How to See More Victories for the Cause of ChristRick Crandall

How to See More Victories for the Cause of Christ

The Book of Acts - Part 67

Acts 19:8-10

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - Revised July 14, 2018

BACKGROUND:

*Remember that here in Acts 19, Paul was on his third missionary journey. His team was reaching many people in the city of Ephesus. They saw many victories for the cause of Jesus Christ. And tonight, we will study how they got there. Let's get started by reading Acts 19:8-10.

INTRODUCTION:

*Sometimes we can get discouraged when we are trying to serve the Lord. But Christians: We should be the most optimistic people in the world! Rodney Buchanan explained by saying, "The reason I am an optimist is because I serve a God who is in control. I often think about the early church and the culture in which it not only survived, but thrived.

*Most early Christians lived within the bounds of the Roman Empire where there were persecutions. It was literally a national sport to throw the Christians to the lions as cheering crowds watched them be torn apart. The Roman roads were often lined with crosses on which Christians hung because they would not denounce Christ. Not only was abortion acceptable, a father could kill his child at any age.

*The government was completely hostile toward Christianity and anyone who was a follower of Christ. And yet it was during this time of enormous opposition that the church grew from just 120 believers to untold thousands." (1)

*Our God is supreme! It doesn't matter how much opposition there is, God is in control, and he will have His way. So, we can see more great victories for the Lord and His church. But we must reach out and speak the truth about Jesus Christ. We need to make sure that everyone hears the Gospel. This is what the Apostle Paul was doing in vs. 8-10. And it's crucial for us to speak out today the way Paul spoke in Ephesus.

1. First: We must speak boldly.

*We must speak the way Paul spoke in vs. 8. There "he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God." Paul was very bold to speak out for Jesus Christ. And there are two keys for us to have that kind of boldness:

[1] First we need confidence in the Lord.

*Paul had great confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. There was no doubt in his mind that Christ had met him on the road to Damascus. There was no doubt in his mind that Jesus was the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead.

*There was no doubt that Christ was a merciful King who would save anyone who would receive Him as Lord and Savior. And there was no doubt that Christ would be with Paul in every hardship he faced. There was no doubt.

*Paul had great confidence in the Lord, and I'm sure that most of us here feel the same way. How much confidence do you have in the Lord? Most of us would say, "One hundred percent!" or "One thousand present!" We have great confidence in Jesus Christ, and that's great!

[2] We must have confidence in the Lord. -- But we also must have concern for the lost.

*The other key to Paul's boldness was his concern for the lost. Paul had oceans of concern for the los, and we need much more of it today. Remember that in Romans 9:1-3, Paul said:

1. I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2. that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.

3. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

*If we had even a fraction of that kind of concern for the lost, we would be much bolder to speak out for Jesus Christ. But what happens when we don't have Paul's kind of concern?

*King Duncan helps us see in a story that hit very close to home. It was a testimony from Dr. Fred Craddock about a church he pastored in his student days. It was a beautiful little church in Anderson County in eastern Tennessee. That church was a white frame building, as pretty as a picture. There were good people in that church, too. It was a warm, loving family of fine people.

*But when Dr. Craddock got there, he noticed something wrong. None of the new people in the community -- the people who had come to work on the big government project over at Oak Ridge, and all those people living in trailers and quickly built rent houses with all those children, none of those people were in that church.

*Craddock called the church board together and told them, "We need to reach out to those folks who are out here. They are close. Here's our mission." And the chairman of the board said, "Oh, I don't think so. They wouldn't fit in here."

*Craddock protested, "But they need the gospel. They need the church." "No, I don't think so," said the chairman. And the next Sunday night the board passed a resolution: "Members will be admitted to this church only from families who own property in Anderson county."

*Years later, Dr. Craddock took a trip back to that community. He searched out the church and found it. It was still a pretty place. But out in front of that pretty, little church was a sign that read: "Barbecued Chicken, Ribs and Pork." It wasn't a church anymore. The church had died. It was a restaurant by then, and it was full! It was full of all kinds of people, sitting in those pews, eating barbecue.

*The church had died, and King Duncan gave this explanation of why that story was so important to him: "When I was born more than 60 years ago, my parents were living in a small trailer in Anderson County while my father worked in construction on the Atomic energy plant in Oak Ridge.

*Fred Craddock could have been my pastor! But he wasn't, because we were outsiders, and we lived in a humble house. Over the years I've often thought to myself, what if my parents depended on that little church to bring them to Christ? -- Where would I be today? (2)

*Don't you know King Duncan is grateful that other churches cared for the lost! We all need much more of Paul's concern for the lost. Paul's whole way of life reflected the Apostle's love for the Lord and his love for the lost.

*That's why in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, Paul could say:

19. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

20. and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

21. to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

22. to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

*May God give us much, much more of that kind of passion for the lost. Charles Thomas (C.T.) Studd had that kind of passion. He gave up a great fortune for Christ in the late 1800's. C.T. spent 10 years in China, 6 years in India, and later, 21 years in the heart of Africa to reach people for the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Before all of that, C.T. was a cricket star in England. Charles' wealthy father became a Christian during a Moody campaign over there. A visiting preacher at the Studd home led C.T. and his 3 brothers to Jesus while they were still students at Eton. It was 1878, and Charles was 18 at the time. The preacher asked C.T. if he believed God's promises. C.T.'s answer was not convincing, so the preacher urged him to trust Christ.

*Charles later wrote, "I got down on my knees and I did say 'thank you' to God. And right then and there, joy and peace came into my soul. I knew then what it was to be 'born again,' and the Bible which had been so dry to me before, became everything."

*In 1884, after his brother George became seriously ill, Charles was confronted by the question, "What is all the fame and flattery worth when a man comes to face eternity?" He had to admit that since his conversion six years earlier he had been in "an unhappy backslidden state." As a result of this experience he said, "I knew that cricket would not last, and honor would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worthwhile living for the world to come."

*Of his missionary work he said, "Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." C.T. also said, "God is not looking for nibblers of the possible, but for grabbers of the impossible." And he continues to be well remembered by many for the poem, "Only One Life, 'Twill Soon Be Past". Its memorable verse states:

"Only one life 'twill soon be past.

Only what's done for Christ will last." (3)

*We all need more of that passionate devotion for the cause of Christ. And the more we care for the lost, the bolder we will be.

2. We must speak boldly. -- We also must speak reasonably.

*Verse 8 tells us that Paul "went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, REASONING and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God." Then, vs. 9 says Paul was "REASONING daily in the school of Tyrannus."

*Verses 8 and 9 in the KJV say "disputing" instead of "reasoning." But we can get the wrong idea from that word "disputing," because for us a dispute is basically an argument. But the original Greek word there was "dialegomai." That's where we get our word "dialogue," and that's what Paul was having. This same original word is found 13 times in the New Testament, and in the KJV, it is translated as "reasoned" 4 of those times.

*Now there is no doubt that Paul spoke with great passion as he preached. And Paul sharply rebuked his hearers when the Holy Spirit led in that direction. The Apostle Paul was surely taking a bold stand for Jesus, but we can also be sure that he was doing it in a Christ-like way. Kindness and courtesy are almost always called-for. We should be passionate about our message, but reasonable in our methods.

*We can get a feel for Paul's reasonable ways in Acts 26. There Paul had been a prisoner for the cause of Christ for over two years. And on that day, he was witnessing to King Agrippa and the Roman governor Festus. Listen to the dialogue in vs. 24-29:

24. Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!''

25. But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.

26. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.''

28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian.''

29. And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.''

3. Like Paul, we must speak reasonably. -- We also must speak persuasively.

*Again, vs. 8 tells us that Paul "went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and PERSUADING concerning the things of the kingdom of God." How did Paul seek to persuade people about the kingdom of God?

[1] Certainly he persuaded people by God's Word.

*Think about Jesus on the first Easter Sunday. That afternoon on the Road to Emmaus, the Lord joined two of His followers. But Luke 24:16 in the NLT says "they didn't know who He was, because God kept them from recognizing Him." And as they walked along the road, Luke 24:27 tells us that "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."

*Later that same evening, Jesus appeared to His gathered followers, and in Luke 24:44-47,

44. . . He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.''

45. And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

47. and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

*Jesus "opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." And no doubt, Paul used the same strategy when he was trying to persuade people to trust in the Lord.

*Paul could have started in Genesis 3:15 after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. There God promised that the Seed of the woman would crush Satan's head. Then Paul surely would have explained how the Passover lamb and all of the Old Testament sacrifices pointed to Christ's death on the cross.

*There were hundreds of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. Paul could have taken them to Psalm 22:16, where the NLT says this about the Lord: "My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet."

*Then Paul could have taken them to Isaiah 53:4-6, where God's Word says this about our suffering Savior:

4. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

5. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

*Then the Apostle could have shared a great prophecy of the resurrection. For example, in Psalm 16:10 God the Son speaks to God the Father and says: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." There are hundreds of Old Testament Scriptures Paul could have shared with the people in Ephesus.

[2] Paul persuaded people by God's Word, and by the godly way he lived.

*All of us need to live so that we could give a testimony something like Paul gave to the Christians in 1 Thessalonians 2. There Paul said in part:

7. . . We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

8. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

9. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

10. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

11. as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

12. that you would have a walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

4. Like Paul, we must speak persuasively. -- And we must speak persistently.

*Verse 9 tells us that "when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus." Paul faced stiff opposition in the synagogue, but he didn't quit. He didn't give up. Paul simply moved on, and kept telling people about Jesus!

*Verse 10 tells us that "this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." Everybody heard. What a great and amazing result!

*God richly rewarded their faithful efforts. And we can be sure that He will do the same for us! As Paul said in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." God will reward our faithful efforts, both big and small.

*Isabel Wolseley told a story I love about a modest, soft-spoken, Christian lady from Oregon. She wasn't the type you would notice in a crowd. This woman often felt worthless and told her pastor, "Everyone else at church seems to have some special talent, but I just don't have any ministry at all."

*About that time, halfway around the world in Papua, New Guinea, a young missionary stooped down to go into a grass-thatched hut. Sometimes this missionary hiked with those natives down a jungle trail. Sometimes he flew his helicopter to take them to a doctor or bring them supplies. Sometimes he flew over dangerous country to carry Bible translators to their work stations.

*One day a friend asked him, "How did you happen to become a missionary?" He gave this answer: "Well, my brother and I were going around our neighborhood one Halloween when a neighbor dropped an invitation to Sunday School into our trick-or-treat bags. That's what started Mom and Dad and my little brother and me going to a Bible-believing church."

*"What's happened to the other three in your family?" his friend asked. "My brother is a Sunday School director. Mom writes articles for Christian publications. Dad directs the church choir and other activities."

*His friend was astounded and sat silent for several seconds before saying, "And all this resulted from a simple invitation to Sunday School that was dropped in your trick-or-treat bags." (4)

*Isabel Wolseley told that story, because she is the mother who became a Christian writer, and that missionary is Isabel's son. Extraordinary things happened, because an ordinary Christian did something to help tell the good news about Jesus Christ.

*Think for a moment about all of the people who have been blessed by Isabel's articles, all of the people her husband helped lead in worship, all of the people their son helped in Sunday School, and all of the people over in New Guinea, who were led to the Lord by Isabel's missionary son.

*All of those blessings can be traced back to a woman who thought she was worthless for the Lord. She made a difference that went far beyond her wildest imagination. And glory to God, so can we! -- Because all good things are possible with God.

CONCLUSION:

*Great things happened because our infinite God can do great things for the cause of Christ through little people like us! Trust Him to do it! Never underestimate what the Lord can do through our persistent efforts.

(1) Adapted from SermonCentral sermon "Why I Am an Optimist" by Rodney Buchanan - Psalm 46:1-7 - Nov 23, 2003

(2) Adapted from Sermons.com email illustration 12282003

(3) Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Studd

(4) Testimony by Isabel Champ Wolseley - Original source unknown