Something Greater

Suffering Servant Acts 9:15 What has gone before... Saul seemed near to death. Struck down with blindness, confronted by a man he'd thought long dead by crucifixion, his Jewish life of rigid righteousness and violent religious rule seemed gone in an instant. All he could do was pray. Meanwhile, God was preparing Ananias to go to Saul, to heal his blindness and commission him to be a witness for Jesus. And to suffer. Moving on... "The Lord said to him, - Go, for he 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 (ESV) SUFFER: pascho "PAS-kho" (to experience a sensation or impression, usually painful) Much of the Book of Acts is an account of how Saul suffered as a Christian. Jews plotted to kill him early in his ministry (9:23). Fellow Christians suspected him of being a spy (9:26). He was persecuted a...

Saved to Serve Acts 9:8 What has gone before... Saul, "breathing threats and murder", traveled to Damascus to rout Jewish Christians. His mind and heart were engorged with lust for violent, crushing punishment of people he regarded as traitors to Judaism, idolaters of a false god. The writer of the Book of Acts described Christians as ones "belonging to the Way", reminding all of us to see our life as a road, with many changes in terrain and direction, but leading to a greatly desired destination. Midway on his chosen road of retribution, Saul was brought to his knees with physical blindness and spiritual clarity. The Jesus he had sought to grind into forgotten history was suddenly very real, and very persuasive. Moving on... Blind, perhaps confused, probably frightened and emotionally spent, Saul seemed near death: "Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into ...

Aspiration and Desire 1 Timothy 3:3 What has gone before... An overseer must be hospitable , one who is fond of guests, one who enjoys meeting new and different sorts of people, regarding new acquaintances as new friends. In the same breath, Paul cautions Christians to avoid grumbling , grudgingly attempting to show hospitality to others while inwardly complaining of the cost or discomfort. Hospitality is sharing with others what God has given us. Entertaining others at our home, or together at a restaurant, can easily connect with another characteristic of the ideal overseer: one who teaches others . More than being willing to teach others, Paul describes an overseer as one who is competent to teach, one who himself loves to learn and joys in helping others to learn. Teaching is to be more than a duty...it is to be a lifelong calling. Moving on... Following the seven broad categories of character qualities introduced in verse 2, Paul now lists specific behaviors ...

Above Reproach And Well Thought Of 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul exalts the " office of overseer ", which means spiritual health inspector. "Office of overseer" is often translated as " visitation ". The first " episcopate ", or group of church overseers, were probably the apostles, called by Jesus. Paul commended those who "aspire" or stretch out after and set their hearts upon the office of overseer, describing the work as a "noble task", something " beautifully good ". Moving on... Paul describes the the ideal overseer . The passage reads like a job-hunter's resume, listing knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the "noble task" of inspecting and protecting Christian churches. "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quar...

Threats and Murder...and Glory Acts 9:1 What has gone before... Directed by an angel, Philip meets a man in the desert, an Ethiopian official who had visited Jerusalem to worship God and was then returning to his home. The minister of state was described as a "eunuch", which likely was used figuratively, rather than literally. "Eunuch", whether literally or figurative, reminded us of circumstances in which God has placed each of us that have brought personal loss or injury, yet God gives us comfort in the midst of loss. A passage from the Book of Isaiah overwhelmed the Ethiopian's heart and he embraced the truth of Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Immediately after baptizing the man, Philip is "teleported" miles distant, finding himself on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Filled with joy at God's miraculous timing and power, Philip travels north up the coast, settling down in Caesarea, marrying and raising a family. Moving on.....

Hospitable and Able to Teach 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... Paul's description of a person suitable for consideration as overseer of a church began with one who was above reproach: faithful in marriage, sober-minded, self-controlled and respectable. Moving on... "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable..." 1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV) HOSPITABLE: philoxenos "fil-OX-en-os" (fond of guests); from philos (dear, as a friend; fond or friendly, referring to an associate or neighbor) and xenos (foreign, as alien or novel; a guest or entertainer) "Hospitable" seems to provide at the same time the means and the motive for spending time with new acquaintances: treat them as friends and regard their quirks as entertaining. The word, "hospitable" is found three times in the Bible: used twice by Paul in similar directions to Timothy and Titus concerning overseers....

Sober-minded 1 Timothy 3:2 What has gone before... In Paul's "job description" for overseer, the first and last descriptors function as an introduction and summary: above reproach and well thought of . Paul requires Christians to consider whether they are above reproach concerning marriage . Biblically, marriage is a life-long, socially legal contract between one man and one woman. If this contract is broken, it must be only for the cause of sexual immorality. Divorce for any other reason is evidence of sin-hardened hearts. Until such a heart is submitted to Christ in repentance , such a one should not be considered for the office of overseer. Moving on... After faithfulness in marriage, Paul next urges us toward sober-mindedness . "An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded.." 1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV) SOBER-MINDED: nephaleos "nay-FAL-eh-os" (sober or circumspect, wary and unwilling to take risks); from ne...