Title: We Need Razors
I. Our Duty is to meet each other’s needs.
Vv. 25-27 (read)
v25 “I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints…”
In today’s world, we are very slow link together the idea of money and blessing, why is this?
(Suggestions from congregation)
1. The pursuit of money has ruined Churches
2. The pursuit of money has ruined pastors.
3. The pursuit of money has ruined the reputation of Christ.
But contrary to today’s ideas, Paul is very open about the fact that he has plans to go to Jerusalem with a love offering from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, and that this money offering will be a ministry to those in Jerusalem.
Note: “Macedonia and Achaia” were the regions containing the churches of Berea, Thessolonica, Athens, Phillipi, and Corinth.
So does anyone have a guess as to why there is a special significance, both materially, and spiritually in this gift from these five congregations to the church in Jerusalem?
The first reason is a material reason: (Any ideas?)
Compared to these other five cities, Jerusalem was very poor. Furthermore, because of the large Jewish presence in Jerusalem, Christians in Jerusalem were looked at with great suspicion as a minority. There were many poor and persecuted Christians in Jerusalem, and this money offering would immediately help those who needed it most.
The second reason is spiritual: (Any ideas?)
These five churches (Berea, Thessolonica, Athens, Phillip, and Corinth) were predominantly Gentile. This monetary gift would serve two very important spiritual needs:
1. It would show the largely Jewish Christian Church in Jerusalem that the Gentile Christians throughout the Empire were sympathetic to the Jewish Christians’ plight in Jerusalem, and that they understood that they (The Gentiles) were grafted into the tree of life. A tree that was originally designed for the Jews. (Romans 11:7)
2. Secondly, if the gift was accepted (it was) it would show a “seal of approval” of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, allowing a further breakdown of the walls between the two groups.
II. Often the blessing of Christ isn’t what we thought it would be.
Vv.28-29 (read)
Can anyone here tell me why it’s so striking that Paul would say this? Can anyone here tell me why it is even a little bit funny that Paul would describe his arrival to Rome as being “in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ?”
(Take answers)
For those of you who never heard me preach through Acts, put your seatbelts on, we’re about to go through two months of sermons in two minutes.
A brief review of Paul’s wonderful trip to Rome.
If you’ve spent any time in Acts chapters 27-28, this is a rather humorous thing Paul says. Paul did get to Rome, but it was after being arrested by a mob, tried before the local governor, then tried again before the King of the region, then flogged and beaten illegally as a Roman citizen, then being paraded around as a political prisoner, then appealing to Caesar and being put aboard a boat headed for Rome,
Paul warns the boat captain that the course he’s plotted to Rome will be met with certain doom, the captain ignores him. Then the boat promptly finds itself in the midst of a Mediterranean Storm and shipwrecks, then Paul floats for two days and two nights aboard a piece of driftwood, all the while shouting encouragements of God’s promises to his fellow survivors, then he washes up on the isle of Malta,
where Paul decides to build his fellow survivors a fire from some of the driftwood. As he’s reaching for the driftwood a poisonous viper jumps out an latches to his arm, which immediately causes the other survivors to proclaim, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow him to live” Paul calmly removes the snake, throws it into the fire, a day goes by and they examine his arm, see that no injury has come to him, and immediately decide now Paul is a God.
Paul stays on Malta for three months ministering to the men and women there, they pick up another ship to Rome, and Julius, the Roman Guard that had been appointed to Paul almost four months ago says, “let Paul stay alone, I’ll watch over him” No doubt because this Roman Soldier had long ago decided the safest place in the world was right next to Saul of Tarsus.
And, Tada! The fullness and the blessing of Christ!
Often, the blessing of Christ isn’t exactly what we thought it would be. Amen?
III. Three out of four aint bad
vv. 30-33
Here we see Paul outline his prayer in four parts: Let’s look at that prayer, and see what happened:
1. “…that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe…” (Nope.)
As we’ve said just moments ago, Paul does get to Jerusalem, where James, the head of the Jerusalem Church greets him and they share tales of God’s work. The next day Paul seen in the temple taking a vow of holiness, and after seven days of fulfilling this vow he is arrested by the Jewish leadership…in the Temple of all places! This starts the series of events we just described that does eventually lead Paul to Rome, but certainly not the way Paul was hoping for.
2. “…that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints…” (Yep.)
Though it isn’t recorded directly, Paul is obviously welcomed by James, and it can be safely assumed that the love offering was welcomed as a sign of unity by the Jewish Church in Jerusalem.
3. “…that I may come to you with joy, by the will of God…” (Yep.)
At first I was tempted to say that Paul definitely got to Rome, but maybe not with the joy that he had hoped. But as I looked closer into the narrative of Acts I read an interesting verse.
“…when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.”
Acts 28:15
4. “…and may I be refreshed with you…” (Yep.)
The interesting thing about Paul arriving in Rome is that his trial continued roughly another two years before he was executed. During that two years he wrote several letters, including the pastoral letters to Timothy, all the while under house arrest.
POINT: Paul’s ministry was unaffected by his position in life.
Think of this as we close: What kind of parameters have you put on your ministry.
Old thought:
Lord, I’d be willing to share the Gospel with my classmate who seems curious, but I won’t challenge the professor who mocks God, because he could make me look stupid, and even affect my grade.
New Thought:
Lord, I only pray you make me obedient. I welcome the chance to look stupid for the cause of Christ. I welcome the thought of getting a poorer grade than I deserve for the cause of Christ.