YOU CAN’T STAY NEUTRAL
SERMON PASSAGE: Acts 13:44-52
INTRODUCTION
The controversy of the ages...
Pineapple on pizza.
Some claims are so controversial, consequential, and confrontational that we must deal with them.
They create unavoidable conflict and force us to take a side.
This is why people often say:
"Don't talk about religion and politics."
These topics contain sweeping claims with massive implications.
They must be evaluated and then either adopted or eliminated.
The most controversial claim ever made:
JESUS IS LORD
This is essentially what Paul has been arguing.
If Jesus truly rose from the dead and fulfilled God's promises to David, then we must do something with that claim.
C.S. Lewis
We like to call Jesus a "good teacher."
But He doesn't leave us that option.
Liar
Lunatic
Lord
Main Idea:
YOU CAN RESIST OR RESPOND, BUT YOU CAN'T REMAIN NEUTRAL.
THE SAME GOSPEL PRODUCES DIFFERENT RESPONSES
Acts 13:48-50
The same message.
The same preacher.
The same city.
Yet radically different responses.
Gentiles
Gathered to hear
Began rejoicing
Glorifying the word of the Lord
Were appointed
Believed
Received the word of the Lord
Jews
Saw the crowds
Were filled with jealousy
Began to contradict
Reviling
Thrust it aside
Judge themselves unworthy
Incited the devout women
Stirred up persecution
Drove them out
Charles Spurgeon
"The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins."
This raises a question:
Why do people resist Jesus?
PRIDE IS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM
Acts 13:44-46
"When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy..."
Notice:
The text does not say they carefully evaluated Paul's claims.
The text says:
They saw the crowds.
They became jealous.
They began to contradict.
Their problem was not the absence of proof.
Their problem was the presence of pride.
These Jews were God's chosen people.
Jesus was the King of the Jews.
The Gospel came to them first.
Yet instead of rejoicing, they became jealous.
Pride says:
I want control.
I want recognition.
I want my way.
Pride keeps people from Jesus.
To follow Jesus means:
Surrendering to His Lordship
Laying down our will and ego
Embracing unpopular convictions
Identifying with Jesus publicly
Being misunderstood
Being considered weird or religious
Suffering persecution
Serving God's mission
Living holy and disciplined lives
Forgiving enemies
Tithing
Repenting of sin
Surrendering unbiblical dreams
The Rich Young Ruler
He walked away sad.
Not because he lacked evidence.
But because he refused the cost.
Romans 1:21
"Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God..."
Acts 13:46
"You thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life."
C.S. Lewis
"The doors of Hell are locked on the inside."
Questions for Reflection
Skeptic
Would you genuinely follow Jesus if there were sufficient evidence?
Are you willing to follow Jesus no matter the cost if He reveals Himself to you?
Christian
Where could pride be holding you back from growth as a disciple of Jesus?
GOD CHANGES HEARTS
Why do some people respond to the Gospel with joy?
Because God is active.
1. By His Will
Acts 13:46-48
"I have made you a light for the Gentiles..."
"As many as were appointed to eternal life believed."
Notice:
God made the evangelists a light.
God appointed the believers to eternal life.
Therefore:
We must never take credit when people become Christians.
We cannot claim we made a better choice.
We can be confident that God can save anyone at any time.
Encouragement
Because God is active in salvation:
We don't have to take rejection personally.
We don't have to panic.
We can trust God.
Application
Pray for your ONE at 1 PM.
2. Through His Word
Notice how often "the word of the Lord" appears.
Acts 13
The city gathered to hear the word.
The Jews contradicted the word.
The Gentiles glorified the word.
The word spread throughout the region.
Even Paul's mission strategy is rooted in Scripture:
"For so the Lord has commanded us..."
Application
Skeptic
Test God by reading His Word.
Read the Gospel of John.
Christian
Have you read the entire Bible?
Do you have a love for God's Word?
3. Through Our Work
Notice what Paul and Barnabas do:
Spoke out boldly
Turned to the Gentiles
Shook off the dust from their feet
Went to Iconium
Were filled with joy
Were filled with the Holy Spirit
Important Truth
God appoints those who believe.
But He also appoints the evangelizing.
Acts 13 gives us a better way
Some act like:
"God does all the saving, so let's take a nap."
Others act like:
"We do all the convincing, so pound an energy drink."
Acts gives us a better way:
We are appointed to evangelize those whom God appointed to eternal life.
2 Timothy 2:10
"I endure everything for the sake of the elect..."
Application
Work like an Arminian.
Sleep like a Calvinist.
GOD IS IN THE BUSINESS OF SWEEPING THROUGH REGIONS
Acts 13:49
"The word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region."
We say:
WEST VALLEY
for a reason.
Because we want to reach the entire region.
Big Truth
God is in the business of sweeping through regions.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BELIEVE?
Acts 13:48
They began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.
Acts 13:52
The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
The result of believing is:
Joy
Worship
The Holy Spirit
Confidence in Christ
CONCLUSION
The same Gospel is proclaimed.
Some resist.
Some respond.
But nobody remains neutral.
Main Idea:
YOU CAN RESIST OR RESPOND, BUT YOU CAN'T REMAIN NEUTRAL.
Skeptic
You can have this joy.
Saint
Let's sing for joy.