The problem with a star struck society, and how that can impact the faithful. What is important in the Kingdom of God? Exercising hospitality is a key step towards understanding spiritual authority.
“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
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Primary focus of this passage
Vs. 2 they welcomed us – throughout Luke -Acts, the theme of hospitality has been an important symbol of receptivity of God’s visitation. See Lk 5:29; 7:36-50; 9:4-5; 10:1-16, 38-42; 19:1-10; Acts 10:24; 16:11-15.
Vs. 3 Paul models authority as service Luke 22:24-27 just as Jesus did. Throughout the journey, his advice and actions have been practical and helpful, including helping with the fire. Unusual for a prisoner to do so voluntarily. See 27:10, 22, 31, 34.
Vs 4 the assessment of Paul as a murderer, the in verse 5 as a god. Allusion to Luke 10:18-19. Power over satan. Reaction like Acts 14:8-13.
Vs.7 Paul has much freedom for 3 months. This includes the ministry of healing. Throughout Luke Acts the healing ministry is coupled with the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Notice, it is not something that he sets up a healing crusade! What is going on in the centurion’s mind? Soldiers? Other prisoners? Sailors? Captain? Brought to the leading man and then conducts healing ministry on the island? My assumption is that many believed, and he needed 3 months of discipleship training for the new believers. Paul is indeed the most unusual prisoner! Compare with Luke 4:38-44. On healing leads to many.
Vs. 10 demonstrates the sharing of good to be a sharing in the Gospel! Consistent with the narrative in Luke Acts:
Vs. 14 meets the brothers.
The last chapters
What is the purpose of the book, and what are the most important themes that need to be conveyed?
Is Paul and his life the main character? Compare with writing my biography, I’m not dead yet!
Is there something much more significant being communicated her? In the last chapter, God reigns supreme in spite of storm, authority, laws to kill prisoners, darkest days of your life, in fear, in hunger, in hopelessness there is a way through. Jesus really has all authority in heaven and earth.
In this chapter we see the following main themes emerge that are continually visible in Luke and Acts:
The value and significance of service.
The value and significance of hospitality. Luke and Acts as well as the OT point to it’s importance. We are all sojourners in this world! Notice in heaven we are invited to a banquet! Celebration is eternal!
The life of Jesus reproduced in every Christian, not just the celebrities.
The growth and the permanence of the church throughout both history and eternity despite all attempts by the devil to eradicate it.
Application is vital: contrary to today’s thinking: not a political kingdom, not individualism, not materialism – but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!
But a vibrant, life-giving church requires more, not less, time and energy from its members. It asks people to prioritize one another over our career, to prioritize prayer and time reading scripture over accomplishment. This may seem like a tough sell in an era of dechurching. If people are already leaving—especially if they are leaving because they feel too busy and burned out to attend church regularly—why would they want to be part of a church that asks so much of them?
Although understandable, that isn’t quite the right question. The problem in front of us is not that we have a healthy, sustainable society that doesn’t have room for church. The problem is that many Americans have adopted a way of life that has left us lonely, anxious, and uncertain of how to live in community with other people.
Verses
“Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brothers and sisters, and especially when they are strangers; and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support such people, so that we may prove to be fellow workers with the truth.” 3 John 1:5-8
“Let love of the brothers and sisters continue. Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” Hebrews 13:1-3
“Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:9-10
“Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
“When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.” Luke 9:51-56
““When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you are not to go back to get it; it shall belong to the stranger, the orphan, and to the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives off your olive tree, you are not to search through the branches again; that shall be left for the stranger, the orphan, and for the widow. “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you are not to go over it again; that shall be left for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow. And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing.” Deuteronomy 24:19-22
“The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:34
“One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.” Proverbs 19:17
“Calling them to Himself, Jesus *said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant; and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”” Mark 10:42-45
“Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and served them. Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” And yet He was rebuking them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ.” Luke 4:38-41
““The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”” Luke 10:16