This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "A Prison Ministry", 11/25/2012

A PRISON MINISTRY

 

Acts 28:23-31

 

Paul arrived in Rome as prisoner of the Roman government. His objective was to

get to Rome to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God showed him favor by allowing

him to establish a Church in his home. As was his custom, he called the leading Jews

of the city first.

 

GOD APPOINTS US TO PROCLAIM HIS WORD

23." And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening."

A. Paul's objective was to get to Rome to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

   1. By divine intervention and protection, he made it to Rome as a prisoner.

   2. He wasted no time getting the chief Jews together.

      a. When we are committed to God's work, we should not procrastinate.

      b. The time we have is God's time and it should not be wasted.

B. Paul preached what was common to him and the Jews.

     1. They both believed in the law of Moses (the first 5 books of the Old Testament)

          and the prophets.

     2. They had a common heritage. They could trace their decendence back to

         Abraham.

     3. They had a belief in a supreme God in common.

     4. They had a belief in a coming Messiah.

C. In preaching the Gospel, it would be good to start with common beliefs.

    1. Paul preached Jesus in the Old Testament.   Num 24:17, Isa 7:10, Mal 3:1-4

    2. The Old Testament foretold the coming of Jesus in the flesh.

    3. A convincing argument for Jesus may take considerable time, especially to those

       who have other beliefs.

    4. Our preaching should be from the Word and the Word only.

        a. People do not need to hear our opinions, but our interpretation of the Word.

        b. People need our time to enlighten them with what God has given us.

 D. There is always an audience ready to here the Word of God.

     1. Our job is to make ourselves available to serve God.

     2. We have make time to proclaim the Word and to listen to the beliefs of others.

     3. We have to prepare ourselves to proclaim the Word by continuous study of the

         Word.

 

FAITH COMES BY HEARING  

V:24. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

   A. The Good News about preaching the Gospel is some will believe in Jesus.

       1. The task of a minister of Jesus is to enlighten others that salvation is through

            faith in Jesus.

       2. Some, after hearing the Word will accept Christ as their savior.

   B. The Sad News is that some after hearing the Gospel will not believe.

    1. You cannot bring everyone to the truth about Jesus

    2. Some are stuck on their beliefs and will never accept Jesus.

    3. Some will consider Jesus and come to faith later in their life.

    4. Our job is to give our testimony about Jesus and leave the conviction to the Lord.

        a. We may be planting the Word for the first time.

        b. We may be watering what someone has planted.

 

BIBLE STUDY BRINGS UNDERSTANDING

V:25. "And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers."

 A. It is not uncommon to have different interpretations of God's Word.

     1. We have many different religions because there are many different beliefs

         about God and many different interpretations of His Word.

     2. Christians believe in a triune God; God the Father, God the Son and God the

         Holy Spirit. One God in three persons.

     3. Some religions believe in God, but leave out a belief in Jesus Christ.

     4. Some believe in the Old Testament but not the New Testament.

 B. Some religions have a book that is not the Bible that we Christians read.

     1. The Mormons have their book.

     2. The Muslins have their book. (The Quran)

     3. The Jews have their Bible which does not include Jesus as savior.

 C. When people are set in their beliefs which does not include Jesus, we must depart

      from them and keep our faith.

     1. The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher.

     2. The Holy Spirit guided the prophets.

     3. Those who do not have the Holy Spirit will not understand God's Word.

     4. The Holy Spirit was not given to all believers until after resurrection and

          the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven.

     5. Those who do not accept Jesus as their personal savior will not receive the

          Holy Spirit.

 

V:26. "Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive."

A. Paul gave the unbelievers a parting word from Isa 6:9-10.

    1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God.

    2. We have to believe the whole Bible, not just the part we agree with.

B. The Question is: having heard the Word of God, why are some inspired to believe

   in Jesus and others  rejected Jesus?

    1. God has prepared the hearts of those who He has called to be His

        disciples.            

        John 6:37

    2. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God draws those He has called. John 6:44

    3. With His Word, God convicts those He has called.

         a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

    4. There are people, God has not called to salvation. John 14:16, 17

 

CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING THE GOSPEL

V:27. "For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

 A. The Gospel message was presented to the Jews first.

      1. Paul came to Rome to present the Gospel to the Jews who had been scattered

          there.

      2. He would next, present the Gospel to the Roman government.

 A. The effect of unbelief affects the body from the inside out.

     1. Hearts are waxed gross. The heart of Israel became insensitive of God.

     2. Their ears are closed. They heard the Word but could not understand it.

     3. Their eyes are closed.  They could not see the glory of God that was before them.

 B. God desires that the whole world be saved.  John 3:17

     1. God desires that the whole world will understand the Gospel of Truth.

     2. God desires that the World be converted from their sins and accept salvation

         through Jesus.

     3.  God desires that the world be healed of deceases and sicknesses and made

          whole.

 

GOD HAS A GOBAL MISSION TO SAVE THOSE HE CALLED

V:28. "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it."

 A. The progressive mission of the Gospel is that salvation be brought to the Jews first

      and then to the Gentiles. Romans 1:16, 2:20.

     1. The Jewish Nation is God's first chosen people.

         a. Out of the Jewish Nation came salvation for the whole world.

     2. Jesus, Our Lord and Savior was born a Jew, but died to save the whole world.

 B. God is in control of all who will hear and accept the message of salvation.

     1. The Gentiles "will" hear it.

     2. God is no respecter of person.

        a. Everyone is given the opportunity to accept or reject Jesus as their personal

            savior.

 

V:29. "And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves."

 A. Bible Study requires personal meditation.

     1. Having heard the Word of God, you have the responsibility to make a decision

         regarding salvation through Jesus Christ.

     2. You will accept or reject Christ as your personal Savior.

 B. To understand the Word, you have to meditate on the Word.

     1. To understand the Word, takes Bible study with other believers.

     2. To understand the Word, takes time in the Word.

 

GOD BESSES US TO MINISTER

V:30. "And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him."

 A. When you are devoted to the Lord's work, He will give you favor with men.

     1. Even though he was a prisoner of the Roman government, he was first, a

         prisoner of Jesus.

     2. God blessed him with a house to stay in rather than a jail cell.

     3. God blessed him with an income to pay for his shelter and provisions.

 B. Paul used his blessed position to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     1. God blesses us so we can bless others giving God the glory.

     2. Paul was not selective in who he blessed. He received all.

     3. God's elect come in all nationalities.

 V:31. "Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."

 A. A Minister has the responsibility of teaching and preaching the Gospel of Jesus

      Christ.

    1. It is our circumstances that gives us the opportunity to serve God.

    2. Some circumstances are designed for us by God to put us in contact with

        those in need of salvation and enlightenment .

 B.  All believers are ministers for Jesus Christ.

    1. Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus until His death.

    2.  As long as we have breath, we should use it to give God the glory.