Don’t worry… You are not Paul
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Real Estate Agents or Ambassadors of the Gospel? Lately, an erroneous and therefore unbiblical concept of being witnesses of the Gospel has been developing.
In fact, the children of God are not real estate agents, but eyewitnesses of the varied grace of God called by the Lord to proclaim the gospel to every creature, without the pressure of having to "close the deal" and bring home a soul, let us instead study present the person of Christ Jesus as the Scriptures present Him to us.
Same message, different reactions. In the evangelization of Athens, Luke tells of his hero Paul while he preaches the same gospel preached in Jerusalem: "...because he announced Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18).
During this proclamation, Paul will receive at least 3 different reactions from those who listened to him:
An Instant Rejection of the Gospel (Acts 17:18);
An Immediate Acceptance of the Gospel (Acts 17:34);
A Gradual Acceptance of the Gospel (Acts 17:32).
N.1 - An Instant Rejection of the Gospel
N.1 - An Instant Rejection of the Gospel
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
The world is not responsive to Jesus; rejection is widespread.
Darrell L. Bock
They rejected Paul's message. These philosophers were superficial with Paul's preaching, as they relegated it to the many discourses concerning foreign gods and distant from them.
Often the rejection of the Gospel is the result of the superficiality regarding spiritual things, a superficiality that reigns in our generation.
They rejected the way Paul delivered the message to them. The term "preaching” (Acts 17:18) carries with it the idea of conversing without any resentment or contentious attitude.
Paul was lovingly and compassionately preaching the gospel of Jesus.
We need to review our ways of presenting the gospel:
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
This was not Paul’s case: he presented the Gospel to those Athenians with respect and love.
They rejected the messenger. I do not believe there is a better expositor of the Holy Scriptures after the Lord Jesus than the apostle Paul.
Yet the writer of 2/3 of the New Testament has been called a "charlatan" (Acts 17:18).
This term was a great offense to Paul.
In fact, this word carries with it the image of an amateur who has taken pieces of ideas here and there and reuses them without really knowing what he is talking about.
We all know that there was a time when Paul didn't know what he was doing until he met 'that Jesus, risen from the dead, who called him' to the ministry.
N.2 - An Immediate Acceptance of the Gospel
N.2 - An Immediate Acceptance of the Gospel
Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Without any resistance. Here Luke tells us that some people of Athens without any resistance, like sponges absorbed all the preaching of the Gospel.
Just as some flowers open at sunset, so they, moved by the work of the Holy Spirit through Paul's preaching, opened their hearts to Jesus: He became their Saviour and Lord!
There is nothing more beautiful than when hearts open to the message of salvation of Christ Jesus.
Without any limits. When the gospel arrives in Athens transforms everything and everyone. Luca mentions 2 people:
Dionysius, an esteemed man, probably a judge of Athens;
Damaris, a woman, a stranger.
How many differences between these 2 people! Yet this is what the Gospel does: it saves people who are so different and distant from each other to unite them in one body which is the Church of Jesus.
Without forget. Luke reminds us of 2 names of the first believers in Athens.
In fact, he does not want to make them forget, but wants to pay the right attention to important things.
While Luke remembers Paul's opponents by citing their group (Acts 17:18), for those who accept the Gospel he mentions some by name.
Let’s remember the Lord’s blessings and let forget all the rejections.
We often do the opposite: we remember all about those who mistreated us, but we neglect how many God has used for our edification.
Remember the good names!
N.3 - A Gradual Acceptance of the Gospel
N.3 - A Gradual Acceptance of the Gospel
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
It takes time. Luke tells us of some who do not immediately speak out against Paul or in favour of him, but procrastinate the decision by asking for time.
We should not judge them harshly.
How many times have we asked God for time?
How many times has He spoken clearly to our lives, but we have concluded that service with the same phrase as them: we will listen to you another time... (Acts 17:32).
It takes time and patience. Along our Christian journey we can encounter those who need to be gradually enlightened by the truth.
Just like that blind man touched several times by Jesus:
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
There are people who gradually, after several attempts, worship, prayers and testimony come to salvation.
We must therefore not despair for our loved ones, but let us trust in the penetrating power of the Gospel of Jesus.
Waiting is, for me, one of the most difficult disciplines of life. Yet true faith is able to wait for the fulfillment of God’s purposes in God’s time. But, while we are waiting, we must also be obeying.
Warren W. Wiersbe
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let us proclaim the Gospel. Without pressure or human expectations, but by placing our trust in the Word of God, we courageously want to preach Jesus to all peoples.
We will be rejected, we will be accepted, we will be called to wait, however let us proclaim it: Jesus Christ is Lord!
