be sure you use words and phrases your listeners will likely comprehend. A key aspect of winning them over is showing you understand them and making sure they understand you.

     3)   Show Your Credibility

Once Paul had their attention, he introduced himself by pointing out things likely to build credibility with his listeners. He was “raised in this city” (Jerusalem). He had been personally taught by the most renowned Jewish teacher of their day, Gamaliel. He followed their Law in strict obedience. (Acts 22:3) All of those facts meant he was someone to be taken seriously in their culture. Our world is noisier than ever, and a countless number of voices compete for our attention. Although being arrogant can undermine our authority, we need to boldly, yet humbly, help our listeners understand we have the expertise to say what we have to say.

    4)   Build on Common Beliefs and Values

 Several times in this short message, Paul explained how he had long cherished the same values and held the same beliefs as the people listening to him: “Being zealous for God as you are today, I persecuted this way to death… The high priest and whole council of elders can bear me witness… I was praying in the temple.” (Acts 22: 3-5, 17) People are more likely to accept something of which they currently disagree from you if they come to trust you and know that you share much in common.

    5)   Share a Compelling, Yet Succinct, Story

Although stories can make good entertainment, they can also be powerful ways to help people understand and accept something new. Going too long risks losing your audience, but a well-told story that describes the former state, introduces the key characters and conflict, then builds to an unexpected climactic turnaround can open hearts. Do not use a story to embellish the truth or mislead others, though.

    6)   Lead Them to a Decision

The best salespeople know how to “close the deal.” Once you have identified with your listeners and shared your own journey, it is time for you to invite them to join you. Provide any additional evidence that proves why the way you are proposing is better than the alternative then make the ask. Paul was very effective at giving invitations, as the dozens of churches he started throughout the Roman Empire could testify, but this day was different.

    7)   Remember, You Can’t Win ‘em All

Paul was not able to get to his invitation before he uttered the words that alienated his listeners. No matter how hard he had tried to explain that reaching non-Jewish people (Gentiles) was not his idea, when he came to the part of his story where God commanded him to go, the Jewish listeners started to riot. This world class persuader lost his audience, but this was not a crowd he was going to keep if he said what he had to say. We need to know that there will be times people won’t agree with us if we hold to convictions. Our true value is not measured by how popular we are.

      Although these seven steps did not lead to the happy ending this time, Paul’s way of persuading others usually did work and still works today when we share what really matters with people who are willing to listen and consider.

 

 

Prophecy and God’s Will

 Acts 21:11-12 (ESV) – [Agabus] took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit can give a message for one person through another. This is called prophecy. God used prophecy to convey his message to people throughout the Old and New Testaments in the Bible. He still uses it today. Although it can be faked and should always be tested (I Corinthians 14:29 and I Thessalonians 5:21), prophecy can be a way God lets us know what he specifically wants us to do. God used prophecy to direct a few of my own major decisions. Yet, does that mean prophecy is always the main way God tells us what to do?

Acts 21:8-14 has long fascinated me. Paul and his entourage had just made it back to Palestine with their relief offering from the Aegean Region Gentile Christians. They came to the leading (and still spectacular to this day) city of Caesarea and met some Christians we read about earlier in the book of Acts, Philip the Evangelist (Acts 6 & 8) and Agabus (Acts 11:28). The prophet Agabus graphically demonstrated a message from the Holy Spirit: Paul, the owner of the belt Agabus used to tie himself up, would be tied up by the Jews and handed to the Gentiles in Jerusalem. 

This certainly seemed a warning for Paul to not go to Jerusalem. Note that even his close companion and Gospel scribe Luke interpreted it that way, joining in the “we” urging him not to go to Jerusalem. Luke even described the Christians in the city of Tyre they had passed through earlier “telling Paul through the Spirit to not set foot in Jerusalem.” (Acts 20:4, NAS). Yet, Paul refused to change his destination no matter how much the people begged him (Acts 20:13). What was happening? Did Paul disobey God’s prophetic direction? 

Although Paul’s friends thought the prophetic message Agabus gave was directive (given to tell Paul what to do), it must have had a different purpose. Notice their final response in Verse 14: “Let the will of the Lord be done!” In other words, they must have all accepted that God wanted Paul to go to Jerusalem anyway. Earlier on the trip (Acts 20:22), Paul told the Ephesian elders he was “bound by the Spirit” (NAS) to go to Jerusalem. So, if it was God’s plan for Paul to go to Jerusalem all along, why did He send a prophecy that seemed to say the opposite? 

The answer is much the same reason Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper about the troubles that would come their way. “I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.” (John 16:4, ESV) Both Jesus’ words and Agabus’ prophecy were predictive (describing what would happen) rather than directive so that the believers would not be surprised or lose their faith when the difficulty came. 

Imagine what the early Christians would have thought if they believed being a Christian meant God always provided a trouble free life but its leading spokesperson, Paul, was imprisoned and later executed. People’s faith in the Christian message would have been undermined. Yet, now, when the difficulty came, they were not surprised. They remembered God had said Paul would be bound. The prophetic message would have changed what might have robbed their faith into a confirmation of God’s truth and plan. 

Let’s be open to God’s message, first in Scripture, then through the Holy Spirit, and pray for discernment and wisdom to know when it is time to act and when He is preparing us for what lies ahead.