Sunday Morning Service

Acts 9:1-22 (Click title for audio access)

"If God Can Do It With This Guy..."  •  7.31.11  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- The phrases "Most Likely" or "Least Likely" to succeed have become cultural staples in our societies vocabulary. At the end of High School, many graduates are endowed with such labels.

- I was reading an article this week from the Wall Street Journal about the effect that these labels had on their recipients.

- Charlene Dupray, a 1990 "Most likely to succeed" recipient, confessed at 38, that she had been " constantly evaluating my success and using that silly award as a benchmark."

- The article further concludes "Some former winners of the title say what seemed like a nice vote of confidence from their classmates actually created a sense of pressure or self-doubt."

- "Being noosed with 'most likely to succeed' is like lugging an albatross to every job interview, new relationship or writing endeavor."

- Wow! Who knew!? Saul was burdened in a similar way with the "Most Likely To Finish off Christianity" award that his peers had placed upon him. Nobody would have expected anything less!

- Perhaps you know a modern day Saul that you have labeled in a similar way. I would urge you to pay close attention to our section today.

Text

•  Acts 9:1,2 : "Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."  :  It was not good enough for Saul that he wrecked the church of Jerusalem. He was still seething and aching for more!

- This phrase used here "still breathing threats" is a continuation of the thought that Luke presented in Acts 8:3 regarding Saul, who like an animal, savagely destroyed the church.

- Here, Luke uses another animal reference. Saul is seen as a war horse, breathing hard, just waiting for the chance to charge out onto the field.

- Saul was not satisfied. His very breath, what he lived for, was to continue his murderous work against the disciples of the Lord, these people that he looked at as blasphemers.

- He was going to look for them beginning in Damascus, today being modern day Syria. It would seem that he might begin there and work his way back down to Jerusalem.

- Leaving Jerusalem would require authority to continue his campaign in other parts of the country, but where do you go when you want some sanctioned murder? The High Priest!

- He came and officially asked for letters from him. These were epistles that commended Saul to this work. In those days, this was a matter of identification and authority to act.

- If he found any who were part of the church, called here "the Way," he would bring them back to Jerusalem. Why? So that he could kill them where he had already seen them act "judiciously."

•  Acts 9:3  :  "As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven."  : He was on his way and was very near Damascus, a journey from Jerusalem of somewhere between 130 and 180 miles.

- This was at least a 5 day journey and all the while, Saul remained determined to search out the church. He was near the city limits, ready to carry out his mission.

- Consider what might have been true of Saul to this moment in his life.

- Born in a sophisticated part of the world, educated by one of the greatest Rabbis, likely a part of the Synagogue of the Libertines and perhaps a fierce debater against Stephen.

- If he had debated Stephen, the Bible tells us that he was no match for him, which caused him to resent and respect Stephen and then approve of his death.

- He has sought the permission to carry out this death campaign and has made a very arduous journey in the hopes of carrying it out.

- All of this in the name of God, with religious approval in an Anti-Christ environment that had been guilty of rejecting everything that God had sent them.

- Saul was surrendered to his version of God and carried on with his mission believing that he was approved by Him. He was the ultimate terrorist.

- Saul was spiritually blind, dead and seeking not after the true God, but a God of his own making that somehow approved of his murder.

- Saul was not one that you could point to as a man that could have come out of his own darkness, yet God, in His infinite grace, was about to meet Saul here.

- When Saul loved Him? Nope. In the middle of His murderous rebellion.

- Saul was the most unlikable, most unlikely candidate for any purpose of redemption. Yet, as he neared Damascus, a light shone around him from heaven.

- Literally, there was a flash of light all around him and suddenly he was surrounded by light.

- I believe that this was the actual shekinah glory of God's presence, veiled so that Saul would live, but not so veiled as to leave him unaffected!

•  Acts 9:4,5  :  "Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'"  : Saul fell, not out of a reverence for God, but instinctually, for survival. The presence of the Lord was so immediate that it propelled him to the ground!

- We feel such fear of men who hunt Christians, either physically or intellectually, but in one moment, the smallest expression of God's presence, can knock them to the ground.

- I have heard many stories of men just like Saul, breathing threats, carrying out their plans to destroy Christianity. Complete with their posses, their degrees, their worldly approval, they march.

- They storm the intellectual towns with their blogs and their papers and their "scholarly" work. Then, when it's time, God stops them dead in their tracks and convinces them of the truth!

- Jesus introduces Himself with a direct warnings. The repitition of Saul's name points to someone who is sincerely trying to get another's attention. "Why are you persecuting me?"

- The Lord's question reminds us of three truths that scripture is clear on. First, our sin is against the Lord. When David had sinned with Bathsheba, this was his confession.

- "Against you and you only have I sinned," David cried out in prayer. Saul's sin was against the Lord, even though the affect of his sin was inflicted upon believers.

- Second, the Lord is not impersonal and unaffected by the actions of people. God is affected. Jesus is affected. The Apostle Paul will later reveal to us that our actions can grieve the Holy Spirit!

- Finally, there is a union that the Lord has with His body that is revealed here. Saul, in persecuting the body of Christ, is actually persecuting Jesus Christ!

- Saul is not fighting against God's people. He is fighting against God Himself! He is waging war against a person who is working to call Him to salvation.

- Jesus says to Saul after identifying Himself that it is hard to kick against the goads. This gives us an illuminating and instructive picture into the process of God's work of regeneration.

- A goad was a large stick, whittled to a sharp point. Men with means would have attached sharp iron piece to the end. The farmer would employ this to move a beast of burden.

- When a beast did not want to move, he would kick back at the goad, which would then prompt another goad impact upon him. Eventually, goading works.

- At the same time, it's also determined just how stubborn the beast can be!

- This was the case with Saul and is the case with many unbelievers. Saul, when he felt the pain of conviction, fought back against every stimuli that God had given him, refusing to move!

- What are God's goads? You. Believers who are faithful to speak, live and exemplify the gospel message. Some of you are Stephen figures in people's lives.

- God however, has many other goads that He uses in the lives of unbelievers and believers alike. Yes, unfortunately, sometimes we can be just as willful.

- People can be goads. A lack of peace in your own heart or a lack of agreement with fellow believers. Unusual difficulties. Unresolved questions. What kind of goads is God using on you?

- It's best to simply surrender and not imitate a dumb, stubborn beast. Truthfully, God will not be hurt and His will will be done, but you might have to come limping in!

•  Acts 9:6-9  :  "So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank."  :  Saul was shaken to the core. All this way, he had planned to act a certain way. Now, in his first moments of what will become a legendary life, he starts with the right question.

- "Lord, what do you want me to do!" There is no greater question that a man or woman can answer in this life!

- After you acknowledge who Jesus is the next question that you will explore every day for the rest of your life is "Lord, what do you want me to do!"

- In whatever state you are in, married, single, with children or without, the question will transform your life and will bring purpose to it!

- All Saul had to do was actually go into the city that he had planned on invading and wait for further instructions! One step at a time!

- In the meantime, the traveling companions of Saul, saw him hit the ground, heard a voice, but didn't see or discern anything.

- This is a curiosity to me: Why didn't Jesus open their eyes? Why didn't He speak to them? First, you have to understand that Saul is being given authentic, Apostolic credentials.

- He was being saved and credentialed for Apostolic service, the key credential being that an Apostle was to see the Lord after His death.

- Second, these other men had ample revelation with which to come to Christ. They had the Apostles, they had this event which they would learn more about in the coming hours.

- Abraham had told the Rich man in Luke 16 that Moses, the Pentateuch, was enough to draw a man or woman to faith in Christ. These men would have their chance.

- The point is that God takes His time and works with surgical precision in the life of any person of interest. His call and methods are as unique as the people that deems to work through.

- To their credit, these men led Saul into Damascus by the hand, humbled and blinded by God.

- Saul had wanted to come into Damascus. Instead, he came into town, powerless.

- For three days, he experienced blindness and out of a deep sense of awe, refused to eat.

•  Acts 9:10-12  :  "Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' So the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.'"  :  During the time that Saul was in distress, God was working across town on a man named "Ananias."

- We recall that the name means "God is gracious" or "generous." This man was a student of the word living there in Damascus.

- The Lord met him in a vision, calling him to go with great specificity. He was to go straight to Straight Street to Judas' house where he would find Saul!

- This street is still there in Syria today, being the main East-West drag of the city.

- God has been continually working on Saul, who has been praying and was told by the Lord that Ananias would come and that he would receive his sight again.

- God is laying it all out for Ananias. Where he would go, who he would look for, what he would find and what he would do.

•  Acts 9:13,14  :  "Then Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.'"  :  And here is a great case in point for why God rarely tells his servants anything, but chooses instead to let them be surprised, discovering along the way what His perfect will is!

- Ananias had heard about Saul. Many who had returned from Jerusalem had reported to him what had happened. What did they speak about? How much harm Saul had done.

- There are two things that Ananias could be saying here. He could be speaking in fear, which sounds natural and we have all been guilty of.

- We have all be guilty of not wanting to get into an ackward or fearful situation. Ananias was a believer and to his knowledge, Saul was a murderer of believers.

- All of us are prone to question the Lord's wisdom and all of us need to let the word of God rebuke us! While this is true, I'm not sure that this is the heart behind what Ananias is saying.

- God has told Ananias what Saul has suffered and that he was currently blind. I think that Ananias might be thinking, "Good. That is what his actions deserve!"

- "He came here trying to hurt us with the chief priests authority. I say this is justice!"

- I think that this will bear out in a moment, but how many of you have ever seen someone come to the Lord and felt the injustice of it all?

- You may have seen enemies of the Lord who God has radically touched and you wonder why. I'm not sure if Ananias wasn't prejudiced against the Lord's work in Saul's life.

- We need to guard our hearts from any thought of withholding God's grace from anyone, an ironic thing to desire when your name means "God is gracious!"

•  Acts 9:15,16  :  "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.'"  :  God simply repeats His command and adds that Saul is a chosen vessel.

- It may not have been the choice that Ananias would have made, but God looked at Saul and made a sovereign decision that he would be His man.

- Saul was the perfect choice being a hyper educated Hebrew with Roman citizenship! God's choice might have been confusing to Ananias, just as they may appear to us.

- Saul was a handpicked instrument that God was going to use to bear His name. Saul was being prepared to carry God's name to the nations, rulers and people of Israel.

- Primarily, Saul's ministry would be to the nations that were non-Jewish, rulers and the people of Israel. Sounds like a glorious job for a former terrorist. Don't worry Ananias, he won't get off free.

- God is showing Saul what he must suffer. Many of the things that Saul forced others to experience, he would personally experience over the next several years of his life.

•  Acts 9:17-19  :  "And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus."  :  Ananias becomes a far too familiar picture. Ananias was initially hesitant, but finally compliant.

- He went and laid hands on Saul. Can you imagine that? Ananias, a man that we have very little information about beside this account, was the man that extended Christ's healing touch to Saul!

- Here is why you and I must be obedient to the Lord! We never know who we might be ministering to in Jesus' name!

- When Ananias prayed for Saul, an immediate change took place. Ananias looked at a physical transformation come over Saul, who was baptized before he took in food!

- That is significant. The moment Saul could be obedient to Christ, he was! He wasn't going to wait for the next major church baptism. He was going to get it done.

- Saul initial mission was to come and arrest the disciples at Damascus. Instead, he found himself sitting at their feet, having become a disciple himself.

•  Acts 9:20-22  :  "Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, 'Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?' But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ."  :  The line, "he preached the Christ in the synagogues." When he arrived, I wonder what the reception would have been.

- At that time, when he was brought up front, imagine the surprise when Saul began speaking.

- "I thought that we were bringing a guy that was going to debunk these "Wayfarers."

- Instead of debunking the Way, He promoted it! Instead of coming to Damascus on a tour of destruction, he came with a ton of instruction! God got His man!

Conclusion

- Our labels and thoughts about people, thankfully, have little impact on what God will do in a life. He is still in the business of taking the worst and making them His best!

- He is still after some trophies and His hunt will succeed.

- For our part, we need to be reminded that our prejudice and self-righteousness need to be checked at the door. We might want to leave our stubborness there as well.

- I don't want to be anything but hopeful and helpful with all that God wants to do in the Sauls of my generation.

Thursday Night Bible Study

Leviticus 1-Leviticus 3 (Click title for audio access)

"These Smell Really Good!"  •  7.28.11  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Last time we were together, we finished the book of Exodus, which closes on the scene of the initial set up of the Tabernacle. Imagine the curtain closing on this magnificent structure.

- The music is playing in the air, the wind is blowing in Moses' hair, when suddenly someone in the background yells out, "Now what!?"

- That is where Leviticus comes in! It is the instruction manual for the Levitical priestly line. The Tabernacle tells them that they are to worship. Leviticus tells them how!

- In these first chapters, we'll look at the first three offerings that are here described, which are known biblically as the "sweet savory" offerings.

Text

•  Leviticus 1:1-3  :  "Now the Lord called to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, ^'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of the livestock—of the herd and of the flock. If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord."  : Israel in order to worship the Lord were commanded to bring offerings to the Lord.

- The element of sacrifice is seen all throughout the history of God's dealings with mankind beginning as early as Adam and Eve.

- The Israelite congregation had a large, bronze altar where God would receive sacrifices. It was an imposing reminder that entrance into the worship of God required something in their hands!  

- Notice the word "when." This was an inevitability. They would come with an offering.

- Each offering was to come from their herd, speaking of oxen, or of the flock, speaking of sheep. The sacrifice was to come at their expense. Worship was to cost them something.

- Animals were the accepted offering to the Lord. The people of Canaan believed that their gods had called for human sacrifice. The real God values the lives of His people.

- God addresses the first of three savory offerings, the first of which is the "burnt sacrifice." It was to be a male bull or sheep without blemish. It could not have been defected in any way.

- In other places, we'll see that the animal could not be without "spot," referring to birth defect. A "blemish" was what an animal had acquired along the way.

- Immediately, we understand how this typifies Christ, who was without spot, a sin nature and was not guilty of sin in His own life!

- How would one come to that conclusion? The priests would examine the animal for defects! When Jesus came before the priests of His time, they had to concoct charges against Him!

- This is the typical meaning, but for the worshipper and for us, the meaning here was that there had to be a value assessed to the animal. It could not have been a "throw away."

- Second, it was to be offered of the worshippers own free will. This sacrifice was expected, the people understood that, but it was also meant to be voluntary.

- God does not want compulsory offerings. He wants people to come to Him with a desire to give God His worth. It is to be considered our greatest privilege, to be in relationship with God!

- Sacrifice was a part of worship, but God still wanted it to be a voluntary expression. This was to come from their own initiative.

•  Leviticus 1:4-9  :  "Then he shall put his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He shall kill the bull before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting. And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire. Then the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; but he shall wash its entrails and its legs with water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord."  :  The person offering the sacrifice had to understand that the animal was representing him personally.

- Putting the hands upon the animal was not merely a simple touch, but a lean, signifying the trust that the person had in the significance of what was being offered.

- In this way, the worshipper was identifying himself with all that God had revealed to this point and also providing a picture for the future.

- The innocent would die so that I could live. Jesus died so that I could have life!

- This offering is done on my behalf, for me, in my place. That's the idea. It was through this action that this was accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

- We have looked at the word "atonement" before. In the Old Testament the word refers to covering something over. The sin was still there, but the sacrifice would cover it temporarily.

- The worshipper killed the animal. That which had life, which belonged to him, was now lifeless because of him.

- According to commentators, there is an artery that is used to quickly kill the animal sacrifice. The worshipper would grab the head and then sever that artery. This was hands on.

- The blood from the animal represented it's life. Life is in the blood, which was sprinkled by the priests around the altar. While they did this, the worshipper involved himself in the next phase.

- The worshipper skinned the animal and cut it into pieces, which would be laid on the altar, the priests assisting in that part.

- The legs and entrails would be wahed, and then all was placed on the altar, every piece. What would one see with the intestines and legs when they were washed? Blood and water mixed.

- Here is a prophetic picture of Christ, whose ruptured heart brought forth blood and water.

- When everything was separated and prepared for the altar, this animal was fully burned and consumed. It was burnt to ashes.

- This would be a sweet or pleasing aroma to the Lord. Why? Because He likes barbecue? No! It's because something WHOLE was voluntarily given to Him!

- The person who brought this was signifying that they were consecrating themselves fully, wholly to the Lord. This brought satisfaction to the Lord.

- How much more when Jesus voluntarily laid Himself down fulfilling the burnt offering.

•  Leviticus 1:10-13  : "If his offering is of the flocks—of the sheep or of the goats—as a burnt sacrifice, he shall bring a male without blemish. He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord; and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar. And he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat; and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar; but he shall wash the entrails and the legs with water. Then the priest shall bring it all and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord."  :  These instructions are for the sheep.

- Similar to the bull offering, the lamb or goat would have to be a male without blemish. The difference was that the lamb was not to be skinned as the bull was.

- The lamb was to be killed but in a specific place, the north side of the altar. We know from the book of Numbers, that the Tabernacle always faced east. The same procedure was used.

•  Leviticus 1:14-17  :  "And if the burnt sacrifice of his offering to the Lord is of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or young pigeons. The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out at the side of the altar. And he shall remove its crop with its feathers and cast it beside the altar on the east side, into the place for ashes. Then he shall split it at its wings, but shall not divide it completely; and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord."  :  Birds would be accepted as burnt offerings to the Lord, especially for those who were poor.

- Turtledoves and young pigeons were acceptable to offer. One could not find a buzzard or a crow. They had to be these birds.

- Luke 2:22-24 tells us that Mary came to offer two turtledoves and two young pigeons to the Lord after Jesus' birth. When she came to the temple, the priest took the bird and decapitated it.

- All the blood would be drained, not sprinkled as the other offerings had been.

- The crop and feathers is an unclear part of the bird to us, but it was to be discarded into the front part of the altar where the ash collected.

- It was to be split at the wings but not divided like the other animals, but burnt whole nonetheless. This points to Jesus in that none of His bones were broken.

- He went to the cross, bloodied, bruised, beaten, but not broken! He died before the Roman soldiers could break His legs.

- Notice that this was a pleasing offering to the Lord, a comment that each one is pleasing.

- There is not an offering made by a land owner, blessed with an abundance of bulls or a shepherd with a great number of sheep, that is any greater than a person who comes with a bird!

- All three are whole and all three receive God's stamp of approval. God doesn't expect you to bring what you do not have. He expects you to come and to bring what you do have!

- Let it be whole and let it be voluntary and the Lord is pleased! Ultimately, Jesus is the sacrifice that pleases and finally, perfectly satisfies God the Father.

• Leviticus 2:1-3 : "When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire."  : Grain or meal offerings could be brought to the Lord as well. This symbolized the believer's service and praise unto the Lord.

- When someone said, "I just want to praise the Lord for His goodness." This was their offering.

- The grain was to be offered with fine or costly flour, making it into a bread.

- Notice that oil and frankincense was to be put upon it. Oil is scripturally symbolic of the Holy Spirit and frankincense. This is a priest's spice and one that Jesus was given at His birth.

- This cake like substance was to be brought to the priest who were to burn it as a memorial and the rest was to be given to Aaron and his sons.

•  Leviticus 2:4-10  :  "And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. But if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil. You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. ‘If your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. You shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the Lord. And when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. And what is left of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire."  :  This was another way that one could offer the "meal." Whatever was made was annointed or mixed with oil.

- It was to be mixed and put together, but never with leaven, representing the flesh.

- The flesh, the part of us that is self motivated, is not to be brought before the Lord. God rejects our flesh, but He desires the Spirit of God.

- Every offering given to the Lord should be bathed in the Spirit's power. Did He prompt you to give? Did He move you toward bringing something to Him? Give it with joy!

- It's interesting that with this offering, when the grain and flour was baked, it was then to be broken into pieces. Where else do we see this? In the broken bread of communion.

- The priest was to receive this offering from the hands of the people to burn some and to partake of a portion with his priestly family.

•  Leviticus 2:11-13  :  "No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire. As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma. And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt."  :  They were not to sweeten or spice up the offering that was to be brought. No leaven and no honey. That was not to be included in their offering.

- Leaven speaks toward the permeation of the flesh. Honey also has corrupting influence.

- It's interesting that leaven puffs up the bread, but also eventually leads to it's corruption. Honey would also sweeten the bread, but eventually would rot it.

- God decreed that neither would be a part of the grain offering. In the same way, what is offered to God must be made with staying power.

- When it came to the firstfruits of their grain, the were to season that grain with salt, which was called by God, the "salt of the covenant." Salt represents that which preserves and seasons.

- That is what God wants our offerings to be. Salted to preserve and to season.

•  Leviticus 2:14-16  :  "If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the Lord."  :  The firstfruits was a great time to offer thanksgiving as well as a great time to express faith in the Lord.

- The firstfruits are exactly what they sound like. They are the first out of the ground of a farmer's crop. These were to be given to the Lord, with the hope that they were not also the last fruits!

- Oil and frankincense were to be put on it and then it was burned to the Lord.

•  Leviticus 3:1-5  :  "When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is on the wood that is on the fire, as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord."  :  This final sacrifice that we'll look at tonight is called the peace or fellowship offering. Much of the details are the same.

- There is transference, killing and sprinkling. The important part here is that God wants the fat, the tastiest parts given to him.

•  Leviticus 3:6-11  :  "If his offering as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord is of the flock, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. If he offers a lamb as his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar. Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord, its fat and the whole fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone. And the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire to the Lord."  :  This animal could be from the flock and unlike the offering of the burnt offering, it could be male or female.

- The fat from either was to be given to the Lord. It belongs to Him.

- The rest would be enjoyed by the priests and the ones that came offering the sacrifice. It's a beautful picture of God becoming one with the worshipper, while bringing the man together with man!

- In the time of Moses, the ancient near east people ate together and were united mystically as they consumed the same food. This is what God meant this sacrifice to speak toward.

- Through Christ's sacrifice, God has made peace between mankind and Himself and also made peace between people and people!

•  Leviticus 3:12-17  :  "And if his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. He shall lay his hand on its head and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar. Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the Lord's. This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’"  : The fat belongs to the Lord and not you! Israel would neither have fat, nor blood allowed in their diets.

- This may have been a prohibition that was hygienic in nature or it might have been tied to Canaanite offerings. Either way, God reserved certain things for Himself.

Conclusion

- God calls His people to be fully consecrated to Him, to serve Him willingly and to fellowship closely with Him. The Cross of Christ, the sacrifice that fulfills all three make that a possibility.

Sunday Morning Service

Acts 8 (Click title for audio access)

"Saul, Phillip, Simon And A Eunuch"  •  7.24.11  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Stephen's voice echoes loudly in the minds of his listeners: "Lord do not charge them with this sin!" Stephen's plea for their forgiveness rang in their ears and in their souls.

- Whatever conviction they may have had, was quickly buried deep under the weight of their hatred for this new and powerful sect of Judaism, which sought to name Jesus as their Master.

- Some scholars estimate that the church was anywhere between 20 and 30 thousand people in it, all located within the city of Jerusalem.

- For some time, they have enjoyed the blessing of God's Spirit in the Apostle's doctrine, but they have been sitting on a command as well that they are about to fulfill.

Text

•  Acts 8:1  :  "Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."  :  The word "consenting" would better be translated "approving" of Stephen's death with pleasure.

- This delighted him. Finally, their actions would equal his zealous feelings against this sect. Stephen's death inspired Saul, who sought to take things to the next level.

- Stephen's martyrdom opened the door for a great wave of persecution against the church in Jerusalem, with Saul at the very front of the wave. As a result the church was scattered.

- The word "diaspeiro" refers to seed that is thrown out onto the wind and into a field.

- The church was being scattered and within them lay the seed of God's word that would spread now from Jerusalem into these other regions!

- God was taking what was born in the church of Jerusalem and was now taking it on the road!

- Note where they are going: Judea and Samaria, to the South and North respectively.

- We are in Acts 8:1, but the reciprocal verse, Acts 1:8 contains the instruction of the Lord, who commanded that they witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth!

- Saul tried to stamp out the church's influence, but God turned it around for his own purpose, where the gospel came en force to these regions.

- Saul stepped on the dandelion, but the wind carried the spores distances far beyond control!

- This took place against the church members, but not against the Apostles. Why? It's likely that the persecution was carried out against those who were of Hellenistic descent.

- Remember that since the beginning of the church, that many were pilgrims and non-citizens.

- Ultimately, God was not done with the Apostles in Jerusalem. They still had work to do, but it was time to spread this church out for it's mission.

•  Acts 8:2-4  :  "And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word."  :  Stephen was gone from the church and his presence was mourned. Some see these devout, pious, God-reverencing men as non-Christian men who by their chest beating, were actually protesting Stephen's death.

- Saul, by contrast, experiencing no remorse, made "havoc" of the church a word used for the sacking of a city, or the effect of a wild beast's attack.  

- He hated the church and could see no other end except for it's destruction. This was his motive and then there was his method.

- He went from house to house putting men and women into prison. He thoroughly ran after the church, looking for more people to harm. Saul was relentless, zealous.

- It's amazing to consider that this same determination will one day make this man a hero for the faith, and yet, what a horrifying trait to have when pointed in the wrong direction!

- Notice the word "therefore." It speaks to the natural conclusion. With Saul going beserk, the natural conclusion might be that the church then shut itself down, taking the long view of things.

- However, for every act of violence against the church, there came an equal response of vigilance by the church! Instead of getting defensive, the church went on the offensive!

- Today it is no different. There are death sentences hanging over our brothers and sisters all over the world today, as they take the gospel to countries that are inhospitable to the Gospel.

- I would commend each of you to take some time and visit the Voice Of The Martyrs website for some sobering news regarding the persecuted church. It's just as real today as it was then.

˚  "According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith... If current trends continue, Barrett, Johnson and Crossing estimate that by 2025, an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually." [i]

- Those that went running went everywhere preaching the word. In any place that they landed, their mission was the same: They spoke out the Word of God.

- "Preaching" comes from the word "euangelizo," meaning to announce something good or joyful. The person who spoke such things would be an evangel, sharing news that he had received.

- The members of the church were busy announcing the good news of the word, the Logos.

- What is the logos? John's gospel identifies Jesus as the logos in John 1.

- For the Jewish people, the word "logos" was a synonym for God. In the thinking of the Greek mind, the logos referred to the ultimate reason which linked the creation with the creator.

- They went announcing the good news of Jesus, the one who links creator and the creation! They announced the good news of God bringing order to chaos!

•  Acts 8:5-8  :  "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city."  :  Luke turns our attention to the other stand out member of the "Wait On Tables Club," Philip.

- When the dispersion took place, Philip went down to Samaria, a hated place by the Jews. Samaria had been a port for the ancient Assyrians, who coupled conquered peoples together there.

- Samaria had become an amalgamation of cultures and religious ideas, which was entirely offensive to the Jewish populace. This is why making a Samaritan good was a shocking idea!

- What a wonderful idea to send a Hellenistic, Holy Spirit filled Jew, who would be less offended! God really knows how to deal with conundrums!

- Philip announced to the Samaritans the news concerning Christ. What happened? They listened after hearing and seeing the miracles he did!

- His miracles included included the freeing of the demon possessed, healing of the paralyzed and healing of the lame, all the same power that Jesus displayed.

- The same power that worked in Peter and the Apostles was seen in Philip as well. God's work through Philip's ministry brought great joy to that city.

- What a prayer to have for our ministry: Lord, do such great work through us that people would be healed and delivered and filled with Your joy!

•  Acts 8:9-11  :  "But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the great power of God.' And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time."  :  Philip's story works right alongside the life of this man Simon, who had been a sorcerer, literally a Magi.

- Things of the occult, drug usage and other demonic practices were his forte. He had impressed the people of Samaria with his powers, ever boasting of his own greatness.

- The people were buying what he was selling, as they claimed that he had the power of God to do these things. He was the main attraction in this city, but was soon to be displaced.

•  Acts 8:12,13  :  "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."  :  The people of Samaria believed Philip. He had announced the coming of God's Kingdom and the power of the Lord's name.

- God was delivering the people of Samaria from the power of darkness, to the power of light. How did He do this? By the power of the gospel announcement of the Kingdom of God and Christ!

- Men, women and even Simon believed and was baptized. From that point, Simon followed Philip around, spending all of his energies to stay near Philip.

- Simon was impressed perhaps even obsessed, literally being beside himself with wonder. He had never seen anything like this before. The miracles and signs were daily wonders to him.

•  Acts 8:14-17  :  "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."  : The Samaritan people had "received" the word of God, meaning that they "accepted," "approved of" or were "hospitable toward" Philip's message.

- They had believed it and had been baptized, but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

- This cannot mean that they did not receive the indwelling of God's Spirit. This means that they had not yet received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and His filling power.

- The second time we see the word "received" is a different word in the Greek. It means to take hold of, to procure or to lay hold of. God's Spirit had not filled them as He had the Apostles.

- There are many who have attempted to explain why, with one of the more notable explanations being that God waited for the Apostles to come to show solidarity.

- There was not going to be a Jerusalem blessing AND a Samaritan blessing! This was the SAME Holy Spirit that had come upon the Apostles.

- When the Apostles came, they prayed for the Samaritans and they received the Holy Spirit with some visible manifestation that Simon could see.

•  Acts 8:18,19  :  "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'"  : Simon reveals what had been keeping him all along. He wanted a share of the power that he was observing. He wanted a part of it! He thought that he could simply buy this new magic.

- His motives were based purely on getting himself back on top, as the great power of God.

˚  "He regarded the Holy Spirit as a 'power' he could use as he willed, instead of a Person who would rule his life. 'The sin was a desire to possess spiritual power for personal ends." David Guzik / G. Cambell Morgan

- Simon, for all of his outward show, shows himself to be a real charlatan. He had believed and been baptized! He hung out with Philip! This man was a dangerous imposter.

•  Acts 8:20-25  :  "But Peter said to him, 'Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.' Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.' So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."  :  Peter looked right through Simon and diagnosed his issue. He was filled with greed for power.

- His heart was hopeful for what Christianity could bring to him and how he could be enriched by the power of God. He was poisoned by the bitterness of losing his fame to Philip.

- Peter tells him that he was bound by iniquity. The word "bound" is also translated "ligament." He was tied up, held together by iniquity.

- When Simon heard this he called out to Peter to pray thath God would intervene on his behalf. Simon himself did not have the relationship with the Lord.

- He just hung on to ones with power, never experiencing it for himself.

- In the meantime, the Apostles continued to support the work of Philip, preaching the gospel all the way back to Jerusalem.

• Acts 8:26-29  :  "Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go near and overtake this chariot.'"  : Philip has been experiencing a wonderful revival. Samaria has opened itself to the gospel and has received the Holy Spirit.

- What does God do? He says, "Let's go to the desert!" Everything is happening around Philip, but God says that it's time for something different.

- From a bustling city full of people, to the desert, where there will be little traffic, if any at all!

- Write in your Bible's margin: God's ways are not our ways!

- Philip does not argue with God. Luke tells us in a matter of fact sort of way, "So he arose and went!" It seems to be such a simple statement, but what a profound action.

- Are you willing to go only when it makes sense to you? Are you willing to go only if you see the potential for what might take place? If so, you're not ready to be used like Philip.

- God called Him and he went! Simple, but difficult. Whatever He calls you to do, especially when it makes little sense, must be your chief goal to follow!

- When Philip came down the road, he came upon one chariot with one man in it! There were not scores of chariots or men. Just one man and one chariot!

- God pulled Philip away from the masses to bring him to this one man! What divine esteem!

- This man turned out to be a high ranking treasury official for an Ethiopian Queen. The name Candace is a dynastic name.

- She was the leader of Ethiopia at a time when they were busy protecting their borders from Rome and Egypt, both of whom she had recently given military spankings to!

- One of her top officials was among those who were devout enough to make a pilgimage to Jerusalem. Like 3other men, this man desired to worship the true God.

- He was a Gentile and when Philip saw him, he wondered if this is what God had brought him to do. The Spirit ministered that he was to overtake the chariot.

•  Acts 8:30-34  :  "So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.' So the eunuch answered Philip and said, 'I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'"  : Understand something of great importance: When God is working on you, He is also working on them! This guys is primed to hear the gospel!

- "How can I unless someone guides me!" What a great universal line that is still true today! He is sitting there pondering this scripture, but he has nobody to explain it to him.

- There are people in your world who have a Bible, would like to understand it, but have nobody to help them really understand it!

- The man was reading Isaiah 53, which is one of the greatest Messianic scriptures in the Bible! What a set up for Philip!

•  Acts 8:35-38  :  "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.'
And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." :  He began right there where the eunuch was and he brought the man up to the current time, preaching Jesus.

- One imagines that Philip must have come to the point that we know of as Mark 16:15, which says, whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.

- When they came down the road, they came to some water and the natural progression to the Eunuch's inner belief was to be baptized. He had agreed in his heart, but had not said anything.

- Philip is thinking, "Hey, let's not skip to the end! Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son?" The eunuch could not answer quick enough. I believe!

•  Acts 8:39,40  :  "Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea."  :  After the baptism, God literally picked Philip up from his place and translated him somewhere else.

- The word is the same word found in Thessalonians translated in the latin as "rapturos."

- The eunuch was standing there alone, but not lonely! The Lord's Spirit took Philip, but had not left the Eunuch, who just walked away rejoicing!

- Just to make sure that we don't get the wrong idea, Luke makes sure that we see Philip again. He was not raptured to heaven. Sadly, he was found at Azotus!

- If I get raptured, I really don't want you to be able to find me in Fontana! When he got there, Philip got right back to business, preaching all the way to Caesarea!

Conclusion

- If historical tradition is to be believed, Simon helped to co-found one of the most nefarious doctrines to afflict the early church: Gnosticism.

- The Eunuch went on to found an evangelical movement in his home country, which became very famous. In the church, there will be wheat like the Eunuch and Tares like Simon.

- God will sort them out. Like Philip, we're to do our job and let the Lord reveal who are His.

- In the Kingdom, things are not always what they seem. The big revival gives ample place for the imposter to hide and the seemingly lonely and desolate road provides a wonderful opportunity.

- The key is faithfulness, obedience and trust that wherever we scatter, God will bring His increase!

---

[i] http://persecutedchurch.blogspot.com/2009/04/limits-of-statistics.html