Take Heed Lest Prophecy Be About You: A Sermon by Jordan Washington
Good morning. As always it is a privilege to preach God’s word to you this morning. Let us pray for our minds and hearts this morning as we hear from God.
We are continuing our series in the book of Acts this morning. Ironically the sermon this morning is about a sermon. A sermon about a sermon if you will. This was a hard one. Paul’s a better preacher than I am, so part of me was just going to preach Paul’s sermon and let’s go home. But I want to caution everyone at the outset. Take heed lest the prophecy be about you. We are going to be discussing some very familiar Bible stories. But remember that these are not just stories. Remember even more that these stories are about real people. Remember more still that these stories are about the acts of God. The God who spoke the universe into existence. So do not let your supposed familiarity with these stories hinder you, lest you miss out on the work of God. So if you have your Bibles, turn with me to Acts 13:13 – 41. Beginning in verse 13. Read Acts 13:13 – 41
The title of this sermon is take heed and be of good cheer. At this point in the book of Acts, Paul becomes a central character in the narrative. We see here an account of Paul’s preaching in a similar fashion in content to that of Stephen. Paul and Barnabas enter the synagogue. As is customary on the Sabbath, the Law and the Prophets were preached. The reading of the Law was a reading of the covenant with Yahweh; continually setting forth the covenant relationship between Israel and their God. God from the beginning has always dealt with humanity through covenants. The crowd is composed of both Israelites and those who “fear God.” As mentioned before those who fear God is a label given to those who worship the God of Israel, yet are not Israelites nor full proselytes. We see the rulers of the synagogue request that Paul come and share
a word of encouragement. Paul then stands and says listen: the same declaration I now offer. Listen to the word of the Lord. For in Paul’s sermon we will see one issue addressed for both the audience in which he is speaking and us in the 21st century. Paul offers a warning to this synagogue in the 1st Century, that he is offering to us as well. Take heed. Take heed that we do not misunderstand the Scriptures. Take heed that we do not miss the work that God has done in our midst. Take heed that we do not forget the work of Yahweh in history. Take heed that we do not reject those uncomfortable words of Scripture and miss eternal life. Take heed. You see the day in which we live, though vastly different in various ways, is quite similar in others. Just as the Jews attended the synagogue every Sabbath on the seventh day, so too, we often visit God’s house weekly. The word of the Lord is preached to us and we go on about our busy lives. But do we stop to contemplate what we just heard? Do we stop to consider the words the Lord has spoken? Do we stop to consider that if true, the message of the cross changes everything? Or has the Word become just something else that we have added to the long list of other activities that we do? You see the gospel message comes with both a promise and a warning as we will see in Paul’s sermon. The other thing we will see in Paul’s sermon is ‘be of good cheer.’ Be of good cheer for the Creator of the universe, the great I AM is on your side. Just as Yahweh protected, nurtured, disciplined, and loved Israel so too, Yahweh’s gracious hand is upon you.
Paul’s sermon can be categorized as a redemptive-historical sermon. By that is meant that Paul in his sermon is recounting the redemptive work done throughout Israel’s history. Paul begins by recounting God’s gracious choice of the nation of Israel. In verse 17 Paul says “The God of these people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm, he led them out of it. You see it was God’s grace toward Israel that was the grounds of God’s redeeming work, not Israel’s good works. Let us recount the beginnings of the nation of Israel. In Genesis 3, after the Fall, God made a promise to Adam and Eve. A promise that the woman’s seed would crush the serpent’s head. And they had two sons Cain and Abel. And there was question of whether or not Abel was the promised seed to redeem. Then he was killed by his own brother and it appeared the the promise would not come to pass. But then another was born. And the man increased in the earth. But after man increased in the earth the corruption in the world grew to the point where God could no longer bear it. He flooded the earth to destroy all living things. But Noah, due to God’s mercy alone, found favor in the sight of the Lord and he and his family were saved. Then we see that Abram was called from a pagan land. God chose Abram who would be called Abraham, out of the land of the Chaldeans, polytheistic pagan culture and promised him that he would make him a great nation and make his name great. And Abraham would have Isaac, the son that would carry on the covenant promise. And from Isaac came Jacob and Esau. And Jacob would carry on the covenant promise. As the line of Abraham grew, they would come to be known as Israel. Then this nation would be saved from famine by Joseph a brother sold into slavery to Egypt by his own. Joseph would find favor with Pharaoh because of God and would become Pharaoh’s right hand man. Joseph would save the people from famine and they entered Egypt. A new Pharaoh would arise and was an oppressive king. Despite this God caused the people of Israel to increase in number. The more they grew in number the greater their oppression. But Yahweh heard the cries of the people and with “uplifted” arm he led them out of the land of Egypt. Paul here is reminding the people of who redeemed them. Of who chose them. Among all the peoples that were stronger and more numerous, the great I AM chose Abraham and his descendants to be his people, the apple of his eye. Israel would then be led through the wilderness to the promised land. Israel would then
grumble against the same God who had redeemed them. Numbers 14 says “then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them “would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt? And they said to one another, “let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” The Lord then judges that generation and they fell in the wilderness. And after this, God delivered seven nations to the Israelites, and gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Next the people of Israel demanded a king like the other nations around them, and Yahweh gave them Saul until he raised up David a man after God’s own heart. Much like Abraham and Moses, David is central to Israel’s history and redemptive history. The son of David is at once the son of God as well. Jesus the Messiah, the root of Jesse was brought from the nation of Israel and brings salvation to all those who believe upon his name. John the Baptist would then baptize the people with a baptism of repentance. Dear friends, what Paul is preaching to the synagogue is the reality that God the Father is working out his plan of redemption. As he writes in Ephesians “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Brothers and sisters, in our day where we emphasize Jesus, have we forgotten the Father? Have we forgotten that it is the Father’s good providence that orders our lives? Can you see God’s good providence in your life? Do you see how God has ordered your steps from the beginning? Can you see how God has sustained you? How God has kept you safe? How God has kept you believing? The same God that sustained Israel, brought Israel victory in battle, forgave the people of their
transgressions and brought from the Messiah from among them is the same God we have gathered here today to worship. Dear friends, are you afraid? Has God not delivered you from trial? Dear friends, are you worried? Has God not provided for you? Brothers and sisters, are you tired? Is God not your rest? Dear friends, are you weary? Is God not your refuge and strength? We are not as other people are. We have a Savior. The world is not spinning out of control, it is spinning the way that God has ordered it.
Paul turns his attention in his sermon to the prophecies concerning the Messiah. That Jesus, though innocent, was condemned to die. And This was not outside of God’s plan but was part of God’s plan. The rulers of Israel in their darkened minds would have their Messiah killed at the hands of the Romans. But God raised this Messiah, Jesus, from the dead, and he appeared to many. It is the testimony of these witnesses that our faith is built. It is these witnesses that carried the message of the resurrected Messiah to Jerusalem, and this message has continued since. Read v. 26 – 37
Is it not comforting brothers and sisters, to serve a God who keeps his promises? Note that he does not promise you ease. He does not promise you comfort as we often think of comfort. He does not promise you prosperity as we often think of prosperity. He promises to be your God and you his people. Dear friends, have you taken time, time to look at all the promises that are yes and amen in Christ Jesus? Have you taken time to read the Old Testament and learn the works of God the Father to see how the Old Testament is the backbone of the New Testament? Read v. 38-41
Paul through this sermon is preaching Christ to his kinsman according to the flesh. That the forgiveness of sins is found in no other name. That the forgiveness of sins is accomplished by no other means. Dear friends, do you share this message with your kinsmen? Now you may be
thinking, “well that’s Paul, I can’t do that.” And you are quite right my friend, Paul is the greatest missionary in Christian history. But do you know why? It is God that made Paul great. Paul did not accomplish anything of his own power. The power to convert sinful man does not come from us but from God. Take heed, when you gather for worship, that you are not like the rulers of Israel. Who hears the word of the Lord week after week, after week, and miss the work of God in your midst. The Messiah is alive. This world has a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ, believe in him for your salvation and find peace and rest for your souls. Let us pray.