ACTS 22:23 - 23:11
"Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
According to the plans and hope of Paul, things do not seem to be going in the way he had wished in Jerusalem. Remember, he was told and warned not to go but still chose to be faithful to the calling God had placed on his heart. Paul went to Jerusalem not because he personally wanted to, but out of spiritual worth. Obedience to God was worth more than his want. His love for his lost brothers was worth more than what he wanted. So, Paul went to Jerusalem, led by worth, but experienced what he did not want!
Last week we saw Paul beaten, lied on, and dragged towards death. We also witnessed a plea for salvation not go the way he had hoped (verse 22:22). Sadly, this week's text piles on more bad news for Paul's missionary hopes and dreams. His experience with the people he went to minister to goes from bad to worse very quickly.
Have you ever done more damage in an attempt to bring healing? Caused more harm in an attempt to bring help? In this week's story, Paul loses his temper and now finds himself apologizing and explaining his actions instead of sharing the saving news of the Gospel. Now Paul finds himself in the midst of an angry mob, lies, confusion, and now a blurred view of his own character.
If you have tried to minister to anyone in your life, you have probably found yourself in Paul's shoes. Many have thought, not only did the person I am trying to minister not want to be open to what I was sharing, I didn't even share what I hoped to share with them. Many of us have brought more confusion in our attempt to make clear or we've brought fear when we desire to bring hope. If you have been in ministry of any kind, most likely you have experienced failure.
For all those who have failed in their attempt to minister, we see the goodness of God in verse 11, "Be of good cheer Paul...." For every parent who is discouraged, teacher who has confused, or a friend who feels like they "struck out" in their attempt to help, verse 11 is such encouraging news. Like a loving and caring father, you can almost hear God tell Paul, "Don't beat yourself up bud, you tried."
In ministry, God has not called us to perfection, He has called us to faithfulness. That doesn't mean we should not want to lead and love well through grace and correct theology each and every time. It just means that God knows we will not be able to live out the great commission in the perfect light in which Jesus did.
Don't miss the heaviness of this verse church! The entire world told Paul not to go. Paul went and experienced the promised pain his loved ones warned him of. When given the chance to help, he added gasoline to the fire. Now sitting in prison, God says, "Be of good cheer."
Christ is perfect, we were called to be faithful.
Faithfulness will be filled with honor, grace, salvation moments, pain, heartache, and failure.
But God tells us, be of good cheer!
Stay faithful church.
Last week we saw Paul beaten, lied on, and dragged towards death. We also witnessed a plea for salvation not go the way he had hoped (verse 22:22). Sadly, this week's text piles on more bad news for Paul's missionary hopes and dreams. His experience with the people he went to minister to goes from bad to worse very quickly.
Have you ever done more damage in an attempt to bring healing? Caused more harm in an attempt to bring help? In this week's story, Paul loses his temper and now finds himself apologizing and explaining his actions instead of sharing the saving news of the Gospel. Now Paul finds himself in the midst of an angry mob, lies, confusion, and now a blurred view of his own character.
If you have tried to minister to anyone in your life, you have probably found yourself in Paul's shoes. Many have thought, not only did the person I am trying to minister not want to be open to what I was sharing, I didn't even share what I hoped to share with them. Many of us have brought more confusion in our attempt to make clear or we've brought fear when we desire to bring hope. If you have been in ministry of any kind, most likely you have experienced failure.
For all those who have failed in their attempt to minister, we see the goodness of God in verse 11, "Be of good cheer Paul...." For every parent who is discouraged, teacher who has confused, or a friend who feels like they "struck out" in their attempt to help, verse 11 is such encouraging news. Like a loving and caring father, you can almost hear God tell Paul, "Don't beat yourself up bud, you tried."
In ministry, God has not called us to perfection, He has called us to faithfulness. That doesn't mean we should not want to lead and love well through grace and correct theology each and every time. It just means that God knows we will not be able to live out the great commission in the perfect light in which Jesus did.
Don't miss the heaviness of this verse church! The entire world told Paul not to go. Paul went and experienced the promised pain his loved ones warned him of. When given the chance to help, he added gasoline to the fire. Now sitting in prison, God says, "Be of good cheer."
Christ is perfect, we were called to be faithful.
Faithfulness will be filled with honor, grace, salvation moments, pain, heartache, and failure.
But God tells us, be of good cheer!
Stay faithful church.
SCRIPTURE TO GO WITH THE MESSAGE
Read 2Corinthians 4 for more encouragement from God on staying faithful.
Posted in Year One