With Us & Better
Notes
Transcript
Last Sunday after worship, my good friend Nancy was standing around, respectfully waiting for me to finish up conversations with others and taking care of the typical after-worship tasks. Finally, after most of the people had left the building for lunch, Nancy asks if I have a minute or two.
Her first comment is, “So you know, Barrett, I would love to have a testimony like yours.”
I had mentioned in the introduction to last week’s sermon that I was envious of my friends’ who had stories of radical conversion. But, as I told Nancy, I realize how much of a blessing my story is. And I know, because Nancy and others have told me they wish this didn’t have to go through what they went through to get where they are.
Nancy then mentioned, in reference to verse 16 of Acts 9, “I wish someone would have told me that believing in Jesus would lead to suffering. That would have been good to know.”
Saul had likely been told that believing in Jesus would lead to suffering, and Saul was about to figure it out firsthand:
In Acts 9, we see three responses to the transformation/conversion of Saul—there’s astonishment (v. 21), hatred (v. 23) and fear (v. 26).
People are amazed, baffled by Saul. And some others want to kill him. Still more believe that Saul might be faking the whole conversion/transformation thing and are suspicious of him.
This is what we read after the conversion, the un-blinding, and baptism of Saul.
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
You see, upon his conversion, Saul had—almost immediately, at once—started preaching that which he had vehemently denied and even fought against. Saul was preaching (kerusso, the word used throughout the NT for Christian preaching) that Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah (distinctly Christian preaching).
Saul’s preaching these truths about Jesus, proving these truths about Jesus is either astonishing, maddening, or confusing, depending upon who you are.
To some, Saul is an incredible example of Jesus’ grace and mercy; Saul had been one thing, and now he’s another.
21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
To some, Saul is a turncoat. He used to persecute the followers of Jesus and now he’s preaching Jesus. To them, he’s the enemy.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
Still to others, Saul’s transformation is just a little suspicious. The disciples of Jesus are afraid of him:
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
Here’s the truth: following Jesus isn’t always easy. Think about Saul’s first few days as a Christian. Transformed by the glory of Christ, but also blinded for three days. After he’s un-blinded and has received the Holy Spirit, he’s baptized. He starts to preach in the name of Jesus and there are, almost immediately, people conspiring to kill him.
Saul learns real quick that the life of the Christ-follower is full of trial, suffering, and opposition.
I’m afraid some Christians are led to believe that they will not face any trouble, any issues, any difficulty, and if they do something is wrong with them or their salvation is called into question.
This kind of teaching does great harm to the faith and to many immature believers. It’s dangerous, sub-Christian teaching if it doesn’t include the guarantee of difficulty and suffering and persecution for the believer.
One sure-fire way to know if the preaching you’re listening to or reading is Biblical (and honest!) is to count how often the preacher/teacher talks about struggle and trial as a normative part of the Christian life.
If all you ever hear or read is “your best life now” and/or some version of a prosperity [false] gospel (health and wealth), what you’re listening to or reading is quite the opposite of Christian.
Your best life is not here and now; it’s then and there.
Health and wealth are temporary, prone to ruin, rust, decay; the only treasure worth storing up is in heaven and it’s imperishable.
The Christian life is not all rainbows and fairy tales and puppy dog kisses. It’s just not. The life of the Christ-follower is struggle, a waging war, wrought with difficulty and hardship. BUT…Jesus is better far than any temporary gain this life affords.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold…I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
The truth about the Christian life—the truth I’m sure the believers in Damascus were telling Saul all about—is that the Christian life is full of difficulty and struggle, trial and suffering.
It’s interesting to me that there are as many mentions in our text about Saul preaching/speaking about Jesus as there are mentions of people wanting to kill Saul.
It’s a little of this, a little of that. 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Following Jesus isn’t all struggle and sorrow and trial, but that’s part of it.
“Welcome to ministry, Saul! Here’s what following Christ looks like:
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
“The early church was wed to poverty, prisons, persecution. Today the church is wed to prosperity, personality, and popularity.”
—Leonard Ravenhill
We need to get back letting the Bible guide us. I know that might not sound all that novel, but it kind of is. We need to preach and teach what the Bible clearly states. I find no where in the Bible where it says or even hints at following Jesus being easy. Jesus Himself says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Jesus Himself promises, “In this world, you will have trouble.”
Following Jesus isn’t Easy, but Jesus is With Us.
Following Jesus isn’t Easy, but Jesus is With Us.
Living in a fallen world is difficult. And following Jesus in a fallen world involves even more suffering.
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
So don’t be surprised when you face trials and opposition for proclaiming Christ, for following Jesus. Following Jesus isn’t easy. This is one of Saul’s earliest lessons learnt: following Jesus isn’t easy. And yet, Saul comes to understand an even more abiding reality: Jesus is with him, wherever he goes, whatever he faces.
Saul’s preaching is obviously accompanied by the Holy Spirit. Indeed, no one preaches Christ to any effect without the Lord directing and guiding.
Verse 22 of Acts 9 is evidence of Jesus with Saul:
22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
This is Saul growing more and more powerful spiritually speaking. He’s becoming a more and more powerful communicator of the gospel message. He’s growing stronger as a preacher. This would be impossible without the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit, without Jesus beside Him.
Beyond this, there’s tangible, flesh-and-blood evidence of Jesus’ presence with Saul: fellows believers, Christian brothers and sisters right there with him.
The last half of verse 19 paints a beautiful picture of Spirit-led fellowship: “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.”
And we see more of the same as the story progresses:
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
Luke uses the expression “the Jews” from this point forward in Acts to refer to Jewish people who opposed the gospel. Here Saul is opposed, strongly. The Jews are looking to kill Saul. They’re watching the city gates, waiting for Saul to show himself.
Notice though what takes place: the disciples and followers of Jesus are looking out for Saul. The Lord God revealed to Saul the plot against him. The Lord surrounded Saul with His people. And, taking a play out of Joshua’s playbook, the disciples of Jesus preserved Saul’s life by lowering him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
Following Jesus isn’t easy, but Jesus is with us. And this is often times expressed in the Jesus-people around us.
I’ve never once doubted that Jesus was with me. But there have been times I’m feeling pretty low, pretty depressed, pretty discouraged. And then one of my brothers or sisters in Christ will stop by or call or text. They’ll ask us over for dinner. They show up in the emergency room. They drive to my father’s funeral. They gather around us, loving and supporting us in good times and bad.
One of my favorite pictures of this was on April 28 of this year. Our family literally surrounded by cars parked on the street, the church standing all around as we finally finalized our kids’ adoption. Evidence of Jesus’ presence, supporting us.
The church is evidence of Jesus with us. We need one another. Saul needed his new family, and Jesus provided, over and over again.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.
Saul had some issues upon returning to Jerusalem, as you might imagine. He had left Jerusalem for Damascus after arresting followers of Jesus all over Jerusalem. Saul was known, he was recognized, he was infamous, and he was feared. They were all afraid of him.
You’d be afraid of him, too. And those who weren’t afraid, would at least be suspicious— “He’s not a disciple. He’s trying to pull off the whole undercover cop routine.”
But good ol’ Barnabas put his arm around Saul and introduced Saul to the church, to the leadership. Those who were skeptical about Saul were reassured by one they trusted: Barnabas, the generous encourager.
Barnabas recounted all that had happened to Saul and all that Saul had done—preaching fearlessly in the name of Jesus while he was in Damascus.
Barnabas was able to vouch for Saul. And it mattered greatly.
Following Jesus isn’t easy, but Jesus is with us—always. And as we belong to the church, we will find His presence manifested among our brothers and sisters, the body of Christ.
The Christian Life is Full—FULL—of trials and suffering and opposition, but JESUS IS BETTER!
The Christian Life is Full—FULL—of trials and suffering and opposition, but JESUS IS BETTER!
We need to hear it, both halves of this. We do not despair for Jesus is better than anything we might face; but neither do we flit and float about believing the lie that life will go swimmingly for us simply because we belong by faith to Jesus.
This life is difficult. If you’ve not experienced any difficulty, just wait. I love you too much to lie to you and tell you you’ll never face anything difficult or sad. I’d rather prepare you for what you will encounter: trials, suffering, opposition.
It’s part and parcel of the Christian life, trial, suffering, and opposition. For many of our brothers and sisters around the world, you can add persecution to that list. Most of us don’t have any firsthand experience with what that is like, but may very well know persecution in our lifetime.
Saul knew the life of the Christ-follower was filled with trials and sufferings of many kinds. In fact, it was one of the first things he heard from another Christian.
I’m sure Ananias relayed to Saul what Jesus had said to him:
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Right there was a promise from Jesus of Saul’s suffering.
And suffer Saul did. He faced all kind of trials. He’d share about them with the Corinthian church in a letter he’d write:
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
This is evidence of Saul’s about-face. The persecution Saul once headed-up is now directed against him.
This is evidence of the genuineness of Saul’s conversion; he doesn’t give up. He’s not just sampling Christianity. He is all-in, trials and all. He spends the balance of his life suffering for Jesus, BECAUSE JESUS IS BETTER!
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Saul/Paul boasts and delights in his trial and suffering and weakness. He knows trials aren’t a punishment, but an opportunity to glory in the Lord.
My dad handed out hundreds, thousands of copies of a short article entitled, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.” Instead of bemoaning the suffering and trial of his illness, Dad took the opportunities his cancer afforded him and used them to speak to anyone who would listen about how much better Jesus was than anything else.
If we never faced any sort of trial, if faith in Jesus was a vaccine that inoculated us to hardship, imagine how conversations would go:
“Well, of course you’re praising the Lord. Everything is going well with you. Look at your life! You’re healthy, wealthy. You have 2% body fat, a picture perfect family, 2.4 children, a perfectly trained dog, and your cat uses the toilet. Of course you’re praising the Lord! You’ve got everything; all good, nothing bad, everything you want...”
But what if we praise the Lord even though we suffer and struggle, even when we face trials and difficulty?
“I don’t get it…you suffer and face trial after trial. You’ve experienced so much pain, so much loss, so much heartache. Your life is, honestly, in shambles. I think Job’s wife was onto something; you should just curse God and die! But here you are, praising the Lord…How?!? How do you praise Him?”
“Because JESUS IS BETTER! His grace is sufficient. What I have in Him far outweighs anything this world can throw at me.”
Saul/Paul would write this from prison:
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… JESUS IS BETTER!
The Jews look for a way to kill Saul. He keeps preaching fearlessly (v. 27), because Jesus is better.
The Jews are on a stake-out in front of the city gates, eating stale donuts and drinking old coffee, waiting for Saul to drive up so they can capture him and kill him. Saul just keeps speaking boldly (v. 28), because Jesus is better.
Saul talks with and debates the Hellenistic Jews, and they want to kill him because of what he’s saying (v. 29).
30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
And from there, Saul continues on, preaching and proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah.
Saul will, for the rest of his days, preach Jesus and Him crucified, not a “how-to-live-a-better-life ‘sermon’”. He’ll preach Jesus, because Jesus is better.
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At the end of our text, there’s one verse that continues the narrative of Acts:
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Though the church faced many threats and trials externally, it experienced great peace inwardly—peace that passes all understanding. We experience this peace through a right relationship with God through faith in His Son, Jesus. Even though we may be in a time of crisis, facing trial and struggle, we find peace in Him.
The church continues to multiply numerically, because Jesus continues to build His Church despite murderous threats and intense opposition. Jesus is building His Church still, and not even the gates of hell will prevail against it.
This life is hard. Christians are not immune to trials or struggles. But our trials are not the last word. As Spurgeon put it:
“We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and write our blessings in sand.”
—C.H. Spurgeon
If we’re going to etch anything in marble, let it be: JESUS IS WITH US & JESUS IS BETTER!
Brothers and Sisters, whatever you face, whatever trouble, whatever hardship, whatever struggle, Jesus is with you and Jesus is better.
Friends, if you don’t know Jesus, let me assure you, He is better far than every good thing and He far exceeds any trial or hardship you’ll ever experience.
Following Jesus isn’t easy, but there’s nothing like it, nothing that compares to knowing and being known by Him. If you hear His voice, do not harden your heart; turn from your sin and turn to Him. Jesus is better.
“In all my sorrows, Jesus is better. In every victory, Jesus is better. Than any comfort, Jesus is better. More than all riches, Jesus is better. Our souls declaring, Jesus is better. Our song eternal, Jesus is better.”