“Rest in this – it is His business to lead, command, impel, send, call…it is your business to obey, follow, move, respond.” — Missionary Jim Elliott
PURPOSEFUL CHOICES
Acts 17:1-3 … “as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them.”
Do you recall where this mission team was right before stopping in Thessalonica? Paul and Silas were in the inner prison of Philippi! Remember? Paul had cast out the demon residing in the soothsaying slave girl, her owners realized they just lost a lot of money when the demon left her – and they were angry! Paul and Silas were beaten, bloodied, and put in chains … but they spent the night praying and singing hymns (Acts 16:25)! What followed was even more amazing as all the criminals heard the true message of salvation (the gospel) and the jailer and his family got saved (16:25; 31-34).
Paul doubles down in Thessalonica and continues preaching after such unjust and torturous treatment in Philippi. This mission team is so convinced of the life transforming truth of the gospel that they become bolder in the face of persecution.
On September 11, 2001, the United States of America suffered a shocking terrorist attack on our own soil. New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington DC all watched in horror as planes crashed into fields and buildings…killing thousands of Americans. While many citizens were rushing out of these buildings through fire, smoke, and swaying walls, there were also many brave men and women running into those same buildings. Why run to the danger? They ran into danger because they believed saving lives was worth the sacrifice.
What are we doing for Christ that we believe is worth the sacrifice?
What sacrifices did speaking gospel truth bring for this mission team?
17:5- Aggressive mob scenes occurred numerous times
17:9- Financial loss
16:22-23- Physical pain and threats against their lives
17:5- Powerful enemies rose up against them
17:4- Many Greeks and some Jews would get saved
17:4- Many women believed
Paul was purposeful with the gospel.
Paul purposely gave the gospel to those who would listen. Why? This choice was connected to Paul’s being convinced of the gospel truth. Paul never forgot how much the gospel completely transformed him since his days headed to Damascus (Acts 9). He had lost favor with the religious Jewish leaders. He had also lost position, power, and community leadership – but he was not content then (Acts 9) as he is now in Acts 16-17.
Paul purposely took the time necessary to give the gospel to those who would listen, even after suffering severe persecution...and even if it meant he would suffer persecution.
Part of Paul’s motivations were knowing he had the truth and part of his motivations were the desired the outcomes.
DESIRED OUTCOMES
Acts 17:4-5 – YES! “And some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”
A man sat down with his financial advisor to voice frustration over the lack of growth in his investments. This man exclaimed, “It is impossible to make money in investments today!” The financial advisor then kindly reminded him that he requested his investments to be withdrawn from continued investing because he suffered too much loss in the previous months. The advisor then said, “You cannot enjoy financial gain unless you invest.”
Perhaps the problem is not that no one wants to get saved in this post-Christian culture. Perhaps the problem is the church simply is not making spiritual investments and talking about relationship with Jesus to others as often as we ought.
People do still get saved today!
Some will say yes to the gospel! Matthew 9:37 says the “harvest is plenteous.” However, we must work in the field to bring in the harvest!
Who responds to the gospel in Acts 17? Some Jews, a great multitude of Greeks, and many of the leading women. We must invest time for a harvest! Paul invested 3 weeks (3 Sabbath days) to this group of people before they believed. This took TIME!
How much time do we invest in:
Sports, hunting, fishing to get the results we want?
Shopping to get the deals we want?
Our children to get the maturity we want?
Our job to get the promotion or bonus we want?
People to share the gospel?
CHALLENGING OUTCOMES
NO! “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.”
People will also still reject Christ! This is nothing new. The problem is this often offends us instead of grieving us. People will still oppose Christ and the people of Christ
In Acts 17:1-5, we are told that envy serves as their motivation. We are introduced to rough characters (leud fellows of a baser sort) that do the work of manipulation & intimidation.
What are our purposeful gospel actions? Here are 7 purposeful gospel actions to get your mind thinking in this direction:
1. Handout gospel tracts
2. Pray specifically and privately
3. Be known as the encouraging guy who talks about relationship with Jesus (not just the “church guy”)
4. Speak of your comfort in Jesus (Ps. 46; Is. 26:3-4)
5. Live the gospel. Reach out to others in nursing homes, shut-ins, those without relatives. Sit in church services with those attending alone. Think of others before yourself. Help your neighbors.
6. Develop your relationship with God. Let Christ in you be the attraction that draws others to the gospel.
7. Develop your relationship with others. Let people know you genuinely are interested in them as a person and not just another possible church member.
Jim Elliott, missionary to the Auca Indians, was murdered for the sake of the gospel. His sacrifice, courage, and relationship with Jesus brought many to Christ in the years that followed his death. Jim said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
Do not get derailed because of some rotten fruit on the trail. Stay God-focused, others minded, and ON MISSION for Christ!