Tag: Acts

Sermon – Acts 21:4-14

Pastor Steve Ward preaching on Acts 21:4-14.

Acts 21:4-14 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

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Sermon – Acts 20:33-35

Pastor Steve Ward preaching on Acts 20:33-35.

Acts 20:33-35 “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

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Sermon – The Church Purchased with His Own Blood (Acts 20.28)

Pastor Steve Ward preaching from Acts 20:28.  The text called us to consider who was purchased by the Blood of Christ, the glory of God’s purchase of the Church, and meditations of how this ought to impact us.

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Purchased with His own blood

The text for this Sunday’s sermon will be from Acts 20:28.  We have been examining chapter 20 for several weeks, but one phrase calls for special attention and meditation:

…the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

As Paul exhorts the elders from Ephesus to guard themselves and the flock that they are to shepherd, the Word of God calls us to consider the incredible importance of pastoral duty.  The importance is brought to our attention by laying before us the cost that was paid.  The Church was “purchased with His own blood”.

I ask you to consider that wonderful truth with me!  Do we value what God so highly values?  Do we love the Church as Jesus does?  Are we stewards of the treasure that God has committed to us?

Join us this Sunday as we consider the extent that God values His Church, the sacrifice that Jesus made on her behalf, and the perspective that we ought to have as fellow-members within the Body of Christ.

After the sermon, we have scheduled the hymn And Can It Be.  What a wonderful song of praise and adoration!

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race…

Preview: Acts 13:13-52

As we travel through the book of Acts together, we now come this Sunday to chapter 13, verses 13-52.  In order to understand Luke’s inclusion of Paul’s sermon in this account, we find wonderful guidance in a literary framing of the passage (a literary framing device is when the text itself contains verbal clues as to the beginning of the thought and the conclusion of what is stated).  Notice the way 26 verses (from verse 15 through 41) are enclosed by a single thought:

(verse 15) After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” …

…(verses 40-41) Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’

They read that Law and the Prophets and ask for Paul to give encouragement from it.  Paul’s point is to say that though they are reading it…they have missed the entire point of it!  Paul is proclaiming that they ought to see that Jesus is the Davidic Messiah, as promised through the Law and the Prophets, but as the prophets warned: many may still not believe.

Let us look forward to our time together this Sunday as we look to see the promise of the Messiah fulfilled in Jesus.

On the road to Damascus (Preview)

This Sunday, we intend to return to our exposition of the book of Acts.  Usually in my sermons, I start with the broad picture and work into the details, but this Sunday, I hope to address one detail of the passage on Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus in Acts 9.

Therefore, in preparation I ask those at Heritage to consider the ninth chapter of Acts.  However, let me ask you to ponder the following.  In this chapter, there is a dramatic event in which the Lord Jesus speaks to Saul.  It is often called “The conversion of Saul”…and rightly so.  There is clearly a conversion from his Old Covenant beliefs to his embracing of the New Covenant (The Gospel).  I would also suggest, and intend to preach at some point in the future that this is not only a conversion, but it is also a commission (think Isaiah or Ezekiel).  But I digress; let us look at one part of chapter 9 in particular.

Consider the words that the Lord Jesus speaks to Saul.

What did Jesus say to Saul?  Of all the things that could have been said and recorded about this incredible event, what is the significance of the Lord Jesus’ words in verses 4-5?  Are these words merely a statement of conviction, proving the guilt of Saul and showing his need for repentance?  Or do these words fit into the larger storyline of the book of Acts?  Are these words meant to convey a message to the Church in the same, or greater, degree that they convey something to Saul?

My friends, there is power in the Word of God.  Please join me in praying that we will seek and see this revealed wisdom of God and that we will act accordingly.  I am looking forward to our studies together!

Acts 8: The Eunuch from Cush

Up to this point in Acts, we have seen the Gospel of Jesus Christ bring salvation to numerous people at a time.  It has demonstrated to us that the Kingdom of God is expanding and the grace of God is active through the Holy Spirit.  Now, the Scripture focuses upon three accounts of individuals, starting with the African Eunuch in Acts 8:26-40.

Who is the eunuch?

In the title of the post, I have called this man the Eunuch from Cush.  In the post so far, I referred to him as the African Eunuch.  Most biblical texts call him the Ethiopian Eunuch.  Why?  The Greeks referred to the people of Cush as Ethiopians.  However, this is not the same as modern Ethiopia.  It was simply their word for the Cushites.  In the Old Testament, the people of Cush are referred to often.  They are important in biblical history.  However, even though the Hebrew text is consistent and every reference to this people and their land references “Cush” (or “Cushites” for the people), our English translations are very inconsistent.  English Bibles will often use Ethiopia in the translation of the Old Testament even though this term was never used in the Hebrew text!  There is no apparent rhyme or reason why English translators choose Cush in some places and Ethiopia in others.  The NIV even translates this word as ‘Nubia’ once.  J. Daniel Hays addresses this issue in his excellent book, “From Every People and Nation: A Biblical Theology of Race” in the New Studies in Biblical Theology set edited by D. A. Carson.  For the modern reader, we must think of this land and people as black Africans.  This will help us understand the racial significance that the Bible presents to us. The eunuch is a court official of Candace, the queen of Cush.  He is a trusted man of great importance as he is in charge of all of her treasury.

Yet in spite of his great importance and elevated position, we find him here in our text venturing the long and dangerous journey to Jerusalem to worship the true God.  As an African Eunuch, he does not have full access in Jewish worship.  He is limited to the Court of the Gentiles and is not considered able to participate fully in worship.  On this road as he travels, he is studying in Isaiah, specifically we know he is looking at the text around Isaiah 53 in our modern Bibles.

I believe it is very important for us to consider what he was doing.  He was not simply reading the Scriptures because it was a good thing to do.  I do not even think that he was reading the Scriptures to become a better man.  I believe that he was desperately searching the Scriptures because he was thirsting for the answer to his plight!  I think he is more desperate for the Messiah than those in Jerusalem.

The work of the Gospel

Our text records for us how the Holy Spirit is directing all of this.  In Acts 8:26, the angel of the Lord told Phillip to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza.  Then in 8:29-30 the Holy Spirit speaks to Phillip and tells him to go to that man and join him in his chariot.  Some people object to the doctrine of election and accuse the Bible of being unloving.  But my friends, do you not see the sovereign love and grace of God that he would send Phillip down this dusty road to rescue this man from his sins?  How marvelous is the sovereign grace of God!

Now we see the conversation of Phillip and the African Eunuch.  The eunuch asks Phillip about Isaiah 53:7-8 and asks specifically, “Of whom does this speak?”.  A study of the text shows that Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah who is a tender shoot who bore the grief and carried the sorrow of his people.  But the two verses that the eunuch enquires about are not focused upon the atoning work of the Messiah.  They are focused upon the injustice that occurred to the Messiah and the shocking nature of the generation that witnessed it!

The Messiah was led like a sheep to slaughter.  Who led him?

His justice was taken away from him.  Who took it?

The text asks the question.  “in his humiliation justice was denied him.  Who can describe his generation?  For his life is taken away from the earth”  (ESV).

Notice the way the Amplified Bible puts it: “In His humiliation He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him [caused to cease].  Who can describe or relate in full the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)?  For His life is taken from the earth and a bloody death inflicted upon Him.”

“Please tell me!” the eunuch cries!  He is desperate to know because he wants to experience the feet of him who brings this good news and who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, as Isaiah foretold.  Phillip then answers his question and preaches Jesus to him.  We see the beautiful conversation in Acts 8:35-39.  Jesus is the promised Messiah.  Salvation has come to all who will repent and believe.

To add another dimension of beauty to this narrative and to understand another theological point, our eyes must continue gazing in Isaiah a few chapters beyond chapter 53.  Surely the interest of the African Eunuch, who ventured from Cush to Jerusalem in order to worship the true God – but was held at a distance – would thirst for the days of the fulfillment of Isaiah 56:1-8.  Isaiah foretold of the days of the New Covenant.  In the glorious New Covenant, God promises to exalt the eunuchs who were formerly kept far off from God!  The eunuchs will be exalted as better than the physical descendants of Israel! (Isaiah 53:3-6)

The Work of the Holy Spirit and the Work of Jesus

There are more remarkable things for us to find in this passage.  Luke makes it clear that the New Covenant brings the “far-off ones” near to God (salvation) and makes them the sons of Abraham.

Consider the following texts:

Luke 1:54-55: He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Luke 1:72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham…

Luke 2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.

So in these passage we see the New Covenant work of Jesus to rescue the remnant of Israel and from the Gentiles as well.  But now look in Luke 24:13-32 and notice the similarities to Acts 8.

- Jesus encounters men on the road (Phillip is sent to meet the eunuch on the road).

- They were hoping that Jesus was the “One who was going to redeem Israel” (The Eunuch is enquiring who is the One who would redeem Israel)

- The men on the road saw the wickedness of their own Chief Priests and rulers (The passage in Isaiah wonders at the wickedness of those who led the Messiah to death and took His justice from Him)

- Then, beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, Jesus explained to them the things concerning Himself according to the Scriptures (Phillip did the same thing!)

- Then Jesus vanished from their site (Phillip was whisked away by the Spirit)

The similarities between the two passages are astonishing!  What does it mean though?  I believe it means this: the New Covenant is extending beyond the men of Israel, just as the prophets foretold.  The message of Jesus is continuing through the work of the Holy Spirit through believers.  As Jesus foretold, His disciples would do greater (in extent) things than he through the work of the Spirit.  The Kingdom is expanding as Jesus reigns at the right hand of God!

In J. Daniel Hays’ book mentioned above, he writes, “Although we do not know what happened to the Cushite official, it is clear that by the fourth century AD Christianity was firmly established in his homeland of Cush…It is clear that the African experience with the gospel can hardly be relegated to seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth-century encounters with European slave traders and missionaries, as is sometimes alleged.  From the very beginning of Christianity there were Black believers.”

May God be praised that the Gospel has gone forth by the Holy Spirit and that His mercy has rescued us from our sins and blessed us with every spiritual blessing!