God Has it Under Control 2

God Has it Under Control 2 2022 04 03

Acts 19:18 – 41

Jesus told us not to hide our light under a basket.  Being open about the fact that you are a follower of Christ and sharing the gospel with anyone you can find who will listen is the responsibility of every Christian.  What is the gospel?  In a nutshell, “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4.  These scriptures are the prophecies of the Old Testament that declared these things would happen many centuries before they were all fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The gospel tells us that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and that it is the gift of God (Romans 6:23), meaning that whosoever accepts his gift is not under condemnation and already has everlasting life.

You should always be looking for ways to get the conversation onto what Jesus Christ has done for you and for the person listening.  That is how we have been sharing the gospel for some 2000 years.  But how do you react to a hostile crowd?  If you are obeying Christ who said we are to be actively sharing the gospel, you are going to run into opposition.

Acts 19:18 – 41

Here is the answer to our question about what to do in the face of opposition.  God has is under control.  Jesus said, “And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:  For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”  Luke 12:11,12

I  The Gospel Stirs Things Up

  1. In today’s passage, the preaching of the gospel in Ephesus really stirred things up. It upset the status quo, making some people very unhappy.
    1. There were people in Ephesus who made a good income crafting little idols out of silver, and Christianity was making a real dent in their business!
    2. Many people who practiced idolatry and magic in the area renounced their old beliefs and burned their books.
    3. Big changes came to Ephesus as the gospel was preached.
  2. Today, the gospel still stirs things up. Just try talking to someone about sin!
    1. People react when faced with Christianity. They either listen, or they reject it. Some reject it very strongly, even getting angry.  They do not like being faced with the fact that they are sinners in need of a Saviour!  They prefer going along the way they always have, without thinking about the future that hangs imminently over the head of every human being.
    2. They are described by God like this: “… even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” Romans 1:28
      1. They are reprobate in their thinking, not wanting to hear of the things of heaven, nor of eternity, nor of sin, nor of the way of everlasting life.
      2. Such things annoy people and sometimes anger them, and sometimes bring violent reactions as in our passage, and as in many places in the world today.
  • Even in our so-called “tolerant” Western society, there is greater and greater opposition to the gospel, with atheist and humanist lobby groups and lawmakers trying to remove every vestige of Christianity from public view. (In fact, you cannot separate Christianity from politics, because politics insists on trying to regulate Christianity!)

           

II  God Has it Under Control

  1. Things got heated in Ephesus when Demetrius incited a mob to go after the preachers. He got the craftsmen and those whose business it was to make silver idols for Diana all riled up against the Christians and dragged two of them, Gaius and Aristarchus, into the theater.
    1. The theater was the public gathering place, where all public events were held, including debates and trials.
    2. Paul tried to get involved, as a good pastor would, to defend these men whose preacher he was. But the disciples would not allow him to put himself in harm’s way.
    3. Alexander tried to speak in his defense when he was dragged out of the crowd, but the mob shouted him down.
  2. But God had it all under control. It was not necessary for Paul or Gaius or Aristarchus or Alexander to present a defense; God used the heathen town clerk, who acted out of fear of the Romans, to put the whole thing to rest.
    1. God is even able to use ungodly men for his purposes. We see this all the time in the world.
    2. God uses countries like the USA to stabilize the world, not because their leaders are godly men; they often are not and most often their presidents are open hypocrites, but God can still use them!
    3. God has used Israel to help stabilize the middle east since 1948, even though Israel is a mainly secular nation that does not even recognize the power of God in their miraculous existence in that land.
    4. God used Saddam Hussein and Ghadafi and Mubarak to keep Iraq and Libya and Egypt stable, even though they were vicious, ungodly dictators. Human wisdom and unscriptural decisions to support rioting and rebellion in those countries has caused nothing but disarray and turmoil. He has even used Vladimir Putin for many years to create a stable and prosperous country, at least for a time, out of Russia! The Bible says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”  Romans 13:1 – 6
    5. God has ordained every government. God has it under control.

 

III  Where are You Living?

  1. Are you living in a state of fear or uncertainty? Are you saved?  Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God as your Saviour?  If you have not, you need to get that settled, now.  But if you have put your faith in Jesus, you have nothing to fear.  God has it under control.  Every situation you find yourself in, God has already set the boundaries and marked the edges.  Nothing is out of his control anywhere at any time.  You can freely share the gospel anywhere in the world that God sends you, including right where you live, because God has it under control.  Will you?