Jeremiah 2:4-13; Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1,7-14 Follow and Serve the One Who Will Never Leave You

If I told you that religion is not the same as Christianity, would you be surprised? Religion is man's attempt to reach God. It focuses on our deeds. It is the broken cistern referred to in Jeremiah 2:4-13. Christianity is God's attempt to reach man. We are meant to be fully in relationship with God, but we've traded his power and his strengths for the emptiness offered by an empty, worldly life. We try to solve our problems by ourselves. We dig our own well or cistern. We abandon God and his spring of water that never dries up. The problem is that our own cisterns always break. They never hold up to the pressures and strains of everyday life. They can never hold water. God will never help us dig our own cistern. He will never help us seek joy outside of himself.

We need to satisfy our spiritual thirst with the living water that Christ and Christianity provide. We have to drink from God's well instead of the earthly well. Israel was in the same situation in Jeremiah 2:4-13. Israel lost its moral compass and commitment because it exchanged its relationship with God for a relationship with idols. God was a dependable source of sustenance and life for the Israelites, and he will continue to be a dependable source of sustenance and life for all eternity. His glory is so overwhelming that we are not capable of experiencing it. It is like coming into contact with a high-voltage power line.

The Israelites in Jeremiah’s time lost their identity as God’s chosen people because living in a new homeland had corrupted them. They worshipped the false gods of the people who were already living in their new homeland. Our true identity is in Jesus, but we won't know that until we have a personal relationship with him. Each and every one of us was created in his image. We must immerse ourselves in him.  We must drink the spiritual water he provides for us.

Once we have a relationship with Jesus, we can show his warmth in a world that can be cold toward Christianity. We are called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ in spite of our differences. Our brotherly love can be parallel to the love Jesus shows to the world. The source of our brotherly love is our birth into the family of God through the redemption offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is similar to all Jews being siblings because of their common heritage in Abraham, but the redemption is so radical that we are changed.  

Some of you might remember that as the year 2000 approached some people hoarded food because of the fears surrounding Y2K. These people forgot that we do not need to hoard material goods for fear of not having enough of the necessities of life. When we have an abiding relationship with God, we have everything we need. Since God's presence is perpetual, the necessities of life will also be perpetual.

What we seek the most in life will shape our character, personality and relationships. If we live for material goods, social standing or security, we will become people without substance. We will be nothing more than empty shells. If we seek God, we will become more and more like him. We will be people of solidness, truth, love and grace.

We are to obey God and the leaders chosen by him. This is not meant to be blind obedience, but obedience after thoughtful consideration that results in persuasion. God and his chosen leaders do not demand obedience without reason. Those false teachers who do demand blind obedience will get Christians who change orientation any time another golden-tongued leader comes along. God and his chosen leaders are steadfast and true in faith, and we are to follow their example. We are to use God's authority to lead society with the authority and message of God's Word because it never changes. In the words of a prayer I found while I was researching this homily:

 

Christ is shepherd over you,

Enfolding you on every side,

Christ will not forsake you, hand or foot,

Nor let evil come near you.

 As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to follow the high moral standards God has set for us.  We are to show Christian hospitality. In ancient times, hospitality included putting a guest up overnight. This was hard to do in times of persecution, since the Hebrews would not know if the guest was a spy or a fellow believer who was being persecuted. When we identify ourselves with Jesus, we will face ridicule and persecutions. We are not to avoid them. Instead, we are to embrace them. The Hebrews did not know how far-reaching their act of hospitality would be.

Jesus said the same thing in Luke 14:1, 7-14. He was invited to a banquet at the home of a Pharisee. When Jesus arrived, he noticed that all of the important people in society were vying to get the seats closest to the guest of honour, while those of lower classes sat at the back. He also warned the host for only inviting the elite. He urged the host to invite the less fortunate to his table, just like he urges us to invite the poor to our tables. When we share what we have with others, God blesses us and makes us a blessing.

Unfortunately, in this day and age we can't trust everyone and we need to be on guard against dishonest people. At the same time we never know who the stranger is who crossed our path. He/she might be an angel in disguise or a person in need of a helping hand, an encouraging word or a cup of cold water. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me". We gain God's power and strength when we humble ourselves and serve those whose social standing is lower than ours. The willingness to serve is the greatest of all the values of Christian understanding. Everyone is welcome at Jesus' table.

Imagine this situation, if you will. A husband comes home from work on a Friday night. As he comes into the driveway, he sees that there is a rented tent in the back yard. Under the tent are tables and chairs for about forty people. A bandstand and a dance floor are in one corner of the tent. Decorations are hanging everywhere. None of this was there when the husband left for work in the morning. Seeing all of these preparations and having them come as a surprise, what do you think the husband might think?

One reaction might be panic: “Good Lord! It’s our anniversary, and I’ve forgotten about it!” After a few minutes, he might realize that it is not their anniversary, so he might continue thinking, “I guess all this must be for a birthday party”. Now suppose the husband walks into the backyard and finds his wife cooking a huge pile of chickens and choice steaks. He might think, “Wow! This is going to cost me a bundle!”

Then suppose his wife looks up, smiles sweetly and asks, “Guess who’s coming to dinner?” His guess might be “Relatives, friends, neighbours and business associates”. Before he can answer, she continues, “I’ve invited twenty homeless men from the local homeless shelter, clients of the local food bank, and residents of the local nursing home. Don’t worry dear, you won’t know anyone, and best of all, not a single one is likely to ever pay us back”.

Now given that situation, the husband might think that the wife is ready for the mental hospital, but in reality she is following the words of Jesus in Luke 14:12-14. “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they might invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous”. Sometimes the only way to get people to look up is when they hit rock bottom and the only way for them to go is up. When we help those who are on the bottom, we encourage them to look up to Christ as their source of hope.

The wife used the skills and talents God gave her to do good deeds in her little corner of the world. She did not use the skills God gave her for gaining status and praise. There is much that we as Christ’s disciples can do to address the needs of society, especially the needs of people in the lower classes of society. 

The “right” people will be at God’s banquet. They will be everyone who responds to God’s invitation. The poor and the outcast will be seated next to Jesus instead of the dignitaries, and people of position and prominence. We must not erect social barriers that keep some people from joining us at God’s table. The less fortunate in our society need both our natural gifts and the dignity that comes with being acknowledged. They need the gift of our friendship, and we need them as well.

We can celebrate God's goodness by praising him. The sacrifice of praise is when we as Christians declare the goodness of God when we don't feel like praising him. When we praise God when we don't feel like praising him, God is well-pleased. When we praise God when we don't feel like praising him, we offer something very valuable-the inheritance Christ has given us, which is God's blessing.

Worship and praise must be part of everything we do. We need to praise God in good times and in bad times. Praise heals our brokenness in ways that words can't. When we praise God through our pain, God empowers us to rise above our circumstances. In the words of the Doxology, we must:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise him all creatures here below

Praise him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

In the midst of our problems, God wants us to deepen our faith and grow in him before he helps us. He wants us to follow him in faith no matter how serious our problems are. When we are called by God and are empowered by his spirit, we are to remember the words of the famous hymn, "What A Friend We Have in Jesus".

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and grief to bear

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

We must use the courage that a life in faith with God gives us to live a life that is more revolutionary than our secular world or any other non-Christian faith. God will give us the courage to work like army commandos if we want him to, but in return we must go and carry out his work in our world. We will face ridicule and persecution, but God will also give us the courage and strength we need to survive and thrive. If we take the long view, we can put up with the pain, persecution and uncertainty knowing that we are holding strong to the values that will be holding strong in the future. If we have a worthy goal that is in sync with the goals God has for us, the struggle is worth it. Hebrews 13:8 states that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Flowers will fade and fall, and grass will wither away. We will grow old and pass away, but when we've taken the long view, made the right choices and kept the end in mind, we will be okay. Our legacy will be secure.

In the words of Billy Graham, "Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as lying or stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible. Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a true spirit of thankfulness."

 Bibliography

      1.            Stephen Davey, "Drawing from the Right Well". Retrieved from Chrisitianty.com@crosswalkmail.com

      2.            Dr. Ed Young, "Intelligent Living". Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org

      3.            Rev. John Shearman, "Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C". Retrieved from www.lectionary.seemslikegod.org

      4.            Exegesis for Jeremiah 2:4-13. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

      5.            Kay Warren, "Trying to Satisfy Ourselves". Retrieved from www.purposedriven.com

      6.            Dr. Tony Evans, "Worship the King". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

      7.            Evans, L.H. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 33:Hebrews (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 1985)

      8.            Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2009)

      9.            MacArthur, J.F.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2006)

  10.            Richard Inness, "On Loneliness". Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

  11.            Mark D. Roberts, "The Path of Worthlessness". Retrieved from www.TheHighCalling.org

  12.            Pastor Bob Coy, "Painful Praise". Retrieved from www.activeword.org

  13.            Bayless Conley, "Blessed to be a Blessing". Retrieved from www.answersrbc.org

  14.            Dan Johnson, "Take the Long View". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  15.            Wendy Pope, "Moments Like These". Retrieved from www.proverbs31.com

  16.            Greg Laurie, "It's All Good". Retrieved from www.harvest.org

  17.            Dr. David Jeremiah, "Never, Never, Never". Retrieved from www.davidjeremiah.org

  18.            Greg Laurie, "Forever the Same". Retrieved from www.harvest.org

  19.            Richard Inness, "Unexpected Strangers". Retrieved from www.actsweb.org

  20.            Steve Arterburn, "Constant Praise". Retrieved from www.newlife.com

  21.            Michael Youssef, Ph.D., "In the Storm". Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

  22.            The Rev. Dr. John R. Claypool, "God's First Class". Retrieved from www.day1.org

  23.            The Rev. Eric Shafer, "How Open Is Our Table?" Retrieved from www.day1.org

  24.            Craig Condon, "Jesus is Watching You". Retrieved from www.sermonsfrommyheart,blogspot.ca

  25.            Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 22^nd Sunday Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org”

Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 The Call that Frees Us….and Others Too!

There is a story that Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish minister and politician, was preaching one Sunday on the end times, and in particular on the Day of Judgment. As he reached the climax of his address, he said that on the Day of Judgment, "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth". At that point an elderly woman put up her hand and said, "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth." Dr. Paisley replied, "Madam, teeth will be provided." 

Has your life been full but not fulfilling? Has your life been successful but not significant? Perhaps your life has been cheered by other people but is not important to God. Perhaps you're restless inside. Maybe God is telling you to do something that is different from what you're doing right now. Don't be afraid to do it. Be expectant and obedient, regardless of the risks.

Jeremiah 1:4-10 is a story of how God can use anyone and everyone to do his work in the world. Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet, but he argued that he was not qualified to be a prophet because of his age. God's answer was that his request was part of his plan for Jeremiah's life. God said that he would tell Jeremiah what to do and what to say, and he did. God also knew that Jeremiah would be persecuted and opposed in his work, but God promised that he would be with Jeremiah and he was. God keeps his promises.

Great men do not seek power-they have it thrust upon them. When God looks for a leader, he goes after someone who isn't looking for the position. God does not call the equipped. He equips the called. He calls us and equips us to share the Good News. He equips us to face the consequences of sharing the Good News. He uses our strengths and our weaknesses. He loves us and approves of us. Nothing we do now or in the future can change that. His love for us is genuine.

A good example of how God equips people is legendary talk show host Larry King. As a young man he hung around a radio station in Miami, Florida and kept telling the station manager that he wanted to get into radio. He finally got his chance when the morning announcer quit. On his first day, he opened his mouth and nothing came out. He played another song and tried to speak a second time. Nothing came out. The same thing happened a third time. The station  manager stormed in and yelled, "This is a communications business". Larry King finally found his voice and said, "Good morning, this is Larry King". He explained to his audience that this was his first morning on the air and that he was nervous. That gave him the confidence to keep talking and he has been talking on radio and television since then.

Jeremiah accepted God's plan for his life. Jeremiah was set apart by God for his prophetic work. He was God's spokesperson. He predicted the doom that Israel would face unless the people repented. God promised through Jeremiah that Israel's suffering would facilitate their redemption. God did not abandon them. Jeremiah's words had the power to lead the Hebrews to actions that produced results and had consequences.  

Jeremiah was to pronounce words of judgment and words of mercy and hope. The people of Israel had to endure God's judgement before they could receive God's mercy. We do not have to go through the same process. Jesus accepted God's judgement for our sins when he died for us on the cross. Jesus accepted God's judgment so we would receive God's mercy as long as we believe in faith.

Our society needs more people like Jeremiah. In other words, society needs more people who sense their call in life and who pursue it. We have become a society that is interested only in instant gratification, short-term gains and quick fixes. We have little loyalty to the long-term because we have lost the sense of how far back our origins really do go.

God is always speaking to us. When we speak for him, he will provide us with the words to say. God has a plan for our lives-everything that pertains to life, his promises to us, our healings, the words we speak on his behalf. All we have to do is say "yes" to his will, his way and his word. We have to trust it, believe it, receive it, watch and wait for it to become fully manifested in our lives. 

Each and every one of us is unique. This uniqueness enriches the world when we give ourselves to the community around us. God related to us as individuals because each and every one of us is unique. We were created in love for love and by God for God. When our lives are broken, God can put them back together. When our plan for our lives falls apart, he is there to fix it so that it is the same as his plan for our lives. We are wanted, cherished and loved by God. We belong to God.          

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews calls on Christians to fulfill their Christian duty of loving others. In other words, we are to love one another, show hospitality, remember prisoners, be faithful in marriage, obey leaders, and not love money over anything else. When we love one another, we must remember that the church of Jesus Christ is universal. It is not limited by geography, race, religion, ethnicity, age groups or other reasons-hence the use of the term "holy catholic church". When we worship, we join with other believers, both those who are living and those who have gone before us.

The word "obey" as used in the passage from Hebrews means to persuade or prevail upon, to listen to or obey. This does not mean blind obedience, but obedience after thoughtful consideration that results in persuasion. People who demand blind obedience without reason (such as the Pharisees, some TV evangelists, the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Mormons) are likely to get congregations that change orientation every time some golden-mouthed authoritarian preacher comes along.  

Israel in Jeremiah's time did not have the spirit for obeying God's laws. We as modern Christians do have the spirit-the Holy Spirit. Worship is the heart of both the Holy Spirit and God's Word. Worship is the driving message of both the Holy Spirit and God's Word. Worship is the only thing God seeks from us. We must be open to the work of Christ in our lives. We must be open to God's redemption and His grace. We must be willing and able to gain perception of the truth of Christ by studying His Word. We must show courage and boldness when we spread the Good News. We must continue to live out the gospel until it bears fruit in us and in those we tell the Good News to.

We are surrounded by things that can be shaken up and taken away, but we also have things that cannot be shaken or taken away. One thing that can't be taken away from us is our fellowship with fellow believers. That fellowship is rooted in our faith in Jesus. God's Word and the things he gives us can never be taken away. Gods’ promises us an unshakeable kingdom because he is unshakeable. Nothing and no one can stand in his way. Nothing and no one can conquer or divide his kingdom. We can't control it, so the best thing for us to do is let the Holy Spirit control our lives and transform us.

If we refuse to believe in God, we will face the same fate as Israel did in Jeremiah's time. That is why we must remain firm in our faith, especially in times of trial. Even when the trials are caused by God, we must remain steadfast in faith. If we seem self-sufficient in God's eyes, he might allow enough trouble for us to realize our need for him.  

When we worship God, we do not have to follow an ironclad, inflexible set of rules. The synagogue leader in Luke 13:10-17 was obsessed with obeying rules; specifically, the rule about keeping the Sabbath holy. The Jews, especially the Pharisees, were so obsessed with keeping God’s Commandments that they came up with all sorts of rules that governed what the people could and could not do on the Sabbath. Included in the list of things that could not be done on the Sabbath was healing a sick person. Healing was considered work, and a good Jew could not do that type of work.

The Law did allow animals to be untied for a few hours on the Sabbath, but the synagogue leader objected to Jesus’ freeing of the bent woman from her bondage on the Sabbath. In other words, in the mind of the synagogue leader, freeing animals from bondage was more important than freeing people from the bondage of sin and illness. By healing the woman on the Sabbath, Jesus’ actions are considered to be within the intention or spirit of the Sabbath, and they enhance Sabbath observance instead of destroying it.

Jesus was not breaking any of the Old Testament commandments. In the eyes of the Jews, especially the synagogue leader, Jesus broke the commandments and rules they had set to make certain that they did not break any of the commandments, especially the one about keeping the Sabbath holy. These laws allowed the Pharisees to avoid love’s obligations. Jesus argued that people’s needs are more important that rules and regulations. We are encouraged to take time to help others, even if it means compromising our public image.

By concentrating on religion and the laws, the Jews lost the ability to reach God. God had to reach man by coming to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. He emphasized that in order to have a relationship with God only two rules had to be obeyed-love God and love people. We are called upon to obey the same two laws if we want to have a relationship with God. We will have restored our relationship with God if we love people and show it by doing things in faith such as comforting the less fortunate (even on the Sabbath). By doing these holy things, we will be obeying the commandment to “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”.

Jesus set us free from the Law. After all, he replaced the Ten Commandments and all of the Pharisees' subsequent rules with the two Great Commandments-love God and love people. Freedom from the Law does not mean freedom from responsibility. We are still responsible for showing compassion just like Jesus showed compassion for the crippled woman.  

So how can we set our minds and hearts on God's kingdom? First, we have to understand the true nature of God's kingdom and God's grace. Second, we must take time to pray and learn the songs of saints past and present which celebrate God's kingdom and our place in it. Finally, we must take advantage of every chance we have to tell others about the glories of God's kingdom.

This is easier said than done at times. Many times we are in such a hurry, even on Sundays, that we don't pause in our hearts and look upward into God's face. We can start by doing these things:

                  1.        When we come into the church, we can find a seat and immediately stop and offer God a prayer reflecting how much we love and adore him.

                  2.        Next, we can preview some of the hymns to prepare our hearts to ascribe these hymns to God.

                  3.        During the sermon, we can ask God to speak to our hearts through His Word, instead of using the time to catch up on our sleep, read the prayer books or the bulletin or rest our heads in our hands. We can also bring our Bibles, open them and follow along during the sermon. We can also bring a pen and paper with us so we can take notes during the sermon. I for one would be pleased to provide copies of my sermons on request, or those of you who have access to the Internet can see them on my blog.

We will know when we are operating in the power of the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit reigns. When the Holy Spirit reigns, believers will relate to each other, to God and to the world. The kingdom has started now in God's church, his people, those in whom God's will is cherished and obeyed. Our worship must be filled with awe that the holy God of Israel is also the lowly God in Jesus who has redeemed us and made us to be a holy people unto himself.  

When we follow Jesus, we believe that God has something better for us and all of humanity. That is the message of the readings we heard this morning from Jeremiah, Hebrews and Luke. We are to spread that message in our world by witnessing to God's love for us. We are to go forth into the world and set it free from the bondage of sin and free it by the dream of God for all of us.

Thanks be to God AMEN

Bibliography

 

      1.            Jim Penner, "Behold, God is Speaking". Retrieved from www.hourofpower.org

      2.            Rick Warren, "God Made You Unique to Benefit Others". Retrieved from www.purposedriven.com

      3.            John Shearman's Lectionary Resource, Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost, Year C. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org

      4.            Exegesis for Jeremiah 1:4-10,17-19. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

      5.            Mary Southerland, "The Chosen Woman". Retrieved from Girlfrieds_in_God@crosswalkmail.com

      6.            Ron Hutchcraft, "Where You Were Born to Be". Retrieved from www.hutchcraft.com

      7.            Joni Eareckson Tada, "Hand Tailored Grace". Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

      8.            Joel Osteen, "Before You Were Born". Retrieved from www.joelosteen.com

      9.            Guest, J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher's Commentary Series; Vol. 19: Jeremiah, Lamentations (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1988)

  10.            ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

  11.            R.C. Sproul, "The Church Universal". Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com

  12.            Alistair Begg, "Remain Unshaken". Retrieved from Chrisitanity.com@crosswalkmail.com

  13.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "Things That Cannot Be Shaken". Retrieved from In_Touch_with_Dr._Charles_Stanley@crossawlkmail.com

  14.            John Henson, "Christian Evidences". Retrieved from forthright@associate.com

  15.            Phil Ware, "Heartlight Daily Verse: Hebrews 12:28". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  16.            T.M. Moore, "The Church is Not Ancient Israel". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

  17.            T.M. Moore, "Looking to Unseen Things". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

  18.            Pastor John Barnett, "Intimacy in Worship". Retrieved from www.dtbm.org

  19.            Evans, L.H. Jr. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 33: Hebrews (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.)

  20.            Craig Condon, "For Every Rule, There are Always Exceptions". Retrieved from www.sermonsfrommyheart.blogspot.ca

  21.            Exegesis for Luke 13:10-17. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

  22.            Preaching Magazine, May/June 2013, pgs. 45-46 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing Co. )

  23.            Lectionary Homiletics, Vol. XXIV, Number 5, pgs 25-32 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary)

  24.            The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, "God Has a Dream". Retrieved from www.day1.org

 

 

2 Samuel 19:1-23, Acts 24:1-23 Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

The readings from Acts 24:1-23 and 2 Samuel 19:1-23 deal with how we can use our consciences to deal with the consequences of rebellion. In the reading we just heard from Acts 24:1-23, Paul has been arrested and is appearing before the governor Felix to answer the charges against him. Tartullus, the prosecutor, tries to "butter up" Felix by complimenting him on the peace and prosperity he has brought as the governor. Felix did keep the peace and make reforms, but his overall performance as governor was disappointing. In fact, he was later recalled to Rome by the Emperor Nero because he was accused of taking bribes from robbers. Felix was replaced by Festus.

Paul was accused of inciting riots and desecrating the temple. In his defence Paul argued that he worshipped the god of Abraham and Isaac, but he also mentioned that he believed in the resurrection. Paul presented his testimony truthfully. He was not afraid to stat his beliefs, which were different from those of his accusers. In other words, Paul showed the courage of the risen Saviour.

Felix drew his strength from the proceeds of crime. Paul drew his strength from his faith. Felix was alarmed by Paul's strength. Paul did not try to bribe his way out of jail like Felix hoped he would. In fact, Paul used the power of the Gospel to preach to Felix and his wife Drusilla. Felix's greed was stronger than the urge to accept Christ. He returned to Rome without power or hope. We need to follow Paul's example by boldly proclaiming the Good News to anyone and everyone.  

The events in 2 Samuel 19:1-23 occur just after the rebellion led by David's son Absalom has been put down. Absalom was killed, but the failure of his rebellion did not restore David to the throne. David failed to reward his supporters, court those who were neutral or convince his opponents that he would not seek revenge. David's general Joab confronted him about these failures. When David saw that his grief was preventing him from doing what was right, he overcame his grief and did what he had to do to return to power.

When David did what was right, God restored him to power. When Paul did what was right, God sustained him in prison. God wants his people to be united and to not engage in petty squabbles, arguments or fights over minor issues (like the Sadducees and Pharisees argued with Paul). Like Paul, David used the moral compass God gave everyone to protect and guide them. This moral compass revealed God to David and Paul, and it reveals God to us today.

Paul wasn't discouraged when Felix left his case in the hands of Agrippa and Festus. In  fact, it increased his passion and commitment to God. It reinforced his patience when he had to wait for his accusers to arrive. He allowed God to control his thoughts, emotions and speech. God gave him the right perspective. He allowed God to empower him to respond to the charges in a godly manner. He allowed God to use his tongue to diffuse the situation instead of inflaming it.

God encourages some of us to be more contagious in communicating love. He encourages others to be more bold in sharing their faith. He encourages some to tithe. Others are encouraged by him to  respond to an opportunity to become leaders in the church and leaders in the faith.

Paul and David had clear consciences when they did what was right. We can also have clear consciences when we do what is right. A good conscience will help us make choices and take actions that are appropriate to God's kingdom. Paul's conscience allowed his to remain calm and rest his case with God.  Once we come to Christ, our conscience will be our guide as long as we do not sin. We must keep our conscience aligned with the Scriptures and tender before God.

Bibliography

      1.            Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)

      2.            Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)

      3.            Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher's Commentary Series, Vol. 8: 1,2 Samuel  (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989)

      4.            Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.)

      5.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "A Clear Conscience". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

      6.            Dr. Charles Stanley, "Being a Patient Person". Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

      7.            T.M. Moore, "A Good Conscience". Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

      8.            Charles R. Swindoll, "Grace Leads You Home". Retrieved from Insight.for.Living@insight.org

      9.            Dr. Neil Anderson, "A Blameless Conscience". Retrieved from Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

  10.            Dr. David Jeremiah, "Sandpapering Your Fingers". Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org