This ends our three-part sereis on Acts 15. In the first part we looked at legalism; in the second we dealt with idolatry. In this section we’ll talk about sexual immorality – something the early church felt a need to specifically address.
In Acts 11 we see three types of subject matter that need to be communicated by God’s servants.
11:20 preaching euaggelízō to announce good news, “evangelize”. This is to unbelievers. They really just need to hear the gospel. Until they grasp that nothing else really matters very much.
11:23 encouraging parakaléō to call alongside, exhort, admonish Related to parakletos, a title used of both Jesus and the Holy Spirit. (See John 14:16, 15:26, 16:7 and 1 John 2:1) This is especially to new believers. They need to go beyond the gospel itself and hear about commitment to Christ, growth and perseverance – so that they don’t see trials and fall away. More mature believers also still need this from time to time because, let’s face it, we get discouraged and need motivation.
11:26 teaching didáskō (like “didactic”) to impart instruction, explain or expound a thing, instill doctrine. This is educating Christians about God and the Christian life, communicating all that God has revealed to us – from A to Z, Alpha to Omega, the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation, the Contents to the Maps. Teaching nourishes and matures a church. It is sorely needed in the church today. Many Christians are ignorant of the Scriptures and are therefore weak in their faith (Romans 10:17). We their pastors need to feed it to them.
Bad news about the global financial system is pouring out of our news media as if from a fire hose. For anyone out there who has been tempted to trust in Mammon, I offer my condolences. This is no doubt a very tragic and stressful time for you.
I would also offer the encouragement that trusting in Jesus and Him alone is not so bad. It can even be kind of fun once we have the right perspective. For example, take this experience from a week or so ago.
The Lord had been speaking to my heart through recent Bible studies about giving. After talking and praying it through with Ginger, when I recently received my paycheck, we decided to give most all of it back to the church. It seemed like the right thing to do. How surprising it was to then receive a check in the mail for $1000 a few days later from some out-of-state friends.
Now let’s be clear, our donating large sums of money to our church is not very common. Even more unusual is our receiving large unexpected cash gifts. I wouldn’t have mentioned either except that I felt this was a story that needed to be shared. It makes the reality of serving a Living God just that much more real to us right now.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)
There’s a weird way in which I love instability. I’m referring to instability on a grand scale. When times and events cause people to be uncertain, when insecurity is the order of the day, when political, economic and whatever other sort of turmoil exposes the ricketiness of all this world’s structures, then our foundation of trust in the Lord can be tested and proved strong.
Peace, for example, seems to be in short supply these days. Nonetheless, the words of Jesus are still there for us to read and remember:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27 (NKJV)
But that peace needs to be taken. It needs to be received intentionally through conscious trust. And the Bible is so full of encouragement to trust in the Lord.
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
– Psalms 32:10-11 (NKJV)
“Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
– Psalms 37:3-4 (NKJV)
“It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.”
– Psalms 118:8-9 (NKJV)
Central Reflections 