T4G 2010 -- Special Session -- Matt Chandler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.
Help Please: The Christian’s Ceaseless Plea
4 days ago
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Suffering & Acts 23:11
“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."
Paul, after two days in Jerusalem was exhausted, undoubtedly feeling as David, and later Jesus did:
Granted he had been saved once again from death by the Romans but he was still confined and under arrest. Over the past two days Paul had survived two beatings. The first took place just outside the temple after Paul had been seized and dragged outside after being falsely accused of “teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place (the temple)” and of bringing Greeks into the temple (Acts 21:28). The Roman soldiers literally had to carry Paul away “because of the violence of the crowd” (Acts 21:35). The next day before a meeting of the chief priests and the council Paul was punched on the mouth for claiming to have a clear conscience then had to be taken away again by the Roman soldiers because they were “afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them” (Acts 23:10).
So here Paul is, back in the barracks in Jerusalem, physically battered, discouraged and uncertain if he is even going to survive. Then Jesus Himself shows up at Paul's side and says “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Read what Jesus says carefully and understand what He is saying to Paul.
At first glance we may read Jesus' words and be relieved that He is finally going to step in and rescue Paul from the suffering and beatings he is having to endure. Much of the theology of today teaches that as Christians we will be rescued from all suffering and hardship. We are wrongly taught that if we believe in Jesus He will provide us with health, wealth, and prosperity and that if we aren't seeing those things come to pass in our lives then we just need to have more faith. We like to believe in a God that will serve us what we want, when we want it. We are told that if we pray enough, read our Bibles enough, and give enough of our time, money and resources God will give us the stuff we've always dreamed of having. This, of course, is a complete lie manufactured by sinful men who desire a god who will serve them. This is not the God of the Bible.
Read again what Jesus says: “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Jesus tells Paul to “Take courage.” Why does Paul need to take courage? Because Jesus tells him “as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” What has just happened to Paul over the last two days in Jerusalem? Two beatings and imprisonment! Jesus is not coming to take Paul's suffering but to tell him to get ready because what he just endured in Jerusalem he now has to go do the same in Rome!
It's not like this should be any surprise to anyone. Recall what Jesus said to Ananias about the conversion of Paul:
Jesus is doing what He promised He would. He is using Paul to carry His name to the world amidst “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger” (2 Cor. 6:4-5). As Christians, should we expect any different?
The point of Christianity is Jesus, not us. That means we suffer, even to the point of death so that the good news of who He is goes out to the world and He receives all the glory. As Christians, we should all say with Paul “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
Paul, after two days in Jerusalem was exhausted, undoubtedly feeling as David, and later Jesus did:
I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
-Psalm 22:14-15
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
-Psalm 22:14-15
Granted he had been saved once again from death by the Romans but he was still confined and under arrest. Over the past two days Paul had survived two beatings. The first took place just outside the temple after Paul had been seized and dragged outside after being falsely accused of “teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place (the temple)” and of bringing Greeks into the temple (Acts 21:28). The Roman soldiers literally had to carry Paul away “because of the violence of the crowd” (Acts 21:35). The next day before a meeting of the chief priests and the council Paul was punched on the mouth for claiming to have a clear conscience then had to be taken away again by the Roman soldiers because they were “afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them” (Acts 23:10).
So here Paul is, back in the barracks in Jerusalem, physically battered, discouraged and uncertain if he is even going to survive. Then Jesus Himself shows up at Paul's side and says “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Read what Jesus says carefully and understand what He is saying to Paul.
At first glance we may read Jesus' words and be relieved that He is finally going to step in and rescue Paul from the suffering and beatings he is having to endure. Much of the theology of today teaches that as Christians we will be rescued from all suffering and hardship. We are wrongly taught that if we believe in Jesus He will provide us with health, wealth, and prosperity and that if we aren't seeing those things come to pass in our lives then we just need to have more faith. We like to believe in a God that will serve us what we want, when we want it. We are told that if we pray enough, read our Bibles enough, and give enough of our time, money and resources God will give us the stuff we've always dreamed of having. This, of course, is a complete lie manufactured by sinful men who desire a god who will serve them. This is not the God of the Bible.
Read again what Jesus says: “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Jesus tells Paul to “Take courage.” Why does Paul need to take courage? Because Jesus tells him “as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” What has just happened to Paul over the last two days in Jerusalem? Two beatings and imprisonment! Jesus is not coming to take Paul's suffering but to tell him to get ready because what he just endured in Jerusalem he now has to go do the same in Rome!
It's not like this should be any surprise to anyone. Recall what Jesus said to Ananias about the conversion of Paul:
"Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my
name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
For I will show him how much he must suffer
for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:15-16)
name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
For I will show him how much he must suffer
for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:15-16)
Jesus is doing what He promised He would. He is using Paul to carry His name to the world amidst “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger” (2 Cor. 6:4-5). As Christians, should we expect any different?
The point of Christianity is Jesus, not us. That means we suffer, even to the point of death so that the good news of who He is goes out to the world and He receives all the glory. As Christians, we should all say with Paul “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
"Rend your hearts and not your garments"
The heart is a central theme in God's story. We see from the very beginning that our hearts are inherently evil. Jesus tells us that "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." At the center of Jesus' teaching was the idea that he was not so concerned with external expressions of affection and worship, rather He was concerned with a person's heart . He says of the Pharisees in the book of Matthew:
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Reading today from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, "...rend your hearts and not your garments" I felt convicted that I don't always do that. So often I offer Jesus external worship by reading Scripture, praying, gathering for worship while my heart is far from Him. Sometimes I feel the need to put on an act that I am a holy person when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. For many this act would include props such as Christian t-shirts, bracelets, hats, and jewelry. It includes a soundtrack of Christian-only radio, and a rule that Christians only watch "Christian movies". Spurgeon addresses this when he notes "Garment-rending and other outward signs of religious emotion are easily manifested and are often hypocritical." He goes on "Offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven."
I'm not saying that everyone who wears "Christian" clothing is putting on an act. In fact I know a few (OK, only one) Christians who choose to wear this stuff whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. I guess it's just a warning to myself and others to be alert to the fact that God is not pleased with us because we choose to wear a "God Squad" t-shirt. God is concerned with matters of the heart so please "rend your hearts and not your garments."
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Pre-Surgery Video from Pastor Matt Chandler
Pastor Matt Chandler video on how not to waste a tumor. Making much of Christ NOW. In THIS. This was shot prior to Matt's surgery last Friday to remove his brain tumor.
Video from Matt
Video from Matt
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