Uncomfortable Christianity

Samuel E. P. Lindsay

Acts • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Acts 23:12–24:27

Providence

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Notes

Transcript

Handout

Introduction

Exegetical Point: Through providence Paul was protected and enabled to keep working for Jesus.

Homiletic Point: Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

Main point:

Where we’ve been:

What happened before Paul was imprisoned?

As we’ve made our way through Acts, piece by piece, over the last few years, we have seen reminder after reminder that God will use circumstances that seem problematic to promote and spread the Gospel. Whether it be persecution, assassination attempts, legal proceedings, conspiracies, all of them fail to stop the Good news about Jesus Christ going out into the world. They all fail to stop people everywhere becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. Acts has shown us that the Church of Jesus Christ will not undone by earthly powers.

So, it will be no surprise if we see those themes showing up once again in our passage today! Keep your ears out for them.

Our passage follows straight off the bat of some interesting goings-on in the last couple chapters. Paul had been traveling around Church planting and strengthening, and then he came back to Jerusalem to bring back some donations and to catch up with his mates as he did every couple years.

So Paul turned up at Jerusalem, and in order to not be a stumbling block to others, went through some ritual purification and helped others do the same. He was hanging around the temple minding his own business when some people recognized him and assumed that he had been up to no good. A big hoo-hah began with a crowd forming, and a execution imminent, before - whoosh - the local roman guard rushed in a swept up Paul. After the local Roman authorities figured out Paul was a Roman citizen - a privileged position in society - Paul was kept safe in the barracks and taken to a court of the local Jewish leaders to have a pow-wow about what had happened.

Paul used the opportunity to ingratiate himself with the Pharisee contingent by showing how his teaching lined up with their own, which in turn caused another ruckus, because half the court hated the theology of the other half. Paul is whisked away to the safety of the Roman barracks once again.

That night Jesus appeared to Paul and said: “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” .

That’s where our story picks up, with Paul safely quarantined in the Roman barracks and Jesus encouraging him to stick to his guns.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

God Provides Through Providence (23:12-35)

This brings me to my first point out of 3, God Provides through Providence.

Paul’s experience of Providence

How does God provide for Paul & the spread of the Gospel?

Paul has already seen God’s care through seemingly ordinary means, including the anti-god Roman authorities rescuing God’s messenger from the very people that should have received the message with joy.

None-the-less, Paul is now squirreled away, and is about to see more of God’s providential hand:

A bunch of the most dedicated Jews, more than 40, are so keen to kill Paul that they make an oath that they won’t eat until they’ve killed him. This is dangerous promise, because it means now they are either faced with

A) succeeding and being guilty of murder, a sin,

B) failing and breaking their promise, also a sin, or

C) failing to kill Paul but keeping their promise, death by starvation.

There’s no good way out.

They made a rash vow. A stupid oath.

Now, `God allows us to make serious promises, but you have to think long and hard about what you’re promising to do. Things like wedding vows, and the dedication vows Ian & Hanlie made the other week are weighty, God honoring promises. There was nothing God-honoring about the oath these Jews took. This kind of oath is in the same basket as Herod, who ended up killing John the Baptist to fulfill his promise. Rash vows are an awful way to put yourself between a rock and a hard place. Better to just follow Jesus advice and be known as person who means what they say.

So these 40-or-so fellows then get the religious leaders on board in a conspiracy. They want to arrange it, like a classic action movie, to get the target out in the open so they can make their move.

Problem is, God is involved. By God’s most holy, wise and powerful oversight of all things, he had Paul’s young nephew on hand to overhear the plot and report in back to Paul. The nephew is then able to report to the Roman Tribune, who in turn is able to subvert the conspiracy.

Clearly worried that things are getting a bit heated in the political landscape around Jerusalem, the Tribune needs to protect the Roman citizen. Have a look at v23:23 to see how he reacts:

Acts 23:23–24 ESV

Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

200 Foot Soliders,

70 Cavalrymen,

200 Spearmen,

470 Roman soldiers to protect one man from 40 Jewish extremists!!

Sure enough, that night, starting at 9pm, they chuff Paul off in the middle of the night with a letter to the Governor.

Sure enough, that night, starting at 9pm, they chuff Paul off in the middle of the night with a letter to the Governor. The idea was, that was if the Tribune could get Paul out of the city he would have done his duty to protect a roman citizen, calmed down the tensions in the city, he would look good in the eyes of his superior, the Governor, and, the subsequent court case could happen on neutral turf under the watchful eye of the Governor.

So Paul was safely delivered to the Governor Felix, out of the reach of the Jewish mob and the influence of the Jewish leaders.

By God’s hand, through ordinary events, interactions and conversations, God had made a way for Paul to be saved! He had saved his life!

It was by providence that Paul was a Roman Citizen.

It was by providence that Paul’s nephew heard the plot.

It was by providence that Paul ended up in the presence of the most powerful man in the region, ready to talk about Jesus.

What is God’s providence? It’s God’s most holy, wise and powerful oversight of all things.

It’s God’s most holy, wise and powerful oversight of all things.

Providence is the way that God provides in the ordinary matters of life. That’s why we say grace at a meal, because we recognize, that even though the meal we eat was grown by a farmer, harvested and packed, processed and put on a shelf in a supermarket, bought by us and prepared in our kitchen, all the bits and pieces are from God’s hand. He allows and enables it. He orders the weather to make the plants grow, stabilizes our economy to make for good trade, he allows for us to take up jobs to pay for the food we buy. Everything is intimately connected and only happens within the zone of his control. We can say “thank you God for this food” and “thank you God for rescuing Paul”.

God’s providence though ordinary things provided for Paul.

The thing was, Paul could do nothing. He had to rely wholly on the Lord. The best he could do was to tell his nephew to speak to the tribune. He was arrested and helpless. He was helpless to change his situation, but God wasn’t. And He used ordinary things to rescue Paul!

The thing is though, even when Paul was rescued, he was still arrested. God saved him from death because he had plans for Paul in Rome, but he didn’t free Paul from every problem he was facing. He left him locked up in the hands of an ungodly man. God’s providence does not mean that circumstances are always happy or what we would like them to be.

Foolish vows

God’s providential deliverance.

Our experience of Providence

Helplessness makes us look to the Lord.

Friends, there is so much about Paul’s experience that reminds us of our lives as Christians.

Firstly, we rely on God’s providence. It is through God’s providence that we were born where we were born, and received the blessings we have received. It is though his providence that we have heard the Good News about Jesus when we did and been able to become his disciples. It is though providence that we have all been joined together in the local body of Christians called Eastgate Bible church. God has provided so much for us.

But that does not mean he always makes the way easy. It does not mean we will not suffer. It does not mean we will always escape death.

We cannot know the mind of God. We cannot fathom why he saves us from this problem only to leave us in another. But we do know that God is not vindictive or unkind. He is merciful, loving and caring. He is a Heavenly father who will only do what is good for His children.

AT this moment, it means several things:

In his providence there is a virus spreading across the globe and separating us from meeting together, or seeing our loved ones.

In his providence I was essentially “let go” this week along with many others across the nation who lost their jobs.

In his providence there are shares and house-prices going down the drain.

In his providence there are some who will succumb to the illness.

We have to come to terms with that. We have to realize that we have God who gives and takes away.

We often sing it, but do we believe it?

We have to come to terms with that. We have to realize that we have God who gives and takes away. We often sing it, but do we believe it?

You give and take away, You give and take away, My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name.

God has provided for us abundantly, and at times he removes that abundance, but we know God does not do it flippantly. He has a great plan in place, one that we can entrust ourselves to. In Paul’s case, his imprisonment we know it is ultimately so he can share the Gospel in Rome. But for us, we don’t have the luxury of seeing the bigger picture.

God has provided for us abundantly

All we can do is Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

God Provides through Providence, but we should Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

Peter wrote to the church:

1 Peter 4:19 ESV

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

How has God provided for you?

Ready to Defend (24:1-22)

Paul’s Defence

After his speedy trip across the countryside, Paul found himself in Ceaserea, before the Governor Felix. It took a few days for his accusers to come up from Jerusalem, but when they did arrive, the trial got underway.

Like usual in a Roman court case, the accuser gets an chance to lay out the accusations, the Paul gets a chance to defend himself. Lets have a look at the detail of the accusations against Paul:

Lets have a look at the detail of the accusations against Paul:

Acts 24:5–9 ESV

For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

Acts 24:5-

So in summary:

Paul causes riots - illegal under Roman rule

Paul doesn’t follow a sanctioned religion (in the Roman empire Judaism was permitted, but other than that you had to follow the state religion).

Paul was profaning a religious space. A big no-no whether you’re pagan or Jew.

All seems pretty straight forward. But! All of it is fundamentally false, which Paul lays out:

Paul wasn’t causing riots, and when he’s near one it’s not because he instigates it.

Paul follows the same ancient religion as the Jews. It is lawful under Roman law and it is actually because of a matter of theology of that religion that they were upset with him.

Paul had actually gone out of his way to make sure that he didn’t profane the temple space by purifying himself and making a big song-and-dance about it.

All of which Paul lays out:

Acts 24:11–21 ESV

You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”

Acts 24:11-

How did Paul defend himself?

So in summary:

Paul wasn’t causing riots, he was minding his own business.

Paul follows the same ancient religion as the Jews. It is lawful under Roman law and it is actually because of a matter of theology of that religion that they were upset with him.

Paul had actually gone out of his way to make sure that he didn’t profane the temple space by purifying himself and making a big song-and-dance about it.

Paul was completely in the clear.

The other problem that Paul brings up is that the people who actually made these accusations in the first place, the original witnesses are not actually here. These religious big-wigs and the Lawyer Tertullus were not actually there when the original incident took place. How can they make an accusation for something they didn’t actually see?

The only thing these fellows had seen was the defense Paul made in front of the Sanhedrin, and he did nothing illegal there. Paul clearly was so close to having the whole case thrown out, because they didn’t have a leg to stand on. But Felix, decides to hold off...

Acts 24:22 ESV

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”

Felix appears to be familiar with Christianity, but he’s unwilling to make a judgment call. He put them off.

Felix appears to be familiar with Christianity, but he’s unwilling to make a judgment call.

The case should be thrown out, but Paul is fobbed off, for what turns out to be a vary long time.

Even though there was an anti-climactic end to the hearing we do see some things in it that are an encouragement to us. In particular, that we don’t need to shy away from being open about our faith. Paul could have shushed up about the particulars of Christianity in order to try and smooth everything over. But instead, knowing that Jesus has got his back, Paul made sure that the matter of the resurrection was front and center: “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day”.

He wasn’t telling a lie either, this was the very matter that cause the problems in front of the Sanhedrin. This was the real crux of the issue, not whether or not Paul was profaning the temple or stiring up riots. It was a matter of faith, and he wanted to put it on display for all to see.

This is one of the cases where judgment is not forthcoming, and there always seems to be an excuse to put it off.

Are you ready to defend?

Even though there was an anti-climactic end to the hearing we do see some things in it that are an encouragement to us. In particular, that we don’t need to shy away from being open about our faith. Paul could have shushed up about the particulars of Christianity in order to try and smooth everything over. But instead, knowing that Jesus has got his back. Paul made sure that the matter of the resurrection was front and center: It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day”.

Not many of us are going to be called in front of a governing official to explain why people can’t stomach our faith, but most of us will find ourselves in circumstances where we need “to make a defense to anyone for your faith with gentleness and respect”(paraphrase Pe 3:15).

We, like Paul, do not need to be afraid. God’s providence provides what we need, we just need to Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Are you ready for that?

Ready to make a defense when your colleague asks you why you give up your Sundays to participate in Church?

Ready to make a defense when your friend asks why you give so much money to the church and missions?

Ready to make a defense when your relative asks you why you’re so set on following the Gov guidelines about social distancing?

Sometimes your defense will be to people who are up for a philosophical chat, or who are genuinely confused about why you believe that kind of things you do. Are you ready?

Sometimes your defense will be to people who are up for a philosophical chat, or who are genuinely confused

While we are always hopeful that our listeners will repent and believe the Gospel, there is an adversarial nature to our defense. We are out there to convince and challenge people. To attack the baseless systems of the world and tear down their temples built on sand.

Doug Wilson, an american Presbyterian author wrote a book called “Rules for reformers” in which he gave this tactical application to Christians facing the world: “15. Make your adversary live up to his own rules.”(Wilson, Douglas. Rules for Reformers (p. 78). Canon Press. Kindle Edition.) We live in a world where people are trying to tell we need to fit into the system. So, we why don’t we actually use that to our advantage to make headway for the Gospel? That’s what Paul did, he used the system, even while the Gospel stood beyond any system.

Oh, you want to use the Roman justice system to charge me? Well then, why don’t you bring my actual accusers to face me as is right, rather than the guys who turned up after the fact?

(Wilson, Douglas. Rules for Reformers (p. 78). Canon Press. Kindle Edition.)

Oh, you accuse me of breaking profaning the temple? Where’s the proof? I was minding my own business, obeying the purity customs, even bringing gifts from abroad!

Oh, you accuse me of departing from the sanctioned religions? I believe the ancient religion and have followed it all my life.

What about for us? How can we be ready to defend our faith?

“You think our intolerance of wickedness is on the nose? How intolerant of you not to tolerate my intolerance.”

“You think our rules for children, marriage and sexuality are out of date and harm people? Let us investigate the published statistics of how much harm the alternatives do.”

“You think that we shouldn’t talk about religion? Why would you want to infringe on my privilege to free speech?”

Friends, do not be afraid of the world’s tactics! Use them to your advantage! We too often think of ourselves as turtles who have to pull our heads in to avoid getting hurt. We’re often trying to make sure we suffer as little damage as possible. But, actually we are lions who the world is trying to cage! Don’t act like turtles when we are lions! We’re dangerous. We’re wild and free! It is not enough for us to be enclosed in a zoo somewhere, God’s people are to be out in the world, stalking sin and wickedness to POUNCE and take it down.

The world’s psychological warfare makes you think that you are out of date, dumb, superstitious, and harmful to society. Or to use the words of the Jewish accusers “a plague, who stirs up problems everywhere and leads people astray.”

Don’t listen to the world’s propaganda!

The very opposite is true! We are no plague, instead we Christians, God’s church, are the messengers of light who bring the healing salve of Jesus Christ into the world. We are those who come to undo the problems that our society faces, we come to lead people out of the confusion and darkness under the banner of Christ. We defend TRUTH.

What do we defend when we proclaim the Gospel?

We are dangerous to the worldly culture that we live in. We are bearers of a dangerous message! If the message goes out and Christ’s law overtook the wickedness of our world then the horrid strongholds of this present age would fall. People would be free! Life would be better!

Our Babies wouldn’t cower in their mothers womb in fear of the knife.

Our Children wouldn’t be raised by the state as godless half-wits with no self-control.

Our teenagers wouldn’t be glued to their screens lusting after the sensual and promiscuous.

Our men and women wouldn’t need to hide their faith to hold down a job.

Our wives wouldn't fear that their husbands are going to run-off with a colleague and apply for a divorce.

Our wives wouldn't fear that their husbands are going to run-off with their colleague and apply for a divorce.

Our churches wouldn’t be split by petty grievances and the serpent-hearted independent spirit.

Our employers wouldn’t skimp on their employee wages and our workers would work heartily with a good attitude.

Our elderly and our poor would not need to rely on institutions to stave off destitution.

Christ's Way is not a plague - it is a vaccine for the illnesses of the world. It is much better than what this world has to offer. We don’t need to act like it’s not for every man, woman and child. Jesus death on a cross is for anyone and everyone who would call on his name, and they will never be worse off for it.

What may come your way for standing up for Jesus? For making a defence?

The Way of Jesus the Nazarene is the solution for the world. It is not something to be hidden but something to be promoted. It is not a mere option in a sea of options for how we should live our life, but it is the only option that will ultimately heal humanity!

So when the Christian is on trial for their faith - they are putting God’s solutions on trial. They are questioning the nature of the universe and reality. If you’re on trial for your faith you have the all-powerful author of history on your side who will hold your accusers to account. You don’t need to worry about what you are to say, you just need remember that Christ will one day make every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. You’re just responsible to be a faithful witness, come what may. Jesus has got your back.

When the Christian is on trial for their faith - they are putting God on trail. They are questioning the nature of the universe and reality. If you’re on trial for your faith you have the all-powerful author of history on your side who will hold your accusers to account. You don’t need to worry about what you are to say, you just need remember that Christ will one day make every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. You’re just responsible to be a faithful witness, come what may.

What may come your way for standing up for Jesus? For making a defence?

You might get sanctioned - “Don't talk about this religious stuff anymore”

You might get punished - You have to undergo sensitivity training, or loose your job, or be lost in the bureaucratic system indefinitely like Paul was.

You might loose relationships that you value - Your parents, your siblings, your friends or you spouse may cut you off because of you devotion to Jesus.

In extreme cases, you may be imprisoned.

Paul had to face off against earthly authorities who kept him locked up on a pretense. But he remained obedient to a much higher authority - one who will give Felix his come-uppance and Paul his reward.

You probably won’t get to pick the time when you need to make a defense, so all you can do is be ready.

Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

All we can do is Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

Quarantined for Jesus (24:23-27)

After Felix put off Paul’s case he was given a decent place to stay, and given all his privileges as a roman citizen to have guests and gifts. He was going to be well looked after. But, he was still locked up. Quarantined. Isolated from the world.

And this went on for a while - two years! I’m baulking at the idea of 6 months locked up, let alone two years!!

But Paul was ready to work in the uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus. We know from history Paul used his time in lock-up to send letters. He spoke with his guards. He seems to have coordinated mission and church matters from prison.

On top of that, God gave Paul the opportunity to spend more time with Felix and his wife. He got to share the Gospel with the most powerful man in the region several times. Look at 24:24:

Acts 24:24–25 ESV

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Acts 24:24–26 ESV

Acts 24:24:25

So here was this man, Felix who was alarmed by the implications of the gospel message, but he failed to act on it. He procrastinated and put it off, hoping that he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Hoping that Paul might cough up some money for a bribe.

Acts Righteousness and Resurrection

Believing he had all the time in the world, he delayed making peace with God.

He procrastinated and put it off, hoping that he wouldn’t have to deal with it. Hoping that Paul might cough up some money for a bribe.

Felix is just like many of us, who put off thinking seriously about faith. Or some of us who are Christians who don’t want to think too hard about our lifestyle and what is really honoring to God.

Nevertheless, Paul in God’s providence was stationary, locked up, but with a little freedom, for two years. God could have done what he did for Peter and let him out of prison by an Angel. But God had bigger plans. He kept him locked up for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel.

Paul in God’s providence was stationary, locked up, but with a little freedom, for two years. God could have done what he did for Peter and let him out of prison by an Angel. But God had bigger plans. He kept him locked up for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel.

We find ourselves facing a quarantine of our own. We’re not imprisoned yet, but already some Eastgators are in 14 day quarantine and all of us have been asked by the government to limit our outside activities to the essentials. We are not able to meet together in person and warmly shake each other’s hands. We are isolated from one another. Like Paul, we didn’t get to choose the circumstances - they have been thrust upon us in the providence of God.

What are we to do? If we are being faithful, we will Be ready to work in these uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

But what will that look like? We are still coming to grips with that question. We’re still trying to figure it out, but one thing is for sure, Jesus isn’t going on a holiday, and neither is our discipleship.

We must consider how we can use these circumstances - how can we make best use of the time while we wait for Just return, or the end of Covid 19, whichever comes first....

I want to give you some practical thoughts for how you can use your quarantine or self-isolation to serve Jesus:

Rest.

For many of us the pace of life will slow down a bit with less work, less travel, less social engagements. Use the time to be rejuvenated in Jesus. Spend that extra time in the scriptures or prayer. Listen to Gospel centered music and meditate on the promises of God. Refresh your soul in the Living Waters of Jesus Christ. Some of us are prone to unhealthy levels of busyness - take a cue from God’s providence - take a moment to breathe and trust hims to look after the world.

Practice obedience.

For Australians in general, following a Government order is a foreign concept. We chafe against authority. But right now we are called to follow some strange commands, and we should do it cheerfully. Yes it may be hard, but we are being subject to our earthly authorities like God wants us to be, and we are loving our neighbors by staying away from them. Don't look for opportunities to skirt around the rules - look for every opportunity to practice obedience, honoring our leaders as we can.

For Australians, following a Government order is a foreign concept. We chafe against authority. But right now we are called to follow some strange commands, and we should do it cheerfully. Yes it may be hard, and even seemingly pointless from our end, but we are being subject to our earthly authorities like God wants us to be, and we are loving our neighbors by staying away from them. Don't look for loopholes or opportunities to skirt around the rules - look for every opportunity to practice obedience, honoring our leaders as we can. We may not understand why, but what we understand doesn’t matter frankly. Understanding the meaning of what we’re doing is a bonus. Obedience comes first. Unless the Government is asking us to do something ungodly, we must do as we’re asked.

I had the hard choice to make this week - would we try and weasel my conscience around what the gov had said about staying home so we could go to a party? or would we be obedient, loving and consistent and stay home? I made the call that we would stay home, and upset people I love. Obedience is hard, but it is good and God-honoring.

Love your Neighbor

This strange new time for us is full of opportunity. The normal ebb and flow of societies’ interaction and habits are changing. We will be at home mostly. So will our neighbors. So will our relatives and friends. Everyone will be in the same boat together. How can you love your neighbor in the midst of this? How can you minister to other church members? We’ve already taken our church services and community groups online, but we need to think about how we can serve others even while at home. Do you need to make a habit of regularly calling your friend who lives alone? Do you need to do a grocery run for the person in 14 day quarantine? Can you use your gifts and abilities to do something from home for your neighbor? Some creative thinking may be required.

Here’s an idea: order take out at once a week. If you can afford it, order some good HEALTHY food to be delivered. You will be loving your neighbors by staying home, and supporting jobs at restaurants by buying from a local business and keeping the delivery guys employed in these uncertain times.

What other things can we do?

Practice spiritual disciplines

I’m sure we all have those spiritual disciplines that we have been wanting to start for ages, but we never seem to find the time to do it! You know what I mean - it may be prayer, fasting, scripture reading. Maybe it’s memorizing scripture. Maybe it is reading books that are good for your faith. Maybe it’s time to start daily family devotions so that your are regularly praying and teaching the bible to your kids. For me, I’m always trying to solidify habits of daily reading and prayer. Perhaps this change of pace will be a grace from God to help me get it locked in as a life-long habit.

Climbing the ladder of political hearings: Tribune, Governor,

I challenge you, how will you use these restrictions? Selfishly to binge endless house of Netflix? Rebelliously to look for every opportunity to get out of being obedient? Or, Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus?

Paul was put in a position where he had no option, but God gave him opportunities to serve the advancement of the Gospel. Right now for us, there will be opportunities to advance the Gospel in our own discipleship, and in the lives of those around us.

How will you use these restrictions? Selfishly? Rebelliously? to serve Jesus?

How will you use your time for Jesus?

All we can do is Be ready to work in uncomfortable circumstances for Jesus.

What next?

Remember that God provide through his providence,

We need to be ready to give a defense, Truth, and God, is on our side.

Use your quarantine for Jesus - yes, rest, reflect, renew your faith then respond to the message.