The End of the Beginning - Pastor Dan Cravillion

The End of the Beginning

2014-10-19

Acts 28:25-31

And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26  "'Go to this people, and say, you will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.

27 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed;

lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.'

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

Acts reaches its triumphant conclusion with Paul in Rome. Acts 1:8, 28:28-30 

·      Rome was in the latter days of its highest glory, with Nero as emperor, and no coliseum.

·      Acts abruptly ends with Paul in a house prison where he wrote Eph, Col, Phil & Philemon.

o   Tradition: says Paul was released 2 years later in 62 A.D. & then wrote 1 Tim & Titus.

o   2 yrs after his release in 64 A.D. he returned to Rome, this was shortly after the fire that Nero blamed on Christians, was arrested, & eventually martyred.  Ps 116:15

§  In this final imprisonment he wrote 2 Timothy (last epistle).

·      Many have thought there must be a lost chapter or at least lost paragraph.

o   But the abrupt ending is consistent with the emphasis of Acts

§  Acts is not primarily a narrative on the lives of servants of God, but rather, it is about the gospel.

·      Acts is not “people-centered” but “gospel-centered.” 

Acts describes 39 years of the expansion of the gospel from Jerusalem to the “uttermost parts of earth” & from primarily Jews to Gentiles as well. Act 1:8

·      It begins in Jerusalem with Jesus Christ who had died, was resurrected & now has ascended into heaven.

·      Christ then continued His ministry on earth through the Holy Spirit in the lives of ordinary people –

o   merchants, slaves, jailers, church leaders, males/females, Gentiles/Jews, rich/poor.

·      It records how Jesus used one generation to preach gospel in every nation of the then known world as the church was established, scattered & then extended. Col 1:23, Act 2:5-6, 2 Cor 5:17-20,

Christ’s plan for the expansion of the gospel did not end in Acts 28 & that’s why the Holy Spirit deliberately intended Acts to be unfinished.

·      You’re a part of the 29^th Chapter of Acts of Holy Spirit (mentioned 70x) that is still being written as Christ’s ministry continues today through every believer.

o   Opportunity: used by Jesus to bring the Gospel from Jerusalem to Samaria>to the most remote parts of the world.

Your part in the continuing story of the spread of gospel is not as complicated as it seems.

·      You don’t have to create a new message for modern times.

o   The Gospel Peter preached in Acts 2 is the same gospel Paul preached in Acts 28 & should be same Gospel preached today.

§  Jesus, the Son of Man & Son Of God lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was resurrected & then ascended into heaven.

·      It doesn’t require seminary training or 10 yrs of living the Christian life to share the Gospel.

o   Live a life that glorifies God, verbally share your Christian testimony with the Gospel, & trust God for results.

·      The results aren’t dependent upon you, but on our sovereign God.

o   Whether In Jerusalem @ Pentecost, in Rome, or in LaCrescent…some reject the Gospel and some receive it.

·      Everything in Acts & even now flows from the coming & indwelling of the Hly Spirit. Acts 2:1-4, Eph 5:18, Heb 13:15-16, Micah 6:6, 8, Phil 4:13

o   The Spirit gives us the power to do the will of God & enables you to join in the harvest & be a part of the expansion of Gospel in the 29^th Chapter of Acts.

• He lives in us to transform our lives into image of Christ.
• He lives through us to proclaim Gospel & bring in a great harvest for Jesus’ glory.

Malta Miracle - Pastor Dan Cravillion

Malta Miracle

2014-10-12

Acts 28:1-10

1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.

3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."

5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.

9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

The ships crew has been in a hurricane for two weeks and now they have run aground in Malta (Malta means: “refuge”):

·      Malta is a Mediterranean island 60 miles off “toe” of Italy.

·      This is the forth time Paul has been shipwrecked:  2 Cor 11:25 written 2 years before this shipwreck.

The Islanders welcomed 276 soaked, cold, and exhausted visitors with a campfire.

·      Paul was exhausted too, but helped gather firewood.

o   These humble/menial tasks (picking sticks) were not above servant Paul.

·      It does not appear that God is blessing his Christ-like act. Act 28:2-4

o   Paul doesn’t panic but also didn’t do the “spiritual” thing...(pray, preach sermon).

§  Christians are immortal until all Christ has for us to do is done.

The Islanders interpreted the snakebite as a divine retribution – They thought  Paul was guilty of murder.

·      The islanders thought he had escaped the justice of God in the storm but justice will catch up with him.

o   Even without the Mosaic Law the people had a sense of morality granted to them by God.

·      This is a classic illustration of the General Revelation of God to all. Rom 1:18-25, 2:14-15

o   Everyone has an internal perception that God exists, He’s the Creator, & they have some sense of morality (right/wrong) that includes consequences for both.

·      General revelation is a great blessing to society: because people have a conscience, there is a restraint of evil.

o   It’s the reason Christians find consensus with non-Christians for acceptable conduct.

§  Even Ghanaian witch doctors know Islam beheadings are wrong.

·      The wicked, by General Revelation, know their sin is wrong, at least in large measure.

o   That’s the reason God can hold all people responsible for sin.

But General Revelation doesn’t save, & can’t prevent bad theology.   

·      It was good that they recognized supernatural power but snakebites don’t prove wrongdoing any more than hard times always imply hidden sin.

o   Pharisees thought that way.  John 9:2

Here God is using bad situation to swing the Islanders’ opinion of Paul from murderer to a god, & thus open door for evangelism.  Act 28:5-9, Mk 16:17-18

·      This miracle & the healings that follow made Paul's gospel creditable as a divine revelation

o   It is likely Paul refuted the claim that he was a god & proclaimed Gospel.

·      Thought they were helping the passengers but God sent Paul & the gospel to help them.

o   Paul escaped “justice” (physical death) & they could escape sting of sin (death) through Jesus.

§  Tradition: In 3-4 months Paul founded church in Malta & Publius was the 1^st pastor.

§  In the 3^rd & 4^th century A.D. there was a thriving Christain community on Malta.

Here Paul should have died but didn’t; God used that miracle as sign of His power & to show the truth of Gospel….may do same thru you.

·      It is not just miracles that get noticed by others, but also an UNEXPECTED Christ-like response to adversity/suffering. Like the snakebite, it may be used by Holy Spirit to open hearts to Gospel & bring glory to Jesus.

o   Our natural response: anger, frustration, and impatience; but if you’re joyful, peaceful, or patient that is not a natural response but a supernatural response.

o      Jam 1:2, Phil 4:4-7, 2 Cor 1:3-4, Heb 10:32-34, 1 Pet 2:11-12

§  Ask Christ to enable you respond to bad, difficult, & unjust things that happen to you in Christ-like way that is contrary to your FLESH & the expectations of the world.

Lessons From a Shipwreck - Pastor Dan Cravillion

Lessons From A Shipwreck

2014-10-05

Acts 27:33-44

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. It will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you."

35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.

42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

God determines not only end but means to that end.

·      Far better to be in the midst of danger with God than apparent safety without God.

·      Paul, Luke, & others learn that truth on a 2 week near-death experience at sea.

o   Know that Luke was on board: there is a tremendously detailed description & he says “we” sixteen times.

During transport to Rome it became hazardous to travel by sea.

·      Ancient shipping annals said that sailing this part of Mediterranean after Sept. 14 was dangerous, and after Nov. 10 was impossible. It was now mid-Oct. Acts 27:9-12

o   So by reason and wisdom, not divine revelation Paul concludes the risk is too great.

§  The one on the boat with a sure fate (God promised he’d reach Rome) was most cautious. 

o   The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety & security but is certainly not an excuse for foolishness, carelessness, reckless living or sin.    i.e.

The experts & the majority refused his advice & sailed into a hurricane. Act 27:13-14, 18-20

·      Storms come even if we are walking in obedience to Jesus & they don’t always end quickly. 

o   It is understandable when disobeying & running from God like Jonah.

§  Do not be surprised if you do right that trials, tribulations & difficulties come.

The Bible’s focus is not who causes pain or why it was allowed, but rather on our response to it. 

·      “A crisis does not make a person, but shows what person is made of.” Wiersbe

·      The prisoner, Paul, realized there was problem & took initiative without any formal leadership position or authority.  Act 27:21-26, 33-36

o   Paul was not striving to be leader but simply trying to help.

§  Paul focused on others because knew he would get to Rome.

·      He practically helped: Sometimes we just need the basics: food, water, sleep.

o   You need to do all you can to fix problem then trust God to do His part. 

·      Paul’s God rescued all 276 passengers from death. Act 27:42-44

o   For no one to die in a shipwreck was considered a great miracle in the ancient world.

§  The prisoners were saved two times for Paul’s sake. 1 Cor 7:13-14

§  Lost people have little awareness of how much of a benefit they experience by the presence of a Christian. 

Just like Paul, God will protect His people in accordance with His purposes & promises. Act 27:24, Rom 8:28 & 5:3-5, Phil 1:6, 1 Pet 1:3-7

·      God didn’t promise the storm would end but that He would see them through it, & He did!

o   Christ will see you through life’s storms (lose job, disease, loved one dies).

·      He’ll quiet your hearts & give you hope, even when you are afraid.

o   Here Jesus used a divine messenger but encouragement and hope may come in less dramatic, but equally meaningful ways:

§  Bible verse, phone call/text, meeting of hidden need, etc.

·      If you are afraid, overwhelmed, or discouraged, ask God to give you a concrete reminder of His presence & promises.

o   Then follow Paul’s example & look to serve others in need.

§  Encourage someone whose life has recently experienced a shipwreck.