Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  ACTS CHAPTER 23 TO 24

We continue on to Paul’s defense to the Jews in Jerusalem. In the prior two chapters, Paul was captured by the Jews and questioned regarding his faith in Jesus. Paul bravely testified his conversion to Christianity but was met with great opposition. Many of these Jews who stirred up the Jews in Jerusalem came from Asia where Paul preached. They wanted him dead such that 40 of them had a pack to kill him. They vowed that they would fast till they killed Paul. However, they did not manage to kill him, and I wonder if they fasted to death. In these two chapters, Paul had to defend himself before Felix and was in threat of being killed in a plot.

In these two chapters and prior chapters, I have learned some lessons from Paul. Firstly, Paul was courageous in defending his faith in Jesus despite being under death threats and beaten till almost dead. As Christian soldiers, we need to uphold our faith in Jesus and to courageous defend our faith from the attacks of our enemies.

Who are our enemies? These can be people who oppose our faith in Jesus and who persecute us. In the end times, more of these people will appear and can be seen in quite recent heated debates in homosexuality.

Many people of the world are bending towards this trend that they can ‘do anything they like’ and that people who are religious are ‘narrow’ and against their beliefs of ‘human rights’. Reading the newspaper, it is really surprising to see the vehement cries of these people to Christians and how they mock at Christians. I would think these group of people will continue to rise as countries become more liberal and moral standards degrade further more.

In the Spiritual Meeting, the preacher talked about absolute moral standards which is one of the core principles in the Bible. We, as Christians soldiers have to uphold this moral standards and not be swept away by the tides of these world and to hold our ground from verbal or physical attacks from morally decadent people.

Another, and more fearful enemy is death. If we do not uphold our faith in Jesus to the end, we will be defeated by death. We have to be vigilant and to constantly pommel our body from the weakness of our flesh. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us strength and motivation to repent from our weaknesses and to defend our faith from spiritual death.

The second lesson I learnt from these chapters is Paul’s ability to preach ‘in season and out of season’. Frankly, I think in these chapters Paul was persecuted severely that he had to defend his faith to death. Yet he was able to testify of his faith and conversion to Jesus to a crowd that had unwilling ears.

One thing more remarkable is his resolution to preach despite the countenance of those who receive the gospel. When I think back in how I preach, I am for one quite afraid of preaching when I think that person is not ready to listen or the situation was not viable enough to preach the gospel.

This is something that I have to inculcate in the way I talk to people and not to be ‘judgmental’ if the person is willing to hear. For the Bible says that as Christians our duty is to ’sow’ and to ‘water’ and this ’sowing’ and ‘watering’ should be onto everyone and not selected people or by the situation. It is God who gives the increase.

The last lesson I learnt is that Paul was willing to heed to the will of the Holy Spirit. In previous chapters, the Ephesian members and the Jewish Christians were very unwilling to let go of Paul when they heard that he was going to be bound and suffer if he were to go to Jerusalem. They behaved like the apostles then who cried out to Jesus when He said that He will suffer and die. Jesus conversely told off the apostles that they were ‘Satan’; one who oppose God’s work.

Acts Chapter 21:

12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Paul’s resolution to do the will of God is so great that he was not dissuaded by the imploring of his brethren. On the other hand, are we found faulted like those Christians back then? Do we oppose the work of God and do we decide on matters based on our emotions? I would think it was a very emotional affair when Paul addressed to the Ephesians on his parting speech however Paul regarded doing the will of God more important than himself or his love for the brethren. We also know that Paul loved the brethren a lot.

Phil 1: 22
But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For[a] I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Hence as believers of Christ it would be good to emulate Paul. When we handle matters concerning faith, be it for ourselves or our brethren. We have to decide or advise others based on doing what God pleases. To do God’s will even though that is emotionally hurting. At times we probably may be led away by our emotions for example being emotionally attached to someone, we may relent from counseling or rebuking him/ her.

Lastly, I have been pondering what were the reasons for Paul to go to Jerusalem. What is the will of the Holy Spirit that Paul has to go to Jerusalem to be bounded and subsequently brought to Rome for trial? In subsequent chapters, we will read more of Paul’s defense and the events that unfolded. The answers will then be revealed. Stay tuned.