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The Act of LIFE (Acts 20)

“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 

It is a joy to preach through the book of Acts!  It is filled with examples and lessons that I need to learn and apply.  As I continue to look at the “Acts of Acts” in this sermon series, it seems like each chapter has the apostles, or early Christians, involved in an act that we have a tendency to try to avoid.  Yet it was these very acts of God in their lives that transformed a fledgling group disciples in disarray into a mighty force that turned the known world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We live in a time where we need such a transformation in the church and in the lives of the individuals who follow Jesus.

As we arrive in Acts 20 in our sermon series we find Paul completely engaged in the Act of LIFE, even knowing that he is nearing the final leg of his journey.  Paul’s relationship with Jesus had not simply become a part of his life — it was his life!  It is in the midst of this Act of LIFE that we find Paul speaking until midnight only to be interrupted by a young man falling out a window and dying.  Not to worry — Paul raises him to life, takes a short break, and resumes teaching until daybreak!  Lets look at some key characteristics from Paul’s Act of LIFE.

  • Living:  Some have said that life is what happens while you are busy trying to figure out how to make a living.  Paul understood that life was all about who you were living for!  Paul would make plans and express desires but always sought, and listened to, God’s direction for his travels and life.  He wanted to live in obedience to God.  While he had his preferences, it didn’t matter where he was or how he got there, he was living for Jesus.  If we want to see the world turned upside down for Jesus as it was in the first century, we must begin by living completely for Jesus at all times.  Day in and day out, Paul lived for Jesus no matter what.  Wherever he went he would worship God, seek out believers, and teach publicly and privately about Jesus being the only way to God.  When we are engaged in the Act of LIFE, our living for Jesus must be full-time and evident to all who are around us. 
  • Instruction: Another part of the Act of LIFE that Paul lived out was the act of Instruction.  Even on a tight time schedule, Paul does not neglect his responsibility and calling to pass on instruction in The Way to the people around him.  In this chapter, as Paul heads toward Jerusalem, there is a quick stop in Troas where Paul teaches all night because he is leaving in the morning.  Part of the great commission is a command to teach everything that Jesus commanded.  Unfortunately, far too often we fail to be involved in instruction from either side.  Either we think we know everything and don’t need instruction or we’re intimidated by others and let fear keep us from giving instruction — or more likely, a combination of both.  Paul understood the great need to pass on all that he had learned from his pursuit of God.  The Act of LIFE calls us to be involved in bringing up, discipleing, those who are coming up behind us.  Learning to take Godly instruction and to be involved in passing on Godly instruction is an important part of living the Act of LIFE.
  • Farewell:  Part of the Act of LIFE that can be very difficult for many people is the act of Farewell.  Goodbyes can be very difficult because they seem so final and we’re not always prepared for that.  Paul understood the importance of using farewells to warn and prepare people for what they would face in the future.  As Paul headed toward Jerusalem, he called for the Ephesian elders to come to him so he could say goodbye in person.  This farewell was an important time for Paul to let the elders know what he was about to face — and that he was okay with it.  It was also a time to warn them of things that they would face and help them to be prepared to handle the difficult times.  When we are growing in the Act of LIFE, we need to be deliberate about our Farewells for both our benefit and the benefit of those around us.
  • Embrace: At the very heart of Paul’s Act of LIFE was this act of Embrace.  I find it interesting that after Paul warns the Ephesian elders of the terrible things that are to come, Acts 20 ends with the statement that what grieved them the most was Paul saying they would never see him again.  Even as Paul would travel from place to place, his hearts desire was to embrace people with the love he had found through Jesus.  Even when he would write very pointed and corrective letters to the churches, he made it clear that his love for them was not diminished.  I’m not too sure we get that concept too often in today’s church culture.  Churches split and divide, people are excluded and leave a church fellowship, and “church hopping” runs rampant many times because we’ve not learned the act of Embrace even in times of difficulty and disagreement.  While that activity is harmful to the church, the greater problem is that it makes us very ineffective in reaching the unchurched.  We will never learn to truly embrace those who are completely outside of a relationship with Jesus if we can’t learn to embrace those who are fellow believers.  Embracing someone, whether within the church family or outside of it, doesn’t mean that we agree with or accept everything they do or say — it simply means we love them with the love Jesus has called us to have.  The Act of LIFE calls us to learn to embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and to embrace the hurting and lost with the love of Christ.

So, how are you doing in living out and growing in the Act of LIFE?  Do you daily recognize and accept the call for every aspect of your Living to be done for Jesus?  Are you willingly involved in receiving and giving Instruction in God’s Word?  Do you make your Farewells meaningful in preparing people for what is to come?  Are you able to Embrace people who need to feel the love of Jesus even when it calls them to go and sin no more?  I pray that your response to the Act of LIFE will boldly show the world that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior!

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The Act of MOVE (Acts 18)

It is a joy to preach through the book of Acts!  It is filled with examples and lessons that I need to learn and apply.  As I continue to look at the “Acts of Acts” in this sermon series, it seems like each chapter has the apostles, or early Christians, involved in an act that we have a tendency to try to avoid.  Yet it was these very acts of God in their lives that transformed a fledgling group disciples in disarray into a mighty force that turned the known world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We live in a time where we need such a transformation in the church and in the lives of the individuals who follow Jesus.

As we arrive in Acts 18 in our sermon series we find Paul on the move . . . still!  Throughout his life we find Paul moving from place to place . . . sometimes voluntarily, sometimes unwillingly, and sometimes by force.  As Christians, we often find ourself in the midst of the Act of MOVE and could use some guidance from Paul’s example as we consider how to respond and what we should learn.  This isn’t just a physical move.  Because we are growing in Christ, or at least ought to be, we are constantly involved in this act of move due to that growth.  Let’s look at some of these lessons of the Act of MOVE as we consider Acts 18.

  • Meeting:  Acts 18 opens with Paul on the move from Athens to Corinth and verse two is easy to overlook and completely miss the significance of what happens — Paul met a Jew named Aquila along with his wife, Priscilla.  We read later in the chapter some of the significance of this meeting and how this helps to prepare Priscilla and Aquila to teach Apollos the way of the Lord more accurately.  This is not an isolated occurence.  Everywhere that Paul goes, we read about people that he meets and the influence God has on them through the meeting.  The same thing happens in your life and mine.  As we move about life, we meet people.  The question we ought to consider, and rarely do, is “Why?”.  If we’re paying attention, these meetings that take place can benefit the person we meet, can benefit us, can benefit onlookers to the meeting, or more often be useful for the kingdom in all of these areas.  When we are listening to God throughout the Act of MOVE in our life, the Meetings that God arranges for us take on greater significance as we allow Him to work through them. 
  • Opposition:  I do need to warn you, though; the Act of MOVE brings about more than its share of Opposition.  The act of move means that we are growing and changing.  If you haven’t noticed, very few people are really that fond of change.  Paul was constantly using the meetings that God arranged in his life to talk about the good news of Jesus.  When applied correctly and fully, the good news of Jesus changes people!  Paul constantly face opposition because of the changes that would take place among people who would realize a need to reject an old way of life that they had died to and embrace a new life that they’ve found in Jesus.  Jesus made it pretty plain that if the people who embrace the ways of the world opposed Him, you can be confident that they will oppose you as a disciple of Jesus.  A word of caution:  God also says that He opposes the proud, so when you face opposition for which the source is unclear it is always a good idea to spend time with God in examining any attitudes and actions you may need to change.  Learning to accept and grow through Opposition is a valuable lesson as we grow in the Act of MOVE.
  • Verification: One of the things that people seem to hate the most about the changes and opposition that takes place in the Act of MOVE is the uncertainty.  That is why the act of Verification is such an important part of our embracing the act of move fully.  I can’t help but think that Paul had times of questions, and even doubts, that were intensified by opposition.  I think that is why God shows up in a vision to Paul and verifies that he is doing the right thing and needs to continue speaking about Jesus.  In this chapter, the verification is not only about doing the right thing but also about Paul’s safety.  It is important to note that if you look at the life of Paul, the verification from God isn’t always about safety but it is always about God’s presence being with him.  It is in our times of doubt and discouragement that we need to listen intently to God through His Word and His Spirit as He verifies that we indeed are His child . . . and we’re not alone!  He may use our time with Him to verify that we are at the right place or verify that it is time to move.  Our time with God should be a verification that God is indeed with us in good times and in bad circumstances, as well as everything in between.   When we are growing in the Act of MOVE, our deliberate time with God provides Verification that we are where we ought to be and that God is with us.
  • Encouragement: Throughout the Act of MOVE, we have opportunity after opportunity to be an Encouragement to people from all walks of life and backgrounds.  As Paul moves from place to place, he is not only continually reasoning with people about their need for Jesus, he is encouraging the new believers to remain faithful in leading, speaking, and teaching about the faith which is theirs.  Wherever Paul went he would equip people to be ready for when he would move on and they would be on their own.  His letters are full of encouragement for individuals and bodies of believers that he had been instrumental in establishing.  As he moved to different locations, his role as encourager remained.  You don’t have to look far, many times all it takes is a mirror, to see someone who is discouraged and in need of encouragement.  One of the greatest tools of encouragement is a belief that God can completely transform a life that is surrendered to Him.  You know the work God has done, is doing, and will do in your life; do you believe he can and will do that work in the lives of others?  Do they know you believe that?  When we are deliberate about our attitude during the Act of MOVE, we give Encouragement to people that they are able to escape from the power of sin and death in life and in eternity.

So, how are you doing in living out and growing in the Act of MOVE?  Do you pay attention to the Meetings God arranges for you?  Are you aware that Opposition to the good news of Jesus is to be expected so that when it comes you are not caught off guard?  Do you faithfully spend time with God, allowing Him through His Word and His Spirit to provide Verification that you are in the right place doing the right thing?  Are you using your life to provide Encouragement to others on a regular basis?  I pray that your response to the Act of MOVE in your life will boldly show the world that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior!