Eyes to See, Ears to Hear, a Heart to Believe
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
This evening we are going to be taking a look at the final chapter in the Book of Acts.
These are the closing thoughts and bring to climax the dissemination of the Gospel Message.
The chapter starts out with Paul being shipwrecked off the shore of Malta.
While there, he is able to show the people the miracles of God.
First he is bit by a viper and suffers no ill effects (vs. 4-6).
Next he is welcomed into the home of Publius, the chief official of the island for three days.
He is able to heal Publius' father from fever and dysentery (vs. 7-8).
The people witnessed this and brought all the sick on the island to Paul, who healed them. (vs. 9).
As a result, the people honored them in many ways, including providing them with the supplies they needed to continue their journey.
Finally though after three months the group arrives in Rome, which was their original destination before they were shipwrecked.
Remember, Paul was traveling to Rome to appeal his unjust arrest and detainment directly to Caesar.
While there though, Paul was such a trusted prisoner, he was allowed to live in a rented house by himself with one guard and able to receive visitors as he pleased.
And leading up to our text, Paul had called together the leaders of the Jews to make his case to them as to why he should go free.
Starting in verse 17 of Acts 28 Luke writes this . . .
Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
A very reasonable request, but the Jewish leaders there inform Paul that they don't know anything about him.
They had received no letters about him and know nothing about his case.
However, the do tell him . . .
But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
Which is promising for Paul.
They had heard of this "sect" or of Christianity and how it is being spoken against.
Therefore they were interested in hearing more about what Paul had to say.
Paul now has his audience and this is where our text picks up.
So, I will read through it and we will then break it down a bit.
Acts 28, starting in verse 23 . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: “ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Preaching from Daylight to Dusk
Preaching from Daylight to Dusk
So, getting us started off, Luke again records in verse 23 that . . .
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
So, Paul sets a day aside to again meet with the Jewish leaders.
And since Paul is a prisoner and is under house arrest, they are invited back to his place.
On the appointed day, those original leaders returned, but they also brought many more people with them.
So imagine the scene.
Paul has this great multitude and audience primed and ready to receive the Word of God as it was given to Paul.
The Scripture says that he "explained and declared to them the Kingdom of God."
It goes on to say that he tried to "convince them about Jesus."
So, in a nutshell, Paul was preaching the gospel to them.
He was explaining to them all about Jesus.
Who Jesus was.
What Jesus did.
About all the prophecies that Jesus had fulfilled.
About His death, burial, and resurrection.
About His promise of Eternal Life and the Kingdom of Heaven.
However, Paul wasn't using just the words of Jesus.
Paul preached Jesus to them on their level.
In terms they could understand.
Paul didn't use Christian theology or Nazarene Doctrine to teach these people about Jesus.
He used what they knew and what they could relate to. HE MADE JESUS REAL TO THEM.
The Bible says that Paul taught them "both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets."
That is what they knew and that is how they were going to relate to Paul and relate to Jesus.
Now Paul didn't change the message.
The Gospel is the Gospel and it doesn't change.
God is God and He doesn't change.
However, Paul did something that we as the CHURCH OF TODAY needs to do.
Paul understood the culture and understood the people.
How did Paul do that?
(1) He was one of them. Paul was a Jew so he understood their tradition.
(2) He lived among them.
Paul didn't hold up somewhere apart from society like a hermit.
Paul interacted with the people and discovered what made them tick.
Paul found out that common thread that made that community unique and bound it together.
Missionaries have been doing it for years, BUT THE CHURCH AT HOME HAS FAILED.
We have failed because we have failed to understand that OUR COMMUNITY IS A MISSION FIELD.
The mission field has extended beyond Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The mission field is right outside our doors.
We are failing because we are not making the gospel message (1) REAL and (2) RELEVANT to the people of our community.
For decades we have been hold up in the church building doing the same old thing, the same old way and we have gotten the same old results.
We need to be reaching out to this community.
Taking the Gospel message out there to them.
We need to ask ourselves, what makes this community unique?
What is the common thread that binds this community together?
How can we show them Jesus where they are right now?
We don't just ask the questions either though.
Paul here preached to them, "from morning to evening."
He didn't just give them the message and give up.
He went on from Daylight to Dusk.
Preached till he could preach no more.
All in an attempt to share the Gospel.
To share the Love of Christ.
That doesn’t mean we hold 8 hour services, it means we don’t quit and we don’t give up on people.
Some Believed and Some Did Not
Some Believed and Some Did Not
Was he successful though?
Or, was he just wasting his time?
Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
Some were convinced that Jesus is in fact the Messiah.
Some accepted the Gospel and accepted Christ.
But some did not.
Was Paul's success measured by the number that believed?
Did Paul have to have a certain number of converts to be successful?
No.
God is not interested in how good we are at something.
In fact, the worse we are, the more God is glorified in things.
Look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians . ..
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
God is not interested in how "good" we are or how "talented" we are.
God is looking for something else.
God is looking for OBEDIENCE.
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
God wants us to be obedient to His commands.
He wants us to put all of our faith and all of our trust in Him.
He wants us to step out of the boat and out of our comfort zone.
Are we willing to do that?
I hope the answer is "yes" because . . .
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
So, Paul was obedient.
Paul wasn't concerned about his success.
He was there to deliver the message and so he delivered the message.
The Bible says that after they heard the message they began to argue amongst themselves because some believed and some did not.
No Ears to Hear, Eyes to See, or Hearts to Believe
No Ears to Hear, Eyes to See, or Hearts to Believe
And as they left, Paul left them with a final thought inspired by the Holy Sprit to the prophet Isaiah . . .
“ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
Paul’s quote here is taken from Isaiah 6:9-10.
And, he tells them that they have ears and will hear the Word but will not understand.
They have eyes and will see the Word in action but will not perceive or discern what is going on.
Why? What is it that is impacting their spiritual eyes and ears?
Their heart is like Pharaoh.
Hard and calloused.
Nothing can penetrate it.
They've went deaf from all the "noise pollution" of the world.
They don't want to see the truth, so they've closed their eyes.
If they would just open their eyes and their ears and allow their heats to understand the truth.
If they would repent and turn to God.
Then God could heal them.
God would heal them.
I'm afraid though it is not just "the Lost" that this applies to.
I'm afraid that we have many in our pews in our churches that are the same way.
So much has happened over the years that they are still there.
But they have closed their eyes to the world around them.
They have stopped up their ears and have went deaf.
They have hardened their heart to the point that they cannot love.
They have isolated themselves in their own little world and cannot hear the voice of God calling.
They are drying up and dying.
Falling by the wayside.
Falling into a form of godliness.
Going through the religious motions of “religion.”
But the gospel is no longer real to them.
The gospel is no longer relevant to them.
And it begs the question, how can we make it real and relevant to anyone else, when it's not real and relevant to us?
We can't.
It is impossible.
Salvation to the Gentiles
Salvation to the Gentiles
And, Paul follows this with probably one of the greatest words of encouragement to Christians, but one of the saddest statements to the Jews.
He says . . .
“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
They have heard the Word of God and have rejected it.
Paul has done all he could do to convince them of Jesus' deity.
So Paul declares, "NO MORE." Like God told Samuel . . .
And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
Therefore if the Jews did not want Jesus.
If they could not accept the Son of God as Messiah.
Then God knew a people who would.
These people were the Gentiles.
These people are you and me.
The Gospel will go forth, with us or without us.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And as we close, I want to read something from our friend, Mr. A.W. Tozer. He writes this . . .
I must ask this question in the context of today's modern Christianity: "Is it not true that for most of us who call ourselves Christians there is no real experience?" We have substituted theological ideas for an arresting encounter; we are full of religious notions, but our great weakness is that for our hearts there is no one there! Whatever else it embraces, true Christian experience must always include a genuine encounter with God. Without this, religion is but a shadow, a reflection of reality, a cheap copy of an original once enjoyed by someone else of whom we have heard. It cannot but be a major tragedy in the life of any man or woman to live in a church from childhood to old age and know nothing more real than some synthetic god compounded of theology and logic, but having no eyes to see, no ears to hear—and no heart to love.
What is our heart like tonight?
Is the Gospel still real and relevant to us today?
Or has it grown cold and stale?
It is not because the message has changed.
It is not because God has changed.
Is it because we have stopped up our ears, closed our eyes, and hardened our hearts?
God has called us to be a witness, to take the Gospel out.
If it is not real and relevant to us, we can never make it real and relevant to others.
Only you and God know your heart.
If it is not where it needs to be come and do something about it.
Let’s pray . . .