Evidence of Faith Epilogue

At the onset of this writing odyssey, I asked myself two primary questions: why is Acts important and what makes it relevant in today’s times? Regarding the first question, Acts is critically important because it demonstrates the essentiality of God. The apostles could not have accomplished anything worthy of note or record had the Holy Spirit not empowered them, blessed them, helped them, strengthened them, or guided them. In both personal and ministerial endeavors, the early disciples discovered that an active relationship with the Creator produces transformational lives.

To the second question, Acts is relevant in today’s times because it confirms that mankind is spiritually content, fruitful, and prosperous when a man-to-God relationship is established through redemption in Christ. The pioneer believers were wholly dependent upon God’s daily participation in their lives to make a difference in the world around them. Thanks to the Holy Spirit’s governance, the first century men and women of faith were able to carry out the sizable mission Jesus had called them to: to tell others about Him and lead the lost into salvation, baptism, and discipleship. Therefore, Acts underscores God’s involvement is the impetus for lasting change and reformation.

I find tremendous comfort and conviction in knowing that God was able to use people from all walks of life, including fishermen, Pharisees, Roman soldiers, and businesswomen alike, to usher in such a great awakening. But this consideration forces modern-day Christians to address some penetrating character inquiries. Will we make ourselves available for God’s mission? Will we allow God’s will, rather than our own, to direct us? Will we consider fellowshipping with God, affixing ourselves to the body of Christ, and evoking a communal awareness of the Lord through humble, Christ-honoring service as central aspirations? Will we, like the believers of Acts, fully engage and display the evidence of our faith, no matter the cost?

Evidence of Faith (Continued): Acts 28

"Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."

Acts 28:31

        Boldness. An unrelenting passion. An uninhibited persuasion. An unwillingness to compromise one’s beliefs.
Bold positions are the exception, rather than the rule, in appeasement-oriented societies. Politically correct environments tend to generate diminished moral standards collectively and label those who exhibit a bold presence as part of a radical fringe whose say must be ignored or muted. This pattern inevitably leads to two primary outcomes: passivity and complacency. As modeled by Jesus, Christianity should not be a passive, complacent devotion. The Savior of mankind was active, articulate, and approachable in His earthly mission. He was respectful of elders, authorities, customs, and governmental leaders, but not at the expense of traditions or sentiments that dishonored God. If a person brought shame to God, or profaned Him with a corrupted lifestyle, Jesus had no reservations calling someone into account. His holy boldness confirms that a firm faith and a dedicated disposition go hand-in-hand.  
It is critical to note that although boldness should be seen as a positive force (as it strives to draw attention to truth) it is sometimes employed in a negative fashion, which accomplishes the opposite effect. I was made aware of this my first Sunday as a minister of music. Because I desperately longed to glorify God in my new role, I spent many hours preparing for the inaugural service. I carefully considered the selection of songs, their respective sequence, and what I could share that would amplify the worship’s meaning and impact. After the service, the pastor asked me to accompany him to the church foyer and shake hands with attendees as they exited the building. As my veins coursed with excitement and nervousness, several people extended heartfelt “thank you” and “we are glad you are with us” utterances. But they were all eclipsed by one emotionally-distressing verbal jab. 

As an older woman greeted me she felt inclined to say, “You know we pay you to sing, not talk right?” In that moment, all the joy that I had encountered that morning evaporated. I went from feeling as though I was walking on air to feeling as though I had fallen from a great height. Everything I wanted to achieve at the onset of my ministry was somehow overshadowed by the boldly condescending remark, a remark that cut very deep. It took me awhile to learn how to view such obscure, isolated statements as outliers, outliers which do not appropriately measure my ministerial efforts in God’s eyes.

Boldness should be held in balance with a dynamic relationship with Christ. Had the senior church member chosen to realize that my usage of testimonies and Scripture reading was incorporated to enhance the singing, not diminish it, her exchange with me would have been drastically different. But because she chose to dwell on the fact that my worship leading style was unlike anything she was familiar with, she expressed her discomfort in an extremely brash manner. When not checked by the Holy Spirit, hasty thoughts usually morph into harsh words. Cynicism and derision have no business in a Christian’s dialogue. God desires for His believers to be compassionately communicative and patiently pronounced.              

Paul was a missionary who was well-acquainted with the cost of spiritual boldness. He suffered a substantial amount of hardship and heartache because of his transparent faith. And yet his steadfast commitment to journey to the ends of the world to proclaim Christ’s love never wavered. This remarkable resolve was evident in Paul’s demeanor throughout the perilous travel he encountered en route to Rome in Acts 27. Despite fourteen days adrift at sea, the apostle never relinquished trust in God. In fact, Paul encouraged the crew onboard his ship to rely on God’s promised deliverance. Eventually, the sea-ravaged vessel was run aground on a sandbar and all the passengers made it to land safely, where Acts 28 continues the story. 
Disoriented, the crew did not know where they had crashed. It was only after some local residents met them on the beach that they discovered the island they were on was Malta, south of Sicily. The people of Malta were incredibly sympathetic towards the crew and showed them great kindness, going so far as to build a fire to warm the cold, rain-soaked survivors of a horrendous ordeal. Paul, ever a diligent servant, assisted in stoking the fire by gathering up brushwood. As he tossed a pile of kindling into the blaze, a snake, driven out by the heat, darted out and clamped down on his fist. The inhabitants of Malta who witnessed it assumed the apostle was a vile man for why else would he live through a shipwreck only to perish immediately after because of a poisonous snake bite? 

Unfazed by the viper’s attack, Paul shook the creature right back into the fire. The spectators fully expected the apostle to die on the spot, or at least experience some swelling in his hand, but neither transpired. Instantly, the people of Malta stopped reviling Paul and started revering him. It is interesting to observe how rapidly the overall opinion and perspective of Paul changed. One minute, the apostle was a wretched mortal. The next, he was a god. Paul’s association with deity and the reference to Justice, a Greek goddess (Acts. 28:4), highlight the depth of false doctrine that permeated Malta. The island’s inhabitants were spiritually subjugated to polytheism, which was common in Greco-Roman culture. 

Even though the residents of Malta were under the spell of a manmade religion, they continued to treat the Rome-bound prisoner caravan with tremendous hospitality. The crew was taken to the home of a leading official on the island, a man named Publius. For three days, the marooned party received food and shelter at Publius’s estate. During that time, Publius was in the midst of a personal crisis. His father had contracted an illness. Physically weak, the older gentleman was bedridden. As he happened to be staying in Publius’s home, Paul went to see Publius’s father. After praying, the apostle placed his hands on the senior adult and healed him. Word of this miracle soon spread throughout Malta. Ailing people all across the island flocked to Paul for supernatural mending. Per Acts 28:9, all that came to the apostle were cured of their afflictions.

The citizens of Malta were so grateful for the apostle’s supplication-filled touch that they furnished him and the crew with all the supplies they required to get to Rome. After three months, the prisoner caravan put out to sea on an Alexandrian ship that had wintered in Malta. When they passed through assorted ports, the crew finally reached Rome. Before Paul ventured into the capital city, he was greeted by believers in the region. When the apostle beheld the men converging on him, he was encouraged that Christianity’s spiritual fire had expanded and thus he praised God.
In Rome, Paul was granted a favorable custody. He lived under house arrest with one soldier assigned to guard him. The time Paul spent awaiting the continuation of his trial (some two years) allowed him the opportunity to write letters to his fellow disciples scattered abroad. This period produced several epistles, including: Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians. The aforementioned correspondence with the churches was later preserved and canonized in Scripture, which has deepened peoples’ knowledge of Christ’s grace for many centuries.  
After three days in Rome, Paul requested that the resident Jewish leaders meet with him. The apostle asked the Hebrew elders to convene in his quarters. When everyone assembled, the apostle summarized the situation surrounding his arrest. Once again, Paul professed that he was innocent of violating the laws and customs of his Hebrew ancestors. This claim was confirmed by several Roman civil and governmental powers who failed to find punishable fault in the apostle’s actions.
The Jewish leaders informed Paul that they had obtained no notes from Judea concerning him. The absence of a report regarding the apostle may indicate that the winter storms had delayed the delivery of dispatches, or it could be that the priests and elders in Judea had abandoned their grudge with Paul when a great geographical distance was placed between them. Either way, the Jewish leaders in Rome showed no sign that they were predisposed to contend with Paul. In fact, they proposed that Paul clarify his precepts on a separate occasion.

A day was subsequently arranged to provide Paul the platform to offer his testimony. The response to this event was staggering. Large numbers of people went to hear Paul. The apostle evangelized from morning till night in an attempt to prove that Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies written about in the Old Testament. Some were convinced Paul’s message was true; some were not. Some began to leave when Paul cited Isaiah 6:9-10, a passage which reprimanded the nation of Israel for stubbornly rejecting God. Paul understood few in the room believed Jesus was the only begotten Son of God, Who was raised to life three days after His sacrificial death at Calvary. He affirmed that the spiritual obstinacy which personified the Jewish forefathers was just as prevalent in the present generation’s refusal to acknowledge Jesus’ salvation.

Intending to spur his kinsmen to find redemption in Christ, Paul said the Gentile people, unlike many Israelites, possessed open ears and receptive hearts (when it came to the legacy and ministry of Jesus). This jealousy-inducing tactic did little to move the Jewish people in Rome from their cantankerous mindset. Many walked away unchanged. Thereafter, Paul lived in a rented house for two years and welcomed all who visited him. Boldly and without hindrance, Paul preached and taught about the kingdom of God. 

Luke’s exclusion of any follow-on details regarding Paul’s legal proceedings may mean that Luke completed this book before he learned the outcome of the apostle’s case. Or perhaps Luke purposefully withheld the results of Paul’s hearing because it did not heighten the realization that the Holy Spirit did an incredible work through Paul (and so many other believers). Tradition says the apostle was acquitted of his charges but then rearrested and executed. Regardless, Paul’s tenacious evangelistic outpouring, as recorded in Acts 28:31, ensured that the gospel was heralded throughout the Roman Empire, which thereby helped solidify Christianity as a spiritual mainstay rather than a transitory religion.

According to the final verse of the final chapter of Acts, Paul vigorously served God and talked about the Lord persistently in Rome. His motivation to tarry on in redemptive endeavors reveals three characteristics of spiritual boldness. One, boldness possesses a confident spirit. Paul not only preached, but he preached boldly. His sermons contained a sense of fervency and confidence. This confidence did not derive from Paul’s intellectual prowess or acumen, although the apostle enjoyed a stout academic and religious pedigree. No, Paul’s confidence came from the power of the Holy Spirit, Who was mightily effective in his God-ordained labor. 

Confidence is often associated with pride and arrogance, but, by definition, it is a state of conviction. Clearly, Paul was a man of great conviction. His bold spirit and bold stance persevered in spite of extensive ridicule and pushback. He refused to allow momentary sufferings, like shipwrecks, snakebites, or scoffers, to take his focus off of Christ’s calling: turning people from sin’s darkness towards heaven’s light. His resoluteness was emboldened through the power of the Holy Spirit, in Whom Paul’s confidence was wisely placed. 

Two, boldness possesses a charged voice. Paul preached boldly and he preached boldly without hindrance. Even though it would have been in his best interest from a fleshly perspective to circumvent attention or upset any local citizens who could negatively influence the apostle’s trial, Paul unfailingly spoke about Jesus Christ. His zeal for the things of God compelled him to not be silent or scared of worldly powers. Paul’s commission was directly from Christ and, until the Lord rescinded it, he would continue to make his charged voice known.

Three, boldness possesses a Christ-centered message. The theme of Paul’s ongoing declaration centered on the life of Jesus. He thought about Christ. He testified about Christ. He taught about Christ. Scarcely a discussion transpired that Paul did not mention the Son of God. Through Paul’s example, we see that a mind occupied with the considerations of Christ begets a mouth occupied with conversations of Christ. 
As unfinished as Acts may seem, given that there is no additional information about Paul’s last days (or most of the other apostles for that matter), this New Testament book has an appropriate ending. In closing with Paul’s persistent sermonizing of God’s kingdom (in the face of civil prosecution and carnal persecution), Luke leaves readers with the invitation to proclaim the goodness of Jesus Christ. Paul’s example is a call to grow in our walk with God. A challenge to trumpet the love of Jesus, the Savior of the world. May we, like Paul, choose to be a part of the Holy Spirit’s activity and preach Christ wherever He may guide us. 

Does your life boldly herald the greatness of God’s kingdom and the goodness of Jesus Christ?

Evidence of Faith (Continued): Acts 27

"So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away."

Acts 27:32

      Courage. The ability to unflinchingly withstand affliction and difficulties. The strength to face adversity without bending or breaking. The tenacity to push forward in pressure-filled situations.

So often we associate courage with combat. While this connection is a fitting one, it is certainly not the only one for courage embodies a persevering spirit, a spirit that is just as noble in worship as it is in war. This perspective was made clearer to me a few years ago, when I was a part-time minister of music for a small church in Oklahoma City. One Sunday morning, the praise band drummer failed to arrive for the start of a pre-service practice. Because it was not uncommon for him to be a little tardy every now and then, I began the rehearsal with the assumption he would appear shortly thereafter. After fifteen minutes had elapsed, panic swiftly set in. The drummer’s sister, who was on staff as the children’s minister, happened to walk through the sanctuary as I was mentally scrambling to ascertain what to do. I asked her if she could contact her brother to ensure everything was ok. She soon informed me that her brother had come down with an illness overnight and would not be able to play for the service.

Flustered because most of the song charts for the service were energetic and rhythmic, I grew increasingly nervous as to how the worship would flow. I fretted that the praise would be less compelling without percussive accompaniment. I had no contingency for this scenario, which only compounded my frustration. Minutes prior to the service, the youth minister approached me and suggested we utilize a youth member to fill in on drums that morning. A teenager had been playing trapset for the youth worship band on Wednesday night services for over a year. Initially, I was reluctant to insert a new musician into the praise band rotation at the last minute, especially one with whom I never rehearsed with. But as the seconds drew closer to the service kickoff, I became more and more comfortable with the consideration.           

After receiving the pastor’s approval of the eleventh hour idea, I asked the young man if he would play drums for the opening praise songs. His eyes lit up momentarily, but then a sense of reservation streaked across his face. He looked to his father, who was standing nearby, listening to our conversation. The son communicated a non-verbal “Is it ok if play?” gesture to his dad. The father endorsed it with a nod of his head, at which point the teenager literally ran to the trapset from his pew seat. I glanced over towards the teenaged drummer sporadically throughout the worship and noticed his countenance conveyed immense joy. There was something remarkably pervasive about the satisfaction that he obtained from his personal contribution to the praise service. 

      Even in unanticipated circumstances, the Lord can move mightily. It may be tempting to brush aside events that challenge us to step outside our comfort zone or display courage. After all, who wants to venture away from a safety net and risk rejection or pain? But such reflections weaken our relationship with God and circumvent opportunities for Him to be exalted and revealed in a greater way. Numerous biblical passages highlight Paul’s exhibition of courage in trying affairs. The apostle understood his life was in God’s immaculate care, which enabled him to courageously anchor in when most others would have fallen or fled. Acts 27 presents a suitable illustration of this contemplation. 

Paul’s Caesarean trial lingered unresolved for over two years. Paul addressed two Roman provincial governors and a king without a verdict being rendered. In an effort to force a decision from the Roman courts and hurdle the legal gridlock that was obstructing a conclusive judgment in his case, Paul appealed to Caesar. Thus, arrangements were made to send the apostle to Rome, as chronicled in Acts 27. Paul’s voyage to the capital city was wrought with hardships and travails.  

     Luke joined Paul for the apostle’s transfer to Rome (indicated by the author’s usage of the term “we” in Acts 27:1, the fourth “we” section listed in Acts). It seems like an unusual custom in the modern age, but it was not abnormal in the ancient world for prisoners to be granted the privilege of having friends accompany them on such transports, at least for Roman citizens in the Roman Empire, which Paul was. Paul’s path to the capital city would not be an easy one. Therefore, God stirred the hearts of some faithful companions to provide fellowship for the apostle’s arduous journey. Not only did Luke attend to Paul, but Aristarchus did as well. Aristarchus was introduced in Acts 19:29, when he was apprehended in Ephesus and paraded before an angry mob, a mob that was eager to shed Christian blood (Paul’s in particular). Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, held no resentment for bearing the brunt of Paul’s backlash in Ephesus, as evidenced by his support of the apostle in Acts 27.

Paul and other captives were assigned to a centurion named Julius. According to Acts 27:2, the military officer sought passage for the prisoners and soldiers by boarding a ship from Adramyttium (based out of Western Asia). They put out to sea and landed in Sidon the next day. Although Acts does not record a church being established in Sidon it apparently contained a body of believers for when the ship made port Paul was allowed to visit them. Julius placed a significant amount of stock in Paul’s integrity by permitting this liberty. The apostle earned this courtesy through his example and reputation. 

     When Paul’s ship set sail again, it stayed close to land because strong winds threatened to force the vessel out into open water. It is probable that this naval expedition occurred in the fall season (September to November). To avoid the heavy storms, which could easily damage ships and their precious cargo, various waterways were closed for several months during this cycle. When Paul’s ship landed at Myra, the prisoner caravan required another vessel because the ship from Adramyttium was continuing along the province of Asia. Julius promptly secured passage on a grain boat bound for Italy. The captives and soldiers boarded an Alexandrian ship and pressed ahead. Due to hostile winds, several days passed with almost no progress to show for it, intensifying the realization that the height of the perilous sailing season was fast approaching.

Paul offered a solemn warning to Julius and the crew. He told them that if they maintained their current heading it would come at an immense cost. This prophecy might have been divinely-inspired, or it could have been deduced from Paul’s familiarity of sea travel (per 2 Corinthians 11:25 Paul experienced shipwreck three different times). Either way, the apostle’s cautionary advice was ignored by Julius, who chose instead to heed the opinion of the ship’s captain and owner. When the ship’s pilot thought he had an ideal wind stream, he set sail for Phoenix, on the island of Crete. The objective was to have the prisoners and soldiers winter in Crete and wait out the intense storm cycle. But before long, the vessel was overtaken by hurricane force winds blowing in from the north. Because the vessel’s captain had no capability to steer through the gusts, the ship was at the mercy of the wind.

With virtually no control of the vessel, the crew desperately tried various means to make land. They tied ropes around the ship’s hull to keep it from tearing apart. They tossed freight and gear overboard to make the vessel lighter and prevent it from becoming submerged in the open sea. Because of overcast skies, monitoring the sun and stars, which yielded vital navigational aid, was inaccessible. When the storm showed no indication of relenting, many onboard the battered ship gave up hope of surviving the ordeal. 

The crew went an extensive time without the nourishment of food. It could be that the constant, violent rocking of the ship brought on a horrible seasickness, or perhaps the plausibility of dying at sea made the passengers relinquish the inclination to physically endure. Paul recognized the prevailing despondency and countered it with a word of encouragement. He told the people to be courageous because an angel of God had appeared to him and proclaimed everyone on the ship would live through the storm. The crew need not lose heart for God had promised to intervene and supernaturally help them weather the treacherous elements. Paul pivoted from the spiritual to the logical, telling the passengers that they desperately needed to run the ship aground.

After fourteen days adrift at sea, the sailors perceived that they were nearing land, which was verified by dropping weighted ropes into the water at assorted intervals (to track the sea’s depth). Because the ship was travelling at such a fast pace, and coming in blind due to the nighttime sky, the sailors applied a mechanism to slow down the ship’s rate of speed by lowering four anchors into the water. Some of the sailors, out of desperation, put a lifeboat into the sea, intending to circumvent a presumably deathly fate. Paul reminded Julius that God’s assurance was for all of the passengers, not most of them. Because they shared the same destiny, it was vital that they see this through together. In response to Paul’s counsel, Julius mandated that the ropes connecting the lifeboat to the ship be severed.

Just before daybreak, Paul advocated that the entire crew eat a meal. Their bodies were undoubtedly weak and required replenishment. Recalling God’s vow that they would be saved, Paul took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, tore the bread apart, and ate it in front of everyone. Inspired, all two hundred and seventy-six people onboard consumed some food provisions. While a captive, Paul was still very much a courageous consoler and a champion of Christ-like composure. The man of God was a great motivator. 

      Thereafter, the crew threw the grain out to sea to further lighten the load of the ship. This action signifies that the sailors were fully aware that the ship’s grain, the crew’s primary source of income, would not be salvaged from pending destruction. With the grain no longer giving additional weight or stability to the vessel, the ship could be run aground. When sunlight appeared, the crew noticed a beach on the horizon. Cutting loose the anchors and untying the ropes fastened to the rudders, they readied themselves for a crash. The ship struck a sandbar, which exposed the stressed vessel to incoming waves, thereby shattering the stern into pieces. 

     Realizing the prisoners could attempt a getaway in the frenzied chaos, the soldiers proposed killing the captives, knowing the repercussions for permitting inmates to escape warranted extreme punishment, in some cases execution. But Julius purposed to spare Paul’s life and prohibited his troops from carrying out their proposal. Because some of the passengers did not know how to swim, Julius bid them to jump overboard and cling to sections of debris from the ship. The rest of the passengers were instructed to swim to shore. When all was said and done everyone made it to land. 

     Throughout this account, Paul demonstrated a courageous heart. He was unfazed and undaunted by the life-and-death dilemma. The apostle’s spiritual fortitude was not shared by any of the soldiers or sailors at first, but eventually it positively influenced Julius the centurion. The military officer’s charge to discard the lifeboat in Acts 27:32 denoted his acceptance of God’s Word, as communicated through Paul. 

      This narrative identifies three distinguishing traits of courage. One, courage entails boldness. It is not a meager act of gallantry; it is a perceivable life-substantiating valor. As the lifeboat was swept away by the sea, there was no turning back. So often mankind wants to cling to the lifeboat of our everyday endeavors. It somehow feels comforting to think there is a suitable exit strategy, should it be needed. But with God there is no backup plan because His plan is the only plan that counts. Try as hard as we may to bypass God, there is simply no avoiding the Almighty. Rather than scheming against God, we should submit ourselves to His leadership and exercise faith in Him, as Paul and Julius did.

Julius’s decision to leave the lifeboats behind was a bold one. Perhaps some of the sailors, and maybe even some of the soldiers, mentally questioned the centurion’s mindset. But courage is not timid and does not entertain lukewarm considerations. It confronts the storms of life and braces for impact.
      Two, courage entails bravery. It does not cower when it encounters the harsh settings it is sometimes thrust into. It does not wince at danger or overwhelming odds. Julius faced criticism and mutiny for decreeing that the passengers remain as one unit, but he did not allow the potential for ridicule or the appearance of recklessness to alter his conviction. He was certain Paul’s message was of divine origin and so he developed a solution to ensure that everyone tarried together. Bravery demands resolve. It calls for the audacity to resist the allurement of bailing out of hostile environments. A lifeboat was made for such an occasion, so why not use one? Because on that day, for that moment, it was not God’s will. 

      Three, courage entails belief. Julius’s command to jettison the lifeboat was belief-driven. The centurion trusted Paul’s declaration that the Lord would guide everyone onboard the ship ashore. Because of Julius’s belief in God, via Paul’s God-ordained pronouncement, he was able to engage a heavenly-based courage. Some might conclude that Julius assumed control of the ship by having his soldiers release the lifeboat. But, in essence, he surrendered control of the matter to God. Julius confided in God to rescue all two hundred and seventy-six passengers, not some manmade watercraft. Clearly, belief is a powerful force when it is concentrated on the all-powerful God.

     Courage’s potency flows from an active relationship with the Lord. It is most visible when it is placed in harm’s way. A sea-tossed boat and some sorrow-filled hearts surrounded Paul and Julius. Few would have blamed Julius for allowing sailors to make for the lifeboats, given the perilous conditions. But courage does not search for the simple way out. It does not retreat because of trepidation or terror. Courage marches on, even when factors suggest disaster is in its path. It stays the course, no matter where the course is directed. 

When the winds of life rage against you, does a heavenly-based courage rage stronger?