There are two major theologies that seem to stand against each other - the theology of God's sovereignty and the theology of people's free will. But as Paul and his crew are blown across the Mediterranean Sea, both God's sovereignty and people's responsibility are on full display.
Paul has appealed to Rome, and finally it is decided that they should set sail. But Paul's dream (and most of our lives) doesn't end up looking the way he expected it to look. First of all, he was going to Rome as a prisoner instead of on his own terms, and secondly, they ended up being blown way off course before they were even halfway there.
Paul stands trial before Felix the Governor, and gives his defense. Felix began to be very interested in what Paul was saying, and even brought his wife in to potentially fact check Paul’s argument. But all of a sudden, when Paul’s defense turned into sharing the gospel to Felix, the conviction was too much. Felix bailed, said, "I’ll be in touch later, maybe," and two years later, he is out the door leaving Paul in prison for the next Governor to deal with, never having professed faith in Christ.
Paul was nearly beaten to death by the Jerusalem mob, and as he is being taken away for questioning by the Roman soldiers, he asks if he might speak to the crowd who hates him. They oblige, and Paul gives his testimony to the crowd, recalling what Jesus did for him on the road to Damascus.
We've all been in situations where we needed rescued. Maybe your situation was dire, maybe it wasn't all that life-threatening. But either way, we know the thrill of deliverance; the joy of rescue. Psalm 40 celebrates the deliverance of God, even though the battle isn't yet won.
Our hearts are begging us to seek the face of God. It’s what we were designed to do, and it’s where so much idolatry happens. In our flesh, we try to fill that emptiness and longing with lots of other things. David recognizes that his heart is pointing him to Yahweh, and so the one thing he wants more than anything else is not deliverance from his enemies, perfect health, or long life; he wants to live every single day of his life in the presence of God.
“When I observe your heavens, the work of your finger, the moon and the stars you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him?” David asks a great question here, but even David doesn’t know where history is headed. God himself doesn’t just remember humans – he becomes one.
The church seems to be growing exponentially, when all of a sudden King Herod attacks the church and kills one of the apostles. That seemed to please the Jews, so he arrested the Most Wanted of the Christians – Peter. They hit their knees in an overnight prayer service, and God answered in the most unusual (and humorous) way.
Resurrection Sunday 2024 – In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul is unsatisfied with knowing ABOUT Jesus – he wants to press on, reach out, and pursue KNOWING Jesus, which includes, knowing the power of his resurrection.
2019-2024: River City celebrates five years as a church with a special service full of history, testimonials, and the gospel of Jesus