June 20, 2021

Living for God – Favour and Disfavour

Preacher:
Passage: Acts 28:17-31
Service Type:

Looking at Complementary and Paradoxical Truths

Last week – Judge and Judge Not
This week – looking at Favour and disfavour

There are various truths in scripture that have to be hold in balance

Example – transcendence vs imminent, Individual vs Corporate Worship

Favour and disfavour

Example of favour
Example of disfavour

Do you find this?

Accepted by some but rejected by others?
The fruits of the Spirit are often respected …

…but the things of Christ are often counter cultural

The disciples – riots, stonings, beatings, imprisonment

They are received good treatment – Example of Gamliel standing up for Paul, King Agrippa and Festus wanting to hear from Paul

The Church had great favour with those around them – in the beginning of Acts

As the book progresses, this favour has turned

The context of the passage:

All 287 people from the ship wreck are saved – it seems because of Paul
They came to Malta
The power of God is seen in the situation with the snake
Publius brings them into his house
They stayed 7 days with friends – v14
Paul was given special treatment – v16

Example of Joseph who was given favour

Paul was able to write several letters from prison

Paul has considerable freedom

He calls the Jews to him
He is concerned with the report they have of him
The Jews had not received any letters but they had not heard any bad reports of him – v21

The Christians were being spoken of everywhere – v22

Paul preached to the Jews all day long – v23
Some were persuaded but some rejected – v24

Some hardened their hearts – some in church today hardened their hearts also

There was a great dispute amongst the Jews after Paul’s preaching – v29

They did not want the gospel to go the Gentiles

Paul does not give up
Many come to Paul over 2 years

The book of Acts ends with no statement of what happened in his future

Maybe Paul was released from prison – Phil 1:19
Prepare me a guest house – Philemon v22
To later be re-imprisoned and probably executed

Think of the life of the Lord Jesus

He was rejected by many
Some made positive statements towards Him

Jesus warned us of persecution

He promised the Holy Spirit would comfort us

We are never alone and following in the masters footsteps

2 Cor 6:8-10 – the paradox of the Christian life

Persecution and the riches of God’s grace