Unhindered

Acts 28:17-31

We are a people that seek resolution. We want to know the answer! Google and other internet search engines are full of answers to our questions that we ask. In 1980 a show called Dallas ended for the season in a cliffhanger. The last episode before the next season aired was when JR Ewing was shot. T-shirts were printed with the slogan “Who shot JR?” Larry Hagman, the actor who played JR did some traveling that summer. He went to England and visited with the Queen and she leaned down and asked Mr. Hagman “who shot JR?” Later that year when the show Dallas aired again, the Turkish parliament dismissed their session early so that its members could watch Dallas in order to find out who shot JR! Millions were wanting to know! We are a people that want resolve! What if God ended Acts this way so that we, the New Testament Church, would continue where Paul left off unhindered for God’s glory? There are a few theories as to why Acts ended without resolution. 1. Luke died before he could finish it. 2. Luke didn’t know what happened after this point. 3. Luke meant to write a third volume. 4. Luke intended to end this way in order to motivate other believers to carry the gospel to the “ends of the earth.”

The reason that Acts ends without a resolution is because it continues with us! It continues with Oak Hill Baptist Church! It continues with churches just like us, big and small! We are writing Kingdom history every time we gather or go, we are writing history! We are unhindered by the power of the Holy Spirit for the church to continue to do great things for God’s glory!  

We have everything we need to advance the gospel, to continue to fulfill the Great Commission, yet we forsake God’s power for His purpose. What will it take to continue Acts?   An Unhindered Passion for People to Know Christ (Acts 28:20-23) I want us to see the passion here in Paul. In verse 20 he desires to share the hope of Israel! In verse 23 he spends all his time striving to convince them of Christ! You can tell a person’s passion from the time they spend in it and for the money they spend for it. This passion is seen in Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Romans 9:1-3; 10:1 show Paul’s passion. “…I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen…” Every person without a personal saving relationship with Jesus will enter hell! We see in Philippians that…

a. The possibility of Perishing doesn’t hinder the gospel. “…to live is Christ, to die is gain…”
b. The lack of Possessions doesn’t hinder the gospel. “…I am content with much or little…”
c. Being in Prison doesn’t hinder the gospel. “…I’m in chains to advance the gospel…”
d. Certain Peril doesn’t hinder the gospel.

 

The Unhindered Presence of Christ (Acts 28:24-28) What does this mean? It means that one must be confident in the work and presence of Jesus Christ. I’m confident that He is here! My identity is in Christ! Romans 8:14-17 clarifies this fact! I’m confident that my job is to share that Christ is the only way! If someone says no to the gospel, have I been successful? Yes! My confidence is not contingent on whether or not someone comes to Christ, it’s based on the truth of Christ! When you are doing God’s work, you will get discouraged, but your identity in Christ will keep you going! We also see this identity in John 10 in which the sheep know the shepherd. If we could do it ourselves, why would we need God? God does the impossible!

An Unhindered Perseverance for the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 28:30-31) Paul states in 1 Cor. 1:21-24 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Our resolution must be to continue the work of Acts unhindered by anything, to persevere! To continue the work of the gospel! Can we? You better believe it!

How?

1) Pray for a hunger to see the glory of God! Those who see God the most, do the most for the Kingdom. We cannot do anything apart from the power and presence of Jesus Christ according to John 15! The glory of God must be our motivation, not scaring people out of hell.

2) Pray for a passion for people to know Christ.  May a genuine love for others move us to share Christ! Pray for this to happen. The most accurate gage to how much we love God is how much we love people! 

3) Participate in His Church. The church is the bride of Christ, God’s instrument to equip, encourage, and hold accountable the people of God.

4) Participate in the Work of His Church. What if we showed up to practice on the football team, yet didn’t come to the game?