Being Faithful

I heard a joke once about a man who was stuck on his rooftop during a flood. He prayed for God’s help, and soon a neighbor came by offering to help. The man waved him off, saying, ‘No thanks, I’m waiting for God!’ Then came a boat, and he turned it down too. Finally, he drowned. When he met God, he said, ‘I was waiting for you!’ God replied, I sent you some neighbors. A man you waved off and another with a boat. What more did you need?

Historical/Cultural Context -

Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.

Biblical Text -

Acts 18:1–17 NKJV

After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” And he drove them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - In Times Of Plenty Or Trouble, In Our Faithfulness God Will Sustain US

Life Point- Be Faithful To God In All Seasons Of Your Life

Exegetical -

Acts 18:1–8 NLT

Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was. Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized.

Homiletical -

So Paul after he could do what he could do in Athens went on to the city of Corinth. He meets Aquila there who had just been kicked out of Rome because Claudius Caesar had decided to expel the Jews from Rome.

Throughout history the Jews have been an oppressed people. A lot of times it wasn’t really their fault either. They were hated for many reasons, not the least of which is because they were monotheists in an ocean of polytheists; and since the exile, they would stubbornly hold on to their monotheism and refuse to worship other gods.

Now notice something here. In this text we find a Biblical example of both bi-vocational ministry and full-time ministry. Before Silas and Timothy showed up Paul made tents during the week and then preached in the synagogue on the sabbath. After they showed up Paul spent all his time preaching the Word of God testifying to the Jews about Jesus.

Neither one of these approaches to ministry is wrong, it is just a matter of what God has called you to do for that particular time. Just because Paul wasn’t full-time to begin with doesn’t mean Paul shirked his responsibilities to the Gospel. Just because you have a full-time secular job doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for sharing Jesus, it means you find ways to share.

So where do we get the concept of full-time ministry? Several places but the most well known spot is in…

1 Corinthians 9:14 NLT

In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.

This is not about encouraging ministers to become wealthy or to exploit their position for personal gain, but rather to ensure that they can effectively fulfill their ministry without being distracted by the need to find other sources of income.

Galatians 6:6 NLT

Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.

2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Now it says that after Paul become very vocal that the Jews started to not like him very much and so he shook the dust from his garments and said he was done with them and went to the Gentiles exclusively from that point forward.

This is Paul following his normal pattern. He goes tot he Jew first and then the Gentile. Because salvation comes through the Jewish line.

This is not a pattern for us to follow but is Paul’s personal conviction before God. We are just told to preach the Gospel.

He leaves there and goes to the home of a gentile who lives next door to the synagogue. Now the leader of that synagogue, Crispus, gets saved and becomes a Christian, which I am sure did not sit too well with some in the synagogue. Also many others became believers as well.

Do you think the Christian life makes everything in your life happy? If so, then someone lied to you, because many times proclaiming Jesus and living the Christian life will cause some people to come against you. Sometimes you have to deal with physical and spiritual attacks too. But thanks be to God that as a Christian you have the king of the universe on your side. Just remember that this life is temporary and you get to spend eternity with Jesus. This like is but a drop in the ocean compared to all eternity with Jesus.

Illustration -

A gardener tends to a variety of plants throughout the year. In spring, they nurture fresh blooms; in summer, they combat weeds; in autumn, they harvest; and in winter, they prepare for the next season. Each season demands different attention, yet the gardener remains faithful. Similarly, our lives have seasons that require different approaches, but God’s call for our faithfulness remains constant throughout—whether we’re blooming, struggling, or preparing for what’s next.

Life Point - When Trouble Comes Be Faithful To God

Exegetical -

Acts 18:9–13 NLT

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God. But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”

Homiletical -

Paul, as usual, is stirring up trouble and the Lord spoke to him in a vision and told him not to worry, don’t be afraid for no one will attack you because many in Corinth belong to God.

1) Is that Paul was not some super Christian. He had fears and feelings just as we do. I am sure he made those things a matter of prayer and God answered him.

2) Our God is still a supernatural working God. As Southern Baptists I don’t think we acknowledge that enough. God still speaks to His people. Mainly through His Word, but even today He has been known to speak through dreams, visions, and other people.

But remember one thing. He will not contradict the Word of God. If you get one of these things and it clearly contradicts God’s Word then it wasn’t from God. There are two possibilities. Either it came from the enemy or it came from yourself. I like to say it came from last night’s spicy sausages. You know, because of the heart burn.

Because of this reassurance from God Paul stays at Corinth for another year and a half teaching and preaching the Word of God.

But eventually a new governor comes to power and some Jews who didn’t like Paul rose up and dragged him before the governor.

Isn’t that life though. Things are going good and then all-of-a-sudden someone rises up and has to bad mouth you and give you a hard time. Then you have to spend precious time dealing with it. But here is the thing, you have God on your side and no matter what you go through He is right there walking with you through it.

Mark 13:11 NLT

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Notice that they bring Paul to the governor for a Jewish matter. You see the Jews had jurisdiction of their own laws, so long as those Jewish laws didn’t contradict Roman law. So the Jews drag him before the Roman Governor for a Jewish law, not a Roman law.

Sometimes those that are against us will try to take advantage of us any way they can manage. Our job, is that no matter what we stay faithful to God’s Word, meaning that our actions line up with the Word.

Illustration -

Imagine a little bird that hitches a ride on a bike for the first time. At first, the bird flutters nervously, but soon it starts singing, enjoying the adventure despite the bumps. This mirrors our journey in faith; if we remain attached to God through challenges, He’ll help us soar above our worries. Like the bird, trust the ride, even when it gets bumpy, and stay faithful to the One guiding you.

Life Point - In Your Faithfulness God Will Sustain You

Exegetical -

Acts 18:14–17 NLT

But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom. The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.

Homiletical -

Did you know that nine times out of ten the things we worry about will never happen?

Well this didn’t go the way that Paul or the Jews thought it was going to go.

You see when Paul started to make his defense, the governor was like, “This is not a Roman matter, but a Jewish one. Ya’ll go hand this in-house.” He then proceeds to throw them and the case out of the courtroom.

But you see the Jews were so riled up that they were going to get their pound of flesh, as it were, out of someone. That someone at this time was good ole Sosthenes the new leader of synagogue. Why was there a new one? Because we read earlier the old one became a Christian.

So the Jews literally beat Sosthenes because it didn’t go the way they wanted. The didn’t even wait, they did it right there in the courtroom and the governor just let it happen.

Notice that Paul was faithful to his calling from God, no matter the opposition that came against him. In the past we know that he was beaten, killed and had to be raised up from the dead, and run out of multiple towns. Yet he stayed faithful to God, no matter the circumstances. This time God saw fit to deliver him out of the crowd’s hands.

God will take care of His faithful, either with peace, walking through a hardship, or delivering you out of a hardship. It is all up to God. Will you stay faithful?

Hebrews 10:23 NLT

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Illustration -

Think about Elijah when he was running from Jezebel. God provided for him through ravens who brought him bread and meat. Imagine a raven swooping in with a meal just when you felt utterly alone! God’s faithfulness sustains us in the craziest of ways. If He can use a bird like that, imagine how He can sustain you through your challenges.

Life Principle– In Times Of Plenty Or Trouble, In Our Faithfulness God Will Sustain US

Call to Action – altar call….