CCF: Always Hearing but Never Understanding

Acts 28:17-31

Pastor Jay Jackson

Church should not be about coming on Sunday morning, singing songs, hearing the message then living the rest of the week as usual. Church should be our lifestyle.

Image courtesy of cfchurch.org

From the book of Acts, early churches took spreading the Gospel very seriously by establishing churches wherever they go. The Good News was spread throughout world. In spite of Paul’s challenges being arrested, experiencing hurricane, shipwreck and an encounter with a viper – God’s plan for him is to come to Rome, stand before Caesar and share the gospel.

There is always a price to be paid for the privilege of speaking eternity into the life of another human being. That never comes cheap. If you want to impact other’s life you have to be willing to pay the price for that privilege. Because things that are valuable are always expensive. There is nothing more valuable than speaking eternity into the hearts of another human being. Are you willing to pay the price?

Acts made it very clear that after all our life on earth is done and we finally stand before God, the only things that will MATTER are those things that we have done to hasten the day when the Lord’s Prayer is answered.

In times that we catch ourselves overwhelmed with responsibilities to our family, friends and workplace, it’s okay not to have the strength you need to get through the day as long as you use that need to force you into the throne of God.

In this last chapter of Acts, the Apostle Paul use his imprisonment as an opportunity to share Jesus as the Messiah to the Jews.

Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. – Matthew 10:29-31

In spite of everything, some Jewish leaders are not convinced. After all what God did to prepare them for the coming of Messiah, why is it that the Jews have not caught fire and taken the lead in the kingdom of God?

‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’ –Acts 28:26-27

The Jewish leaders has often found themselves in a place where they are forced to choose between what was good for Judaism and what was good for God’s glory among the nations and they chose Judaism every time.  Similarly, what’s best for God’s glory among the nations and what’s best for us may not always be the same thing. Because of the Jews unbelief, Paul said that the Gentiles will listen and they will understand

We live and exist for God’s glory. Until we came to making decision based on what’s best for God’s glory among the nations instead of thinking what’s best for us, the world with 2.3 billion people will never hear the greatness of our God.

Don’t Go to Church… Be the Church!

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