Sunday, April 24,
2016, 4:24 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song, “All Through the Night.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I
read Acts 28:17-28 (ESV).
It is Spoken Against
(vv. 17-22)
After
three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had
gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our
people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from
Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished
to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my
case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though
I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have
asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel
that I am wearing this chain.” And they said to him, “We have received no
letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported
or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views
are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken
against.”
Under the Old Covenant, the Jews were God’s chosen people. Paul
was a Jew and had been a Pharisee. The Jews were given a promise of a Messiah
to come, but when Jesus came, many did not believe in him, though some did.
Paul, formerly called Saul, previously did not believe and, in fact, had been a
staunch and passionate persecutor of Christians, as well as he had given his approval
to many of their deaths. But, God called Paul to turn to faith in Jesus Christ
and to be a minister of this gospel of salvation which he once opposed. Now he
was among the persecuted, instead of being a persecutor. And, it was because of
his faith in Jesus Christ, and because of his testimony to God’s saving grace
through faith in Christ that he was persecuted, and that he was placed under
arrest, and that he was kept in prison as long as he was.
Everywhere that Paul went, even when he was in chains for
the gospel, as much as he had opportunity to do so, he told people about Jesus
Christ, and that he was the fulfillment of the prophecies of scripture
regarding the Promised One, “the hope of Israel.” But a large majority of the
Jews were against this teaching, for they would not accept Jesus Christ as their
Messiah. They wanted to hold on to what they had always known, even though they
knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah to come. Yet, many of them were not
content with just disbelieving in Jesus, but they spoke openly against faith in
Jesus Christ.
I find this to also be true of many who call themselves
Christians today, that they want to hold on to what they have always known, or
to what they had been taught previously, even if the Word of God says otherwise.
Many who call themselves followers of Christ are actually followers of
humankind, or they are followers of religion, but they don’t have a relationship
with Jesus Christ. Although some of these do have a relationship with Jesus
Christ, they also have blinded their minds and hearts to much of the truth
because it goes against their traditional beliefs and practices. Even if you
show them the truth from the Word of God, still they will not listen. They are
set in their ways and will not budge. And, some among these who remain
headstrong in their humanistic or traditional teachings, who oppose the
teachings of Christ, will also turn to persecuting those who stand on the Word
of Truth.
Hearing, But Never
Understanding (vv. 23-28)
When
they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater
numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the
kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of
Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but
others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul
had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers
through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go
to this people, and say,
“You
will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never
perceive.”
For
this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest
they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and
understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore
let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the
Gentiles; they will listen.”
For many people, even among those who profess to believe in
Jesus Christ, it is not that they don’t know the truth, but it is that they
refuse to believe the truth, or that they just ignore what doesn’t fit with
their lifestyles. They like to hold on to what fits with their comfort zone. So,
even though they hear the truth, and they have been shown the truth, they still
go their own way as though what has been revealed to them does not exist. And,
this is true even among those who call themselves ministers of the gospel. They
have been so inundated with humanistic philosophy that they oftentimes accept
the teachings of humans over and above or in place of the teachings of Christ.
For example, the Bible clearly teaches that faith in Jesus
Christ involves death to sin and living to righteousness, all in the power and
working of the Spirit in our lives, as we cooperate fully with that work. Peter
said that Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet.
2:24). Paul said that if we walk according to the flesh, we will die, but if by
the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, we will live (See:
Ro. 8:1-14). John said that if we say we have fellowship with God, but we
continue to conduct our lives in darkness (in our sinful flesh), we are liars,
and the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:6).
As well, Jesus said that if we want to come after him, we
must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and self) and follow
(obey) him. He said if we hold on to our old lives (of living for sin and self)
we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives (die with Christ to
sin), we will gain eternal life (Lu. 9:23-25).
Yet, why do so many teach that God requires nothing of us –
no repentance, no obedience, and no death to sin and living to righteousness?
They have reduced faith in Jesus Christ to the acceptance of
a religion or of certain religious practices, but they have deleted the
necessary heart transformation of the Spirit of God in which we are crucified
with Christ in death to sin and we are resurrected with Christ in newness of
life, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24).
They have also made salvation out to be merely an escape from hell (if hell is
even mentioned) and the promise of heaven when we die, but they forget that
Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; that we might no
longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his life up for us (2 Co.
5:15). They forget that God’s grace is not liberty to continue in sin without
guilt and without remorse, but his grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to
say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,
upright and godly lives while we wait for his return (Tit. 2:11-14).
They forget conveniently, because they don’t want to
remember, because they don’t want to forsake their sins, and they don’t want to
follow Christ in obedience, but they want to just have a religion, because it
eases or it masks the guilt they might feel over their sinful lifestyles. They
can then convince themselves that they are followers of God and doers of what
is right even though they know in their hearts that much of their life choices
are contrary to God’s word and to the teachings of Christ. Because they attend
church services on Sunday and they serve in the community, and they give money
to the church, too, they think that makes them good in God’s sight.
And, so these words apply to them, as well, that they are
ever hearing but never comprehending, and they are ever seeing, but never
perceiving, because they have closed their minds and hearts off to whatever
truths make them feel uncomfortable. And, thus they don’t turn from their sins,
and they don’t turn to follow Jesus with their lives, and they are not healed
spiritually.
If we point these things out to them, and we show them the
truth, but they refuse to believe the truth, they may turn on us, and they may
hate and reject us, and even put us out of their church fellowships. Yet, we
are blessed that we are counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ and his
gospel. Yet, we are not to be afraid of what humans may do to us, for God is
with us, and he will not leave us. In return for their mistreatment of us we
are to love them, pray for them, do good to them, and forgive them, and we are
to trust our lives and their lives into God’s hands, believing our Lord for the
salvation of human lives.
All Through the Night
/ An Original Work / December 7, 2013
Based off Various
Scriptures
Blessed are you when you’re persecuted
Because of your faith in Jesus Christ.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
And falsely say what leads folks to doubt.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
Great in the heavens. You’re not alone.
When you are persecuted in one place,
Flee to another. God will be there.
You will be hated by all the nations
Because you testify of God’s grace.
Many will seize you and persecute you,
And put to death the foll’wers of Christ.
Yet, do not fear what humans may do to you,
For I’m with you all through the night.
I tell you, love your enemies with my love,
And forgive as I forgave you.
Pray for those who do evil against you.
Rest in my love and grace from above.
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