“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.” Matthew 5:21-26 (KJB)
Danger
Avoiding Shipwreck
The following thoughts are not original with me. I heard it from another preacher, teacher, and apply my own thoughts and words to it; with the exception of the verses of Scripture.
Avoiding tragedy is not always possible, but if we would keep our eyes open, and our ears attentive we could see the way God is working, and hear His words of warning.
If we, like the men on board, the captain of the ship as well as the crew, with Paul ignore the warning, we have put ourselves in great danger. The danger these had gotten into was life threatening to all on board the ship. Paul was on his way to stand trial in Rome, and he was going there by ship through the Med.
There are some great spiritual, as well as practical truths we can learn from these verses in chapter 27, and the journey by ship through the Med Sea.
“Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.” Acts 27:9-14 (KJV)
From verse 9 we can learn that there is danger in being impatient. Impatience can definitely endanger life. As Christians it shows a lack of trust and unbelief in God’s providence, and His knowing what is best for His children.
See Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 40:31
Secondly we can learn that not all expert advice is godly or right (Acts 27:11). The “Expert” may know the natural, but not the supernatural power of God. The centurion was being a good soldier, and trusted the ship master and the owner, but did not believe the servant of God. Check out 1 Corinthians 1:20-21. Many an expert has been wrong. God is never wrong. See Luke 5:3-6.
Third, the places we may see of no comfort, may be a place of refuge (v. 12). Comfort may be a peril of its own. We Christians, especially in the U. S. of A. are addicted to our comforts. Comforts can draw us away from our faith which must be continually growing. Killing our peace of heart and mind. We must learn to be content with however God blesses us. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
Fourth, following majority opinion may not be the direction God would have us take (v. 12). Sometimes, if there is even one who is in disagreement; that one individual may be the one who is being led by the Spirit of God. To make life changing decisions, even life saving decisions, and for growth, there should be “All in one accord” within the body of Christ (Acts 2:1).
Fifth, favorable circumstances may be a sign of worse to come (v. 13). Such times are times to be aware, and alert to other possibilities. There are times to remain where we are; to stay put and not weigh anchor. We must learn that judging by circumstances; whether good or bad can be disastrous. Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.
Sixth, the surest way to avoid shipwreck (v. 10). Listen to God’s word, from God’s messenger. Pay attention to the signs. Delays in schedule. Some of these may be “Closed doors”. Remember that God knows what is best.
Though the ship master and owner did not listen to Paul, God’s servant, they made it to safety by the grace and providence of Almighty God. The ship wrecked, but all were saved alive, by following the direction the apostle Paul gave through the Spirit of God (vv. 31, 43, 44). Blessed be the name of the Lord.
The LORD Reigns
“The LORD reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O LORD, for ever.” Psalm 93:1-5 (KJV)
The place where my wife and I live is along a continuous flowing stream called Flat Creek, in Southwest Missouri. We are out of any danger of flooding, barring a world wide flood; and I am certain that is not going to happen, because of God’s promise never to do that again.
I begin telling you this, because we can step out our back door, and hear the water from the creek flowing over the rocks, with a comforting, still noise of flowing waters. When we get a lot of rain, and the creek rises; then it sounds like a roaring storm. It is even noisy where you must speak louder when you speak to another person. My wife and I love living here. We like to call it “our little piece of heaven on earth.” The road to get here is rough, rocky, and could be treacherous. Does that not sound like Jesus’s description of the road to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14)?
This is about our Lord. The LORD reigns. Even in a perilous, dark, evil, wicked world our God reigns. When the storms rage; our God reigns. When the kings of earth rebel against the way of God (Psalm 2); our God reigns. When the voices which hate God make decisions that are contrary to God, His Word and His way; our God reigns.
The idea of the “flood” reminds me of the prophet Isaiah’s inspired words, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19b).
We need to remember the silence of God speaks louder than any king or ruler can ever speak. The LORD is mightier than the noise of many waters.
Come to the LORD through His Son Jesus Christ who died for your sins, was buried, and arose bodily from the grave and is alive forever more.
The LORD’s Greatness
“For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, ‘The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him” Ezra 8:22 (KJV).
Ezra, a priest and scribe of Israel, was much burdened for the return of God’s people back to their homeland, and for the restoration of the worship of the LORD God. They had been in captivity in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, and now Cyrus.
Ezra had made a big boast to the king about the greatness of God. He would not require a band of soldiers for their protection. He believed that in asking it would be a shame to the Lord, and show a lack of faith on his part. The way to Jerusalem was dangerous; filled with thieves and murderous hearted culprits who hated all things good.
We can never do wrong in boasting of the greatness or our LORD God. Boast of Him daily. Boast of Him many times during the day, and during every hour and minute of the day. You cannot begin to over boast of His greatness.
The LORD God is Almighty, full of grace and mercy, He holds the world in His hands, He holds the Universe in His hands, He smiles in the smile of a child and one of His saints. There is no other god. He is the only one. He has made a way that all may come to Him, and that is provided only one way; that is His way through the cross of His Son Jesus Christ, the Creator of all that is.
Boast of Him today, all day long. You will grow to love Him much more than you do right now. Then put your boast of Him to work by faith.
-Tim A. Blankenship
A Journey To Rest
Acts 9:26-31
It was at Saul’s feet the stoners of Stephen laid down their garments. I suppose he was responsible for caring for their clothing while they stoned a man to death. That sounds so heartless, because it is, and it was, however; at least it seems to have been this event; his hearing the word from Stephen, seeing and hearing his dying testimony; which had an impact on Saul coming to faith.
When Jesus confronts Saul as he is traveling to Damascus to capture, persecute, and jail Christians; Jesus says to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:4-5 (KJV). His “kick against the pricks” is evidence that before the Lord confronted him he was deeply under the convicting power of the Spirit of God. Saul met Jesus Christ on that day, and he has been a blessing to Christians, the Church and the world ever since; because of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
THE CONVERSION OF SAUL, AND THE CHURCHES REACTION (v. 26). Upon his salvation Saul is led to a man named Ananias, who shows Saul the way he is to go for the Lord. He is received by the disciples of Damascus. Saul had spent time in Damascus preaching the gospel. He was new to it for sure, but he started in faith and kept on faithfully until the day he died by losing his head at the hands of Rome.
The church of Jerusalem was reluctant to receive him into their midst. He had been their persecutor, he had shown them nothing but hate, and now he’s wanting to come into our fellowship. Can you understand their doubtful thinking about him? I can. He had received orders from the religious establishment of Jerusalem, and it was in Jerusalem where most of the persecution was still going on, and Saul had been the chief persecutor.
The Jerusalem church could not believe that their chief persecutor was now one with them. The disciples there – not the apostles – were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple of Jesus now.
It is an awesome thing when one who has been against the church of Jesus Christ is changed and begins to walk, live, serve and glorify our Lord. Their testimony will be one of glorious change and the glory will belong to Jesus Christ. The glory will not return upon the professing individual, but go to the Lord.
BARNABAS RECEIVES SAUL, AND ENCOURAGES HIM AND THE CHURCH, AND THEY WALK AND WORK TOGETHER (vv, 27-28). Barnabas sees the rejection Saul experiences, sees a life who has been changed by the blood of Jesus Christ and takes Saul and makes him his disciple. The call of the great commission of Jesus Christ is to “Go and make disciples” there are more than twelve disciples; there are only twelve apostles; thirteen counting Saul – who later became Paul. We are not commanded to “make apostles” but disciples which is a “follower of Jesus Christ”
Known as an “encourager” Barnabas walks along side Saul when no one else will. He even takes him to see the apostles, and Saul shares with them his testimony of how he met the Lord on the road to Damascus, and they are told of his bold preaching in Damascus. After his visit with the apostles he is then seen leaving and entering the city with the apostles; they have received him as one of themselves.
The work of an encourager is a great work, and is much needed in the work of Christ and His Church. We all need someone to come alongside us, to pick us up when we are down on occasions. There are also occasions where we need to be the encourager, and pick up a friend, family member, church member, or a neighbor who needs to just get things clicking and right between them and the Lord.
SAUL’S PREACHING IN JERUSALEM IS BOLD, AND HE IS RUSHED OUT OF TOWN TO HIS OWN TOWN (vv. 29-30). Why is it a lot of preachers think they are called to popularity. Jesus was popular while He did His miracles, but when He got bloody and doctrinal concerning His body and the blood many of “His disciples left Him” (John 6:60-68). If popularity, or drawing a crowd, was the agenda of our Lord, the message would not be so hard and difficult for people to hear and believe. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the simplest message ever proclaimed, yet people do not want to hear it.
Have you ever been run out of town for your preaching? I have not, but there are some places I have not been asked to return. I am grateful for the church where I am currently pastor. The Carr Lane Baptist Church maybe small in number, but we are big in heart for hearing the word of the Lord. When a preacher can stand in the pulpit week after week, Sunday after Sunday, and preach expository messages straight from Scripture, and you hear no negative comment, and you hear an “Amen” ever once in awhile you just got to know that they are hearing God, and not you.
The preacher when he is preaching the word of the Lord can boldly proclaim the message of God without fear or favor to those who are listening; and will glorify the Lord in the preaching. An Old Testament Prophet name of Jeremiah was one who convinced me that I needed to come out of my shell, preach the word and be faithful to the Lord. Jeremiah says, “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.” Jeremiah 1:17 (KJV). When you know you are delivering the word of God you have nothing to fear. Be bold, proclaim from the rooftops what God says in His Word.
Though Saul did get rushed out of town it was for a greater purpose. He would return to Jerusalem at a later time, and then be shipped to Rome. Saul’s/Paul’s message of Jesus Christ was not loved nor appreciated. Check your message; if you have crowds following you; change your message to the message of Jesus and Saul.
THE CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM THEN, HAD REST (v. 31) It was because of the change in Saul’s life that there was rest in the Jerusalem churches. The persecutor of persecutors was now one of them and being persecuted.
A few years ago I took the thirty first verse, disected, prayed, and developed a sermon, and called it THE THREE R’s FOR THE CHURCH getting the idea from what used to be the words for education Reading, ‘Riting’ and ‘Rithmetic; but changing that to be Reverence, Rest, and Results, as three points for the sermon. You can see the Reverence, “walking in the fear of the Lord”; the Rest in, “Then had the churches rest…” and the Results, “in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31 (KJV).
There is little fear of God, even in church these days we live in. There is more talk of “perfect love casts out fear”, so we don’t fear God. NOT! John’s writing has absolutely nothing to do with the reverence and fear of God. It does have to do with the condemnation of our sins, the lies of the devil, the lies of friends and family. It has to do with everyday events of life. Someone has said, “When we fear God; we need to fear nothing else.” If there is no fear of God, there will be fear of all else. Paranoia, schizoprenia, trouble and danger lurking behind every closed door, fear of darkness, fear of storms, fear of failure, fear of bankruptcy, fear of world financial failure. When even the child of God is not right with Him, out of His fellowship, we too can be fearful of these things.
Rest has come to the Jerusalem churches because the one who pursued them unto death was now one of them. He now was being persecuted. He had been pushed out of town; but unto a great endeavor of preaching the Word elsewhere; to his own home of Tarsus.
Results, come when the Christian and the church practice their faith, and live by that faith through their everyday lives. We have seen examples of this multiplication earlier in the book – 3000 saved on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), more were saved according to Acts 4:4. It seems that people were being saved everyday in the early church. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to baptize at least one every Sunday during a worship service, maybe even more? Remembering it is the Lord who adds daily to His church. It is not programs, or money, but by and through the faithful witness of the Spirit of God through His faithful witnesses.
The rest you need can be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. You may despise the gospel right now but realize, as did Saul, that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day that we all who call on His name have eternal life with Him. Call on His name believing Him, and trusting Him with all your life, confessing your sins and repenting of them.
-Tim A. Blankenship
This is the study notes for a sermon preached in the morning worship at Carr Lane Baptist Church on October 12, 2008.
The Fire and Hammer 