TEAM WORKING WITH ENDURANCE

We are going to look at this whole passage today but we will center on the ministry style and success of the two tent makers' ministries of Priscilla and Aquila.

First: Paul. We see him leave Corinth after a long visit and ministry. He had been kicked out of most cites long before this time. There was a lot to do there and from reading 1 and 2 Corinthians, it was worth every hour. Much need there. And the stayed there because of what the Lord had told him in the night vision back in verse 9-10.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

I feel very strongly from these verses that the Lord has something to say about the “hit and miss outreach strategy.” Some feel that it is important to get the Word out-no matter if it is a short shot-or one poorly done-as long as it is out there. I find that the idea of staying in a local is so important as the longer one stays, the longer and the deeper the community relations gets. Some had come with our mission and left in 2.5 years. I don't have a problem with that, as they needed to stay here for that period. Short-term missions are very important and we owe a great deal to them as they have had a deep impact on this community. My concern is two years here to establish a work and then move on to another location for two years may not be the best use of the worker.

In the words of a ministry friend from Montana, the usually stay of a pastor there was three - four years. The community got use to the fact that their Shepherds were not staying beyond that. They were outsiders. When my friend stayed five years, they wondered. When he arrived on his seventh year, they were very interested to learn why. He told them he was going to stay. Then the doors of their hearts were opened and ministry really happened.

Paul leaves from Corinth's eastern seaport that is about 7 miles southeast of the main city. He had left Silas and Timothy once again and takes on the husband and wife team of Priscilla & Aquila.

Paul has cut his hair. What does that mean?

He had asked God to bless his ministry. God did and now Paul is reminding himself of God's faithfulness.

This is a form of thanksgiving on Paul's part. The Lord has made good on His promise to bless Paul. So, off comes the hair. This will bring many to question why Paul was doing this and it will give him an open door to explain he still keeps the Law of Moses. See, he really has not thrown the Old Testament away. He still lives in it; he still supports it! Those who will criticize him later needed to see Paul acting this way. He was and still is a Jew. Nothing wrong with that!

So now that the hair is cut, he is now free to do what?

It is not a matter of being free to do anything. It was just an expression of having a thankful heart. He is not bound to the law but he has been set free to express his heart in the way he knew best; i.e., the Nazirite vow. He had made a vow before this departure time called a Nazirite vow. Don't get this confused with the city of Nazareth. The term comes from the OT from the book of Numbers 6:2-3

'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins…

He is someone who is called to be separated or consecrated unto the Lord-for a time period. This is someone who was separated from the general population and consecrated to God. You may remember Samson was called to be a Nazirite from birth, but earlier references to this vow is made much earlier as from the time of Moses. Such a person is involved with three things- no alcohol, including all products of the grape vine, uncut hair for a time, and no contact with the dead therefore making him clean.

In our walk of Faith, we too should be confident that when God calls us to do something, He will empower us to complete it. See Phil 1:6

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

But we fear… sometimes, don't we? Why?
IS God using you to your full potential? Can He use you more that you are being used now? Are you fully aware of His control in your life? What is it that He is to complete in us for 'that day?” ( … … think about it … … )

Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. He is in a hurry-for some reason. Either he wants to get back for Passover in early April (in 52 AD) so with the sea-lanes open for travel from March 10 on, he would need to book passage on the first ship out of the area. He expresses his intention to return to Jerusalem IF it is God's will.

Acts 18:21 But as he left, he promised, "I will come back if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus.

Rom 1:10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

Rom 15:32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

1 Cor 4:19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.

1 Cor 16:7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

Keeping the door open…

In any event, Paul lands near Ephesus and walks into the city. He goes straight into the Jewish synagogue and reasons with the Jews. Again, that is his heart. He had dusted the dirt off his cloths in the last city but this is a new city-new people- new souls to talk with and to set them free with the Main Thing of the Gospel: Jesus, that Christ who came to take away the sins of man, was crucified, died and was raised from the dead and is alive today to deal with the sins of man.
The Gospel again would be explained there in Ephesus.

They ask him to stay and he says he has to go. In the past, they wanted him planted in the red dirt of the city (be killed). And he would NEED to leave but here the people WANTED him to stay and he says he has to go. (What does this mean?) And he is off again and goes to Antioch, his home sending church. He then travels around the area

23a and traveled from place to place throughout the region … , strengthening all the disciples.

Now, the focus is off Paul, for a time, the light is on these two exiled Jewish believers. Priscilla & Aquila are a special twosome and it is these two we will finish with this morning. As I said before: “we will center on the ministry style and success of the two tent makers'”.

Style: They were looking and listening. They were aware!

Many today have no sense at all. No decrement in what they hear or read or even believe. False teachers with their false doctrine are rampant in our culture today. It is sad to note that few believers understand the differences between Biblical Christianity and the smorgasbord of cults around today. For example, today, Mormonism has increased their baptized membership out of the homes of men and women who were professed Christians. It is best that we who teach and we who listen return to the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

We would do best to follow Paul's example in Corinth and

Acts 18:1 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God.

Fad or shallow preaching produces ignorant sheep that are easy prey for the wolves in cults and false religions. We need to be sharp!

Success: Priscilla & Aquila - centered on that Word of God.

They heard a man from Egypt-Alexandria-a Jew with a Greek name who knew the Word as well but there were a few things missing. Priscilla & Aquila were going to help Apollos gain what he needed to be one who is approved. He knew some-a lot more than most but he was lacking in “the way of God.” He knew about Jesus but only about the baptism of John. He spoke with great fervor and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.

25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord

but he was lacking some important elements. Priscilla & Aquila's style was to take someone aside and re-teach them in the way of God more adequately.

Some factors that Priscilla & Aquila followed were the following: Endurance in the Truth. See 1 Cor 15:58 to see the definition.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The end result in such a way is rewarding as found in

2 Tim 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us.

The result would be as

James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I was asked recently what is Good. My answer came from

Philippians 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man or the faith of the Gospel.

UNITY!

There are four things to hold onto-to stand firm to:
1. Hold on to Good: 1 Thess 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
2. Hold on to courage: Heb 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
3. Hold on to faith: Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
4. Hold on to Hope: Heb 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Not Space Science here! Common and basic and down to earth things to hold onto. The goal we receive when we follow these guidelines is found in

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Priscilla & Aquila, once the corrections were made in Apollos' heart and mind, set him free to do the work of a workman who was now no longer ashamed of the Gospel. Now Apollos knows that this Gospel can now work into the practical outworking of an every day life.

Let us draw near to one of our own who is going out this summer to tell Teenagers about that Gospel. WelcomePatrick McGinty as he shares about the open door the Lord has for him with Gospel Teams with HiBA.

On to Corinth! Acts 18:1-17

When I say the name of this city, what sort of things run through your minds? Give me your best shot. Ready? Las Vagas, Bangkok, Singapore, Corinth!

Well, if you are thinking of anything that deals with sex, you got it right! This city of Corinth, which was smaller that Tokorozawa at 200,000, was noted for its unsavory outlook on life. Sexual sin was worshiped here. Male and Female Temple prostitutes were paid well for their services. A REAL 'RIP-ROARING CITY, where Horace put it, “None but the tough could survive.”

Paul went to Corinth after the short stay in Athens. While there, Paul met a Jewish man named Aquila, a native of Pontus. Pontus was on the north east side of current Turkey. It was in the Asian province. (Paul was forbidden to go there by the Holy Spirit but this is the second time people from there meet with Paul.) This man and his wife had just returned from some time in Rome. They had to leave that city. The Roman Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. That was in 49 A.D. Some say that the problem was that there were so many disagreements from the Jews in Rome, that Claudius just had enough. Some say it was because some Jews were preaching Jesus and that caused the problem. Pick one.

Now Aquila came from Pontus. That area later became a large Christian area. By the beginning of the First World War, the Turks forced many people groups out of 'their' country. The Young Turks, as they were called, killed over 350,000 Ponic Greek Believers in an ethnic cleansing that also did away with many more Armenians and other minority groups. It is becoming an issue today as Turkey is looking to join the European Union. Some have not forgotten nor forgiven the Turks for those killings.

Because Aquila and Priscilla were workers of leather in making tents, Paul joined them. He too was a worker of leather. A common practice at that time for a preacher to be bi-vocational. His workweek looked like this: Six days at work in the Aquila Tent shop and one day off to reason with the Jews and Greeks in offering them salvation through Christ Jesus.

Things changed for Paul once Silas and Timothy returned from Macedonia. They brought with them some gifts from the Believers back home. This monetary gift was described in 2 Cor 11: 9

And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.

And again in Phil. 4: 15

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

Before the gift came, Paul was not a burden to the new group of believers. He supplied his own money for food and living. He engaged in tent making to offer his Gospel without charge. Working for the might Buck was not his goal in life. His strategy was to work when necessary and preach at all times. We can learn from Paul that if you don't work, you don't eat.
Eph. 4:28

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

And in 2 Thessalonians 3:8

nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

And for sure, 2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Now, with his team back in place, Paul goes after the goal with a great deal of power. He

“devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”

The term is used today of being a Full Time Christian Worker. It implies that there are some part-time Christian workers or even a Profession Christian full time Christian worker, as opposed to being an unprofessional Christian full time Christian worker. Do these words bother you? They do me.

Some time passes between verse 5 and verse 6. Here Paul was preaching away and one by one, a family here and a group of people there, all came to know His presence in their lives. People are living a new or reborn lifestyle. Some are just different now that they have placed their trust in Jesus-since they believed that He died for them-that He will return once again. This must have gotten into the Jewish leaders faces and they began to feel threatened. Not that Paul was preaching that people forget the Jewish ways, no, he was showing them that they could live a life in Christ Jesus without being captive to the Law.

When we look at what kind of ministry Paul did there in that wicked city, we can see that he followed the Lord's commission given in Matthew 28:19-20.

1. He came to Corinth (his going from someplace),
2. he won the lost to faith in Jesus (make disciples),
3. he baptized them and he taught them as verse 11 says:

So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Now, the Jews opposed Paul.

After a while, they became abusive toward Paul. His response was to shake the dust off his clothes in protest. In other cities, he had been treated very badly. Remember back in Lystra in Acts 14? You'd think Paul would get discouraged. You'd think he would give up. Paul was walking by Faith even in the middle of opposition. In fact, a pessimist would only see the pain and problems; an optimist would see only the possibilities but a realist sees the potential in the pain. That's Paul! He saw all to well where an angry crowd would take him yet he still went into the streets to reason with them. Why?
Romans 10: 1-3 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. What does this shaking off the dust mean? Jesus had told His 12 that if you go into a certain town and they reject the Message, you are to brush off the dust from your shoes and move onto the next village. Luke 9:5

"If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."

And again in Luke 10:10-11

But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'

Paul wants the Jews to realize that he is clear of his responsibilities of the judgment that will come. They have blasphemed against the Lord by rejecting His Person. They are to face judgment for that fact. Paul uses wording from the OT from 2 Samuel 1:16

For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.'

Paul then walks out of the Synagogue and walks next door to the house of Titius Justus who is a worshiper of God. The synagogue leader also defects and follows Jesus with his WHOLE household falling in line to believe. (The Jewish group needs then to find still another leader to replace Crispus.) After, when the crowds of Greeks beat up the man Sosthenes, there is evidence that he too follows the way of Salvation and believes in Jesus later. 1 Cor. 1:1.

Face it, my friends, there is never an easy road to take when you are walking with Jesus. There is no better road. It is never easy to serve Him. If it were easy, something is most likely very wrong. Later, Paul would remind young Timothy in 2 Tim 3:12

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Some people today are preaching that to be a Christian and to have the blessing of the Lord would mean that there is nothing but blessings of prosperity. Francis Bacon (1600s) once said that “Adversity is the blessing of the New.” Paul was at peace with what was going on as he fell asleep that night and in that sleep, the Lord visited him with yet another vision.

Paul would have sung the great Hymn called Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! by Fanny Crosby, had he known it. This was his testimony as well!

What ever happened between verse 8 and verse 9? Whatever it was, sparks were flying! Many now were coming to faith is Jesus. When was the last time you witnessed New Life? Who was the last person you know who came to Faith in Jesus? How long ago was it? Why? Here Titius Justus and Crispus and his whole family came to Jesus. many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

WOW! What a sight! The numbers kept on growing, just like back in Jerusalem, and in Antioch. When it got like this in Philippi and at Berea and at Thessalonica, it was time for Paul to move on. It seemed to be that way right along. Why would it be different now? Can you just hear Paul telling his group, “Well, better get the bags packed. More are coming to faith and even more are getting angry. Before they come for me and drag me out to be beaten, I'd better go!”

But as he went to sleep, 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:

"Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."

What was Paul's response? Verse 11

So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the Word of God.

Then the enemies stared again but Paul was holding on to the Promise of God! They took him to the bema for a hearing.

The Lord knows just when we need His special touch and reminder. It may not be like Paul's experience at all but our Lord's presence is still there. He will speak to us when we are in need of Him the most. Sometimes, He uses silence. During those times, it is hard but necessary to trust Him. He is faithful! He can say to your heart today:

“Fear not, My child. I love you with an everlasting love! I know what you need and I will supply ALL your needs in Christ Jesus. Timing is Mine. Do not fear nor let your heart be troubled. I am with you-forever! You are Mine!”

How can we remind ourselves of this promise? The next time you feel all alone or discouraged, remember:Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

or Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Or Isaiah 43:1-7

But now, this is what the LORD says-He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel:"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, - Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by My Name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made."

This is Mother's Day. How can such a sermon turn to the likes of a Mother's Day sermon? I am not going to try. But for the sake that some are looking for something that deals with Mother's Day, Here is a Mother of all stories of how much God loves the people of the city of Corinth. He know who was His and He was planning for them to not only hear the Message but to embrace it.

How about you? Have you embraced the Gospel Message and followed your heart to the Cross.

I'd like us all to spend a few min, in fact, one min, before the Lord and let Him know where you are with Him. Maybe you need to ask Him to forgive you. Maybe you need to tell Him that you love Him. Maybe you need to just stay silent before Him and let the silence heal your troubled mind and soul.

You may want to pray this prayer:

"Lord, I'm Yours...and whatever the cost may be, may Your will be done in my life. I'm not here on earth to do my own thing, or to seek my fulfillment or even my glory. I'm not here to indulge in my desires, to increase my possessions, to impress people, to be popular, to prove I'm somebody important, or to promote myself. I'm not here even to be relevant or successful by human standards. I'M HERE TO PLEASE YOU!"

That is the prayer of my heart, and I know that I have much to learn until it is really true.

Let me know if you want to take this challenge on. I'd love to pray for and with you. Pastor Stan

Athens Part 2 Acts 17:19-34

Greetings! It has been a long time since I posted a sermon blog. Out of the country and being ill has not helped the situation. Well, I'm BACK!!

_______

Paul was a good preacher. This story in Athens continues.

Paul has started to address some issues that made some in Athens wonder if he had a clear head. Was he out of his mind? Such talk about Jesus and the Resurrection! They thought he was speaking about two different people because the two couldn't be one in their thinking.

This fact of the Hebrew faith had not entered their world at all. The Jews had a presence there but the messages found in Judaism had not penetrated the society. No knowledge of One God. No understanding of the God of the Old Testament. Nothing. Why?

Because the faith of those in the synagogue stayed there. This could be us! They lost the drive to share outside their own religious culture//OR they were afraid to or were told NOT to. Either way, Paul was speaking things the normal Greek male had no understanding of AT ALL.

Yet, they wanted to hear more so he was invited-not dragged this time-to a place where the chiefs of the city sat. Their job was to determine if Paul could continue to speak in public.

You got to know that Athens, at this time, was on it's way down and out. No longer was it the center of the world-that went to Rome. No longer were people traveling to its city to hear and learn knowledge. The Golden Age of Athens as over. Athens had given it's self over to 'a cultural paganism' that was fed by idolatry, novelty or uniqueness and philosophy. And in it's crumbling, people had a false hope they were still great. All they did, Luke writes in verse 21.

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

The world was moving past them and they cared not. Just want to understand. Want to study. Want to get knowledge. They were self-centered. That was their soft spot, and they were guarded…Paul was not on trial but he was on display as to see if his message could hold up under their understanding of authority. He shows them four Witnesses to consider. He starts by getting on their good side:

“"Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship.”

Even when his own heart was grieved and sickened by the grossness of their idol worship-it was everywhere, he did grant to them this one concession. They were religious. Not a healthy religious but nonetheless, religious. Empty of Truth.

The Epicureans and Stoics were a different lot. The first only dealt with the material, pleasure, free from pain and anxiety. They avoided extremes and sought to enjoy life in all its fullness by keeping things in balance. Paul was turning over their wagon. He was upsetting their WA!

The Stoics really were appalled by the idolatry but for different reasons than Paul. These people were pantheist-A One World God-all is god and god is all. Pain is not evil and pleasure was not good. Man could follow one's own reason and be self-sufficient. In truth, this brought vanity and pride to the front and that man did not have to need God for anything. Interesting to note that two of their founders killed themselves.

Their teachings were unable to change people's lives. With all this teaching and questioning, and all their culture and wisdom, the Greeks did not know the True God of the Bible. 1 Cor 1:18-25

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

One group taught “Enjoy Life!” The other “Endure Life!” Paul's task was to offer them Real Life and a Life that was full.

Paul brought up something that is called “A cultural equivalent.” This would tell a great deal about the people. He spoke of one such altar.

“I even found an altar with this inscription”.

THE GIVEN WITNESS:This brought him into a three point sermon with even some poetry to end on.

#1. He aroused their interest…

#2. He explained who that God is…

#3. He told them what He was like.

He then ended with a personal application that caused each there to ponder what to do with this information. If they did not know this unknown god, how could he, this unknown god reveal himself to them.

Romans 10: 14 How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

He did all that! He sent His Own Son to us in the Person of Jesus. He took our place when it came to punishment for our sins. He bleed on the Cross for their sins as He bleed on that same cross for our sins. He sent Paul to them and thru the Holy Spirit of God, today, we hear that same message. We need to respond as well.

THE GREATNESS OF THE WITNESS Starting with verse 24, Paul explains how this GREAT WITNESS of God had begun life and supported life from the very beginning of time. So detailed is the God of Creation that He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

The reason for this was so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

That is the situation here right now. We all can reach out to Him, seek Him and you will find Him. No real need to wait much longer. He is not far from us-from each one of us RIGHT NOW. Won't you look To Him?

And for those who have already done that, maybe it is time to re-look into His face and find forgiveness. Maybe it has been far to long since you asked Him to forgive you. Too long has to been since you were in His Arms. In His embrace. Not getting weird here. He is longing for a freshness in our relationship with Him. He is close to you as well. Go to Him. Turn to Him. He is not far from you.

At this point in Paul's talk, it becomes painfully obvious once again, that the Jews that lived in Athens had no contact with the people of Athens. Some of the things Paul was saying was basic stuff for the Jew but really out in left field for the Greek.

The Jews had keep the Truth to themselves and left their neighbors in the dark. No witness to them. Certainly not verbal but not even by their lifestyle. Don't be like them, my friends. Let the World know! Tell a friend! Pass it on! Share a Life! Save a Soul. Seek your family's salvation!

In many ways, Paul was sharing from the Scriptures without them knowing it.

1 Kings 8: 27 "But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built!”

Isa 66: 1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is My throne,and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house you will build for Me?Where will My resting place be? 2 Has not My hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.”

THE GOODNESS OF THE WITNESS Men in Athens took great pride in believing that they could serve the gods, but Paul made it clear that it was God who was to serve man. (Vs 25). With this said, Paul wiped out their whole claim to fame in the temples all around them. The entire system that the Greeks had set up which was built on human reason and faulty gods who were more human that man, fell at this point.

When it all comes down to it, it is God who is the author of all that there is. He gives us life, and breath and all things. It is God who is the source of everything as … James 1:17 says:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

THIS IS HIS CHARACTER!

He is the one who gives life: Matt 5: 45

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

WE ARE ALL ALIKE!

And it is His goodness and Grace that leaves the door open to salvation:

Romans 2: 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

Turn to Rom 1. We know from Romans 1:18-25 that man knew about God but made a choice not to give Him glory.

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.

THE RULING OF THE WITNESS Paul was hitting the center of the religious Greek with all these idols around him. He also attacked their feeling that they were a special race. They felt that they were a special race of men. Paul spoke to the contrary. Even their country, the land that they loved and, I would imagine, worship, was a gift from God. Whenever a people group gets to the point in their cultural development where they feel they are superior (like the White Aryan Race, Po Pot) the people lose perspective or outlook on reality and it becomes the downfall of their government. Warfare has a way of making reality really stick. No one is made better than another. The sooner the world realizes that the better. Get use to it; we are all the same.

When I was in language school. We were not only learning: Haizara wa doko desuka? But also prayer language. I found it really hard to hear or even use the honorific word forms that the religious study offered us. The teachers loved it when we prayed in Japanese because we would think western and say the same thing in Japanese. One teacher told us that she loved hearing missionaries pray because she could hear of a God who was close and dear. I asked, could you not pray that way? No! He is far off!

Not the way it is in Scripture! He is close and He is real!

As I said, Paul did not use Scripture as it would not have been affective at all. He used two of their own Greek religious authors. “For in Him we live and have our being” by Epimenides and … from Arthus and Cleanthes- “For we are also His offspring.” This must have hit home for these guys: from their own writings. This teaching then, was not new; it was found in their own culture-hidden until the Lord reveled it.

Paul told them AND us via the Holy Spirit, that we are made in God's image. Not that He has red hair but in His Spiritual Image. Paul calls it foolishness to make idols in our image as though we are anything big. Here Paul agrees with the Stoics.

Idolatry is folly.

Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. Psalm 85: 8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints- but let them not return to folly.

It is folly NOT to trust in God!

THE GRACE OF THE WITNESS Romans 3:25

God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His Blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-

And again,

Romans 1: 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

When we speak of the Grace of God, that could last our life time to complete. Philip Yancey wrote about Amazing Grace, we sing about it, movies are titled after it, diamond and even beef CM play it. Grace has become one of the must known word of the Christian ere but even Believers don't understand what it really means.

Grace: the condition of being free of sin, through repentance to God.

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Not really. The undeserved favor bestowed upon sinners, a gift from God giving us Christ's riches which we do not deserve nor can we earn. Closer…

Eph. 2: 8 For it is by Grace you have been saved, through Faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

But it was the teaching on the Resurrection that really caused a problem…as it does today. They believed that once the body died, he would be happier. Why raise it from the dead to be alive again? They believed in immortality but not the Resurrection. How does the Resurrection affect you today?

If He did not rise from the Dead, we are lost! But He did! And before He went to the Cross…Please prepare for the Lord's Table and remember His sacrifice on the Cross to take our place and receive our due punishment. Remember Him and thank Him.

The outline came from Warren W. Wiersbe. Much thanks to him!

For those in the Higashi Kurume area, this Friday will be another Wheelchairs Of Hope cleaning day--from 10AM~4PM on Friday, May 11. Come when you can and leave when you must! We have about 25 chairs that need some special attention.

The Second Contact: In Bondage Twice

Acts 16:16-24
This 16th chapter of Acts introduces us to three different people from three different levels of the Philippi's society. Two weeks ago, we met the international seller of Purple cloth named Lydia. Next week, we will meet the jailer. Both these people have a life-changing event in their lives that brought them to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

This week, we meet a young girl without a name who has indeed an encounter with Jesus yet remains outside the faith. She is a slave girl and she has a demonic spirit residing within her.

Slavery has been around from when one person forces another person to do or go somewhere without their consent. www.antislavery.org

The International Labor Organization in 2005 estimated at least 2.4 million people have been trafficked with a worldwide number of 27 million-this year-are in slavery.

Q: Why are people trafficked? Is it a new problem? What causes it?

A: The trafficking in human beings is not new. But it is a rapidly growing problem. A number of factors have led to its expansion, such as the easy profits made from exploitation; growing deprivation and marginalization of the poor; discrimination against women; restrictive migration laws; a lack of information about the realities and dangers of trafficking and insufficient penalties against traffickers.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the upcoming movie called Amazing Grace, about the life and work of Wilberforce, who helped bring the end to the slave trade-or so it seemed-that was supported by England. (From their web site)

The makers of Amazing Grace had two goals in mind when they began work on this film some ten years ago: They wanted to again make William Wilberforce, Britain's “Great Abolitionist,” a household name; and they wanted to offer, in our fiercely partisan (or political) era, a model for transcending cultural, racial, religious, and political barriers for the sake of destroying a barbaric social evil.The result is a lavish historical drama about the man who, more than any other person, is credited with bringing an end to the slave trade throughout the British Empire.

Today, it has been reported in many web sites, that over 27 million people are still called 'slaves.' Some are slaves to what was called “Indentured Servants”, in that they are working off a debt while others are stolen from their homes under cover of darkness and sold to inhumane masters who both mistreat them and kill them at will. Age, sex, color, national origin holds no special protection from the evil that still goes on in our world today. And it is not just somewhere else. Slavery is here in Japan. Underworld groups 'host' people from all over the world, taking their passports and making them work at all sorts of different jobs.

Here in Acts 16, we find the same misuse of an individual for financial gains.

But first, we have the group of men from Israel walking around Philippi. They must have been there for a while because of the wording Luke uses:

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl...

This became THE place to go for prayer and for the fellowship they and others needed. Time to pull away from the clamor and push of the society we all live in. They went there to pray.

Do you have a place to go to and pray? Maybe it is your office before everyone gets there, or a special park bench or sitting at your table at home before the crazies of the day begin…or on the train, or in a library desk or at Starbucks. Or you could come here on Sunday mornings; the doors are unlocked after 9 AM. You and I need a place to have some time of prayer. Paul had such a need as well.

And on one of these trips to the Prayer Spot, they were somewhat joined by a very interesting young girl. You might have seen someone like her on the train? Hope she/he does not sit or stand next to you! This one was shouting at them and about them to everyone around. She was somewhat well known and that was even more of an issue with Paul. But the time came when he could take it no more! After many days of this annoying clatter, he wanted this to end. These shouts were crying out repeatedly!

Verse 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.

This poor creature was enslaved twice; once by the evil money-hungry adults that keep her working for them and by another force quite a bit more forceful. The passage tells us that she was a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. Did not work for her-did it?

This 'spirit' was called the spirit of Python. The Python was a mythological serpent that supposedly guarded the temple and oracle of Apollo. She had to do with prophesy. This term later changed a little to mean a demon-possessed person through whom the python spoke. The spirit supposedly took control of the person's vocal cords and spoke through them like a hand held puppet. She was the voice box of the Spirit of Python. Such a spirit was well known in that area and therefore she was somewhat of a pop star or celebrity. Python had a death hold around her & would not let go!

Those who owned her were not very pleased of her being release from this demon's control.

They could not rejoice that a poor young girl was finally free to be a young girl with dreams and desires of her own. They could only think of the loss of revenue. It seems that most people would tolerate just about anything until it hurts them in the wallet. Funny that a wallet has such feelings!

This made the owners wild in anger! They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the place the authorities held their hearings.

Today, I am told, you can stand on the very steps Paul was dragged to. Four large stone steps that led up to the bema, “speaker's platform or judgment seat” where the authorities held court. Their case was made in haste and they beat the daylights out of Paul and Silas. People in the crowd joined it. They stripped them and beat them. Severely flogged them! Then they threw them in jail. What happens there in Jail is next weeks story.

What happens to the slave girl?

We don't see her again. We don't hear of her conversion. She does not offer shelter for Paul and Silas. She just slips away into a nameless past.

What about that? How can a person who is released from a demonic control just disappear?It is not easy but it happens all the time. Take a look at Matthew 12:43-45

43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

In Luke 5:12-14 Jesus touches a man with leprosy and he is made whole and follows Jesus. Jesus says; “Be clean!” He became clean.

But not with this girl. The evil spirit was removed from her as she was twice bounded, now no longer a slave to the demon, she was of no use to her owners. She got some freedom, but I feel she was not yet really free. She had not opened the door of her heart to lead her to real freedom in knowing Jesus.

Let's go back and hear what she said. "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."

She was saying more than it may seem. This announcement both helps Paul and hurts him. To the Jewish people-which there were only a few-it could mean the term MOST HIGH GOD or el-selyon -- the God of Abraham. But this is also the way the Gentiles refer to their one true God. To the many pagans present in Philippi, they would hear that this one god would be against their many gods. Being polytheistic, they were opposed to the idea of only one god. Their chief god was Zeus and the mother god was Isis and then there was Ba-al. This reference was to be understood as to be any one of these pagan gods.

“The way of salvation” would be misunderstood as it would NOT refer to the Gospel's Way of Jesus. Paul would need to correct and re-clarify each time she yelled that out. This, if left unchecked any longer would wear Paul out. This is one of the tactics Satan uses; getting the Christian worker tired. Wear him out. We need our rest. The world will not fall apart if we take some time off. The whole work of evangelizing Tokyo or your campus or your neighborhood does not solely rest on you. If you need rest: take it. Then get up and work hard and work well for the Lord. Counter these mixed messages that were being spoken into your hearts. Be careful what you listen to!

So Paul said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!"
As the advance of the Gospel spreads across the land, people are being liberated by God's Power and Truth. Satan had lost the war and the battle for men's souls at the Cross. His ability to win is held back by the Name and Power of Jesus alone. No name given under Heaven can save anyone! Jesus Alone!

What must I do to be saved? Experience the liberating Power of Jesus Christ in your life, which not only opens your life but also cleanses hearts from our sins to His Glory.

The similarity of this exorcism here and with Jesus are interesting. People who were certifiable demon-possessed did attack Jesus and Paul. Both dealt authoritatively with them. In Luke 4:35; 8:29; 9:42 and 11:14, the demons obey the command: “Come Out!” That is where the similarities stop. Jesus alone had the authority to use His Own Name. It was direct and personal with Him. The demons feared Jesus and what Jesus could do to them. Jesus rebukes them and they responded. Paul's and our authority does not lie with us. It is Christ-centered and we would need to call on the Power of Jesus to do these things. There must be a bold confidence and strong prayer support for us to be so involved. But the Authority is still there and that is His profession!

Luke 4:18-19.

The slave owners had a plan for this girl's life. It was making them rich…at her expense. Try as people do, you can't improve on God's plan for our lives. When God's standards are rejected, only pain and suffer remain. For this young girl, she was free of the demon but she did not get filled with the Joy of knowing Jesus as the Freedom Giver…Living for .

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Luke 19:28-40

On Palm Sunday, we remember that the King Who gives freedom came into Jerusalem to set the captives free. Join me in remembering His Great Gift to us. Come to the Table and REMEMBER!

May I Introduce You To Tim? Acts 16:1-5

Acts 16:1~5 Timothy Joins Paul and Silas 1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Every once in a while, a man comes along who is kind, clean, loves the Lord and has a heart for people and has the Spirit of God alive in him. As a Dad, I'd only wish and hope that he'd wait for my daughters. If I was Paul and I met Timothy for the first time--THAT is the kind of man I'd want for my girls!

We first met Timothy in Acts 16:1. His mother and grandmother were both believers and had raised this young man with a deep knowledge of the Word of God. He was already known as a disciple of Christ. Other followers in his town and from a town many miles away spoke well of him. As we get to know him through Paul's letters to the Churches, we can see a very well developed young Christian man. He was a leader and a learner. He was a freeman and he was a prisoner. He was a servant and a fighter. We can learn a great deal from this young man and even find character qualities in him that are transferable to our own lives…man or woman.

Also, as we look at this man, we can see what kind of church he was in and what developed in the Church around him. We can look for a special DNA of THAT kind of church, and, perhaps, in us.

First, the Church.
You go to the doctor and he tells you that you are healthy. There are no signs of any illness; blood pressure and weight are within average restrictions.
You go to the spa. Your fitness trainer tells you that you are in horrid shape. He tells you that your resting pulse and body fat percentage are way off the charts; your flexibility is-well, poor and you fell off the treadmill because you lost consciences.

If both men can be right, what does it mean to be healthy? What signs do we share here in our fellowship that tell us if we are fit or not. We will need to look at some of the things Paul says to and about Timothy concerning the health of the Body.

#1 How is your Focal Point? What is the THING you focus on as a worshipper here at ICCS? Our focus would determine whether we have a survival mentality or a service mentality. If what we live for is mainly found in the maintaining the building or getting more people in the worship hall or have more money in the bank, than our focus as a church is on survival.

The simple fact that we really do not NEED a building, or a power point or a piano or even Bibles in our hands to be a Church is reality in many fellowships around the world. In Luke 9:58

“Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head."

These are great to have but it should not be our focus.

But, on the other hand, if our willingness here at ICCS is for us to serve than that is the greatest indicator of a Christ-ward focus. That would be a sign that our FAITH is stronger and that people are open to the powerful working of God's Spirit in us. Someone could say, “OK, how can we go beyond talking about this and really doing something about it?” A very good question that comes out of a willingness to help in a tangible way. That is servant or service-focus.

A focus on the Things of God allows us to support each other, even in our differences and in our pain. We are called to one Body and that brings great Glory to God when we act that way. Working together, planning together, doing acts of service together, worshipping together.

Another part of the DNA is to be HONEST.
Honest to God and to each other. Since I am in the ministry, some may think that I have all my issues in line and all is well with my life. While that may seem the case, maybe, inwardly I have problems of self-doubt, fear and of other issues that are common among men my age. A counselor I saw this past week told that many adult men in the ministry here in Japan are dealing with some form of depression. It is a fact of life. We are all fallen people in need of the same Savior.

AA has it great because all who attend AA KNOW that they are there as people with a drinking problem. While that is not my issue, I understand the unique joy it most be to say, “Hi, my name is Stan. I have a drinking problem.”

The Church needs to be the place where each of us can come and find acceptance. Acceptance not for bad behavior or to excuse it but love for being a person in process. The Church needs to be a place where we can face our fears together. Some of us may feel alone, some feel fear, while others have a deep sense of guilt. Some may feel that this is the only place you don't have to put on a mask. Others feel this is the place where I can just be real.

That is being honest.
How do we help each other overcome the problems in our lives? Good question again. We tend to be a bunch of serious, overcommitted people who might have loss the ability to have fun. We need to rediscover fun. We will need to help each other. These types of things may need some professional help from time to time and for us to take our meds but there is an element of having human touch that comes in here.

The early church, as we have studied in this study of Acts had been dealing with many of the same issues we face today. (Personal needs, health, death, fear, spiritual bondage and the like.)

What was the “way” they dealt with these issues? How do you get yourself ready for these things in life? Frankly, you develop a relationship with God thru His Son Jesus and God's people.

We need to approach Church life from the angle that everyone-old Believers and new Followers and soon-to-be Believers are needing to be open to the instruction of the Holy Spirit to live life effectively. Who doesn't need this kind of living?

The healthy community of God's People flows out of a united cause. Jesus had called His Church to follow Him and "I'll make you fishers of men." What He was really saying was, "Follow Me and I will give you something worthy of giving your life to."

To be a Follower of Jesus is something that transcends our present daily life and puts us in contact with the God of the Universe and in touch with His plan for using us in His creation. That is big stuff. That is worth living for! And that is a life that is transformed. Changed from within. Old things are moving out of our lives and we begin to focus on different values: Values that have eternity in mind.

The value we now share with the Body of Christ worldwide is to seek to expand the Kingdom of God.

Matt 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

And this can be a reality for us as we seek this transformed life in the presence and in the power of the Living God. That is what our friend Timothy had done, so let's look at him…

Timothy had a reputation:

• People spoke well of him Acts 16:2
• He was spoken highly of by Paul 1 Cor 4:17
• He shared in Gospel Work 1 Cor 16:10
• Timothy had a personal Faith 2 Tim 1:5

This Faith ran in the Family/not his Dad's side-Greek-non believer.

From infancy-Tim knew the Word

2 Tim 3:15
Showed in his walk and actions later in life as he leads and directs the Church in many locations-even from prison.Catch that kind of power in your life!

Qualities: Mature, above reproach, hospitable, loved that which was good, sensitive and sensible, just, devout, had self-control, cared for others, hard working, good confession before others, faithful, good fighter for the Faith, and full of Christian character. Can you fit these in your life?

Tim followed Paul & becoming a companion
We really don't hear from Timothy himself as to what he was saying concerning moving on with Paul, but we can see that he was close to Paul.

Paul called Timothy a brother, a fellow worker, his son whom he loves, faithful.
He says of Timothy that he had a sincere faith, deep knowledge of the Scriptures.

But how does that effect me? Am I expected to be a Timothy? You may say that you did not have the family life Timothy had. You mother did not know God and neither did your grandmother! So, is it reasonable to state that we can be like him? I think so and here is why. God has called us to follow Him and Timothy followed Him.

Please take a look at Philippians 2:19-22 for some insight as to how Paul views Timothy.

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

We can be like Timothy because he was like Jesus.
Jesus took a deep interest in people. He cared for them, prayed for them and even suffered for them. Paul encouraged Timothy AND us to rely on God's power for each day's problems.

2 Tim 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.Lastly, Paul looks to Timothy to succeed.
1 Tim 2: 18

18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies
once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.

That good fight is what the early church was reminded to keep in focus. We, today, need to keep that in focus as well. Not to give up. Not to turn and run. Not to fold under the pressures because:1 Corinthians 10:12-14 (NIV)

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

*____*_____*_____*_____*____*____*____*

JUST a word about Wheelchairs For Hope: There will be two work days this month to get ready as many wheelchairs as possible on March 15 and 17 at the Matuskawa Place, next to CAJ in Higashi Kurume. We would like to ship as many as possible (120!?) to Mongolia on March 20. You can come for only one hour or stay the whole day. Busy hands to help others! Come and be a part of the solution!

So, You Got Problems! Acts 15:36-41

Acts 15:36-41 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the Word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

On the surface, this is how it appeared but was it really like that? Was it like the Christmas story of Joseph LOOKING for a place to have his first baby born at the last min… “While they were there…” ? This took place some time after the debate with the “other gospel”. Maybe even up to one year later, Paul approached Barnabas with an idea. Up until that point, they and others have been in and around those main cities there TEACHING, ENCOURAGING, and BUILDING UP THE LOCAL BODY OF BELIEVERS. They were doing the work of an apostle and as pastors, teaching the Word of God.

There was a safe feeling in the ministry. Things were going well. Growth was happening and a growing of a deepening Faith of those they were responsible for, but something was lacking. What was it?

There is a time to move out and to enter the world of adventure. To boldly go where few have ever gone before. Oh, to experience the joy of setting foot on shores that has not been touched by the Gospel before! Here, Paul & Barnabas were not going into new lands but to revisit the people whom they had taught the Gospel to for the first time a little while before. Pagan, at one time, far from God but now, because of the Gospel, are brought near to the Cross and to the fellowship of God's people by the Blood of Jesus. They were transformed people, living for Christ in all they being.

There are times when we here at ICCS need to look up and see that there are "men who look like trees walking." We need a clearer vision of the task set before us. Meaning, we need to be developing a mindset, or rather a new heart-set, that will allow us the joy of going to tell others of the Grace of God. “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”

They felt that as much as those here were benefited in the teaching, they needed now to think how much the others out there could benefit from it. “Let's go and make disciples.” Sounds like something else somewhere…

The need was great OUT THERE. There is a BIG need outside these walls as well. If we only look at ourselves we become self-centered. Who in our circle of relationships can we effect for the Gospel? Ask God! He will and can show us our next step-one we need to take!

"Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches..

How can we at ICCS do the same? You have seen a number of people leave us over the past year. More will follow the Lord as He leads them to other places to minister. Soon M.Y. will leave us to return to Singapore. D. and S. left one month ago to learn French to move to France in 6 months. M.'s family is in Conn. D. and S. have moved to Tenn. There are many others. We can send a letter to them, call them, e-mail them, or visit them with words of comfort to those who have left us-. In the back, we have set up some pre-addressed envelopes to those who are no longer with us. Take one and write to them and let them know of your love. Encourage them in the Lord. Go deep! Tell them of the transformation in your life and of that same change in others here.

So they did end up doing what they hoped to do in the first place… But along the way, something happened.Even when the dispute was a while ago, the feeling of a good fight was still in the air … perhaps. PAUL & BARNABAS disagreed so strongly with the Judizers (sharp dispute/ turbulent quarrellings). As we know from current events, religious disputes seem to run deeper than most.

Did this atmosphere set up PAUL & BARNABAS for a split? Had they gotten in the mood for fighting? Just remember back to the root cause of the trouble. They were contending for the Faith. When the question of purity of doctrine was at stake-it is best you do not look for the easiest way to resolve it. The expedient way of peace should not be the way of choice. There was a time in world history that such an idea was in vogue. Peace at any cost. ILL: Chamberlain & Hitler.

It is true that the loss of Doctrinal purity at the expense of peace is SO unwise. Again, it is good to know WHAT and WHY you believe.

These Men of the Gospel made plans to journey back to the very places they were beaten, preached, bleed and worked the soil of evangelism over one year before. What would they find?

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 “What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Young converts need care as they are surrounded by impurity, oppositions and superstitions. We all do! Things could go very badly for them in their spirit and in their walk. How much more so today! When fellowship is broken-well, it is broken! There is a need to repair the relationship. How?

Isa 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; and will raise up the age old foundations; and you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

Could this be the new name for the ICCS church plant? Think of the implications of that change! Could this be a new ministry that comes out of the Chapel? Work it over in your hearts and pray about it! We may already doing it!

Verse 37-38 sets the stage for a split between PAUL & BARNABAS. Let's look at those who are involved. John Mark was Barnabas' sister's son. He was at the prayer meeting for the imprisoned Peter. As his uncle, there would be a natural affection for John Mark already.

But Paul-saw it differently.

13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Paul had two reasons for not wanting John Mark.

1. Mark had deserted them before-a history

2. Mark had not continued with them in the work.

All this was true. Why did John Mark leave? Maybe he was real young in the Faith-or-he was just too young-or-he was not strong enough to hang in there with the persecutions-or-he was just not ready yet. Maybe his Mom called him! In any case, he did leave the group and Paul did not respond well to that. In fact, in the years to come, many will leave Paul yet Mark will still be there.

2 Tim 4:9-11 9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

Then in 2 Tim 4:16

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.

And Colossians 4:10

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

When Colossians was written, Mark was in jail with Paul himself! Paul certainly got his fill of people walking out on him yet the last verse speaks volumes. Paul had a good memory of the past. He was a 'call it as you see it' kind of a guy. Some people in ministry are hard-core guys while others are softer.

Verse 39: There was a sharp contention. Not suggesting or implied anger or ill will. Maybe it was just that they differed rather strongly. Unwavered in their feelings. Stubborn? Obstinate? Not really good qualities in a leader, but you need to answer these questions: Too stubborn? Was the result good? Did it bring God Glory? Was the Gospel held back? Did God's work move forward?

1. Paul's love for Righteousness-let's get the work done!
2. Barnabas' love for his Relative-let's work this out!

As far as Paul was concerned, Mark had been tired and he had failed. Looks like Paul would not trust him again. But, he did-later. Ever been there yourself? Ever been cut out because of past work or attitude? What did you need? Someone who would put their trust in you…give you a second-third chance. Is it better to be cut or to be built up? And Barnabas was living up to his name: Son of Encouragement. “Barnabas would not give up; Paul would not agree.”

So move on. This is not a proof text for how to divide teams. Not a proof text for divorce. Just in this case, they agreed to disagree and the 'cause of the Gospel' was not effected. They took different roads to do ministry.

Therefore, John Mark got to prove himself to his Uncle on the Island of Cyprus among Barnabas' relatives. Silas proved faithful to his leader Paul as they went through Syria and Cilicia. All this resulted in more churches were encouraged, more believers were strengthened, and God's Word was able to spread farther than it would have had PAUL & BARNABAS stayed together. I feel this points to the fact that there can be a conflict and not find sin. People can have difference without wrong tempers. Not allowing the argument to divide people from working the Word of God into lives of men and women.

The part in verse 40 Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. This only speaks to the fact that Dr. Luke went with Paul and not with Barnabas. He wrote what he saw and was part of. I am sure that the local group of Believers also commended John Mark and his uncle as well.

"Who's In Charge Here? Rules. Acts 15:1-29

It seems to be a reality of life and ministry: Things are going very well. Changed lives are showing themselves as being on the right road. Ministry is happening, in that there are open doors and people are coming to understand the Light of the Gospel... Then, stuff hits the fan!

It is called LIFE but still can get you down. You are doing the best you feel you can do yet life seems to unravel around you and you feel all so alone. Does this happen to you?

Pain and discouragement run in your face. Sleep gets interrupted. Relationships are strained. There seems to be “a dark cloud” following you and you can't give it the slip. You become aware of distention around you. Rebellion.

In our passage today, such a thing is happening to the early Church. There was opposition but it was from the pagan world and that is to be expected. People in Derbe and other placed stoned Paul. There is anger expressed toward the Gospel and they are reminded, as we are, that

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22.

But what we are finding here in Chapter 15 is a pain from another source. From within the Body.

ILL: You have had some pain in the foot for a while. It started sometime last month-can't be sure when-you are now aware of the pain. It seems to be located around the big toe. You decide to look into the situation but you really will put it off until last night. Once you take off your socks, you see that it is much worst than you first thought. The big tow is red-black really. There are signs of deep infection under the big toe nail. The ingrown nail is now black and you can see some white of infection. What do you do? Put your sock back on and hope it goes away by the morning.

Well, that is exactly what you did but now, Sunday Morning, it really hurts and you notice that there is a little red line moving up beyond your ankle and on it's way to your knee. What to do? You had better deal with it but you don't have time. You really don't want to be late to service so you put your loose shoes on and walk out the door. On your way to ICCS, someone on the train accidentally steps on your sick toe and you are in pain!

This is exactly NOT what the early leaders of the Church did when this problem came up. They addressed it right away. They went to the authority and asked them for help and for clarification. It was becoming a disturbance to the Body. People's lives were being shaken.

You can hear some singing Frank Sinatra's Song: “I did it my way.” Here is the problem. Some believing people from Jerusalem came out from the main church and started to speak out without the backing of the leaders of the main church still in Jerusalem and teaching with the 'sound' of authority that people needed to come to Christ their way. They were more than suggesting that the new Gentile believers were not real believers UNTIL they followed the Jewish laws to the last jot and tittle.

(See Matt 5:18 The meaning of the passage is very clear. Not even the smallest letter or even its decorative spur will ever disappear from the "God Breathed" Word until all is fulfilled. In fact when heaven and earth are replaced by a new heaven and earth, the Word of the Lord will have accomplished its purpose and will be fulfilled in every detail even to the very letter. http://www.bible-history.com)

They would insist that the new Believers become Jews first and THEN they could grow in the Faith. It is like, me as a missionary from the US, insisting that all Japanese believers MUST speak English and take on American names and follow the American Church calendar if they are to grow in the Faith. How strange is that? Not to strange as many have tried and done just that. Wrongly, yet did it.

So these people from the main church told people that they needed to become Jewish men by being circumcised--, according to the custom taught by Moses, or they could not be saved - This was thrown right into the face of Peter and Paul and still after what had happened back in Acts 10 with the Gentile Believer Cornelius and the others who followed.

This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with these false teachers. All that Paul and Barnabas had done and with all they had seen and taught, still there were people out there who were not to affected by the Truth of experience or reality or the Word of God! These new teachings were suggesting-not really saying outright-that the Gentiles could not experience real joy now nor could they enjoy the Joy of God in eternity-and no forgiveness because they were not keeping the Jewish laws in the here and now. Had there been a mistake? Had the gentile Believers not understood the REAL message?

The local Churches north of Jerusalem took this one on! They brought some of their own men together and sent them with the appointment of Paul and Barnabas to go up to the leaders of the Church and find out how to deal with this problem. The infected toe was going to be dealt with!

Again, these men came from the main church and taught which sounded like the voice of the main church and 'shared' this teaching that really put the Gentile Believers and Jewish believers into a tailspin. They spoke like they had authority but they did not. In fact, this one issue and one's like it has been the pain of many groups ever since.

1. Who is in charge here?
2. Who is the one with Authority?
3. Who's word can be trusted?

Authority and rebellion has left its mark and it's effect on church groups thorough history.

And it goes way back. Take Moses and one man named Korah. A long story but to keep it short, Korah felt that Moses was not the only one God could speak thru, so he got some men to go along with him and they had a show down. Not like the old west with a shoot out but a show down nonetheless. Here on one side was Moses and his brother Aaron and on the other Korah, Dathan and Abiran. See this in Numbers 16:1~. Look what happened! The earth opened up and took those who were against God's men into an early grave. All of them. The New Testament lesson: You shall know them by their fruit.

Let's look at verse 8: 8

"God, who knows the heart..."

And at Acts 1:24

Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen..."

This is the only place such words appear in the Scriptures. The Knowing-Heart! To know this is to understand the way of a Sovereign Lord. Do you know that He knows your Heart? Do you care? Do you know that even though He does know you, He still loves you as much as He loves the ones who were spreading the faults teaching? Love the sinner; hate the sin. Can we understand that? Can we practice that?!

How about people in the world that make us angry? The terrorist? The one who plots to kill innocent people-men and women-boys or little girls-make no difference to them. Do you have a love for them? Believe God Does!

Are there people in history that had done bad things to your ancestors and now become the focal point of some real personal anger on your part? What place does that have in our lives? I suggest that the Gospel can touch those areas and bring healing. His Word deals with the innermost parts of man. Anger and hostile feelings are at the root of rebellion and rebellion never come to any good. Deal with it. Pray right now. You may need to deal with it but you may not want to. Deal with those areas right now.

Once Peter and his group got to the first all-Church council-ever, he speaks out of his heart and out of his own experiences. Read with me starting with verse 7 with this quote of Peter. What does he mean? He was the one who was going to bring the Message of Salvation to the Gentiles. God made the choice. Peter was the ONE!

Verse 8: God knows the heart-we already looked at that verse. God knows and has accepted them by giving them the same Holy Spirit. Not a Spirit for the Jews who need laws and needs to be kept in bondage to the law and another Spirit to those outside the Faith. One Spirit and one Body. God had made no distinction between them and anyone else, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Same Blood from the same Cross from the Same Savior. He died for those who were from a Jewish background and He died for them who were from a Gentile heritage. That is the package called the Gospel. Good News for all people!

After this exchange by Peter, see what affect it had on the group. Verse 12

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

Why?

When God tells us His Story, we are to be still! What can we add to His perfect ways? How can we turn people's heads with anything less than His Wondrous works in our lives? When we tell of His changes in our lives, we are not bragging. We are reporting what He has done. He has done ALL things well! ALL THE TIME! Him working IN ME!

Now, action was needed. James, who is the head of the Church, spoke up. "Brothers, listen to me." This shows that he had power in the group. It looks like his word stands out over the rest by his statement. And what does he say: He calls Peter his old name of Simon and relates how God first worked in the hearts of non-Jews. He calls to mind an Old Testament passage from Amos and Isaiah of the rebuilding of His family. His way. His timing. Via His People/Church. The Church is His Avenue of Grace to the world.

James also says that they should not make things hard on the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20

Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

Just hold to four things. To abstain from food that had been polluted by idols would mean meats offered to idols, as it would be known that the foods were used in some form of worship.

While in Osaka a number of summers ago, I visited one of my teachers in her home stay house. Her caregivers were not believers in the Lord. It was a very hot day and the Lady of the house offered half of a cold melon and offered the other half to the photo of her departed husband. She left the room and I ate the wonderful melon. Looking at the other half, I wondered what to do: should I replace my empty melon with the cold half at the family alter? No, this verse came to mind.

Secondly, keep from fornication (sexual immorality). This would mean ALL sorts of unclean behavior, such as adultery, incestuous relations, any form of prostitution-which was common among the Gentile idol worship. This would also cover porno and any immorality of any kind.

Thirdly, things that are strangled. This was also a practice of the pagan temples, to strangle the animal in a cruel method in order to keep the blood inside the animal as it was thought to taste better that way. Cruel method.

Lastly, the dealing of blood. Genesis 9:4

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it."

Some basic things. This was not really dealing with the dangerous issues these zealous Judaizers had been spreading. This letter caused each person to see that the main thing God was interested in was how we walk. What we do in the society. What we do with our relationships. How we conduct ourselves in our worship. Were we really acting like Children of God under Grace? Transformational.

Looking at this another way, we need to ask ourselves, what cultural dos and don'ts have we added to the Gospel as condition for fellowship or for belonging? Are we asking the other person to conform to our image of God? Or are we conforming to the Biblical image of God? The Biblical image of worship? (We are made in His likeness.)

A good litmus test for the presence of the saving grace of God in our hearts is whether there is an overflow of JOY at the news that another has found the Savior. Not, “oh, you need to get cut.” That is the appropriate response to people of any cultural group that come into Salvation. JOY!

These, so-called spokespersons for the main church, were insisting on circumcision and living under the Jewish law that was so very hard even for them. Misery loves company, I guess. That was putting God to the test. Their views were that the true test of spirituality was external. Paul sure understood that as he was one of their more verbal supporters until God showed him the better way. By using the experiences and the realities of what happened to the Gentiles, the early church better understood that it is through the Grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they were. Salvation is a Gift. Pure and simple.

The 61st chaplain of the US Senate, and the one time Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Hollywood, California, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie once said:

“The struggle for faith alone never ends. It's a part of our own inability to accept a gift. And deeper than that: we want to be loved because of what we do for God.”

So we live with guilt that we aren't good enough/do enough/or feel accepted by His Perfect standard. But the Truth be known, we are loved! We have become good enough IN JESUS. He has done all that was necessary for us to be called Children of God-under His Grace. And indeed, His Love accepts us. We are prized and highly esteemed in His sight.

Colossians 1:21-23 says:

“21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel. This is the Gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant."

Like the hearers of this letter, we need to be glad with the Good News that we do not need to be burdened with anything beyond following His Teaching. How we live our life comes down to this! What we do as we walk around in this world-or attitudes-our talk-our practices-all are connected to the Gift our Lord gave to us when He went to the Cross on our behalf.

He died for us. Took our punishment. We were the ones who were guilt of sin and filled with corruption. We deserved death but He, in His Splendid Mercy gave us Grace.

The closer we get to Him the more of His Grace we can experience and know. We do not need to be like the ones who spoke out of cultural bondage-nothing can be added to the Gospel. We need only follow the Teachings of our Lord and watch how we walk. Not as the world walks.

1 John 1:5-7 says:

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all (every) sin.”

The ongoing role of the Church is to do just what Judas and Silas were doing; encouraging and strengthening its members. Let US do that with all of you. Let us pray for you. Talk with you. Listen to you. Teaching and instructing ourselves under the Authority of God's Word. Check out the Bible yourself and see if we are doing the job aright as we teach and preach the Word of God as we look to the next 17 years and beyond.

And may the God of ALL Mercy fill your hearts with His Joy as you seek ways to serve Him without condemnation!