All Things to All People (Acts 16:1-5)
Acts (EMPOWERED TO WITNESS) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
STORY ABOUT GOING TO SEMINARY, CUTTING MY HAIR, DRESSING NICE. IT’S NOT FOR ME. IT’S FOR YOU. STORY ABOUT GRANDMA TAKING ALL OF US KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND KEEPING US UNTIL PARENTS GOT HOME. THAT WAS FOR US, NOT FOR HER.
INTRODUCTION:
During the earthly ministry of Jesus, after He started rising in popularity as a teacher, we witness what happens when He goes back home to Nazareth to teach in Matthew 13:54-57. Scripture says,
and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”
This passage reminds us of something. Those who share God’s Word are often held under a microscope. All of our similarities or differences will be put on full display for all who are watching to see. Because as soon as you start preaching God’s Word, people tend to think you are elevating yourself. Why are you acting so holy, I know who you are, and I know where you’ve been.
And I really remembered that passage, when I first felt the call to ministry. I knew my backstory and I knew how truly inadequate I had proven myself to be throughout my life. So because of this I thought I was going to plant a church far away from my hometown, but wouldn’t you know it, God had me plant a church in the very same town I was born and raised in. I know people were going to question me and pick me apart, so I felt as if the Lord was calling me to do all that I could to preach the gospel with all boldness and without hindrance.
The Spirit used this to encourage me to go to Seminary and every residency and program that I could for the proper training. But I had seen others who were incredibly knowledgeable that had never been to Seminary, but I know the way that I am wired. I could have easily read a ton of books and retained just as much, if not more information on my own than I could have in Seminary. But that was not the point. The point was that I needed to pick up my cross and deny myself for self denial and humility, but also to become all things to all people. As I was talking to many folks around this area, it was clear to me that they valued a Seminary education. So I denied myself in order to best serve the context where God was placing me. Because in denying myself, it would actually help me to be used as a vessel to save more.
Philanthropist and Preacher George Muller said,
Self-denial is not so much an impoverishment as a postponement: we make a sacrifice of present good for the sake of a future and greater good.
And that is what we get a picture of in today’s passage. Let’s read
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.
So Paul and Barnabas separated last week. They didn’t divide, but they multiplied. Division decreases what God is doing, while multiplication increases. And today we begin to get a view of how it multiplied. (FIRST MAP) So Barnabas and Mark are this orange line that heads to Cyprus where Barnabas is from and Paul and Silas are this green line that head to Cilicia through Syria strengthening the churches. And this lands them in Tarsus, Paul’s hometown.
(SECOND MAP) And this bring Paul and Silas to Derbe and Lystra. A place that he visited with Barnabas on his first missionary journey. And here they met Timothy. Who Scripture calls the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. And because of how important this man becomes in Paul’s ministry we have a lot of information about him.
For instance, 2 Timothy which is a letter that Paul wrote to this brother, says in chapter 1 verse 5, that Timothy’s sincere faith dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and then in his mother Eunice.
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
These Jewish women believed in Jesus, and according to the matrilineal principle of descent, that is according to his mother’s line, Timothy was Jewish too. But Scripture gives us this detail…his father was a Greek. Which means according to his father’s line he was not as called or set apart to do the work of God, than if his father would have been Jewish too. His father’s lineage was a stumbling block. Even after all these Jews have recently learned about how God accepts those who are Gentiles, as much as He does those who are Jews in Christ, they still don’t really know that at a heart level as much as they do with their mind.
This goes to show us the power of our feelings. So often in Christianity we disregard our feelings, saying we can’t follow our heart because it is deceitful and wicked. But God also says He will give us the desires of our heart. So which is it? That just means by the power of the Holy Spirit our feelings will stop leading us away from God and start leading us towards Him. Like our feelings our like check engine lights. We can take them to God, our all knowing, all seeing mechanic, who has just the remedy we need. Or we can keep driving those cars, and avoid the mechanic, hoping it will just work itself out. In Christ, our feelings should lead us to Him instead of away from Him. Our feelings are important and our actions reveal how much we allow them to lead us.
Like we cannot typically think our way out of a feeling as much as we can feel our way out of a thought. For instance, sometimes I know the response I am supposed to give, but don’t always feel like showing that response. And my feeling will always win…at least at first. Also, if you’ve ever seen a family member lose it on someone in a courtroom, who killed one of their loved ones, they clearly know better than to do that, but their feelings cannot be contained.
And something like this is what is happening with the Jewish believers. They are learning to accept their Gentile brothers and sisters, not only with their minds, but also with their hearts.
CHUNK
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
So here comes our brother Paul. He knew the giftedness of Timothy, and perhaps he is even taking a cue from our brother Barnabas (the son of encouragement) in encouraging Timothy to go with them, but he does so with caution, humility and maturity like we talked about last week. So, knowing the strength of Timothy, but also the attachment to cultural and traditional norms that these Jewish people held, Paul did something amazing, he took Timothy to be circumcised. Why?
Paul is the one behind the reason for the Jerusalem Council. He is the one who has said from the beginning of his preaching that physical circumcision according to the law of Moses is unnecessary for salvation. So why is he taking Timothy to do these things that he has fought so hard against?
Well the end of that verse says that he had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that Timothy’s father was Greek. Now we know from verse 2 that Timothy was well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. He had a good reputation with those in the faith. But they knew him in the same way that the people in Nazareth knew Jesus. They knew his family. His grandmother and mother, but also his Greek father. And this was a stumbling block to them. So Paul, wanted to remove all hindrances that his background might cause. He wasn’t having Timothy circumcised for salvation, he was having Timothy circumcised to open the ears of just one more.
Remember in Acts 11 when Scripture says “a great many people came into the kingdom,” and we asked how many that must have been. We saw Jesus say that the angels in heaven rejoice over just one more sinner turning to God. So Paul had Timothy do this act in hopes to bring just one more into the kingdom.
Paul speaks into this directly in 1 Cor 9:19-23 when he says,
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
So Timothy didn’t get circumcised for himself. But he did it for everyone else. Paul fought for salvation by grace alone through faith alone in order to retain the gospel that Jesus died for. Now he is having Timothy go through with this circumcision for the gospel that Jesus died for. They are modeling the grace and humility of our Lord Jesus. Becoming all things for all people.
Listen how Paul says it in Philippians 2:2-8
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
He continues in that same letter to say this,
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
