false starts

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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false starts

Acts 16:6-10 (JDV)

Acts 16:6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Sacred Breath to speak the word in Asia.
Acts 16:7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Breath of Jesus did not allow them.
Acts 16:8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”
Acts 16:10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us for preaching the gospel to them.

false starts

Paul and Silar were sent by God, commissioned as missionaries, and empowered with amazing gifts. You would think that with qualifications likethat, they would always know what direction to go. But in today’s text we see these giants of the faith going from place to place,only to discover that God does not want them there.

Paul knew for a fact that God had called him to missionary work when he had a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus. So, it wasn’t until he had a similar vision at Troas that Paul understood clearly that Macedonia was the next place to preach the gospel.

Lord, give us the patience to keep going until your direction is clear, no matter how many false starts we have to endure.

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today’s miracle

Posted on August 22, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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today’s miracle

Acts 16:1-5 (JDV)

Acts 16:1 Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:2 The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium testified about him.
Acts 16:3 Paul wanted Timothy to go with him; so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Acts 16:4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the missionaries and elders at Jerusalem for the people to keep.
Acts 16:5 So the congregations were strengthened in the faith and increased daily in numbers.

today’s miracle

We know that Timothy’s mother and grandmother were believers, but the only thing we know about his father is that he was a Greek. His father apparently had no influence on his upbringing, at least on his religion. Here Timothy is at a major crossroads in his life, and another man — Paul — steps in to mentor him. But, what a man, and what a mentor.

Timothy might have had a reason to complain about his past, but it made this glorious adventure possible. He was going to have the opportunity to do missions work alongside Paul. He would benefit from training and fellowship that could not have happened anywhere else.

Timothy could have felt unworthy of this blessing because of his past, and walked away from it. But he grabbed the bull by both horns and hung on. He had learned to accept the blessing of the present, and be grateful.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity we have to live today, to serve you today, and to experience today’s miracle.

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why Paul chose Silas

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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why Paul chose Silas

Acts 15:36-41 (JDV)

Acts 15:36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”
Acts 15:37 Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.
Acts 15:38 But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
Acts 15:39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
Acts 15:40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.
Acts 15:41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.

why Paul chose Silas

This story is often approached from the standpoint that Paul made a mistake in not trusting God to use Mark, even though he had bailed on a previous mission. The idea is that Paul should have forgiven Mark his past, and trusted God to use him no matter what. It is often pointed out that Paul later wanted Mark to join him (2 Timothy 4:11).

Paul was human, and he could certainly make mistakes. But I’m not sure Luke is as interested in teaching us that here. I rather think that he is explaining how Silas joined Paul’s team. The previous story (yesterday’s text) had introduced Silas, explaining that he was a leading man among the brothers in Jerusalem and a prophet. He had proven himself a capable traveler and teacher. He also had a heart to encourage new believers, and correct error. That sounds like a person capable of withstanding the rigors of missions work!

Lord, thank you for the capable missionaries you provide for your work.

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unteaching

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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unteaching

Acts 15:22-35 (JDV)

Acts 15:22 Then the missionaries and the elders, with the whole congregation, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.
Acts 15:23 They wrote: “From the missionaries and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
Acts 15:24 Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and agitated you with their words and unsettled your throats,
Acts 15:25 we have decided with the same passion to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul,
Acts 15:26 who have risked their throats for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 15:27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.
Acts 15:28 You see, it was the Sacred Breath’s decision – and ours – not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:
Acts 15:29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”
Acts 15:30 So they were let go and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.
Acts 15:31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
Acts 15:32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.
Acts 15:33 After spending some time there, they were let go in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.
Acts 15:34
Acts 15:35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.

unteaching

Luke does not record the message that Judas and Silas gave that day. He was probably not present for it. But he did learn that the Christians in Antioch had been encouraged and strengthened by it. They had been agitated and unsettled by some unauthorized teachers from Jerusalem, so now God sent two prophets from the same place to correct the error.

As much as our generation likes to downplay the importance of doctrine, we need to understand how dangerous false doctrine can be, and we need to make every effort to correct it. Everyone has questions, and wrong answers to those questions can agitate and unsettle us. We need people with the courage to unteach, and the wisdom to unlearn.

Lord, raise up among us people with a heart for your truth, and give us ears to listen to them.

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distinction debate

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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distinction debate

Acts 15:1-21 (JDV)

Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be rescued.”
Acts 15:2 After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the missionaries and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.
Acts 15:3 When they had been sent on their way by the congregation, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
Acts 15:4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the congregation, the missionaries, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
Acts 15:5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the law of Moses.”
Acts 15:6 The missionaries and the elders gathered to consider this matter.
Acts 15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter got up and said to them: “Brothers and sisters, you are aware that in the early days God made a selection among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, testified about them by giving them the Sacred Breath, just as he also did to us.
Acts 15:9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks that neither our ancestors nor we have had the strength to bear?
Acts 15:11 On the contrary, we believe that we are rescued through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
Acts 15:12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and marvels God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Acts 15:13 After they stopped speaking, James reacted: “Brothers and sisters, listen to me.
Acts 15:14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
Acts 15:15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
Acts 15:16 After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,
Acts 15:17 so the rest of humanity may seek the Lord — even all the Gentiles who are called by my name — declares the Lord who makes these things
Acts 15:18 known an age ago.
Acts 15:19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
Acts 15:20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:21 You see, since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”

distinction debate

One of the questions that missionaries grapple with is how much the newly organized church in the field should look like the sponsor churches back home. In essence, this is the question being discussed here. Those believers who had been Pharisees argued that the new believers should imitate them, and try to follow the whole Mosaic covenant.

But Paul and James argued against that. Paul compared the idea suggested by the Pharisees to attaching a yoke that the new converts could not bear. The weight of attempting to follow all the Mosaic regulations was something that even the Jews found difficult to shoulder. James suggested a compromise. His suggestion only included those prohibitions which would make fellowship with unconverted Jews more possible.

Paul and James would address this issue from a theological standpoint in their letters. But at this point the issue is more a practical and missionary concern. We should not be surprised that believers in other parts of the world do not look like us, or even worship like us. Our goal is not to recreate the church in our hometown, it is to spread the gospel in someone else’s.

Lord, thank you for the beautiful diversity that is your body, the church.

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establishing

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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establishing

Acts 14:21-28 (JDV)

Acts 14:21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,
Acts 14:22 strengthening the throats of the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many troubles to enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in every congregation and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:24 They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
Acts 14:25 After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
Acts 14:26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
Acts 14:27 After they arrived and gathered the congregation together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts 14:28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.

establishing

Since the book of Acts serves as a guidebook to missionary work, we should not be surprised to find Paul and Barnabas and their team doing things that parallel that of a modern missionary.

They returned to places where they had previously worked, to strengthen and encourage the field.
They explained what their new churches were going through, helping them to cope with tough times.
They commissioned leaders for the churches.
They returned to the point of their commissioning, and spent time with their sending church.

This significant passage helps us to avoid the misconception that the early missionaries were only concerned with starting works, and leaving the new converts to complete the task. Missions work is difficult, and it takes many years and many people to establish a field, no matter how miraculous its conception is. We need people who are committed to the task of seeing the work through to its completion. We need churches who are committed to the task of supporting long term missions, not just a one-time deal.

Lord, make us a people committed to doing the whole work of missions.

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just like us

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Jefferson Vann

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just like us

Acts 14:8-20 (JDV)

Acts 14:8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth.
Acts 14:9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be rescued,
Acts 14:10 Paul said in a loud voice, “get up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.
Acts 14:11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
Acts 14:12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
Acts 14:13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.
Acts 14:14 The missionaries Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting:
Acts 14:15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 14:16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way,
Acts 14:17 although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he accomplished good by giving you rain from the sky and fruitful periods and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”
Acts 14:18 In spite of the fact that they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
Acts 14:19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, figuring he was dead.
Acts 14:20 After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

just like us

When the inhabitants of Lystra attempted to worship Paul and Barnabas with a sacrifice, the missionaries insisted that they should not do it, because they are just people, not gods. But the people had seen a miracle, and the only category they had for explaining the miracle was that it was the work of a god. They were partially right. Paul’s healing of the lame man was a divine miracle, but it was accomplished through the obedience of a man, just like us.

The Jewish unbelievers followed the missionaries from Antioch and Iconium. They had taken on the vocation of anti-missionaries, and made it their mission to root out the gospel wherever it was being planted. The fact that they could persuade the crowds — who had been ready to sacrifice — to attempt to murder the missionaries instead — shows that they were tapping into a supernatural power as well. Wherever the Lord is at work to heal, the devil will attempt to destroy.

The truth is, we are all just human beings, and there is supernatural power to help us do what we want to do. It is our choice. We can tap into the power of God’s Sacred Breath to give life, or tap into Satan’s hate to destroy it.

Lord, give us the wisdom to choose the right mission, and tap into the right source of power to accomplish it.

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sleeping dogs

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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sleeping dogs

Acts 14:1-7 (JDV)

Acts 14:1 In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews woke up and corrupted the throats of the Gentiles against the brothers.
Acts 14:3 So they stayed there a long time and spoke openly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and marvels.
Acts 14:4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the missionaries.
Acts 14:5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them,
Acts 14:6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.
Acts 14:7 There they continued preaching the gospel.

sleeping dogs

When I was growing up in rural Florida, it seemed that every house had a mean dog or three. Walking along the roads was relatively peaceful, unless the dogs were awake.

There is a proverb that says “let sleeping dogs lie.” It means that if someone is not bothering you, let them alone, so that they continue to not bother you. If Paul and his missionary team had a proverb like that, they didn’t follow it. When they entered Iconium, they found a mix of both Jews and Greeks, and that mix seemed to get along together. That was true until the missionaries brought Jesus into the equation. He proved to be a stumbling-stone to some of the Jews, and these Jews made sure he would be seen as foolishness to some of the Gentiles. Thus, the missionaries created a coalition of both parties — one which which joined with the political rulers to institute a program of persecution and attempted murder.

But it was not really the missionaries who are responsible for creating this division, and tearing apart the city. It is the gospel itself. Anytime you enter into a situation where peace is maintained apart from truth, injecting that peace with the truth will disturb the peace. But that is our mission. We don’t have to intentionally try to cause problems when we seek to accomplish our mission. The truth itself is going to do that.

Lord, make us a people who dare to tell the truth about you, even when it wakes sleeping dogs.

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mission accomplished

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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mission accomplished

Acts 13:44-52 (JDV)

Acts 13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.
Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas openly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and have decided that you yourselves are unworthy of a permanent life, notice – we are turning to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:47 You see, this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles to bring rescue to the end of the land.”
Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to a permanent life believed.
Acts 13:49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
Acts 13:50 But the Jews incited the respectable God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They woke up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.
Acts 13:51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet against them and went to Iconium.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Sacred Breath.

mission accomplished

This is an important transition point in Luke’s narrative. The missionary work at Pisidian Antioch had begun among the Jews, and centered on the synagogue. But it appears that most of the Jews in that city rejected the gospel, and incited persecution against the missionaries. Therefore, Paul and his team when where the faith was. They were eventually expelled from the district, but left a newly formed congregation, consisting mostly of Gentiles.

Behind the scenes, God was at work. He had appointed some to a permanent life, and they believed the message. The others decided that they were unworthy of this grace gift, so they rejected the gospel. As for the missionaries, their expulsion from the district was not considered a failure. Their mission had been accomplished, so they traveled on, full of joy and the Sacred Breath.

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the one God raised up

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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the one God raised up

Acts 13:13-43 (JDV)

Acts 13:13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.
Acts 13:14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
Acts 13:15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”
Acts 13:16 Paul got up and motioned with his hand and said: “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!
Acts 13:17 The God of this people Israel selected our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty arm.
Acts 13:18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the unpopulated region;
Acts 13:19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance.
Acts 13:20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
Acts 13:21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Acts 13:22 After removing him, he raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my desire.’
Acts 13:23 “From this man’s posterity, as he promised, God brought to Israel the Savior, Jesus.
Acts 13:24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism signifying repentance to all the people of Israel.
Acts 13:25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But notice – someone is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’
Acts 13:26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this rescue has been sent.
Acts 13:27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.
Acts 13:28 Though they found no grounds for the death penalty, they asked Pilate to have him taken out.
Acts 13:29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.
Acts 13:30 But God raised him up from the dead,
Acts 13:31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his testifiers to the people.
Acts 13:32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.
Acts 13:33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by getting Jesus up, as it is written in the second Psalm: You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
Acts 13:34 As to his getting him up from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.
Acts 13:35 In view of the fact that he also says in another passage, You will not let your Sacred One see decay.
Acts 13:36 You see, David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, went to sleep, was buried with his ancestors, and decayed,
Acts 13:37 but the one God raised up did not decay.
Acts 13:38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of mistakes is being proclaimed to you.
Acts 13:39 Everyone who believes is justified by him from everything that you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
Acts 13:41 Look, you scoffers, marvel and disappear, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you.”
Acts 13:42 As they were leaving, the people urged them to speak about these matters the next Sabbath.
Acts 13:43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.

the one God raised up

Paul’s argument at Pisidian Antioch was that Jesus of Nazareth is unique among all people that ever lived. He alone was raised up from among the dead ones. Even the great king David decayed in his grave after his death, so the prediction of a “sacred one” who would not see decay did not apply to him. But it did apply to Jesus, because he was raised up never to die again.

The only evidence that Paul put forth for the uniqueness of Jesus is the written words of the Bible, and the empty tomb. There will be scoffers who will marvel at this, and disappear without believing it. But there will also be followers.

Lord, we choose to follow your word and your Christ, the one you raised up.

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