Whatever It Takes

Introduction

Sacrifices that are being made: quarantine, shopping, hair, socializing, movies…

Most understand why. The prevention of the spread of Coronavirus.

Nobody enjoys the condition of the world. But, compromises are being made.

For the greater good of people, we choose to compromise our liberty.

Paul experienced a similar thing as he returned to Jerusalem.

Something was spreading, wasn’t a virus, but lies about his ministry and his teaching.

So, Paul, for the greater good of the Gospel, chose to compromise his religious liberty.

Paul’s attitude was that He wanted to see the Gospel advanced, whatever the cost.

Apart & Together

As Paul was traveling around on his mission, he saw so many people saved.

Those who were in Jerusalem rejoiced at that word! To hear what God is doing around the world!

That should be our attitude in the church! When one ministry or sunday school class does well!

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” As the Gospel expands, even in a community, we should celebrate!

Spurgeon in 19th C. London - Hundreds of thousands came through the Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Membership 232 to 5,311. They planted 200 churches across the United Kingdom. Nearly 15,000 people joined and sent.

As his pastoral ministry expanded, he trained up other pastors and sent them out with churches!

Paul saw this happening, as the Gospel spread in other nations, so it spread in Jerusalem.

God was on the move!

Today, we trust that God is on the move. Even today! In the midst of this, God is not resting.

And, even though we are physically apart, God is still working in our church as we come together in worship.

Celebration & Division

In the middle of James and the elders sharing what God had been doing in Jerusalem, the issue came up.

The lies about Paul and his ministry and teaching.

This moment that should have been one of pure celebration and worship was dampened.

When great things are happening, this is to be expected. How Satan typically works! Lies concerning ministry.

But, those that took the time to think realized that this was inaccurate!

That’s how we overcome the divisive works of the enemy!

Don’t give into the temptation to emphasize what we see wrong with everything.

This allows us to actually celebrate the good things that are happening!

Compromise & Momentum

Paul was given some good advice - find where you can compromise.

Key to relationships - Marital Counseling said they disagreed with compromise - Pink car...

We do not compromise on the essentials to our faith. But, on personal convictions.

We can ask ourselves:

Is there a clear biblical teaching?

A book on how any music with a back beat was evil, therefore any contemporary Christian music...

Or, different translations. Or what times services are held. Or how formal people’s dress is.

This helps us to recognize where we need to stand our grand and where we need to show charity.

For Paul, he found total freedom in Christ and did not need to live according to old customs.

But, there were those who were still living that way. And were convinced it was what they needed to do.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

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.

1 Cor. 9:19-

Maintaining momentum will require us to compromise our personal preferences, to maintain the Gospel essentials, and to show Charity in all things.

Boundaries & Freedom

How the church interacted in these two groups of new converts:

For the Gentiles, here are the boundaries where you need to live. The guardrail. Some Scripture, Some Culture.

And for the Jews, if we are going to continue some practices, not necessary for salvation, but part of our culture.

We find some boundaries and we find some freedoms in Christ.

But, our freedom should consistently be used to move the Gospel forward.

Conclusion

Pastors Facebook Group - people constantly fighting over little bits of doctrine, polity, practice, or politics.

Finally, a new group had to be made to stop the insanity - limiting the members.

People spend so much time looking for reasons to divide or complain.

A website which names as false teachers: Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, Greg Laurie, John MacArthur, Paul Washer, Rick Warren, and Tony Evans.

Do I agree completely with these guys? Probably not.

But, the writer on this website spends so much time looking into minute details, taking statements out of context, and claims to have some level of divine enlightenment (gnosticism). And I wonder what would happen if he took all that time and energy and fervor and used it to reach the lost? Rather than creating false criteria for who is not a heretic.

What if we looked for ways in which we agree in the essentials, encouraged one another, and did whatever it takes to move the Gospel forward?

How different our experience in the battles of day to day life be?

Let’s find ways to encourage one another this week!

Call or text someone. Pray with them. Encourage them to pray and read Scripture.