Thursday, December 8, 2016, 7:28 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song “Gift of God.” Speak, Lord, your words
to my heart. I read Acts 28:17-29
(NIV).
After Paul gave his testimony
to King Agrippa, the king told Festus that Paul could have been set free if he
had not appealed to Caesar. And, yet, I believe it was by God’s divine
appointment that Paul should go to Rome, because Jesus spoke to him one night
and told him to take courage, because just as he had testified about Jesus in
Jerusalem, so he must also testify in Rome (See Acts 23:11). And, this happened
at least two years prior to Paul appealing to Caesar. So, to Rome Paul did go. And,
in Rome Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Israel’s Hope
(vv. 17-22)
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. They
examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any
crime deserving death. 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. 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.”
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. But we want to hear what your views
are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
Paul said that it was because
of “the hope of Israel” that he was bound with a chain. The Pulpit Commentary
says this on this subject:
“The force of this saying seems to be this, ‘I have
asked you to come to me because this chain which binds me is not a token of a
renegade Israelite who has come to Rome to accuse his nation before the heathen
master, but of a faithful Israelite, who has endured bondage rather than
forsake the hope of his fathers.’"
So, what is (or was) the hope
of Israel? Of his fathers? In response to this question, Gill’s Exposition of
the Bible has this to say:
“… that the Messiah the tribes of Israel were hoping
and waiting for, and who is the only solid foundation of the hope of eternal
life and salvation, was already come; and that he had suffered and died, and
rose again from the dead, and that Jesus of Nazareth was he.”
So, Paul had been imprisoned
for years, not because he was betraying the faith of his fathers, but because
he believed it, and he embraced it. And, it was the people who proclaimed to be
of the same faith as him who were his fiercest opponents, and were the ones who
falsely accused him so that he would be arrested and put on trial for a crime
he did not commit. What the Jews called “a sect,” was really a group of people (both
Jew and Gentile) who actually took God at his Word, who believed what the
Prophets told them would happen, and when they saw the prophecies fulfilled in
Jesus Christ, put their faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Messiah.
And, things are not much different
today. In much of today’s Christian (institutional) church, at least here in
America, but also in Rome, we who hold to the scriptures, and who take God at
his Word, and who believe the prophets, and Jesus, and his NT apostles - with
regard to our Savior and his salvation - have become the enemy. We are under
attack. The gospel is under attack by those who claim to be followers of
Christ, but who do not take God at his word. They do not accept the “whole
counsel of God,” but only the parts which fit with their lifestyles, or which
bring comfort and ease to the people of this sinful world. And, so they have
turned the gospel into something illegal and those who believe it into
criminals.
At first they just diluted
the gospel to make it more appealing and acceptable to the people of the world,
as if that was not bad enough. Now they are crying “hate,” “bigotry,” and the
like concerning those of us who actually believe what God said (what Jesus
said). It is now becoming criminal to confront sin, as God calls sin, and to
call for repentance and faith in Christ alone.
According to many, “division”
is now bad, in the sense that we are divided saved and unsaved; Christian and
non-Christian. “Exclusion” is also bad, in the sense that there are people who
will be excluded from heaven. Their exclusion, though, is based on lack of
genuine faith in Jesus Christ via repentance (turning from sin) and turning to
God to follow him in his ways (in obedience). Instead, they are calling for unity
of all people of all walks of life and of all religions. They want us to be
united in heart, mind, voice, purpose and objective, i.e. they want a one-world
religion which includes everyone singing together “Kumbaya.” But, God did not
call us to be one with the world. He called us out, to be separate, set apart
to him alone.
This Jesus (vv.
23-29)
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. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 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:
“‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
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.’
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
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.’
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has
been sent to the Gentiles, and they
will listen!”
God is confronting his people
(his church) and the people of the world with “this Jesus” who is the hope of
Israel (spiritual Israel). He is addressing many (or all) the lies and deceptions
going on within the institutional church, and within many of our governments,
by exposing the deceptions and by countering the lies with the truth of his
Word. And, he is doing this through many of his servants and messengers who he
has called to this specific task. And, I know that many of these messengers
have now gone on to be with the Lord. Two names come to mind, in particular.
One is A.W. Tozer and another is David Wilkerson. I am certain there are
others.
Yet, there are many people within
the institutional church who are not listening to the truth, but who have
gathered around themselves those who preach messages which tickle itching ears –
feel good messages that make people feel good about themselves even in their
sin. And, even if they are confronted with the truth, they ignore it, or they fight
against it and its messengers using lies they have heard and have come to
believe, which fit better with their lifestyles. So, this prophecy of Isaiah’s
fits them, as well.
Yet, not everyone has closed
minds and hearts to the truth of the gospel. There are those who are listening,
and who are responding positively to the truth, and who are willing to accept
and embrace the truth of God’s Word. They have trusted in Jesus Christ to be
their Lord (owner-master) and Savior, and they have been crucified with Christ
in death to sin, and have been resurrected with Christ in newness of life, “created
to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Although they are not yet perfect,
while they live in these flesh bodies, they also do not use “I am not perfect”
as an excuse for willful sin against God. They are no longer conducting their
lives according to their sinful flesh, but they now walk according to the
Spirit, to please God in living holy and godly lives unto Him. And, they will hold
fast to the Word of Truth as it comes under much scrutiny and objection, and even
in the face of great opposition, persecution, and even death for the sake of
Jesus’ name.
Gift of God
/ An Original Work / October 25, 2016
Based off Various Scriptures
Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Died for us on a cross;
Conquered death, sin, and
hell,
So, with Him, we would dwell.
For, by His grace, we are
saved.
He set us free from all sin.
Thanks be to God for His
Gift.
Through faith in Him, we’re
forgiven.
Holy Spirit of God,
Given to us who believe,
Gives us new life in Christ;
Made to be just like Him.
We died with Christ to our
sin.
New lives in Him we begin,
Walking with Christ day by
day.
We read His Word, and we
pray.
Jesus, He is our Lord.
Follow Him where He leads.
Tell the world of His grace.
We’ll see Christ face to
face.
Soon He is coming again.
We’ll be forever with Him.
He’ll wipe our tears all
away.
Oh, what a wonderful day!
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