Living for God – Favour and Disfavour
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