|
A Repetitive Habit
That Pushed Them
Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
September 1, 2009
> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION
Last month we noticed A
Reputation That Preceded Them, “these that have . . . are
come hither also.” If it was not immediate, it was not long
before the testimony of what Paul and Silas had done in Philippi
made its way to Thessalonica. As we examine Acts 17:2-6,
we find that having arrived in Thessalonica, it did not take
long before the Spiritual Minority (Paul and Silas)
was having an effect upon the Secular Majority (Jews
which believed not). Paul and Silas came to get in the game!
They decided to get involved rather than investigate! Jesus
said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 5:16). Quickly finding themselves on the defensive,
the secular society rise up in opposition and cried, “these
that have turned the world upside down are come hither also”
(vs.6). These men upset the city of Philippi and they are
doing the same thing to our beloved city, Thessalonica. This
leads us to A Repetitive Habit That Pushed Them, “as
his manner was” (vs.2). The word “manner” in verse
2 means ones acts prescribed by a habit or law, one’s
custom. While all of us are creatures of habit, when we look at
the repetitive habit that pushes them, we are looking at the
spiritual aspects of Paul’s life!
(I) The
Evidence – vs.2 “went in unto them”
A habit or
custom is not established in one act, but is something that is
repeated over and over again! Please note Paul’s habit or custom
that occurred over and over again.
Acts 16:12-13 “And from
thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of
Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding
certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a
river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down,
and spake unto the women which resorted thither.”
Acts 17:6 “And when they
found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the
rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world
upside down are come hither also;”
Acts 17:10 “And the brethren
immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who
coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
Acts 17:16-17
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was
stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with
the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met
with him.”
A habit is something easily
recognized by an outside observer. Paul displayed a spiritual
habit by consistently doing the same thing! If there is one
thing that is recognized from the previous verses, it is the
fact that Paul is going to find out where people are meeting to
worship and he is going to be there and to talk about the Lord
Jesus Christ! By observation, what spiritual tendencies do
others see in your life; what’s a repetitive habit for you?
When I think about that
question, I am reminded of the young man, Daniel. In Daniel 6,
we read, “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents
and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the
king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the
presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor
fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error
or fault found in him” (vs.3-4). If these men were to get
the best of Daniel, it would not be through his sinful
character, it would have to be achieved in light of his
spiritual custom. “Then said these men, We shall not find
any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him
concerning the law of his God” (vs.5). Having observed
Daniel faithfulness to the spiritual acts of prayer, these men
got a corrupt law passed that no one could pray to anyone except
King Darius. What would Daniel do? Daniel did exactly what they
expected him to do! “Now when Daniel knew that the writing
was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open
in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he
did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel
praying and making supplication before his God. Daniel 6:10-11
Are you and I that predicable when it come to spiritual habits
and dedication to our God?
(II) The
Establishment – vs.2 “as his manner was”
On occasion, the depth of a
passage can be grasped by looking at what it does not say! It
does not say, “as their manner was!” It said, “as his manner
was.” While we may encourage others and may be encouraged by
others, only we can establish a spiritual habit in our own life.
The establishment of a spiritual habit is not only personal, but
each of us must accept the responsibility for the establishment
of those spiritual habits.
(III) The
Enemy – vs.5
Spiritual habits never lack
for an enemy! Spiritual habits never lack for an enemy!
Some might look at the previous statement and think that it is a
typo! No! I want each of us to understand this fundamental
truth, spiritual habits have aggressive and ever present
enemies! When speaking to His disciples, Jesus said, “If the
world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If
ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because
ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept
my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:18-20).
The world is an enemy to
spiritual habits. In our text we see the world rise up in
opposition to the spiritual habits of Paul and Silas. In
addition to the world, your friends can be an enemy to your
spiritual habits. Do your friends encourage you to have a
consistent personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ or
do your friends encourage a luke-warm Christianity, void of a
consistent and powerful testimony for Christ? While the world
will oppose you and your friend may stand in your way, they are
not your biggest enemy to spiritual habits. Your flesh is your
biggest enemy to spiritual habits.
“For they that are after the
flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after
the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded
is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they
that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8
“This I say then, Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot
do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:16-17
Your flesh will always be
found in opposition to the spiritual habits in your life! It is
far easier to establish a secular habit that a spiritual habit
and keep it!
(IV) The
Example – Luke 4:14-16
Within our text, Jesus is
most likely about thirty years old at the time and the text
tells us that he had a custom of going to the synagogue,
“and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the
sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (vs.16). The question
that we need to ask ourselves is when did Jesus establish this
spiritual habit of going to the synagogue? I think that Luke
2:40-47 reveals the answer! While we have no record previous
to this experience when Jesus was twelve years old, we know that
he was going to the temple then! For at least eighteen years,
Jesus has been demonstrating a spiritual habit; he has been
going to the synagogue! We are encouraged to look to Jesus as
our example, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
(v) The
Elements – vs. 1-2 “where was a synagogue . . . went in unto
them”
Most successful businesses
have a department that is called “Research and Development.”
They exist for the purpose of developing new products, but it is
also their responsibility to constantly try to improve existing
products. The evidence of their handy work can be seen in the
phrase, “New and Improved.” The truth is that we have a constant
stream of conferences, seminars, and workshops on how to live
the Christian life! We are looking for a new twist, or brighter
lights, or a different look! There aren’t any! Paul knew
that it all came down to get in church, read the word, and serve
God! Paul’ repetitive habit gave way to the reputation that
preceded Him! Do you have in repetitive spiritual habits? God
will use them to give you a reputation that precedes you!
> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION
|
