Transcript

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I praise God for last night. It was such a joy to pray with
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different people and to see people praying.
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You know, as we talked about the prayer life of Paul, we have to
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remember that it is very possible that the very
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conversion of Paul was the byproduct of prayer.
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Many people believe that when Stephen was being martyred,
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remember Paul was in attendance and he actually approved of his
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death. And it was Stephen who prayed
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before he died. Lord, do not hold this sin
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against them. And then he fell asleep.
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It could be that God answered Stephens prayer by saving the
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Apostle Paul. Isn't that a glorious thought?
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And so perhaps Paul, and realizing that he was somewhat
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the outcome of a man who believed and loved him enough to
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pray for him, also prayed fervently.
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So don't underestimate what your prayers can do, but you also.
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Remember, I think that at the end of our time yesterday, I
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mentioned a word, a word that many of us are familiar with,
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some maybe are not familiar with, but the reality, the
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glorious truth of Providence. Providence, sweet, sweet
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Providence. I love to study.
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I. Love to preach.
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I love to think and meditate about God's Providence for many
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reasons, and one of them is because the more you familiarize
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yourself with that truth, the more you grow in confidence in
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that God does not work. Sometimes.
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God is always working. So if you've never heard that
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word or you've heard it but you don't understand what it means,
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let me give you the the most simple definition I can offer in
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terms of what this Providence mean.
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Providence really is God sovereignly working in and
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through the non miraculous events in life to accomplish his
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will. When God works miraculously,
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it's tangibly clear, indisputable, obvious, this is
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God. When God works in providential
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ways, it's his hidden work. It's behind the scenes.
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It's not immediately perceived, but what Providence secures for
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us is that the Lord is constantly on the move, not just
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in the grand scheme of things, not just in the major stages of
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life, but in each one of our lives, Providence is working.
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And one of my favorite aspects of Providence is that the Lord
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in his great wisdom takes seemingly insignificant events,
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non climactic moments, and even check this out circumstances
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that seem to challenge or even contradict the will of God to
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accomplish the will of God. Paul is a glorious testament of
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God's loving Providence at work in each of his children's lives.
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You know, he comes to the book of Acts and people love reading
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that because it's it's a narrative, but because there's
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so many episodes of the supernatural, right?
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And that's right. But there are also.
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Wonderful times where God moves in providential ways.
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And I believe one of the most remarkable instances where
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Providence works in the life of Paul is when he arrived for the
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first time in a region called Corinth and ministered there.
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And where we find the record of Paul's time in Corinth for the
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first time is located in the book of Acts chapter 18.
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And I invite you to turn there with me because I want to take
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this account and consider 5 providential spheres or five
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places areas in Paul's life. Where God's?
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Providence was at work and I'm sure it will encourage you.
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And if you are somebody who likes to take notes, let me tell
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you in advance how God's invisible hand worked in Paul's
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life. The first area where we see
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Providence at work is in Paul's relationships, how God brought
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people into Paul's life. The 2nd way in which we see
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God's Providence at work is in his times of need.
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Providence in times of need. Following that, Providence.
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This is one of my favourites. Through disappointments.
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What a comforting truth it is to know that God's at work even
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when things don't seem like they're working.
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Providence through disappointments.
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That's the Third Point. But there's also Providence in
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our protection. And lastly, Providence in pain,
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in pain. Let's read the 1st 3 verses of
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this chapter together to unpack Providence in Paul's life in
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terms of his relationships. After this Paul left Athens and
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went to Corinth and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native
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Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla.
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Because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome and
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he went to see them and because he was of the same trade, he
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stayed with them and worked, for they were tent makers by trade.
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So Paul before this was in Athens.
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He arrives to this region called Corinth, the prominent 1st
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century city. And Corinth was not only known
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for its prosperous commercial realities and prosperity, but
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also it was notorious for it's reputation of immorality.
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In fact, the name Corinth became a byword in its time.
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If you wanted to insult someone, or if you wanted to describe
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someone who is corrupt in character or immoral, you would
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refer to them as a Corinthian. And if you think about that,
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that's what history testifies. And if you look at Paul's
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letters to the Corinthians, you get that kind of impression.
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The people that he is talking to and disciple, they had rough,
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rough backgrounds. And when I just thought about, I
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thought, you know, humanly speaking, that what a strange
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strategy would be for Paul to enter into this kind of a city
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to preach the gospel and expect success.
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But such as the power of the gospel, it can save anyone from
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anywhere. But that's not the main point of
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the message. What I want to highlight at the
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outset of our reading here of this text is that Paul arrived
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at Corinth alone. He rarely did this.
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Paul usually, when he went to go preach somewhere, went with a
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team and last circumstances compelled him to go solo.
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And this is one of those cases. So Paul here arrives alone.
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And why I find that inspirational, though not ideal
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for us, because we're called to do life in the faith together,
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is that when Paul was alone, his faith was still alive.
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Paul went in there and he influenced Corinth.
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He didn't allow Corinth to influence him.
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And unfortunately, there are some believers who are overly
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depended upon the spirituality of those around them, and so
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they are somewhat excited and stirred concerning spiritual
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matters when they're around spiritual people.
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But the moment that they separate themselves and are
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isolated, their spirituality shrivels up.
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And they are. Swiftly.
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Subject to carnality, Paul wasn't such a Christian.
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Paul wasn't easily tossed to and fro concerning his surroundings.
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Paul was concrete. Paul was unwavering.
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Paul was solid. Maybe so of us, but he wouldn't.
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Be alone for too long because very quickly in our reading of
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Paul's arrival here, he would be soon reunited with his ministry
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team. But God introduces 2 Paul new.
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Friends, look again here at verse two.
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We were told that he found a Jew named Aquila and his wife,
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Priscilla. He quickly encountered them.
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And I believe that Aquila and Priscilla were saved before they
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met Paul because the book of Acts has a tendency of
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explaining and showing us that when Paul met somebody, he would
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have, you know, led them to Christ.
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But what we see here is that these were believers who came
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from Rome. We learned that there was
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already a church in Rome. There's no instance here.
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There's no indication that Paul evangelized them or Paul gave
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them the gospel. It's most likely that they were
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Christians when they met. It could have been one thing for
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the Holy Spirit to tell us how Paul met Aquila and Priscilla.
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He could have left it at that. But he wants to go above that
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and tell us how they met. And the way that they met is
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fascinating. It's through Providence because
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we're told here that the reason why Aquila and Priscilla even
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came to Corinth was because of an anti-Semitic decree from the
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Roman government that forced all the Jews of that time to vacate
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and to leave. And so this couple.
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Had. To leave Rome without a choice.
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And I'd like to make a habit of, instead of just reading these
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things and nodding my head in agreement and getting clarity on
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some of these things, I'd like to feel what people go through
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as I meditate and put myself in their shoes.
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So here's a married couple. Who probably had a business in
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Rome, who had a home, obviously, who were probably part of a
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church, who had a routine and had their favorite spots to go
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as a couple. And very quickly, all of that
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was turned over because of something they could not
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control. In fact, you want to see another
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testament to the historicity of the Bible.
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You can find this historical moment where Claudius actually
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pushes out the Jews from Rome and it parallels with what we
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have in the Scriptures. So instead of just rejoicing the
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fact that our Bible is historically accurate, I want to
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rejoice in the fact that. This.
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Couple started a new life in a new place.
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Because. Of something that you would deem
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as uncomfortable, unfair. Even evil.
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And yet. Despite all of that, this law
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ended up being the catalyst. For.
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Aquila and Priscilla. To.
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Meet the Apostle Paul to come into contact with him, and this
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would radically transform all of their destinies forever.
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Aquila and Priscilla are one of the most notable couples in the
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entirety of the New Testament, and they have quickly become
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some of the dearest friends and ministry partners to Paul.
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The Holy Spirit highly praises these two through Paul,
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especially in a text that I want to want you to see with your own
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eyes in Romans 16. Look at how Paul speaks about
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this married couple. In Romans 16 if you look here
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verse 3. Paul writes Greet Prisca and
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Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
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Who? Risked their necks for my life.
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To. Whom not only I give thanks, but
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all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.
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Greet. Also the church in their house.
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Greet. My beloved Appayanidis, who was
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the first convert to Christ in Asia.
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So. Listen, this couple not only
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Blessed Paul, they impacted the wider churches among the
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Gentiles. I.
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Wonder if we would have ever heard of Aquila and Priscilla
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had it not been for the Roman government.
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To. Force them out and to start a
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new life. What?
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Would have become of Paul's ministry in Corinth and beyond.
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What would have become of their future OK if they stayed in
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Rome? They would have been more
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convenient. Who cares about convenience if
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inconvenience means I get to advance the purposes of Christ?
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And so it was this turn of events that position Aquila and
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Priscilla to be mightily used. By the Lord and to make
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friendships with some of the greatest people in all of church
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history. You know.
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There are a lot of Christians who are nervous about what will
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become of our politics after this November.
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But the. More I read my Bible and see
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things like this, the more excited I get.
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The more excited I get and an anticipation builds up in me to
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see how like Claudius and Rome. God.
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Supervises over all things and positions his people exactly
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where they need to be. So I'm kind of looking forward
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to what's going to happen in the next few months because I know
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God is in control. He's over everything.
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And he's not just in charge of who's going to rise up and who's
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going to come down, He's in charge of who's going to rise up
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and who's going to come down for the sake of his people being
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where they need to be to fulfill his purpose.
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So you. Don't need to be nervous today.
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You don't need to wring your hands.
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You can rejoice in knowing that even when laws are established.
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God. Is controlling something for his
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gospel to be more effective and efficient?
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So we see here Providence. In Paul's relationships, how he
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moves these pieces to bring people together to create
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ministries, ministry teams, what a glorious thought.
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But we still have four other observations to make concerning
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Providence, and the second one deals with Providence in times
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of need. Let's.
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Read here verse four and five. And he reasoned in the synagogue
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every Sabbath and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks when
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Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia.
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Paul. This is how the ESV reads it.
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Paul was occupied with the word testifying to the Jews that the
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Christ was Jesus. So the Apostle Paul not only met
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Aquila and Priscilla because they had to leave Rome, but also
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because they shared the same trade.
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They were tent makers. So was the apostle.
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He was trained in this. History tells us that it was a
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rabbinical tradition that when you grew up to study the law,
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that you also picked up a trade that was.
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Transportable so that you can you can take care of yourself if
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you needed to, and Paul was in fact trained in this way.
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What I find so fascinating, though, is that Paul was set
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apart to be an apostle. He was set apart to be a
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missionary, a preacher, full. Time.
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So why is he here working? Look.
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Again at verse four. And he reasoned in the synagogue
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every Sabbath and try to persuade Jews and Greeks.
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And so he dedicated one day out of the week to preach and to
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reason and to persuade and to explain.
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But what about the other days of the week?
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He was. Working.
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He. Applied for a part time job and
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you would think well this is a hindrance to his ministry.
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No, in fact, it was a strategy for his ministry.
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You see, because. Paul was very mindful.
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That. There can be suspicions of
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individuals who would think that he's using the gospel for
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financial gain. This was especially true when he
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walked into a new place like he does here in Corinth.
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And so in order to silence any criticism, he would he would
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work and take care of himself in order for the message to not be
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muddied by any false accusations against his motives.
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And that's precisely what he is doing here.
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But notice that there is a shift that takes place in verse 5.
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When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, the ESV reads,
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Paul was occupied with the word. Now if you have the King James
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or the new King James, you might have it where it says he was
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compelled by the Spirit or pressed in the spirit.
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And the reason for the difference is is due to
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manuscript variations and modern translations.
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More recent translations chose to follow the.
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Manuscripts that state that he was occupied with the word the.
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Word occupation implies that Paul suddenly there is a change
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here where he gave most of his energy and his time and his
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efforts to preaching and we we are told why it was because
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these two came after Silas and Timothy arrived.
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Paul now says, OK, I can now have more freedom to preach the
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gospel more than just one day out of the week.
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How did that happen? What?
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Happened. Was he?
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Was he? Was he not still in financial
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need? He was.
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But this? Is the beauty of the harmony of
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the Bible. You get your answer actually in
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Second Corinthians in Chapter 11 verse 9.
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Paul. Speaking to the same group of
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people that he ministered to in Acts 18 explains this very this
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very thing right here. And it sheds more light, he says
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here in Second Corinthians 11/9. And when I was with you and was
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in need. I.
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Did not burden anyone for the brothers who came from Macedonia
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supplied. My need.
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So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
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Aha. So what Paul is explaining here
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is that Silas and Timothy, when they came from Macedonia, they
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also came with a sizable donation from the Macedonian
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believers. Sizable enough for Paul to not
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give as much time to tent making and more full time time to
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preaching and teaching and evangelizing.
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And I think this is a good place to kind of think about why we as
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Christians give to ministries. This is one reason among many
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reasons. This this.
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Moment allowed Paul to be more devoted to preaching, and
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realistically, if we desire the word to be excavated in terms of
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revelation and expanded in terms of reach, it's going to require
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more time for. People to devote.
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To that kind of service and that time is created when.
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Like Paul, the people of God rally together and support those
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who are. Dedicated to such service in
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order for them to come to this kind of a point and dedicate
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more of their time to this kind of work.
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And I say that because there are some people who boast and even
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criticize those who are workers of the gospel, who actually make
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a living from the gospel, that they would even they would even
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use Paul as an example as a proof text that he worked in
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such a manner in which he did not.
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Take anything from the people of God.
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And that was true in some cases. But Paul also advocated that
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workers of the gospel should make their living from the
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gospel. And in fact, many of those
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people who make arguments for that their.
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Ministries in many ways suffer and some people are called to
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that. And I I'm not criticizing it.
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I think if they're called to that and their conscious cause
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into that, then that's what they're supposed to do.
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But Paul shows here something quite amazing that there is a
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partnership that takes place even in our giving that gives
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ministers the experience that they need to help the cause of
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the gospel. But let me also say this at the
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same time it is vital for those who have been given the
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privilege to serve in full time ministry.
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To be occupied in the word so. Ministers who have been given
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this opportunity have the responsibility to dedicate
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themselves. To being consumed with prayer,
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studying and preaching the word of God.
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There should be no lazy full time pastors or evangelist or
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apologist. They have.
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No excuse for providing anything less than a deep and meaningful
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spiritual service, and Paul is a model of that.
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So now he becomes occupied with the word.
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That's not the main point of this passage, at least for this
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message. I want you to see again verse
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nine of First Corinthians or Second Corinthians 11.
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He writes. And when I was with you and was
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in need, the moment Paul stepped foot in Corinth, he was in need.
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He. Had basic material issues and
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requirements and my question is if he was always in need then
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why why didn't the Lord expedite the donations from Macedonia?
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Why did he have to wait for? Paul to apply for a job, work we
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don't know how long and then for Silas and Timothy come later on.
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Can I? Tell you why?
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Because of Providence. Because.
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Of Providence, God. Doesn't only know what you need.
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God knows when you need it. He knows when to meet it.
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He is so surgically precise. He's.
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Aware of your bears? But sometimes your desires will
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be delayed. And there's.
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A beauty in that. Do you know?
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What the beauty is in this? Had.
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Paul come into Corinth with his pockets full.
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Had. Paul come only to be greeted by
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Silas and Timothy with their generosity.
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The generosity of the Macedonians, at least.
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It's. Very possible that he would
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never met Aquila and Priscilla believers and he would have
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missed out on something much more important than money, godly
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relationships and partnerships that can make a greater impact
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for the Kingdom of God. Do you see God's wisdom here?
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And. So this man Paul shows us how
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God knows the timing of his provision for us.
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Of His help for us and our concept of when God should help
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us should should always be in line with the reality of His
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perfect Providence. Lest you think.
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That. Your blessing is being hindered
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when in fact the delays meant to deliver you something.
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Providence in our times of need. When I was in need, the brothers
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came. Yes, but why didn't it come
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right away? Because you had a couple of
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Christians to meet. So here you are today.
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Praying your. Heart.
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Out because you're somewhere and you don't know why you're there
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and you want to leave as soon as you can.
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And you've you've asked counsel if you even nudged your way out
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and you know doors came to keep you in place.
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Perhaps God is keeping you there for something, for someone to
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accomplish something. Trust.
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Him. This is what Providence is meant
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to do. It's it's meant to give you a
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pillow to lay your weary head on and to trust.
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He knows my times of need, but He knows when to meet them.
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Providence. Not just in times of need, but
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Providence in disappointments. Look at verse six with me backs
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18. And when they opposed and
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reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, Your
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blood be on your own heads. I am innocent.
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From now on I will go to the Gentiles and he.
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Left there and went to the House of a man named Tidius Justice, a
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worshipper of God. His.
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House was next door to the synagogue.
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I love that Crispus. The ruler of the.
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Synagogue believed in the Lord together with his entire
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household and many of the Corinthians hearing Paul
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believed and. Were baptized, Paul had a common
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strategy whenever he entered into a city or a region.
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This was his strategy, his preaching tactic.
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He would always go into the synagogue's first.
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And his his ambition was to preach the gospel to the Jew 1st
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and then to the Gentile. And so it's no different here.
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He comes into the synagogue and he preaches.
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But what began to happen very quickly is that his message was
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vehemently opposed and it was met with blasphemy and and gross
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rejection. To the degree that Paul.
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Says, you know what, I'm done here.
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And he says here that he should. It says here he shook his
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garments. He.
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Imagined that. Imagine a preacher doing that
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after preaching the gospel and people not responding.
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He shook his garments and he he quotes.
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The. Words of some of the prophets in
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the Old Testament. Namely Ezekiel, your blood be on
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your own heads and it says here from now on I will go to the
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Gentiles and this was this is not easy for Paul.
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The reason why it was not easy for Paul is because he had a
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tremendous heart for the Jewish people, his.
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Own kinsmen and if you want a window into the heart.
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Of. Paul for the people of Israel,
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read Romans 9:00 to 11:00 and it will move you.
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You know you have people today. I'm not.
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Concerned about the world. I'm not concerned about how the
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world thinks. My preoccupation, so is yours,
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is how the Church ought to act. There's a lot of.
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Discussion about the Jewish people today and how we should
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think about them, how should we should feel.
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But I'm not going to go into that rabbit trail right now, but
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I would just advocate this if you're a true born again
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believer. Go.
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To the New Testament and see how the New Testament speaks about
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this people, specifically the Apostle Paul and see his heart
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and realize that he was a person who desperately wanted to see
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the Jewish people saved. He wanted to see them come to
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meet their true Messiah. Is that your heart, Romans?
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9:00 to 11:00 is a wonderful window and yet Paul admitted
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with. His heart for this people that
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is calling as a minister had a special, special emphasis.
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I want you to see it in Galatians 2.
27:05
And Galatians 2, verse seven, notice what he says, and
27:08
explaining the emphasis of his ministry in contrast to the
27:12
ministry of the apostle Peter, he writes in Galatians 2, seven.
27:16
On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with
27:21
the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted
27:26
with the gospel to the circumcised.
27:30
And so he admits here that my focus, my primary focus as an
27:35
apostle was actually. To.
27:37
Reach the Gentile people, the non Jews, and Peter's focus was
27:41
to be for the Jews. That.
27:44
Does not mean that Paul was unable to minister to the Jews.
27:47
He obviously does. Nor does it mean that Peter had
27:50
no interactive interaction with the Gentiles on any occasion.
27:53
But he clarifies what their primary focus was.
27:57
And he knew this about his mission.
27:59
Even when he was called by Christ, Christ clarifies to him
28:03
that he was to be a minister among the Gentiles.
28:06
So Paul was was fully aware of this, but his.
28:09
Heart could not help it. Wherever.
28:11
He came and he knew there was a synagogue.
28:13
He was magnetized to go and to minister to this people, and I
28:18
bring this up because I'm persuaded that the Lord used.
28:24
The periodic rejection of the Jewish people.
28:29
To nudge Paul to turn more of his attention to the Gentiles.
28:36
And if that is the case of what a thrilling thought for us to
28:38
ponder as we strive to be in the perfect will of God in our
28:41
service to Him, you know God. Guides us not just in opening
28:46
doors, but by slamming them in your face.
28:50
God guides you and I even as He allows us to be overlooked.
28:56
Check. This one out God can even guide
28:57
us through the inexplainable fruitlessness of our efforts in
29:02
one area, ultimately to to lead us to another area where efforts
29:07
will be blessed even in that. And that's a call for wisdom.
29:11
Because. Some people want to know, is the
29:13
fruitlessness here telling me that I should stay faithful or
29:16
is the prolonged and effective efforts here a.
29:20
Nudging of the Lord. But here we see, I believe, that
29:23
periodically. Because it's not the only.
29:26
Place where Paul says I will go to the Gentiles periodically the
29:29
Lord shoves. Him and pushes him and pivots
29:32
him so that he can give his attention to those who are not
29:35
Jewish. And look at the fruit of that
29:40
here in verse 8. Crispus, the ruler of the
29:43
synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire
29:47
household. And many of the Corinthians
29:50
hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
29:54
Do you see that? So here is rejection.
29:58
And Paul turned his back and he ministered to the Gentiles, and
30:02
there was immense fruit, immense fruit.
30:05
But I. Love Paul because again, he
30:07
can't help it, right? He loves his kinsmen so much.
30:10
Where did he? Where did he plant his base?
30:13
Like. Right next to the synagogue.
30:15
So he. Didn't want to go too far.
30:18
He goes. Your blood be on your own ads.
30:19
I'm going next door though. I'm right right here, OK.
30:22
It's amazing. And so.
30:26
People began to be saved and and Christmas, even the ruler of the
30:29
synagogue that was that was a radical conversion.
30:32
A radical conversion. But I want to encourage you.
30:35
Please please let. Your heart be built up and
30:37
knowing that even through disappointments, even in
30:39
ministry. You.
30:42
Have your heart, your heart is swollen for a specific group or
30:45
a specific act or specific service and things may not be
30:49
happening the way you would like or the timing that you would
30:51
desire. Do you realize that the Lord
30:53
knows? What he's doing, even in that as
30:54
you pray. Over it, and as you trust Him
30:56
and as you surrender them. And maybe.
30:58
It is Providence again through delay.
31:00
There's something he wants to teach you and build in you
31:02
before there's fruit or promotion because if you have
31:05
fruit and promotion before your time, it can hurt you.
31:09
And hurt others. Or maybe the Lord is even
31:11
indicating through that. And overtime, this is not where
31:13
you're supposed to be. There's something else that I
31:16
need you to pray for and pray about.
31:18
I'm not here to give you direction in your certain case.
31:20
I'm just here to tell you that God is supervising you and He's
31:24
watching you and He's putting something together even through
31:27
the things. That might disappoint you.
31:31
Providence. And disappointment.
31:35
People. Often ask how I came to Chicago.
31:38
There are many ways to answer that, but I can summarize it in
31:41
this because of an. Open door here and.
31:46
Many closed doors in Canada. Closed doors.
31:50
That didn't really make sense to me.
31:52
Closed. Doors, if I can be transparent
31:54
in ways that I thought, I thought this was going to go in
31:56
this direction and I can't, I can't explain why this is
31:59
dissipating and I can't explain why people are walking and going
32:02
and traveling and moving. All these, all these things
32:05
began to shut down and there was a flickering in the horizon on
32:09
the other side of the border. Providence through
32:13
disappointments. Fourthly, Providence in
32:18
protection. Look at Acts 18, verse 9.
32:25
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision.
32:29
Do. Not be afraid.
32:32
But. Go on speaking and do not be
32:33
silent for I am with you and no one will attack you to harm you,
32:39
for I have many in this city. Who?
32:41
Are my people and he stayed a year and six months teaching.
32:47
The word of God. Among them.
32:50
This is one of the. Handful of visions direct
32:53
revelations that Paul receives from the Lord Jesus in the book
32:56
of Acts, and every single one of those visions was a turning
32:59
point in his ministry, and it's no different here.
33:03
Something happens between verses 8 and verses 9.
33:09
For the. Lord Jesus to appear to Paul and
33:11
tell him, do not be afraid. You don't.
33:14
Need to be a rocket? Scientist to understand that
33:16
Paul must have been afraid. Jesus.
33:19
Is not just greeting him with, you know, a creative salutation.
33:24
He's telling him. I perceive that there is fear in
33:27
you, Paul, and I'm here to tell you, do not be afraid.
33:32
Now, why would Paul be afraid? One discomforts me because the
33:35
man comes off as a fearless machine, right?
33:39
But no, he's succumb to to natural anxieties like you and
33:43
I. And I believe the reason why
33:45
Paul was fearful is because he picked up on a pattern in his
33:49
preaching ministry. And the pattern was this.
33:51
He would enter into a place, he would preach.
33:53
And when there was fruit, his preaching was usually followed
33:56
by beatings, trials and imprisonment.
34:00
And. So what did we just learn in
34:02
verse 8? Crispus, the ruler of the
34:04
synagogue, get saved. And many of the Corinthians get
34:10
saved because they're believing on the name of the Lord Jesus
34:13
Christ. And who are his neighbors at
34:15
this time? The.
34:17
Jews and so. Paul.
34:22
Is. Realizing I know where this is
34:24
going, I know what's going to happen.
34:27
I'm going to, I'm going to get a knock on my door or one one of
34:29
these days while I'm preaching, a stone is going to fly and hit
34:32
me. Something is coming.
34:33
And Jesus perceives this and he manifests to himself, himself in
34:38
a supernatural way. And he tells him, do not be
34:41
afraid. And one of the few times the
34:43
Lord tells him, here I am with you.
34:46
And look at this, no one will attack you to harm you.
34:51
That may not mean much to us as Christians in the West, but it
34:54
should. See.
34:56
Providence. Yeah.
34:58
Thank you. We see here that he has promised
35:08
protection and. What I love about this is in any
35:13
area of life, if the Lord says no one or nothing will harm you,
35:16
no one or nothing will harm you, right, It's done.
35:19
It's a done deal. No matter what scheming is going
35:21
on, no matter what person of. Power.
35:23
Is standing against you. If he is.
35:25
With you, doesn't matter who stands against you.
35:28
There's a matter of criminals are coming against you.
35:30
There's a matter of church people are planning to take you
35:32
to court. Oh yes, church people like to
35:34
take Christians to court. Doesn't.
35:37
Matter if the Lord is with you, doesn't.
35:40
Matter who stands against you. So Paul was reinforced.
35:43
Paul was reinvigorated. Paul was.
35:46
Was. Motivated now?
35:47
We're told here that he preaches for over a year.
35:49
Without. Any fear without any concern.
35:52
But what I want to point out to you is that though this is a
35:54
supernatural manifestation, the means of God's protection in
35:59
Paul's life was through Providence.
36:01
How would God provide this protection?
36:04
The shielding around his servant?
36:07
Well, let's read here in verse 12.
36:10
But Galileo was proconsul of When Galileo was proconsul of
36:14
IKEA, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him
36:20
before the tribunal. Saying this man is persuading
36:24
people to worship God contrary to the law.
36:27
But when Paul was about to open his mouth.
36:31
Galio. Said to the Jews, if it were a
36:33
matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, oh Jews, I would have
36:37
reason to accept your complaint but since it is a matter of
36:40
questions about words and. Names in your own law, see it to
36:44
yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these
36:48
things. Case closed.
36:50
Get out of here. So notice this we're we're
36:55
reading here verse 12. But when Galio was proconsul of
36:59
Achaeus. So it could be that this man now
37:01
takes this position of a regional judge.
37:05
And the Jews saw this as an advantage.
37:08
Here's a man who is brand new to this region, this area.
37:11
He's not really familiar with Paul.
37:13
And so in their minds are thinking, let's make a case
37:16
against them. And he might be more prone to
37:18
believe our false accusations. But what the?
37:21
Jews saw as an advantage. God in fact, was providing a
37:28
means of protection. So Gallia Gallio is raised up
37:33
and they make this case against them.
37:36
And Paul doesn't even need to open his mouth as he's prepared
37:40
to make a speech. The judge speaks on his behalf
37:42
and he says, I'm not even going to entertain this.
37:44
This is this is an inner Jewish thing, not my business.
37:48
It's done. I have other matters to, to
37:50
focus on this is this is no way on the same level as Paul, but I
37:56
remember when I first got saved in college and, and, and our,
38:00
and our school was much more, the classrooms were much more
38:04
small, smaller and intimate. So I remember I got saved and
38:08
people began to pick up on it. And so there was there was a
38:10
couple people actually, but there was one in particular who
38:12
was like very, very outspoken against my faith and was not
38:16
ashamed. You know, Paul says not ashamed
38:19
of the gospel. This person was not ashamed to
38:21
shoot down the gospel and those who held to the gospel.
38:23
So I remember I was in class one day and this person before the
38:26
class started stormed into the into the room and began to look
38:31
at me in front of everybody that was sitting in class as we
38:33
opened our laptops, got ready for the beginning of the
38:35
session. Oh, here we have a guy who
38:39
believes that gays are going to go to hell and.
38:42
Imagine I'm just sitting there thinking like I just want to go
38:44
to class. You know, I just, I'm paying for
38:47
my tuition here. I didn't really sign up for
38:49
this. And she began to go on and on
38:52
and on. In that moment, I was, Lord,
38:54
give me wisdom. How do I do this?
38:55
And as I'm ready about to say something, I hear another voice.
38:59
Somebody stands up and absolutely rebukes this person,
39:03
rebukes this person. I'm just staring at this like,
39:05
no way. You know why?
39:05
Because the other person was an atheist.
39:11
I've. Had conversations with this
39:12
other person and this person even challenged me and and made
39:15
fun of me at sometimes and here's this person now defending
39:18
me. I thought this is great.
39:19
I, I I like this place now I like this.
39:25
You know what? The Bible says in Proverbs 16,
39:26
seven when a. Man's ways please the Lord.
39:30
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
39:34
Now that. Doesn't guarantee that all your
39:35
enemies are going to always be at peace with you, but it does
39:37
show what God is able to do for those who please Him.
39:42
He's able to do that. So, people.
39:45
Often ask Well man, every time I study Providence or hear a
39:48
message on Providence, I get so excited.
39:50
How can I assure that Providence will be in my favor?
39:53
And my response is always the same.
39:55
Don't get so busy figuring out how Providence can work for you.
39:58
Get busy simply in this, please the Lord.
40:02
Just. Live your life in a manner in
40:03
which you. Please, the Lord and Providence
40:05
will take care of itself. And.
40:07
That's one of the blessings of walking in conscious obedience
40:10
to the ways of Christ because you are comforted by the peace
40:15
that Providence is going before you, Providence is surrounding
40:20
you. Providence is working even for
40:23
your protection in many ways. But this?
40:26
Is not the only thing. We have a final thing, and
40:29
that's Providence in pain. There's an interesting way how
40:32
this story ends. And I love when any snippet of
40:37
the Bible, any snapshot concludes in an obscure or
40:41
seemingly random way. And and that's what we find
40:43
here. You would think that this would
40:45
end in verse 16. And he drove them from the
40:48
tribunal, and then we would transition to Paul returning to
40:51
Antioch. But that's not what we find
40:53
here. I want us to focus verse 17.
40:56
Look at verse 17. And they all seized Sosthenes.
41:02
The. Ruler of the synagogue and beat
41:06
him in front of the tribunal. But Galio paid no attention to
41:11
any of this, so this isn't end with the dismissal of the
41:15
charges. It.
41:16
Concludes with a vignette of this ruler of the Corinthian
41:20
synagogue. Now here's a question #31 for
41:24
our Bible quiz. Who?
41:26
Was the ruler of the synagogue earlier?
41:28
What was his name? Crispus, right?
41:31
But what do we read here in verse 17?
41:33
And they all see Sasani is the ruler of the synagogue.
41:37
Now, some would say that he's the ruler of another synagogue.
41:40
I'm not persuaded. I'm persuaded that he became the
41:43
new ruler of the synagogue that Crispus was in charge of.
41:47
So what happened to Crispus? Well, it's very clear to me.
41:51
He became a born again Christian and he was fired.
41:55
You're no longer going to. Oh, you went next door, huh?
41:58
Well, stay next door. And then they put out a job, you
42:02
know, application. And Sosthenes came in and he
42:05
became the new ruler of the synagogue.
42:07
So. That's what I believe happened
42:08
here. Sosthenes.
42:12
He's only mentioned twice in the Bible.
42:14
And the first time here we're told he's the ruler and he got
42:17
beat up. I.
42:20
Have. Two questions.
42:21
Who? Beat him up.
42:23
Why? Did they beat him up?
42:25
There's some speculation. I think.
42:27
The most persuasive argument. Persuasive case is that the Jews
42:32
beat him up. Why?
42:34
Did they beat him up because of Sastanese was the ruler of the
42:37
synagogue? He was probably the spokesperson
42:39
for the case against Paul and so he was the one who was supposed
42:43
to persuade Galio. And.
42:45
He failed and he didn't fight for the case and I.
42:50
Believe the Jews. In their great frustration, not
42:52
being able to attack, Paul turned all their anger on
42:55
Sosthenes. So right there and then, they
42:57
couldn't even wait till they got to the synagogue.
42:59
They slapped them around, they bruised them up and they
43:03
embarrassed him. So Sosthenes was attacked by the
43:08
Jews and you? Might think that this is not a
43:11
valuable insight until you realize that in all of the
43:14
Bible, there's only one of the place where his name shows up.
43:18
Go to 1st Corinthians. In chapter one.
43:22
Verse. 1. And notice how Paul greets the
43:26
Corinthian believers. Paul called.
43:38
By the will of God, to be an apostle of Christ Jesus and our
43:41
brother Sosthenes. What happened here?
43:50
I love when people get. Excited about the Bible?
43:53
Our. Brother Sosthenes.
43:56
Well, here's what I believe. I believe that Sosthenes is
43:59
beating was a turning point for him in his conversion to Christ.
44:06
You want to talk about Providence?
44:08
Let's talk about Providence and pain.
44:10
Here's this man who was left to lick his wounds and when he was
44:14
betrayed by his own people, Guess who else was in Corinth to
44:17
embrace him? Paul.
44:23
I know Paul enough to believe that.
44:25
Well, while Saucenis was being tossed around, he was there, he
44:30
witnessed it, right? He was at the same tribunal.
44:34
Can you imagine Paul giving side eye and smearing saying yeah,
44:39
you deserve that and going back to the House of Titus Justice,
44:46
this is just me. This is this is not dogmatic.
44:48
This is just imagination. What if it was?
44:51
He got beat up. The Jews spout on him, kicked
44:53
them, slapped him, pulled his hair, and once the dust settled,
44:57
who was only there, Paul left there.
45:02
And he looked at Sosthenes and he bent down and he embraced
45:05
them. I wonder if that's what
45:07
happened. I.
45:09
Wonder if Sosthenes not only tasting the betrayal of his own
45:12
people, but also the mercy of a man who is intoxicated with the
45:17
gospel, cause him to reconsider his opposition to it?
45:22
Sosthenes, our brother. I've preached.
45:28
Long enough, I would think. To.
45:31
Understand that sermons are not always the starting point for
45:34
people to be curious or to be inquiring of Christ.
45:40
I'm willing to admit that. Can God use sermons?
45:42
Yes, and I pray that He uses every single one that I've ever
45:44
preached. But I.
45:46
Also realized that sickness, loss, devastating consequences
45:54
of sin. Are.
45:55
Also Catalyst. For people to reconsider their.
46:00
Spiritual standing and their need of a savior.
46:06
I hope it's not the case, but it's very possible that some in
46:09
here, you didn't hear anything that was said from this pulpit.
46:13
Nor. Will you, after I preach the
46:15
last message? Perhaps what it will take for
46:19
you is to experience pain, a level of pain that will give you
46:26
a different ear to what somebody preaches to you.
46:30
I'm convinced of that. I know I've seen it enough.
46:33
And God, in this Providence, loving Providence, allows for
46:37
that to happen for some to make their first steps towards
46:42
receiving Jesus. But this Providence is not just
46:47
in pushing people to be saved. It also has a way of sanctifying
46:50
those who already are. Providence and pain pastor.
46:54
Ben opened up this conference with Psalm 119, and this was
46:56
prepared before he mentioned anything.
46:58
But I want you to revisit with me these two verses.
47:01
In Psalm 119 verse 67, the psalmist says before I was
47:06
afflicted, I. Went astray before I was
47:10
afflicted, when I was whole, when everything was going well,
47:15
I was going astray. But once I was afflicted.
47:19
What? Does he say?
47:20
But now I keep your word. Affliction is what shackled me.
47:26
Was. What kept me is what anchored
47:28
me. Affliction.
47:30
Not a three-point sermon, though God uses 3 point sermons.
47:34
It was affliction that started this man's journey or.
47:37
Brought him back to where he was supposed to be.
47:40
And notice what he says about affliction right after verse 68.
47:44
You are good and do good. That's in the context of him
47:48
being afflicted. When he realized the fruit of
47:51
the affliction, we realized what the affliction did.
47:54
It's usually in hindsight. It's usually when we look back
47:56
we realize. He was good and you do good.
48:00
Even when you wound me, even when you chastise me, even when
48:04
you bruise me, you are good and do good.
48:08
Teach me your statutes now. Now.
48:10
I keep your word now. You've won me over.
48:13
You've persuaded me, even through pain.
48:16
So now teach me I'm where I'm supposed to be.
48:19
Was. Paul himself persuaded, because
48:21
we're reading this is a narrative, right?
48:22
This Is Us kind of from a helicopter view, seeing what's
48:25
happening in Paul's life. What was Paul himself aware of?
48:29
Providence. Was he convinced of this truth
48:31
that we've been rejoicing in this this morning?
48:34
Absolutely, absolutely. And there are many comments that
48:37
he makes in his writings that prove so.
48:39
Let me give you one as we close our time together.
48:42
Listen to how he identifies himself while writing one of his
48:45
prison epistles, while jailed, while chained, while confined,
48:49
while limited in Rome, in prison.
48:52
He says this in Ephesians one, or excuse me, Ephesians 3, verse
48:57
one. Let's turn that together, shall
49:00
we? For this reason, I Paul a
49:15
prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles.
49:19
One simple point. You know.
49:21
What he could have said, I Paul, a prisoner of Rome, a prisoner
49:26
of whoever was the emperor of the time, He doesn't say that.
49:30
He says I am a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
49:33
In another place, he says I'm a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
49:39
What is this reveal of Paul? The authorities did arrest him.
49:44
Though they. Did watch him.
49:46
Though. He was in house arrest.
49:48
He ultimately understood that I am a slave and I am not a
49:52
victim. I'm exactly where the Lord wants
49:55
me to be. The.
49:57
Lord permitted this. The Lord allowed for this.
49:59
You want to know how I believe the Lord in Providence?
50:03
Showed. Paul that he was in fact a
50:05
prisoner of Christ Jesus in many ways.
50:07
But listen. If Paul had not been in prison,
50:09
we would not have four of the epistles.
50:12
That we love and we quote all the time, including Ephesians,
50:15
Colossians, Philippians, so God and His Providence.
50:20
Through. Pain blossom, something
50:23
beautiful. You can't.
50:26
Lose in this life. If you're in Christ, you.
50:29
Can't and the. More you rehearse this truth of
50:32
Providence. The.
50:34
Greater. Peace you will inherit.
50:36
Because. Providence is there in
50:37
relationships, the people who come in your life, the people
50:41
who leave your life, disappointments and times of
50:45
need and. Your.
50:46
Protection even in pain. What a mighty God we serve.
50:51
Let's. Pray and thank him, shall we?
51:08
What a mighty God we serve. Lord, we give you glory for Your
51:12
marvelous truth. That.
51:15
We are secure in your hand and in this very room you are
51:19
writing hundreds of stories. Even in the mundane.
51:26
Even. In the moments that seem to be
51:28
dull or even painful, you're writing 100 stories, hundreds of
51:33
stories, thousands of stories, millions of stories.
51:36
You are the greatest author in the universe.
51:38
Lord, we give you all the honor, all the glory, all the praise.
51:42
Now open our mouths that we might praise you.
51:46
And give you what is your do? In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
51:52
Are you? Happy in Jesus.
51:54
Amen. Amen.
51:59
I'm. Telling you if you get this down
52:01
deep in your soul. You won't have to hit your
52:04
steering wheel when that flat tire comes.
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You won't be so bothered when without explanation or any kind
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of update. About your job, you.
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Lose it all of a sudden, it's just amazing how this this
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provides a fortitude and it's all of ours to experience if we
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believe it. Take it away, guys.