Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

Chapter 15 of Acts is one big fight. Even two big fights.  There is debate, dissension, bad theology, emissaries sent to disagree, opposition to people's faces, and then finally: UNITY.  We won't get their today.  We need to know what the big fight is all about.

The sweeping work that the Lord was doing with the gentiles was the catalyst for this fight.  What are previous Jews, now Christians' relationship with the 2000 year law?  What about food and circumcision and Abraham?  If that isn't a big enough question, what about these non-Jews that are being gathered into the church.  Even with the help of these spiritual giants (?), and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the Jerusalem church has got this wrong for 10 years running.  

The Lord is making a new church of faith, belief, the heart, and it's internal rather than external. The Church could get this wrong and actually "stand in God's way".  Peter is the star arguer today.  Listen 7 minutes and see if you agree.  bewithme.us

When Paul and Barnabas return from the first missionary journey they find things back in Jerusalem in error and actual disobedience.  Peter was told, in no uncertain terms, by a vision repeated three times and a direct voice from the Holy Spirit to make peace with the Gentiles.  Tear down the wall.  Go with them. Associate with them.  Eat with them.  Do not call any food (iguanas) or person (gentile) unclean.  God is sovereign and has welcomed the Gentiles into his church. He reported this the other leaders in Jerusalem and corrected their bad theology. Well, that was about 11 years prior.  

Since that time, Peter had grown fearful of people, (the circumcision party) more than God.  He reverted to some bad behavior and bad words.  He even taught this bad way of thinking.  

So Paul lets him have it.  Verbally. Physically in his face. Publicly because the sin was public.  Along the way, even my favorite BARNABAS was deceived.  Yikes. It all ends well.  The hypocritical tongue, table and influence stops.  Peter, and the whole wrong Jerusalem church was straightened out...and you think you have problems in YOUR CHURCH.  Subscribe at bewithme.us , or Apple , Spotify, Deezer, google podcasts.  

Galatia isn't a city, it is a region. This is the region that "God opens a door of faith" to the gentiles. Essentially, the "first missionary journey" is to this region that includes the cities of
antioch of pisidia: "we are turning to the Gentiles" and dust shaking fame
Iconia: they wanted to stone him there
Lystra: this is where they killed Paul by stoning*
Derbe: lots of converts here including TIMOTHY

You wouldn't think so, but the 2nd half of the 1st missionary journey is to go BACK to all the cities that tried to kill him.  Why? To strengthen the new churches and appoint elders.  In fact as soon as Paul has time upon his return, he writes the book of GALATIANS to help them by letter.  

Paul and Barnabas fulfill their calling. We should think about the work that God has for each of us.  Primarily, that is a call to HIMSELF.  Subscribe along this journey to God at : bewithme.us.

"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." No kidding.  How about stoning to death.  Paul is stoned just after they wanted to worship him in Lystra.  But, it was not a surprise to him.  15 years prior, the Lord showed him how much he was to suffer.  I wonder if it was like a movie trailer showing him all the exciting suffering parts.  Anyway, he probably was not shocked.  He probably wasn't thrilled about it either.

After regaining consciousness, he does not flee but re-enters Lystra.  He then goes to the furthest point of the 1st missionary journey about 58 miles away.  On his return, he goes into this town that recently stoned him a second time.  His beat up bodily presence must have been quite a witness.

We get to see Paul's passion for the early gentile church here.  He is encouraging them to continue in the faith.  He is telling them that it is through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.  He appoints elders by fasting and praying. (no more rolling of spiritual dice). The Holy Spirit is at work.  Sign up for a daily email blast early in the morning at bewithme.us or writing [email protected]

One verse, they think Paul is so wonderful, they want to WORSHIP him. In the VERY NEXT VERSE, they KILL PAUL by stoning. At least, they think they kill Paul.  They leave him for dead.

What would cause such a revolutionary, radical transition of thought? Paul heals a guy, and  they get out a few cows to begin to sacrifice to him.  Paul says no! I am a mere man, but let me tell you the good news about God.  Hidden in the good news is some bad news. Once some folks who travelled 100 miles to explain this bad news finish, they pull out the ROCKS to STONE. 

Here are some highlights of the bad news: Your gods are vain. There is one true God. He's creator and you are beholden to Him. Though He has allowed you to walk in your own ways, there is an assessment and judgment that is due you.  BTW, He has been active all along in the common graces of life, creation, seasons, growth, and human satisfaction.  You have missed Him all along. You are guilty of mis-worshipping Paul, Barnabas, Zeus, and Hermes. Subscribe at bewithme.us, Apple, Spotify, Google, Podcaster, Audible, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Pandora, Chromecast, or Castbox Podcast providers.

Here is the full Goethe quote from the 7 minute podcast: Of all discoveries and opinions, none may have exerted a greater effect on the human spirit than the doctrine of Copernicus. The world has scarcely become known as round and complete in itself when it was asked to waive the tremendous privilege of being the center of the universe.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

God has left a witness in the common grace that He has given to mankind.  In addition, 3 miracles happen in today's account.  One is inside a crippled guy. (He gets faith). One is inside Paul (He sees this invisible faith). Finally, everybody gets to see the guy get healed and walk. He goes from Lame to Sprang.

The Lystra folks respond and want to worship Paul and Baranabas.  They literally go get the fatted calf to sacrifice to them because they think they ARE gODS.  Though Paul corrects them on this major point, they still are inclined to worship them, that is, until they KILL THEM. (at least they think they kill them.)

Before they do, Paul tells of the subtle witness God has left in all these pleasures: Creation, life itself, satisfaction, tastes of food and other good things, productivity, and growth. The real God has been near you all this time...Please share, like, or comment.  Subscribe at [email protected]

The Lord Bore Witness to the word of His grace.  There are some other inputs, but this is the essential one.  Eloquence by men and women, faithfulness, etc are all good, but the one that is crucial is HIM.

Think about this math equation to end up with BELIEVERS:
Election + Human Mouthpiece - Persecution + Time + Decisions + Bearing Witness by the LORD = Believers.
The Lord and His witness, His hand, His activity and His confirmation of His message is Key.  The Lord is the X factor. It is the Holy Spirit's UNCTION that is the critical element.

Listen 7 minutes to a somewhat forgettable podcaster.  Listen for the Unction.  Listen for His confirmation.  Listen for the X factor of Him reaching out.  Share with somebody you love. bewithme.us

The doctrine of divine sovereignty is God's love letter to us.  Our response is our love letter to Him.  The Language of Election in the Bible is God's love language.  The language of faith, belief, receiving, agreeing, repenting, "I could be wrong about this," and "Oh, what have I done?!" is our love language back.

In our story of Acts, the Gentiles find out they have a love letter in the mailbox addressed to them. They are pretty excited about it.  As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. There was rejoicing and glorifying. Their response is the return-posting of a love letter back to God.

God has done His part in salvation.  Have you done your part? You have received a love-letter of election; of God's sovereignty.  Will you write back to Him today?  [email protected] if you literally wish to write.

The sharp sticks of opposition point to Paul's ARGUMENT and then point to Paul's PERSON.  That is called reviling.  It is where you attack the person rather than the argument.  It is speech that seeks not to win the debate, but to demean, denigrate, and disrespect the guy you are arguing with.  It is a cheap shot.  Below the belt. I think it is Paul's first personal experience with PERSECUTION.  

Jesus pre-exampled this experience and gave the right strategy for managing it in 1 Peter 2:19-24. The one word summary is ENTRUST.  It is a process that pleases God and prepares us.

Here is our Acts passage good news:  all this opposition and REVILING results in something good for me and probably for you.  All the rebellion, protests, and persecutions from one people group ends up with another people group getting the good news.  Paul says we are turning to the gentiles.  The gospel goes global.  You are probably a part of it.  Share this podcast, in some way, with some part of the globe.  Subscribe at bewithme.us or Apple podcasts or google podcasts or Spotify.

Paul is preaching #2 on the Christianity almost "Too-good-to-be-true" list.  There are three responses.  The ideal is to BELIEVE. The worst is to scoff. He tells them to BEWARE.  The middle ground is to BEG for more information.  Come back tomorrow.  I'll listen to another podcast.  You got my attention, but not yet my belief.

His topic is FORGIVENESS of sin.  That God can forgive sin.  That He has made a way of Justice fulfilled and Mercy given.  It goes straight through the wounds of Jesus.  

Think of the worst sin you have ever done. Maybe you associate that sin in the bubble of "God could NEVER forgive what I have done." If so, you need either change your sin (too late for that) or change your VIEW OF GOD. It is not too late for that.  Don't call Him a liar. He says that by belief, He has made a way for forgiveness of your sin.  Mercy AND Justice has come down. If you can, BELIEVE.  If you can't, BEG for another podcast tomorrow.  To help with that, subscribe at bewithme.us or write at [email protected]