Spirit-Empowered Missions-Minded Love Removes Barriers to the Gospel

Barriers

Our culture is riddled with grief because of cultural barriers that hinder people from achieving the American Dream. Feminist contend that men put up barriers that keep them from being successful. Minorities argue that Caucasian people, particularly men, suppress them from advancement in work and society. I’ve heard lately, that even overweight people say that thin people hinder them from experiencing the good life.

Though there is some truth to these complaints, it should never be said in the church that Christians have put up barriers that keep the lost from hearing the gospel. We should not allow our cultural preferences and practices to get in the way of God’s work of gathering is elect.

There have been times when the church has been guilty of this. We have seen it in our cultural preference for what is acceptable to wear at church. We have split churches over music preferences and communion practices. We have judged churches “unbiblical” if they do not have an American flag in their sanctuary. We’ve even gotten after each other about who sits where in the church.

Christ did not set the example of putting up barriers that hinder people from having salvation. On the contrary,

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The cross is the best expression of God’s love removing the greatest barrier man has to enjoying Him forever. Christ did everything it took to remove man’s greatest barrier, the wrath of God for our sin, so that all who call upon his name, Jew or Gentile, male or female, black or white, will be saved.

For Christ to do this it required great sacrificial love for you and I. Paul explains the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf to the Philippian Church

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Do you see the humility, the love, the whatever it takes attitude of Jesus? Christ set the example for His Church to love at great cost and sacrifice to yourself for the sake of others. His Spirit is in His church calling His people to do the same thing, especially on the missions field. And I think you see that in this morning's text.

What we see in Luke’s account of Paul enlisting Timothy for the ministry of missions, is

Spirit-empowered missions minded love removes all barriers that hinder the lost from hearing the gospel.

In Acts 16:1-5, Paul is ready to begin his second missions journey. Paul headed northward, on foot, circling backwards so to speak through the Cilician gates to the cities where he and Barnabas had planted churches in his first mission tour. Moving east to west Paul and Silas hit Derbe and then Lystra. Luke eventually joins the group as you see in verse 10.

Lystra is where we pick up in Acts 16:1. Paul’s has had a rough go of it in Lystra, but we learn at least two truths from Paul and Timothy.

Because Christ removes the barrier of your sin, love your neighbor by doing whatever it takes to preach the gospel (Acts 14:19-20)

While in Lystra, a remarkable young man, maybe 15-18 years old, named Timothy catches Paul’s attention. Timothy is remarkable is many respects. First, his is the fruit of Paul’s preaching the gospel in Lystra

Look back in your bible to Acts 14:8-20 Lystra is where Paul healed a lame man and then was mistaken for mythical Greek deity. The temple priests and towns people though that Barnabas was Zeus and Paul was Hermes. They tried to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas, but Paul stopped them and

Acts 14:15–18 ESV

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul tries to correct their wrong worship, their idolatry with the gospel. I’m sure there are other words that were said. Luke usually just gives a short clip or summary of what was spoken. Nevertheless, the gospel was preached. Why? Because Paul understood that the greatest hindrance that is keeping tis community from having life abundantly is their sinful idolatry. They are dead in their sin and trespasses. The people of Lystra are sons and daughters of disobedience, children of wrath, all under Satan’s authority.

Jesus sent Paul and Barnabas to free these people, to remove the stain of their guilt and give them life. The only way to remove God’s wrath on them was to accept his free gift of salvation in His Son’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

The people responded.

Acts 14:19–20 ESV

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

Notice a couple of things here. First, Paul preaches the gospel and comes a stones throw away from being killed. Everyone thought he was dead, however, he rose up and entered the city. He went back to the very people who tired to kill him, and now here he is a couple of years later preaching the gospel.

Looking at Paul’s life in Acts and the New Testament, I am convinced Paul believed without a doubt that his sins were forgiven, the wrath of God was removed from him, and he had life abundantly. And in the confidence of Jesus love and salvation, he preached the Gospel faithfully without hatred or malice for the consequences he suffered. He had this “do whatever it takes” attitude that was rooted in love for God and love for his neighbor. How else do you go back into a place where the people tried to kill you? The humiliation and anxiety would be off the charts, and then to come back a couple of years later and continue preaching the gospel.

Well, a good reason to come back to Lystra is God saved people and planted a church, despite the hostility. You notice in verse 20, the disciples gathered around Paul. Those disciples were new converts. One of those converts was likely Timothy.

Because Paul and Barnabas knew Jesus had forgiven their sins and removed their greatest barrier to enjoying God, they did what-ever it took to preach the gospel so others can experience God the same way. The fruit of their commitment to love their neighbor by preaching the gospel is Timothy.

I’m afraid one of the greatest hindrances, barriers, to the lost hearing the gospel is the reality that many Christians are not preaching the gospel. We do not have a “whatever it takes” attitude in our evangelism. We don’t like being uncomfortable. We don’t handle rejection very well. Sometimes the fear of man is overwhelming. Even worse, we just don’t care. Jesus ensured someone, probably multiple people told you the right gospel so that your sins can be forgiven by faith. he is calling you to follow his example by the power of his Spirit, just as Paul did, to go, love your neighbor an preach the gospel. there are countless Timothy's waiting for you.

Because Christ transcends all cultural preferences and practices, love your neighbor by doing whatever it takes to remove any cultural barrier that hinders the lost from hearing the gospel (Acts 16:1-3)

Acts 16:1–3 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

The word “transcends” means to surpass or go beyond the limits. What I mean when I say, “Christ transcends all cultural preferences and practices is that Christ (his kingdom, his will, his truth) surpasses any man made cultural preference or practice. Meaning, loving Jesus and his people surpasses my opinion of what color the carpet should be, or if I believe every pastor should wear a suit, or if I think we are not worshiping unless we are using the organ. Every cultural has its own preferences and practices. How church is done in Litchfield Illinois, is not how it is done in Georgia, or even Africa.

Where churches get themselves in trouble is when they exalt their cultural preference and practice above the kingdom of God. So, I say, because Christ transcends all cultural preferences and practices, love your neighbor by doing whatever it takes to remove any cultural barrier that hinders the lost from hearing the gospel. I get this from what Paul asks Timothy to do for the sake of unbelieving Jews.

Acts 16:3 ESV

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

There are a few tings we need to address in this text. Luke is careful to let us know that Timothy’s mother is Jewish and his father is Greek. This was not uncommon in this day and time, but by Jewish law, the marriage was probably not recognized. Timothy would still be Jewish under his mother’s heritage. His father being Greek, would not have had him circumcised. Jews in the area would have been aware of this. Though his mother was Jewish, Timothy could not mingle among the Jews in the synagogue because he was not circumcised.

Timothy became a believer when he accepted the gift of salvation by faith. He grew in his faith and became well known to others. Timothy was a genuine believer. So what is with the circumcision?

Paul and Peter made it clear in chapter 15, you are saved by grace through faith. There is no need for Gentiles to be circumcised or to keep the Mosaic law ritually or ceremonially for the sake of salvation. Also, its not like what was happening with the Galatians who were Gentiles being cohered into being circumcised. Paul, however, had Timothy circumcised. This seems like a contradiction. It’s not, and I’ll show what Paul is doing here.

First, keep in mind that Paul, nor Peter, or anyone else in the bible, demands that Jews give up their customs. Many Jewish Christians still participated Jewish cultural preferences and practices. The gospel enlighten many of those practices, and just as it was made clear in the Jerusalem council, the Mosiac law and circumcision cannot save you or get you into the kingdom of God. Only faith in Christ does that. So, Timothy, being Jewish, can get circumcised and practice his Jewish customs in light of the gospel.

Second, Paul gives a clear reason why he had Timothy circumcised. There is a ground clause in verse 3. Some of yo will see the word “because,” others will see the word “for.” This clause answers why Paul did what he did. He had Timothy circumcised because he wanted to take Timothy on mission and Timothy would not be able to reach the Jews if he remained uncircumcised.

Timothy had a choice to make. If he wanted to go with Paul on mission, preaching the gospel and joyfully advancing God’s kingdom by making much of Jesus, then he needed to do whatever it took to make than happen. He could choose not to do it. It was not necessary for his Christian salvation or sanctification or establishment in the church. It was a choice to put others above himself for the sake of their salvation.

Justin Holcomb explains that is happening here very well. he says,

“Though circumcision was not one of the four regulations set in writing by the Jerusalem council, Paul will be taking Timothy with him in delivering the news of those regulations. Paul therefore asks that Timothy be circumcised, not as a requirement for salvation or even an act of obedience to God, but to remove a significant barrier as both men minister to churches of Jewish and Gentile congregations. This was grace and love in practice to others on behalf of Paul and especially Timothy.” Justin Holcomb

I love how Holcomb says it was “grace and love in practice to others.” This is a heart attitude, a Christ-exalting heart attitude. Paul showed this kind of grace and love when he preached the gospel at Lystra where Timothy was saved. Timothy now demonstrates the same kind of grace and love by being will to sacrifice something of himself in order to remove a barrier so the lost can hear the gospel an the church can be strengthened. Both men demonstrate Spirit-empowered love for their neighbor. Its the kind of love Paul speaks of in

1 Corinthians 13:1–7 ESV

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Timothy decided to practice love and grace toward his fellow Jews. He was circumcised, possibly by Paul. This allowed him to bridge the gap between Jews and Gentiles, which could be why he ends up pastoring the Ephesians church, where Paul writes about how Christ unifies Jews and Greek into one new man.

Take some inventory this morning. Do you strive to practice grace and love in such a way that you are willing to let go of sacred cows you may hold?

We have to ask ourselves as a church if we have any cultural preference or practice that is hindering the lost from hearing the gospel? What are we willing to give up that is not central to the gospel in our church culture? Do we as a body posses a Spirit-empowered love for our neighbor that is eagerly sacrificial?

Think about our culture for a moment. Consider the fallout from the sexual revolution and the drug addiction epidemic. What will we do when a woman struggling with drug addiction decides to come to church because one of us invited her to be here? Se shows up dressed in the only way she knows how o be dressed because she learned early that she can get what she wants by using her body. She hears the gospel and is moved, but not converted. Rarely is anyone converted the first time they heard the gospel. Will she be able to come back? Will she be invited over for lunch?

What about the transgender guy who is depressed and searching for hope. He walks into our church an sits down. Will he be greeted? Will be feel welcomed? When he hears the gospel will it be met with people who are sacrificially loving? Never giving up the truth, ever, but seeking to remove whatever hindrances that may get in the way of enjoying the Lord through his Son Jesus Christ.

What is the fruit of such love?

Spirit-empowered love strengthens the church’s faith (Acts 16:4-5a)

To strengthen means to fortify to establish more belief or conviction.

That decision was pivotal for Timothy and the church. Having that kind of “do whatever it takes” love for your neighbor enable Paul to disciple Timothy into pastoral ministry. Paul calls Timothy a son in the faith. Timothy goes on to pastor the Ephesian church and mentioned as a co-writer or laborer in the faith in Paul’s letters. Paul wrote two epistles to Timothy that have guided the church for centuries.

Spirit-empowered love makes the church more effective at reaching the lost (Acts 16:5b)