Rule-breaker's wanted!

"It is a good idea to obey all the rules when you're young just so you'll have the strength to break them when you're old." ~ Mark Twain

As I sat having my quiet time this morning, I was struck by a certain section of verses:

"Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks (Gentiles) also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord"  - Acts 11:19-21

Rule-breakers - that's what God's looking for!

For the sake of sharing the Gospel and spreading God's word, these men broke the mold and preached to the Gentiles. As we know from verse 21, "a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." The fruit of those men breaking the mold and preaching to the Gentiles is still being felt today. Because of all the work they had done, they were ridiculed and named "Christians" (Acts 11:26) - a name that initially started as a way to mock, bring shame, and persecute the men whose lives had been so radically changed by Christ.

This next section comes from a great website I found while preparing this:

They Evidenced the Grace of God

 

“When he [Barnabas] arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” What did Barnabas see when he saw the evidence of the grace of God? I think it was the same things the pharaoh saw in Joseph. It was what Moses demonstrated when he delivered the Hebrews from bondage. The Babylonians witnessed the same thing in the life of Daniel. It was what the first century world witnessed in Christ’s presence. Barnabas saw the grace of God saving the Gentiles—he saw the Gentiles turning from their pagan lives to embrace the grace of God.

First century Christianity challenged pagans to turn from the immorality of their pagan society. In doing so, their world saw evidence of the grace of God.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. NIV

 

These people weren’t simply converted from one style of worship to another—from one church to another. The gospel challenged every facet of their lives. Their deep conviction led them to lives separated from worldly influences. This led others to imitate their lives as it allowed them to see Christ in how they lived. Those converted became a model to all the believers in Macedonia.

 

You have to understand they weren’t called Christians merely because of their conversion, but because of their belief, their conduct, and their life in Christ. They turned from their pagan lifestyles to embrace the life of Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NIV

 

It is something that the 21^st century world has a real need to witness. What that pagan world witnessed led them to call those first disciples “Christians.” The Latin suffix tan means "belonging to the party of" In derision, some of the pagan citizens of Antioch joined this Latin suffix to the Hebrew name "Christ" and came up with Christian. The name itself reveals the impact those first believers were having on their godless society. The name is found only three times in the entire New Testament: Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Dynamic, Acts, The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright (c) 1989 by SP Publications, Inc.)

 

Unfortunately, the word Christian has lost a great deal of significance over the centuries and no longer means "one who has turned from sin, trusted Jesus Christ, and received salvation by grace" (Acts 11:21-23). Many people who have never been born again consider themselves "Christians" simply because they say they are not "pagans." After all, they may belong to a church, attend services somewhat regularly, and even occasionally give to the work of the church! However, it takes more than that for a sinner to become a child of God. It takes repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins on the cross and rose again to give us eternal life. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Dynamic, Acts, The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright (c) 1989 by SP Publications, Inc.)

 

Statistics reveal the morality of Christians today is on the same level of the world. There is no appreciable difference. We have many people today calling themselves Christians, but their life is or has become suspect. Is it because they have a false definition of what it means to be a Christian?

 

Many believers in the early church suffered because they were Christians (1 Peter 4:16). Dr. David Otis Fuller has asked, "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" A good question! And the answer is a matter of life or death! (Warren Wiersbe, Be Dynamic, Acts, The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright (c) 1989 by SP Publications, Inc.)

Source: http://www.focusongod.com/Acts-11_19-26.htm

What a powerful question: "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

Wow!
 
Since I was old enough to remember, I have been a rule-follower. A people-pleasing, rule-follower. I believe God used this in my life to keep me away from drugs and alcohol, but as a believer, this can hold us back from doing what God has called us to do. My husband on the other hand, he's more of a rule breaker. It derives pleasure from hacking systems and creating a solution to the problem. Hacking, at it's core is rule-breaking. 


But, what if God wanted to do a new thing and He wanted to do it by using you and/or I?


Isaiah 43:19 tells us this, 
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." 

Sometimes God wants to do a "new thing" and that might require us to break the mold. It might require us to move out of our comfort zone, to protest something, to fight for something we believe to be true and right - even if it's not politically correct or goes against main stream society, or to, as in the case of Katie (from the book Kisses From Katie I mentioned in my last blog), pick up everything and leave all you know to follow after and obey God in Uganda.

Whatever God is calling you to, be sure to be obedient to Him. It may cause you discomfort and embarrassment, but Fully Surrendering to Him and His will show "the evidence of the grace of God" (Acts 11:23) upon you and in your life. 

I would like to share a story with you: 

Because of a few bold Christians and servants of God, my life was radically changed. Not just mine though, but, also my mother-in-law's, my father-in-laws, my husbands, and my brother-in-laws!


When my husband was 2, a few Christians from 'Campus Crusade For Christ' went knocking door to door. Out of roughly 270 homes they visited that day, my in-laws were the only ones to accept Jesus.
They accepted Him, and coming out of the 60's, their lives were dramatically changed! They began praying over Jason (and his brother, who was born a few short months later) and also began to pray with the boys for their "future wives."


In a life where I still cannot think of a single person who may have been praying for me as I was growing up, I was being prayed for by parents I did not know and parents who already loved me enough to pray for my upbringing and my salvation.


Because of those few who were stepping outside of their comfort zones, breaking the mold of what a "normal" Christian does, they uncomfortably knocked door-to-door and led my in-laws to the Lord. 


So, as Barnabas encouraged the men in Antioch, I too, will encourage you: Be bold! Don't be afraid to break the mold. God may have a "new thing" for you; don't be afraid to step out in faith and obedience. 

"There are no rules in the service of God, and this itself is  no rule." ~ The Yehudi