The Pilgrim Path---Acts 9: 26 – 31

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the LORD, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the LORD. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the LORD and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

“THEY DID NOT BELIEVE HE WAS A DISCIPLE…”

There are hard images in life to begin to bring into focus. This is a difficult picture in Acts chapter 9. Saul seeks to join the Christians in Jerusalem---but he scared them. He was probably responsible for the arrest (or death) of many of their believing family members and friends. How do you reconcile “that”---with this man’s current testimony? The report of Dr. Luke, “they did not believe that he was a disciple.” My—my---the heroic Saul is “cast out” from Judaism---and now, he seems to find no welcome among the very Followers of the Savior who called him to Life and ministry! We might find it worth considering that this hurt him deeply. I bet it was incredibly humbling and reorienting. Yet, as far as the Christians in Jerusalem knew---maybe this was a trick? This was the man known for havoc against the Church. What an episode! The Living Christ might have manifest Himself to the Church and said, “This man is a chosen instrument for My Service.” That is not what happened. The LORD chose to “use” Barnabas (the son of encouragement---Acts 4: 36), to soothe the entire situation and get a hearing for the “new brother.” From all indications, Barnabas personally interacted with Saul and knew his story---and saw the Spirit and Life of Jesus Christ within him. This was all he needed to give an awesome and accurate testimony to the other disciples. Wow---a godly man blessed the entire Church by his willingness to be a servant and exalt the Name of Jesus. We must be quick to notice that Saul testified to who he “was” by what he did: he may have been pierced in heart for a time by the early rejection of his Fellow Believers in Jerusalem---but he was, “in and out among them” preaching Christ. These saints in Jerusalem saw his devotion to the Savior. Saul even put his life on the line by disputing with the Greek-speaking Jews that Jesus of Nazareth “is” the Christ of God. This new brother was helping the Church to grow!

---God often surprises us by the people He saves!

---God expects us to demonstrate our devotion to Him---no matter how we might be misunderstood---misrepresented….mistreated…

---God uses Saints---to soothe the way among the Saints---when there are problems.

---God wants us to learn to speak boldly in Jesus’ Name…

---God wants us to walk in the fear of the LORD and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

From Thomas Manton: Godly fear is a fruit and effect of faith. Faith works upon the promises and begets love and hope. Faith works upon God’s threatening and begets fear. Love, fear, and hope are not contrary: they stand together and proceed form faith. They walked “in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9: 31). This is a double-remedy---fear to keep from sin, and comfort to keep them from sinking under affliction. On earth we still need this mixture. In heaven there is all joy, and no fear of punishment. Love would grow secure without fear, and slavish without love. Both bring reverence and sweetness.

From Samuel Rutherford: It is not a smooth and easy way, neither will your weather be fair and pleasant; but whosoever saw the invisible God and the fair city, makes no reckoning of losses or crosses. In ye must be, cost you what it will; stand not for a price, and for all that ye have, to win the castle; the rights of it are won to you, and it is disponed to you, in your LORD Jesus’ Testament; and see what a fair legacy your dying Friend, Christ hath left you; and there wanteth nothing but possession.

HYMN

Be still, my soul! Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul! The waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul! The hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the LORD,

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul! When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina von Schlegel, 1752

Translated, Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813—1897)

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason