January 27, 2008
Scripture:
Scripture:
Psalm 50:23: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” I trust it has been that way this morning.
EG Hymn 138 – “Whosoever heareth,” shout, shout the sound,
Prayer
We’ll continue in the book of Acts; today, ch. 13. When we started Acts, most things were happening in Jerusalem. But we read about how the persecution came and the Christians spread out. Then we read about how Saul was stopped on the road to Damascus and became a Christian. Today’s chapter starts in Antioch. In v. 1, we have a list of five men from the assembly there. They were praying and fasting and the Holy Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Paul for His work, the work the Lord speaks about in Mark 16:15. So, v. 4, they started out to the island of Cyprus. They went to Salamis and preached at the synagogue there. Then they crossed the island and, v. 6, went to speak to the deputy of the country. With him was a sorcerer named Elymas, who tried to stop Saul—who was now called Paul—from preaching the gospel. Read vv. 7–12. Paul rebuked him for this, and the Lord struck Elymas blind. When the deputy saw this, he was amazed and believed. Paul and Barnabas continued on their trip: they left the island, and went to Pisidia. There they spoke to the Jews at the synagogue; Paul showed them the gospel in light of Israel’s history, v. 38. The Gentiles heard about this and asked for Paul and Barnabas to preach to them the next Sabbath. Read v. 46; the Jews didn’t accept the gospel, so Paul and Barnabas preached to the Gentiles, and they were glad to hear it and many of them believed (v. 48). The last two verses make a nice ending: Paul and Barnabas were travelling around; they weren’t at home, they were always on the move. But they knew they were doing it for the Lord, and they had joy. That’s a good lesson for us: whatever we do, we can do it for the Lord and have joy in doing it.
I Peter 4:6–9
We noticed that Peter was writing about the will of God, as opposed to the lusts of men and the will of the Gentiles. We looked at how these Christians were doing God’s will and suffering for it, being judged by those around them. Yet, those people will be judged themselves, by the very one who is our Saviour (John 5:22).
Now we come to verse 6, which talks about preaching to the dead. This is not talking about us preaching to those who are dead in trespasses and sins; the dead here are all those who lived from Adam to Christ—those who were really dead at the time Peter was writing. These people had a gospel, “good news,” of their own, although it was not the same as ours. For them, there were different deliverances and gospels at different times. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses (to name a few) preached different messages of salvation to those of their times. People had a chance to believe in the present deliverance to prove God faithful and be saved. The last half of the verse is somewhat complicated: just as in every case that good news goes out, the hearers—the “they” in this part—are divided into two categories: those who accept it and those who do not. “that they might be judged according to men in the flesh” speaks about those who rejected the deliverance; “but live according to God in the spirit” speaks of those who were saved.
Now v. 7 changes directions with a “but.” Peter says that the end of all things is at hand; this is the end of all things that rest in the hands of man. Right now, man is in control; but soon, the Son of Man will take over. Because it is so near the end, what should our conduct be? Peter will address that here.
EG Hymn 333 – Come to the Saviour, make no delay,
Prayer