Epilogue
Notes
Transcript
The Final Pages
The Final Pages
I love to read.
There are few things I love better then some uninterrupted time with a really good book. My children will likely never experience this particular pain, but if you remember actual physical books, you can tell as you start nearing the end. And as the pages disappear under your fingers at the back, you start wondering… are they going to actually wrap all these things up? How does the hero emerge victorious? How does the villain get served with justice? Will they explain all the mysteries and puzzles...
and then you finish the last page… and they didn’t wrap up all the things… and maybe you discover for the first time that this is a series and you have to wait for your parents to bring you back to the book store, and they are mad because you just that book the day before, and they make you wait to go back to the bookstore until next week, and then the clerk at the bookstore looks it up and it turns out the author hasn’t written the next book yet, ARRRRGGGHH!
Where was I? Now, when we scroll to the end of the Kindle book it nicely asks if we’d like the next book, and if it’s on Kindle Unlimited it’s free (or included in our subscription) and we just continue on happily.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are nearing the end of our time in Acts. For those of you with actual paper Bibles, you can turn the page from Acts Chapter 28 and see: there is no Chapter 29. There is the book of Romans… which despite a very misleading title, is not the sequel that recounts the “Adventures of Paul” in Rome. It is instead a letter he wrote three years or so earlier to the church in Rome.
As the end draws near… is Dr. Luke going to wrap up all these plot lines? Does Paul escape from Roman captivity? Does he find true love with an island princess? Does he use his immunity from snakes to fight crime? What happened to Peter from the first half of the book??? Or that Jesus guy from the first chapter? You can’t have someone say they are coming back in the beginning of the book and then end the book and they aren’t BACK!
There must be a sequel! Theophilus is going to be very upset: there is no sequel.
Paul was probably around 60 when he died. He’s got a couple years on house arrest coming, a few more on mission, then trial and execution in Rome.
The Final Chapter
The Final Chapter
Smooth Sailing to Rome
Smooth Sailing to Rome
After three months we set sail in a ship that had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the twin gods as a figurehead.
Twin gods? Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus responsible for the smooth sailing of ships. We can wink at that, we know the “smooth sailing” is up to Yawheh.
Alexandria, Egypt, where most of the grain was grown. Likely a grain ship heading for Rome.
Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.
There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome.
We don’t know who planted this church, but the gospel has spread far and wide.
And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
How did they hear?
Was it from the brothers in Puteoli? Or Paul’s letter to the Romans three years or so earlier?
They encourage Paul, just knowing that he has family in town, he has brothers (and likely sisters) in Christ there.
And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
This is remarkable, more about that in a bit.
What does Paul do in every city he enters? What is his “discipleship method” or “evangelistic approach”? First to the Jew, then to the Gentile. I love this. Do you think being on house arrest is going to hold him back? Nope!
After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.
But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation.
For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”
He asks and they come… and he professes his innocence from the start.
And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.
But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”
Now this is truly remarkable. It appears that in the two years Paul has been in prison in Caesarea, his fiercest enemies may have quieted down a bit. Before they were chasing him city to city, sending word ahead to poison the waters again Paul. But they haven’t sent anything to the Jews in Rome.
Paul, maybe for the first time in a long time, has a chance to play it cool. To give a “soft touch.” Maybe to have a place again in the Jewish community.
But that’s not Paul.
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
All day. Morning till evening. Trying to convince them about Jesus. Bold. Studied. From Scripture, Moses and the Prophets. Look, here is the Messiah! See Isaiah prophesying about him? See David here in Psalms? See Daniel and Ezekiel? See Micah?
And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
Still there seems like a chance, but Paul is going to make the final push which will drive many away. Quoting from Isaiah, a passage Jesus quoted himself:
And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
So Paul will do what? First to the Jews, then to the Gentiles.
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
Paul - not afraid of hurting people’s feelings. (In truth, it wouldn’t be loving for him to sugar coat things to his Jewish brothers and sisters. Only the truth could help them).
Paul, not afraid of being rejected by his people.
Paul, not afraid to suffer… and to continue serving in the midst of suffering.
Paul, ultimately not afraid to die for His Lord. And He did. In Rome.
The Epilogue
The Epilogue
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Welcomed all.
Welcomed all.
Paul was a goer, he brought the message to them. All of a sudden he is forced to switch gears, he is stuck in one place, but God starts bringing people in. The Jewish leaders, they were willing to come. The soldiers, they are forced to come. Visitors from Paul’s difference churches, his friends, they come. But the implication through the rest is that unbelievers were coming to hear.
And what was his answer? Twofold:
Proclaiming the Kingdom of God and Teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Proclaiming the Kingdom of God and Teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Proclaim is to “publicly announce religious truths and principles while urging acceptance and compliance.” To preach! News! The Kingdom of God is HERE! Act accordingly, live accordingly, repent and believe and be born again!
And Teaching. Instructing. Didasko, instruction. He is inclusive, Paul is covering the whole gamut, teaching and preaching, the King and the Kingdom.
With all Boldness.
With all Boldness.
παρρησία. Boldness. Speech that conceals nothing and passes over nothing. Plain truth, openness.
Without Hindrance.
Without Hindrance.
ἀκωλύτως. Without anything holding him back. Ain’t nothing going to hold me down!
Bold and unhindered! That sounds like Paul, doesn’t it?
Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.
And this is the end. This is the final word we get on Paul. Why does Luke stop here? Likely because he had reached the present day and sent the letter to Theophilus with everything that had happened so far. Maybe he did write the sequel recounting the last few years… if so, we don’t have it. This isn’t the last thing Paul does, either after a short trial or simply because his accusers don’t show up, Paul is let go. Church tradition tells us he has a fourth missionary journey, reaching out West, possibly as far as Spain, then he is again arrested, put on trial in Rome, and executed, likely beheaded, at around 60 years old.
This isn’t the end of Paul’s story… but it is an incredible summation of his story. If these are the words written on his non-existent tomb stone, I think He’s be thrilled. Better yet, if these are the words His Savior speaks over him...
Paul arrives in Rome with little fuss and takes up residence on house arrest. Even under house arrest, Paul continues his ministry - first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. The final word we get on Paul is this: he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about Jesus with all boldness and without hindrance. May it be said of us!
Our Epilogue - Our Charge
Our Epilogue - Our Charge
They welcomed all who came, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
God give me boldness. God free me from hindrance.
God give us, Next Step Church, boldness. God give us, Next Step Church, freedom from anything and everything that may hold us back.
May that be said about me.
I repent of my lack of boldness. How many things I allow to hinder me!
Fear of what they’ll say.
Fear of what y’all will say or do or think.
But what if I’m wrong!
God give me the boldness of Paul. God burn all the hindrances.
May that be said about us.
God give us boldness. Boldness for the Kingdom of God. Boldness for our Lord Jesus Christ. What is holding us back?
Where divisive spirits hold us back, give us courage and the boldness to rebuke them.
Where gossip wounds among us. Give us the boldness to stop it.
Where fear limits us, give us courage.
Where process or systems help us???
Monday morning I am heading up to camp… because we desperately need Vision, clarity about who we are and where we are going. I believe God has been speaking to so many of us, pieces of the puzzle, I will be praying and fasting that He puts all those pieces together. To Renew our Covenant and remind us of who we are. Restore our Identity as a people covenanted together. Remove anything and everything that entangles or confuses or holds us back, and then boldly move forward together to love and witness.
I will be on this retreat, praying and fasting… but this can’t be a “thing that Dusty does”. This only works if the Holy Spirit moves. It is God’s plan and God’s vision or it is nothing. So I need you to pray, all this coming week… and I need you to pray for me now.