Salem Church
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Leverage for the Kingdom
Locations & Times
Clove Lakes Campus
634 Clove Rd, Staten Island, NY 10310, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Leverage for the Kingdom
Acts 21:37 - 22:29
Leverage: The root word is Lever, which renaissance scientists identified as one of six simple machines which amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force, which is said to provide LEVERAGE.
There was no reason that a group of Jewish men should disrupt the ancient system of worship and laws after following around a carpenter for 3 years. There is no reason that this small group (12 or so) should number 7,000+ in only 25 years. There is no reason that Paul should have planted all the churches and written the letters he did considering how badly so many wanted him dead. How was any of it possible? Leverage! There’s an advantage built into the system when people sacrifice for the Kingdom, the Spirit multiplies their sacrifice and makes it more powerful than it should be!
Main Idea: Citizens Take Every Opportunity to Advance the Kingdom
We are at the end of Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey. Last week we read about his arrest for his own safety as an angry mob was attempting to murder him. While he was being carried away, something amazing happened.
“As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune & said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came & said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, & the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen & that he had bound him.”Acts 21:37-22:29
Three Realities to be Leveraged for the Kingdom in Acts 21:36-22:29
I. Pressure and Persecution – Acts 21:37-22:1, 22:22-23
Paul, still bleeding from the attempted murder he had suffered and on his way to be flogged, asked to address the crowd. He was clear, kind, polite, relatable and contextual as he leveraged this moment for the Kingdom.
“‘May I say something to you…I beg you, permit me to speak to the people’… he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers & fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.’” Acts 21:37-40 - Defense of the Gospel
Five Principles of Leveraging Pressure & Persecution for the Kingdom:
• Trust God’s Providence: He has not lost control, He is sovereign.
• See God’s Hand: How could God use this for His glory? Join him!
• Love Your Enemies: Like Christ, Paul never threatened or attacked.
• Glorify God: Paul made it about God’s glory, not his own comfort.
• Control Your Emotions: Concern for weaker brothers and mentee’s!
When you are under pressure or persecution, realize that it is an opportunity to leverage it for the kingdom of God! Suffering well is apologetic!
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”Romans 12:14
II. Salvation and Sending – Acts 22:2-21
Paul never got over being saved. His conversion account is given three times in Acts, and he references it many more times in his letters. Every time he gets a chance, he is telling people about God saving him and sending him as a missionary. And those 2 things were always connected. This is no different!
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground & heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting…for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen & heard’…And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:6-8, 15, 21
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”John 17:16-18 - Jesus saved you to send you!
Paul could hardly believe that God would forgive someone as awful as he was. He saw his salvation and sending as one in the same. He leveraged that story every chance he got! Have you gotten over being saved? I hope not!
III. Contexts and Citizenship – Acts 22:25-29
Paul knew that there was a good chance he would not survive the flogging (many didn’t), so he appealed to his citizenship knowing that the context he was in would give him more chances to share the gospel.
“But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’”Acts 22:25 - It was unlawful to flog a Roman Citizen without a trial.
As Americans, we have been given the amazing privilege of religious freedom, tax advantages to charitable giving, wide-open doors to make disciples and multiply churches. Unfortunately, many will squander it on making themselves comfortable, when we should leverage it for the kingdom!
Jesus leveraged his humble birth, poor life, awful death, & victorious resurrection for the Unstoppable Kingdom. He was a man consumed!
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this world.’”John 18:36
I invite you to citizenship in the Unstoppable Kingdom and then to leverage your life (amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force) to advance the kingdom. Start small (surrender your life, give generously, share openly, pray diligently, serve faithfully) and see how God will multiply it for His glory and the advancement of his kingdom! Why???
Citizens Take Every Opportunity to Advance the Kingdom
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities:
CSB Study Bible – Trevin Wax, General Editor (2021)
The Bible Exposition Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (1996)
The New American Commentary: Acts – John B. Polhill (1992)
Acts: Bible Study Commentary – F.F. Bruce (2017)
Acts for Everyone – N.T. Wright (2008)
Acts: The Church Afire – Kent Hughes (1996)
Acts - John MacArthur (1994)
Acts – K.O. Gangle (1998)
The Kingdom of God – Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1992)
The Message of Acts – John Stott (1994)
Kingdom First – Jeff Christopherson (2015)
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Leverage for the Kingdom
Acts 21:37 - 22:29
Leverage: The root word is Lever, which renaissance scientists identified as one of six simple machines which amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force, which is said to provide LEVERAGE.
There was no reason that a group of Jewish men should disrupt the ancient system of worship and laws after following around a carpenter for 3 years. There is no reason that this small group (12 or so) should number 7,000+ in only 25 years. There is no reason that Paul should have planted all the churches and written the letters he did considering how badly so many wanted him dead. How was any of it possible? Leverage! There’s an advantage built into the system when people sacrifice for the Kingdom, the Spirit multiplies their sacrifice and makes it more powerful than it should be!
Main Idea: Citizens Take Every Opportunity to Advance the Kingdom
We are at the end of Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey. Last week we read about his arrest for his own safety as an angry mob was attempting to murder him. While he was being carried away, something amazing happened.
“As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune & said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came & said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, & the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen & that he had bound him.”Acts 21:37-22:29
Three Realities to be Leveraged for the Kingdom in Acts 21:36-22:29
I. Pressure and Persecution – Acts 21:37-22:1, 22:22-23
Paul, still bleeding from the attempted murder he had suffered and on his way to be flogged, asked to address the crowd. He was clear, kind, polite, relatable and contextual as he leveraged this moment for the Kingdom.
“‘May I say something to you…I beg you, permit me to speak to the people’… he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers & fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.’” Acts 21:37-40 - Defense of the Gospel
Five Principles of Leveraging Pressure & Persecution for the Kingdom:
• Trust God’s Providence: He has not lost control, He is sovereign.
• See God’s Hand: How could God use this for His glory? Join him!
• Love Your Enemies: Like Christ, Paul never threatened or attacked.
• Glorify God: Paul made it about God’s glory, not his own comfort.
• Control Your Emotions: Concern for weaker brothers and mentee’s!
When you are under pressure or persecution, realize that it is an opportunity to leverage it for the kingdom of God! Suffering well is apologetic!
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”Romans 12:14
II. Salvation and Sending – Acts 22:2-21
Paul never got over being saved. His conversion account is given three times in Acts, and he references it many more times in his letters. Every time he gets a chance, he is telling people about God saving him and sending him as a missionary. And those 2 things were always connected. This is no different!
“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground & heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting…for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen & heard’…And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:6-8, 15, 21
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”John 17:16-18 - Jesus saved you to send you!
Paul could hardly believe that God would forgive someone as awful as he was. He saw his salvation and sending as one in the same. He leveraged that story every chance he got! Have you gotten over being saved? I hope not!
III. Contexts and Citizenship – Acts 22:25-29
Paul knew that there was a good chance he would not survive the flogging (many didn’t), so he appealed to his citizenship knowing that the context he was in would give him more chances to share the gospel.
“But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’”Acts 22:25 - It was unlawful to flog a Roman Citizen without a trial.
As Americans, we have been given the amazing privilege of religious freedom, tax advantages to charitable giving, wide-open doors to make disciples and multiply churches. Unfortunately, many will squander it on making themselves comfortable, when we should leverage it for the kingdom!
Jesus leveraged his humble birth, poor life, awful death, & victorious resurrection for the Unstoppable Kingdom. He was a man consumed!
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this world.’”John 18:36
I invite you to citizenship in the Unstoppable Kingdom and then to leverage your life (amplifies an input force to provide a greater output force) to advance the kingdom. Start small (surrender your life, give generously, share openly, pray diligently, serve faithfully) and see how God will multiply it for His glory and the advancement of his kingdom! Why???
Citizens Take Every Opportunity to Advance the Kingdom
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities:
CSB Study Bible – Trevin Wax, General Editor (2021)
The Bible Exposition Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (1996)
The New American Commentary: Acts – John B. Polhill (1992)
Acts: Bible Study Commentary – F.F. Bruce (2017)
Acts for Everyone – N.T. Wright (2008)
Acts: The Church Afire – Kent Hughes (1996)
Acts - John MacArthur (1994)
Acts – K.O. Gangle (1998)
The Kingdom of God – Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1992)
The Message of Acts – John Stott (1994)
Kingdom First – Jeff Christopherson (2015)
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