Today's Word Radio

Brett Meador: The promise of Jesus, if you remember back in Acts 19:21 that Paul would after his third missionary journey would make it eventually to Rome, and then repeated the promise during the two weeks of the storm. But Paul finally makes it to the destination Jesus told him he was going to go.

Kurt: Pastor Brett Maiden with assurance God's purpose remains through every circumstance.

Brett Meador: So it's a little bit of a bounce here and there, but Paul finally makes it to Rome. This is an amazing thing. Sometimes God has a place for you to go, but don't be discouraged if it takes longer than you thought.

Kurt: Paul noted in 2 Corinthians, I take pleasure in distress for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. And so in Acts chapter 28 what appeared to be more setbacks and Paul's struggle to reach Rome eventually just became more opportunities for God's power to be revealed. Pastor Brett Maiden shares from today's word Paul utilizing every opportunity to be used by God.

Brett Meador: We started in Caesarea on this final journey of Paul. And there he was held for two years. Agrippa met him there and Felix and Festus, that old story. And then he went up to Sidon and then across over to Myra. And then we kind of saw him land there in Fair Haven. And that's where remember Paul said we should just stay here for the winter. It's some bad sailing. And they said yeah, whatever. And so they took off. And on their way from Fair Haven they ended up meeting a large storm. And it was brutal.

The ship was breaking up. They were throwing stuff overboard. In fact, if you look backward, look at verse 20 of 27 it says and when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But he said be of good cheer. Look at verse 25. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God. And we talked about Paul's faith would bolster their faith or even ignite their faith so that they would also start believing what Paul was saying. So even though the storm wasn't over, even though things were looking hopeless, how are they all good cheer?

Cuz Paul said over and over, hey, cheer up. It's going to be okay. The Lord told me that we're going to make it. All 276 souls in this ship are going to make it is what he's saying. So they're happy. Even in the midst of the storm. How? Peace from God, from Paul's faith. In verse 40 it goes on. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea and loosed the rudder bands and hoisted up the main sail to the wind and made toward the shore. Paul's word, more importantly God's word to Paul, God's word always always comes to pass.

Don't forget that. Whenever you have the word of God, it always comes to pass. And that's true here. But in Acts 28 verse 1 it says and when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness, for they kindled a fire and received everyone because of the present rain and because of the cold. Barbarous means rough speech in the Greek language, barbaros, speaking a foreign language which is not understood by another. The Greeks used the word barbaros, which means you don't understand their language, to any foreigner who is ignorant of Greek.

If you didn't know Greek language, you were a barbarous people. So not uncivilized, they were just not understanding Greek. They had manners, they had hospitality, and they brought a warm fire to these guys. So kind of interesting that these people were hospitable. Verse 3 it says and when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

That's just humanity right there, superstition. Those that believe something bad happened to somebody's because somebody must have done something really bad. The Lord's getting back at me for my sins. No, he's not. I've heard people say I think the Lord's punishing me for my sins. Question, what's the punishment for sin? Death. So I don't think he's punishing you yet cuz I still sense a pulse. It's not a punishment. So let's be careful on that one. You know, and so what happens? It says and he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm.

Howbeit, they looked when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly. But after they had looked a great while, they saw no harm come to him. And they changed their minds and said that he was a god. Boy, from one extreme to that, what is he? A murderer or is he a god? You choose. Like that's human nature. He's a murderer. No wonder he got bit by a viper. And then he shakes it off. So they called him a god. Verse 7, in the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island whose name was Publius who received us and lodged us three days courteously.

Again, these aren't barbarians. These are they're lodging and courteously treating these people. By the way, one of the things you need to remember as a Christian, we should have this kind of hospitality. Are you a hospitable person to strangers? Remember Hebrews 13:1 and 2 says let brotherly love continue and be not forgetful to entertain strangers. Do you remember why? Cuz you might be entertaining angels unaware. Now this cracks me up cuz I saw an angel in all these movies, touched by an angel. The only problem with that, the Bible says when you do it, you'll be unaware that they're angels.

So if you're writing a book, I don't you're aware. So you're that's not what the Bible says. So put your pen down and just keep being hospitable. I saw an angel. No. Whatever. When was the last time you showed kindness to a complete stranger? That's something to think about. Well, verse 8 so it came to pass that the father of Publius, that 's the leader of this island, lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux. What's a bloody flux? Uh the Greek word dysentery. So it's a dysentery bowel ailment, possibly a form of malaria.

But again this is where we remember, oh yeah, who's writing the book of Acts?

Guest (Male): Luke.

Brett Meador: Dr. Luke. So this is unique where he starts using terms like dysentery. Like you know, they weren't scientists back in those days, but Luke, when it comes to the medical stuff, he's more precise than all the other Bible writers, which is kind of cool. He is showing that Dr. Luke is on task. So this fever and a and dysentery to whom Paul entered in, prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, others also which had diseases in the island came and were healed. So now Paul's being used to heal others.

Doesn't this just add to the narrative that Paul is a god? He just shook off the viper and they thought he's a god. Now he's healing everybody. You know, Paul kind of deals with this in 2 Corinthians. Let me just read to you 2 Corinthians 12:7 through 10. He says and lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Like why would a guy write this kind of stuff?

Cuz he did stuff like healing islands of sick people and shaking off vipers. And he says so God did something to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice. He prayed three times that I might depart from me. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. It's in my weakness and my stuff, my afflictions, that's when I'm really actually in a place where I can be used by the Lord in a strong place, a strong position. What was it that kept Paul from being treated as a god? I wonder or even I wonder if for 10 seconds they thought he was a god like nah, he's not a god. He's a bald face, short little guy with a squeaky voice. And the question is what was the infirmity of his flesh? The answer, we don't know.

He called it a messenger of Satan, torment, a persistent, difficult affliction that he prayed for three times. The Lord said all the gracious stuff I 've done to you, that's enough. Just stop praying for this one is what he said. Some suggestions because of other both biblical stuff and also extra biblical history is that he had a chronic eye problem, maybe malaria or migraines, epilepsy. There's also somebody who talked about a speech disability possibly. But when you go through something hard or have a a weakness, maybe that's the Lord set you up so that you might be strong to serve him.

Have you ever been used by the Lord and then somebody say oh, how do you stay humble? I've had that a time or two a person is going Brett, how do you stay humble? I just laugh cuz man, if you only know what an idiot I am and the stupid things I've said and done and like my own frailties and weaknesses, it's like are you kidding me? The Lord is very faithful to remind me to be humble. So it's when we stop remembering that part of us and we start believing our press clippings, that's when you get into trouble.

Don't believe your press clippings, good or bad. Just only care what the Lord is going to do. So so you know, Paul wasn't worried about being perceived as a god. He knew that his own buffeted flesh would keep that in check, which is kind of cool. And he just kept doing the ministry. He didn't care about what they thought. He just kept doing it. Well, verse 9, so so when this was done, the healing, others also which diseases in the island came and were healed, who, these people that came also honored us with many honors.

And when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary, the necessities for their journey. And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the aisle whose sign was Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux. Now some of you Christians tend to be a little legalistic. I've seen this on social media where I can't believe you shopped at Target. Now I'm okay with it when people said I'm not going to shop at Target anymore. Their their transgender thing and all that was so bad and good for you if you said I 'm not shopping at Target.

But some of you snuck in and we're a little embarrassed. You're like okay, I got to get that. It's a really good price. So I'm going to go into Target. But I went to Disneyland. I can't believe their LGBTQ support and all that stuff. And I'm still paying money at Disneyland. You can ban stuff if you want to. But it's funny how Paul gets on a ship that's dedicated to Castor and Pollux. Those are the sons of Zeus. And you got to understand in those days those weren't just like saying Queen Mary or something like that.

Those were gods that they worshiped and they literally trusted in those gods for that ship's safety and protection. I wonder if some of you Christians would be caught dead on Pollux and Castor ship because it's such an evil thing. The point that I make is the Lord's going to use a very evil vessel called Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus, that's very much of a god thing to the Romans. And guess what? Paul's going to get on that ship and ride it to Rome. That's just kind of interesting for me. Sometimes I think we have to be careful because the thing that we have to remember is we're in this world.

The thing we have to be really careful is to not be of this world. So if you're going into Target, you don't you can shop at Target if you want to, but don't get into their LGBTQ thing. I've noticed they've backed it off a little bit cuz their income was dropping a lot, which I think is kind of funny and great. But at the same time, you know, we're in this world and we're going to have to be part of this world, but we don't have to we we're in the world but not of the world.

So Paul wasn't worshiping Castor and Pollux. That's kind of an important thing. This isn't just naming a ship. It's actual idolatry. Verse 12 and landing at Syracuse, that's not New York by the way, we tarried there three days. And from thence we fetched a compass. Oh, it's a good idea. And came to Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew. And we came next day to Puteoli oil. No. Puteoli. Puteoli, Italy where we found brethren. And we desired to tarry with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome. And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns.

Some of your newer translations get that better. Paul wasn't going down swinging the bruise with the boys at the tavern. The word tavern is better translated in. So there's the Three Inns. There's known as a place of Three Inns. Who when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage. So now he's with brothers. This is interesting, brethren, Christians. Verse 16 and when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was suffered to dwell or allowed to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. So it sounds like he was in Rome sort of under kind of house arrest with a soldier guarding him at all times.

That was sort of the deal there. Now we just go through the storm. Malta, had the viper incident, healed a bunch of people. A few months later they leave. And then they go 81 miles, if you want a point of reference, to Syracuse, 70 miles to Rhegium, and then 180 miles to Puteoli, which is Naples today. Appii and then the Three Taverns and then Rome. So it's a little bit of a bounce here and there, but Paul finally makes it to Rome. And And just a reminder, this is a big journey. Over the last like we get the whole picture here, Paul finally makes it to the destination.

Jesus told him he was going to go. But it was a circuitous route to say the least. You know, the promise of Jesus, if you remember back in Acts 19:21 that Paul would after his third missionary journey would make it eventually to Rome. Jesus at Jerusalem promised Paul he would make it in Acts 23:11 and then repeated the promise during the two weeks of the storm at sea, Acts 27 verses 23 through 25. So this is an amazing thing. Sometimes God has a place for you to go, but don't be discouraged if it takes longer than you thought.

Don't be discouraged if you do a few loop-de-loos along the way and you're wondering what the world's going on. God is faithful. He 'll get you there. Now he's able to move around freely in Rome, but a guard has to be with them. But you think well, that's kind of a bummer. It wasn't cuz we get a hint. Philippians 4 21 through 22 Paul implies that the guards around him are all getting saved. This is great. I love this. It says salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

I love that. That means Paul's just kind of kicking around Rome with a guard and all of Caesar's households getting saved. They're greeting the church saying, man, we're Christians too. I wonder if this guard that was attached to him got saved. I think probably. High up politicians, royals, they're all part of Caesar's household. Well, verse 17 and it came to pass that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together. And when they were come together, he said unto them. Now these are the chief Jews in Rome. When they were come together, he said unto them, men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans who when they had examined me would have let me go because there was no cause of death in me.

That was Felix and Festus. But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar, not that I had ought to accuse my nation of or nothing to accuse the Jewish nation of. For this cause therefore I have called for you to see you and to speak with you because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. What's the hope of Israel, anybody? Jesus. Right. He's bound for the hope of Israel. I love that. Verse 21 and they said unto him, we neither receive letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any brethren that came showed or spake any harm of thee.

But we desire to hear thee what thou thinkest for 0 as concerning the sect. We know that everywhere it is spoken against, the sect of Christianity or the way. They want to hear more about it. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him to his lodging to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets from morning till evening. Boy, I wish we could pick up those MP3 teachings. Paul teaching on Jesus from the law and the prophets.

That's awesome. And some believed, verse 24, and the things which were spoken and some believed not. Can I just say if you're preaching the gospel, don't be discouraged when some people don't believe. Jesus gave us the parable of the sower and the the one who sows the word. Only 25% of the seed grew up and bore fruit. So don't be shocked if you can preach the word and share the scriptures with people, but they may or may not have ears to hear. That's just the way things go. So how did he preach using the the law of Moses and the prophets?

Well verse 25 and when they agreed not among themselves, they departed. So some people saved, some people not, but they departed after that Paul had spoken one word. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers saying go unto this people and say, hearing you shall hear and shall not understand. Seeing you shall see and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them.

Paul's just reiterating, man, Isaiah foretold that these people would not have ears to hear or eyes to see. Fulfillment of prophecy. Be it known, verse 28, therefore unto you that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed and had great reasoning among themselves or disputing among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Hey Brett, where's Acts chapter 29? Like the story's not over. There's got to be more. Well, this is kind of interesting. Don't close your Bibles quite yet. You're not getting off that easy. Would you flip over to 2 Timothy chapter 4 real quick. Now while you're turning to 2 Timothy 4, you might say there are several passages that might just really be legitimately chapter 29 of of Acts. The one suggestion is it's you. You're the rest of the story. Paul ends here saying, okay now this is what you're supposed to do. Go out and preach the gospel and make disciples.

And we end on a positive note with Paul. We don't hear the rest of the story yet. So maybe Acts 29 is you. Some people suggest Acts 29 is Revelation 2 and 3, the seven churches of Asia Minor and the story of the churches. But if you're a careful Bible reader, one of the things you start to see is Paul closing off his life. The last epistle he wrote in Rome, the most scholars agree is 2 Timothy. And this is maybe the best sign off that we have from Paul in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 6.

2 Timothy 4 6 Paul says, for I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day. And not me only, but also them that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me, for Demas has forsaken me and having loved this present world and is departed to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, that's John Mark, and bring him with thee, for he is profitable for me. That's a great redemptive story right there if you remember. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. And the cloak that I left at Troas, this is just like bring me my coat, bring John Mark, you know, bring me also the books, especially the parchments, the Torah, the Old Testament. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord reward him according to his works. Hate to be Alexander, of whom be thou also greatly withstood for words.

He goes in, you know, he talks about forgiving them and how the Lord stood. But he ends in verse 21, do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee and Pudens and Linus and Charlie No, Claudia and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. That's that's like his last words right there. That's the end. So with that, you know, all this stuff in Rome By the way, tradition tells us Paul appeared before Caesar Nero and the case was dismissed. There's some tradition that says that his case was dismissed.

Then went to Crete, Titus, visited Ephesus with Timothy, possibly into Spain and even Britain some say in history, not in the Bible. Then he was arrested again and then one more time in prison where they believe he wrote 2 Timothy and then was taken on the side edge of the city and beheaded in Rome. That's most of the history that's outside of the Bible about what happened to Paul.

Kurt: Pastor Brett Maiden concluding a verse by verse study of Acts chapter 28 noting Paul's continuing ministry following his eventual arrival in Rome. And Pastor Brett will be back to deliver some closing thoughts from today's word as we close out the book of Acts. If you've missed any portion of our time today, you'll find all of Pastor Brett's messages online at todayswordradio.com. That's todayswordradio.com. Well, Pastor Brett has joined me. And as we've come to the conclusion of our study series in the book of Acts, it's really been incredible to see the early church grow and one of the most influential men in the whole New Testament, the apostle Paul, helped to lead the spread of Christianity.

Brett, what final thoughts would you like to leave our listeners with today?

Brett Meador: Well, Kurt, there's a lot of things I'd love to say, but perhaps the biggest one is the book of Acts really isn't finished. It ends really abruptly because in a sense the story of God's work through his church is still continuing today. So we're living in that continuing work of the Holy Spirit as people come to Christ all around the world. Uh when I read the book of Acts, I I don't want just to admire what God did. I want to, you know, ask him to do it again. And the same Holy Spirit that empowered Peter, Stephen, Barnabas, and Paul, you know, still indwells believers today.

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So God hasn't changed. You know, our world desperately needs Christians who are filled with courage, compassion, humility, truth, all the things we see in the book of Acts. And then another thing, just how we get to see that happening not just in our local church, but even on our radio program, how the Lord is moving throughout the world even. Uh as we get to teach the Bible, our mission hasn't changed, just sharing Christ, uh loving people, opening our Bibles, praying faithfully. That's how the Lord builds his church.

So while the book of Acts ends on paper, I think the story continues through the church today.

Kurt: Yeah, and I'm so glad it does. And these past several months through these daily studies in the book of Acts really did show us how the early church handled things both the right and wrong way. And you're right, Brett, that example of God's faithfulness continues in today's church.

Brett Meador: Yes.

Kurt: Well, if you'd like more information about our todayswordradio.com program or Pastor Brett Maiden, just go to todayswordradio.com. That's todayswordradio.com. And that's all the time we have. Next time Pastor Brett will jump in to the next book of the Bible. And that's the incredibly important book of Romans. Today's word with Pastor Brett Maiden is an outreach of Athey Creek Church in Westlin, Oregon.