Acts 28
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
What’s going on friends and family!
I’m so glad you decided to join us today, rather you are in the front row, aka the splash zone, or joining us online I’m glad you could be here
If you don’t know me I’m Jamie, I’m one of the pastors here at REVO
Pastor Nathan is gone this week and challenged me with closing down the end of the sermon series on Acts
27 weeks you get Nathan, but for week 28 you get me!
Next week though we got something special in the oven for you!
We are starting a sermon series called “swimming up stream”
Typically there is a mantra where you don’t talk religion and politics at the same time, well next we’re doing both!
So make sure you’re hear next week, bring a friend, and an enemy as we see what it looks like to swim upstream!
I’m excited about that, but before we dive into the sermon today lets pray together:
Pray
Pray
Mouthpiece for the Lord
Matthew and Stephen
Distractions to be removed
Not finishing
Not finishing
This may come as no surprise to people but I am a big football fan
I’m a Green Bay Packers fan, I believe we are winning the Super Bowl this year (I also believe that every year)
But something that drives me crazy about football is when teams don’t finish the game strong
They jump out to a big a lead, dominate their opponent, and then take their foot off the gas
They go from blitzing to playing a prevent defense
There is a saying around the house “playing prevent defense prevents you from winning.”
You see this every single week in the NFL, but it happens everywhere in life
We see this all the time in media
Some of the best TV shows are ruined because they don’t know how to finish well
Movies start out good, but then have terrible endings, or make way more sequels than needed
Books start off interesting, but the longer you read you realize how long the book is
But lets be real this isn’t just a media and sports thing
Marriages breakdown
Not because they didn’t love each other, but because they didn’t stay committed to each other
Pastors leave the pulpit
Not they didn’t love Jesus, but because they didn’t keep their eyes on him
Families get ripped apart
All of this happens because no one knows how to finish
We get off to fast starts, but we don’t know how to finish
We forget what Jesus says:
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
This parable gives us a picture of what happens when we die and stand face to face with Jesus
We miss the fact that we should be striving to hear Jesus look at the sum of our lives and to tell us well done
Well today we are going to finish off the series in Acts
We are going to finish it well! haha
Because this is the last we hear of Paul’s story
Now Christian tradition tells us that Paul ends up getting out of jail, living for 2 years and then is arrested again, writes two letters, and then is ultimately killed for his faith
So while this isn’t the last of Paul, it is the last of Paul’s story in the book of Acts
And I believe that by going through it we get a guide for how we can finish strong in life
We can see how we can hear Jesus’ faithful words
Jesus over everything
Jesus over everything
16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him. 17 After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
We see that Paul finally makes it to Rome
After a shipwreck, multiple trials, lots of uncertainty he finally makes it to Rome
Paul upon making it to Rome calls the Jewish leaders and explains all that has happened
He tells them that he is in prison now because of the hope of Israel — not because he is trying to attack Israel or his own people
That everything that has happened to Paul — every time he’s been thrown in jail, every time the message of the Gospel has been rejected, every hardship — everything has been for the hope of Israel
For the Messiah that was promised to come and save them
He did everything for Jesus and God’s glory
So when we are looking at life and are questioning how can we finish strong Paul gives us the first thing we must do
Put Jesus over everything
We must put Jesus over everything in our life
Jesus must become the all consuming thing that we are focused on
Paul was consumed with Jesus and the Gospel to the point where he didn’t care what happened to him, what hardships he faced, nothing
He told the Jews that everything that has happened to him is because of the hope of Israel (the Messiah — Jesus)
That’s why Paul was able to pen the words of Philippians 4:
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
He said I have been able to find contentment in all things
Rather I was hungry or full
Had money or was broke
Chained to a guard 24/7 or a free man
He did this all because of Jesus
He put Jesus over himself
Over his ambitions, over his desires, over what Paul wanted
It was no longer what Paul wanted that’s why Paul said:
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Paul tells us that it is no longer he who is living, but that it is Christ living in him
That he is no longer doing anything for himself — but that he is doing it all for Jesus
Church if we want to finish well — if we want to succeed and hear Jesus tell us “well done good and faithful servant” we must put Jesus over everything else in our life
He must become our priority in life
The only thing we are focused on — our all consuming thought
Jesus died and gave His life for us
The perfect man of God with no sin came to earth, took on flesh, was rejected, and yet went to the cross for us
He offered the ultimate sacrifice for us
He who had no sin, became sin, so that he who is in sin can be cleaned of their sin
Jesus’ death on the cross should be our all consuming focus
It should cause us to live a life like Paul where we are content with whatever happens
But the reality is we let our eyes stray from the reality of what Jesus did
We start living for ourself instead of Jesus
If we wrote Galatians 2:20 it would probably say something like “I am sometimes crucified with Christ. It is my life that I live, and I confess Jesus when it is easy for me”
We only confess Jesus
When it doesn’t hurt our finances
When no one is going to question it
When we don’t have to change anything about our lives
When we are getting praised
Church when self if our main goal — we will never finish well
Instead we must be like Paul where we accept the reality that everything is because of the hope of Israel — the Messiah — Jesus
When we allow Jesus to be our focus and driving factor it causes every single one of our choices to become different
What we do with our free time, what we do with our money, the people we hang around with, the jokes we tell, the way we dress, the tv shows we watch, the movies we watch, the music we listen too
Everything in life becomes different when we allow Jesus to be over every aspect of our life
To finish well we must put Jesus over everything
Stay consistent
Stay consistent
21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
I love how the Jews in the area responded to Paul
They were like “what?”
They tell him that this is the first they have heard of Paul and the trouble he has faced
While Jews all across the known world were attacking Paul and trying to kill him, the Jews in Rome had no idea
They said they have heard of this sect — Christianity — but know nothing about it except that people are going against it
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
They set up a time and come to Paul’s quarters all to hear the message that Paul is proclaiming
To hear about this sect that Paul is a part of
To hear the Gospel message
What does Paul do? He preaches
From morning until evening Paul does his best Jesus impersonation by showing how Jesus is Christ through out all the OT
Just like Jesus did on the road to Emmaus with the two disciples
Paul proclaimed how every Theophony in the Old Testament is a reference to Jesus
How Jesus is the Christ that has been promised
And the Bible said that some of them believed, but others did not
Some accepted this Gospel message, but others rejected it
If we want to finish well Paul shows us the second thing we must do
Share the Gospel with everyone
We must share the Gospel with everyone
The Gospel is rated E for everyone!
One thing I always admire about Paul when I study the book of Acts is how he shared the Gospel with everyone he interacted with
Slave girl with a demon? Acts 16 — Paul shared Jesus with her
Philippian jailer who threw him in jail? Acts 16 — Paul shared Jesus
Pagan worshippers in Athens? Acts 17 — Paul shared Jesus
Disciples of John the Baptist who had a partial gospel? Acts 19 — Paul shared with them
He shared with every Jew that he could at the synagogue and then after all of them had a chance to respond he went to the Gentiles
Paul made it his mission to share the Gospel
When he was shipwrecked? He shared the Gospel
When he is on trial with King Agrippa, Paul tells him that he wishes he would become like he (Paul) is — minus the chains
Paul made it his mission in life to share the gospel with every person he saw
To the point where Paul told us this:
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
We must be ready to share the Gospel at a moments notice
When it is convenient for us, and when it is inconvenient
We are to share the Gospel at all times
Not just when the timing is right — when someone asks us how can I be saved, and we have our Bible in our hand, and have an hour of free time
We are also called to share the Gospel in the elevator when you have 30 seconds with someone, or in the drive thru waiting for your food to come out
We must be ready in and out of season
In Romans Paul tells us this:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
He tells us that we should not be ashamed of the Gospel
For it is power
Church if only we believed that
If only we believed that the Gospel of Jesus was powerful!
We believe that Jesus can save us from our sin
We believe what he said in John that Jesus is the way the truth and life — the only way to God
But church what if we believed that the Gospel of Jesus was powerful?
We would go and share with our coworker, we would share with our neighbors, we would share with our family
If only we believed that the Gospel was powerful
I hear this all the time — “what if I share with someone and they reject the message and don’t want anything to do with me”
That is a valid fear — but what if we instead went with the mindset of “What if I share with someone and Jesus changes their life?”
I think many of us have bought into the lie that the Gospel can forgive sins — but that it can’t beat out the powers of this world
We think Jesus is important on a Sunday, but that the Gospel message cannot change hearts and lives today
Could you image if Paul believed that?
If Paul got saved, and then never shared?
If we want to finish well — to hear well done my good and faithful servant — we must share the Gospel
Another fallacy that we believe is that we need to know more before we can share the Gospel — can I break that for us?
I have shared the Gospel with quite a lot of people in my life — I’ve never had someone who was unsaved challenge my theology to the point where I felt like I needed a Bible degree to answer them
I have had them ask questions about Jesus, ask questions about why do specific things happen, ask why can’t all religions lead to God
But church if we are seeking God daily — we can answer those questions!
So we must be like Paul and keep the main thing the main thing!
We must share the Gospel!
Jesus died on the cross for you! Offers you salvation completely free of charge, and tells us to go make disciples — share about the message of hope!
To finish well we must share the Gospel!
Don’t give up
Don’t give up
Here’s the last part of Acts 28 -
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
The last part of Acts 28 tells us that Paul stayed there, on house arrest for two years
During that time he welcomed everyone, and preached the Gospel
Even though some of the Jews rejected his Gospel message — for two years Paul continued to share the message of Jesus
Continued to tell anyone who would hear about Jesus
And he did it with BOLDNESS
That leads to the last thing we must do if we are to finish well
Don’t give up
If we want to live a life that is complete and want to hear Jesus at the end say well done we cannot give up
The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint
It doesn’t matter how fast you start — it’s about persevering to the end
That means we must not give up — we must continue to share the Gospel and put Jesus above ourself
We must live a life that is marked by the power of the Gospel
Paul for two years in Rome on house arrest could have easily sat and accepted his fate
He shared with the Jews that came and some believed but some didn’t
He could have stopped
His sole focus was to get to Rome — the ends of the earth — and share the Gospel and Paul had completed that task
He could have stopped
But instead Paul continued to share — welcome people into his home — preach with boldness
That’s because Paul knew to finish well we cannot give up
For us church that means we must continue to share the faith, continue to flee from sin, continue to put Jesus over everything
Conclusion
Conclusion
I love how Acts 28 ends — it almost leaves you wanting more
It’s almost frustrating because the story of Paul just ends
We get multiple chapters about him in prison waiting to get to Rome, then as soon as he makes it, it ends
Now like I mentioned Christian tradition tells us Paul gets out of house arrest, and then later is arrested and killed
But you almost feel short changed because you want there to be a Acts 29 where we see this unfolds
Where we see Paul freed, living, and then arrested and killed
But there is a reason that Acts 29 doesn’t exist — that’s because Acts 29 is being wrote right now
The book of Acts was never about Paul, or Peter, or Stephen, or James, or any of the apostles for that matter
The book of Acts was about the Gospel message being spread
Listen to the theme verse of Acts:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The book of Acts was about the spread of the Gospel: from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
The book of Acts was all about us being witnesses for the Gospel
That’s why the book of Acts ends at 28 and doesn’t continue — because it isn’t about Paul’s life — it’s about the Gospel advancing
Paul finished well
Listen to his estimation in 2 Timothy:
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
He says that he finished well — he fought the good fight
He put Jesus over himself, shared the Gospel with everyone that would listen, and didn’t give up
That as he is at the end — he will receive the crown of righteousness
The book of Acts was wrote for us to understand that it is our job to pick up the faith and finish well - just like Paul did
It is our job to put Jesus over everything in our life — to allow Him to be the one that dictates every decision in our life
It is our job to share the Gospel — it is not a job for the pastor only, but for every single believer
And church it is our job to not give up — life will get difficult, we will share and people may reject, but we are called not to give up
We are called to finish the race strong so that we hear:
23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Church let us live a life like Paul where we will hear well done good and faithful servant. Where we can confidently say like Paul “I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
