April 26, 2015
Ministry:
Let’s turn to Psalm 16:11b. It was brought out earlier how Joseph desired to have his brothers near. It is the same with God. In His presence is fullness of joy. We can have joy this morning because we are in his presence. But how much more will we have on that day! He did whatever it took to have us with Him.
Hymn 335 - I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Prayer
Nehemiah 9: 16-20, 24-29, 32, 36
Last time we saw how the people had gathered together and were praying. They were acknowledging who God was, what He had done for them, and how they had turned away from Him. They had been proud and refused to obey. They were disobedient in response to all God had done for them. They repented for this.
If you were a captive, and somebody came and rescued you, and gave you a better life, would you tell them that you wanted to return to your bondage? Of course not. That doesn’t sound right. But that’s what the Children of Israel did. Their hearts were proud and disobedient; they had turned away from God.
How was God’s heart toward them after what they did? He pardoned them. He forgave them for what they had done. He was gracious toward them. And He is gracious toward us. He has grace, which is getting what we don’t deserve. This is shown in salvation. He was merciful to them. He had mercy, which is not getting what we do deserve. He was patient with them. When we were in sin, He was slow to anger with us also. He showed kindness to them. God is all this toward us as well. He was all this toward the children of Israel in the wilderness.
The children of Israel had made an idol and had turned away from God. But even after that He still showed them mercy, was patient with them, and kept leading them on. He continued to provide for them.
In an addition problem, there are addends which make up the sum. If we add up everything God was to them, what would God be? He would be LOVE.
When the Children of Israel went into the land of Canaan, they had to take over many cities. God was good to them and provided everything they needed, but they turned away again. God allowed them to fall into the hands of their enemy. Then they cried to God for help. And He sent someone to deliver them. But then they would go back to their sin, and God would give them over to their enemies again. Then they would cry to God for help, and He would send another deliverer. This went on and on. Now they confessed it all to God. He had been merciful, but they had turned away their hearts. Now they wanted to do what was right in God’s sight. They had the law and they were reading it. They had built the temple and rebuilt the wall of the city, but other kings were ruling over them because of their sin. Now they want to do what is right, and make a covenant with God.
We see that, in spite of all that they had done, God loved them. Everything He was to them, He is to us today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Acts 28:15-31
Paul had hoped to visit Rome, but not as a prisoner. God wanted him there, though. The Roman assembly had apparently heard that he was coming, for they went to meet him. Paul saw them, thanked God, and took courage. He had done a lot of work for the Lord, and probably thought that he was following God’s will in Jerusalem, even if he wasn’t. Now he was a prisoner, and had been shipwrecked. He needed encouragement, and thanked God for it. The enemy tries hard to discourage us, and we need all the encouragement we can get to walk this earthly pathway.
The Centurion delivered his prisoners, and—we can see God’s hand—Paul got some preferential treatment and was allowed to dwell by himself. This would have made it easier to have fellowship with the saints.
Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, but Romans shows us that he had a heart for his Jewish brethren. Romans 9:3 is an intense example of this. He called the chief Jewish leaders together and talked to them in verses 17-20. Israel’s hope was in Christ, who they rejected. Paul had rejected Him at first, too.
The Jewish leaders hadn’t heard of Paul’s coming, but they had concerns about the Christian “sect”. They came together for a meeting about it, and Paul expounded to them on the Kingdom of God. That’s what the Jews were waiting for: a kingdom. Paul used the Law of Moses to start his defense, and then swung over to the prophets.
Some of the Jews believed, and others didn’t. That’s the way it’s always been. Paul quoted Isaiah 6 to them in verses 26-27. They were deaf and blind and their hearts had “waxed gross.” They were indifferent, they had heard these things over and over until they rejected them. They just didn’t care; not even enough to argue with Paul.
Such is the state today. We are in a Post Christian Era, and the gospel is attacked constantly. It should be the greatest news in the world, but it’s not welcomed. Why were the Jews so lethargic? Lest they saw, heard, and were converted. Because of their unbelief, Paul told them that the Gentiles would hear and believe. We Gentiles were grafted into the Olive Tree, but Paul warns us to be careful that we don’t get broken off! That might be happening around us today. These Jews went away reasoning, but God was looking for faith.
Paul dwelt in his private house for two years, and preached to those who visited. They were fruitful years in other ways, though, because it was during this part of his life that he wrote some of the epistles.
Hymn 192 — Simply trusting every day
Prayer