Be A Berean

Be A Berean Acts 17.10-12 Paul the Apostle left Thessalonica and traveled to Berea. This was done at night. He was snuck out of the city to escape persecution. He still had the scars from the severe flogging in Philippi. He did the same things with the Bereans as he had always done. He went to their synagogue. His pattern was, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1.16 The success in Berea was greater than Thessalonica. There was a reason for this... actually several: The Bereans were of Noble Character: Well behaved, Good. The Greek word used in Acts is eugenesteroi, which comes from eugenes, from which we derive the personal name "Eugene." Originally, it meant "wellborn" and implied nobility. Later, it described those of a generous spirit, who are open-minded toward truth, not prejudiced, hostile, or suspicious of others, but give others a fair hearing. It is interesting to see the different characteristics in the various churches. The Thessalonians believed false reports about the Return of Jesus, that it had already taken place. That would not have happened to the Berean Church. They would have reached that conclusion for themselves. For over 40 years here I have gone through the Bible, chapter by chapter, many years verse by verse. We have not had problems with false doctrines when they have been floating around. This is a church which moves on to maturity. A few of the false doctrines floating around: * God wants everyone to be wealthy and healthy. * The Rapture is going to happen in 1988. * The LORD is coming in 1994 * We need to get prepared for Y2K because all kinds of horrible things will happen at midnight on December 31, 1999 * Our fillings are turning to gold! * You cannot meet as a church during COVID Churches differ The Philippian Church was generous, very generous with giving to the Apostle Paul.. The others did not. The Corinthians were into the spiritual gifts. They also tolerated immorality worse than the pagans! The Galatian Church was falling for the lie that you had to become a Jew before you came to Christ. Look at the 7 Churches in Revelation! The Church at Ephesus lost its first love. The Church at Laodecia put Jesus on the outside. It didn’t feel it needed Him because it was increased in goods and wealth. Jesus’ assessment was that it was miserable, poor, blind and naked! What should the church be like? Since Jesus is building it it should represent Him. Jesus asked His Disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Matthew 16. 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” There are John the Baptist Churches today. They yell “repent.” They go after the corruption in government. They see many baptized. Today we have a convergence of pastors going to Washington, DC Interestingly Jesus did not send His followers to Rome to bring reforms. The city He was concerned about with His followers was Jerusalem and that they did not leave until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. I have received a few invitations to the Presidential Inaugurals in our nation’s capital. I have not gone. I did go to Albany to pray years ago in an opening session of the Senate. It was nice, a lot of driving but memorable for me, not sure about our Senators, although I was told they appreciated my comments. My prayer is recorded in the permanent record there. There are Elijah Churches today. They do mighty deeds. Many would say that they are on fire. They stress miracle, signs and wonders above all. They can fly higher than an eagle! They dazzle the mind and impress many. They celebrate things with great fanfare. If you go there you will find that they believe that the whole Island is repenting and coming to the LORD. They go beyond the Scriptures. There are churches like Jeremiah. They cry a lot. They lament over sin and the destruction it has brought on the nation. Songs are in a minor key. They are depressing churches. They talk more about the bad news more than the good news. You will weep if you go. You will not be offered much hope, other than being told you just need to hold on until Jesus comes back. These churches have strange vision. Jesus asked His Disciples, 15 “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” There are churches that are like Jesus. Like Him, there is nothing in their appearance that would attract people to them. They are not “Attraction Churches”. They are strong in the faith and compassionate. They are in the Word and the Word is in them. They lay down their lives for others. They are a House of Prayer for all nations. They are filled with the love of God. They love Jesus deeply. They are so refreshing. Those churches are marked by love. You are going to hear how wonderful Jesus is rather than how great the church is. People in love with Jesus are not looking elsewhere. They have found the Pearl of Great Price. The Bereans were into the Word. They knew the Scriptures. They checked out if what Paul was proclaiming was true. * The Bereans are considered as noble because they listened to the preaching of the Gospel with open hearts as they pursued God and His whole truth. * May you have an open heart. In this time of great change in the world and Church. In the sunshine and the rain. We need both to make flowers grow. In the seasons of the year and life. The Bereans held the Word of God in high esteem. They understood the commitment to the Apostle’s teaching as stated in Acts 2.42. They listened to it and made sure it lined up with Scripture of the Old Testament. * When obeyed it follows that they would be committed to Breaking of Bread, the fellowship and to prayer. They Apostle’s teaching is a continuation of what Jesus began to do and to teach among the Twelve. * The character of a nation, a group of people, a denomination, a church’s character will be known by the place it holds the Word of God in its heart and life. Always hold the Word of God along with His Name high in your life. Hide it in your heart. I wish Paul had written a letter to this church. It would have been one full of commendations. May we be that kind of church! Commended by God. You cannot have a church like Jesus without them knowing the Word of God. John 15. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. His Word abiding or remaining in you. And wonderful things happening between us and Him. A church that remains in His Word and prays. The Church is being built by Jesus. It reflects Him to the world. We are the Body of Christ. * What man commends/ What God commends We have the letters of Paul to the churches. We have the messages of Jesus to the 7 churches in Revelation. If we were have a letter written to us what would it say? I can hear Jesus say, “Continue in My Word!” * The Bereans were model seekers/ believers They were eager to learn. Take hold of it. Receive it like a grant. Embrace it. Zeal We need to diligently search the Scriptures daily. Marinate yourself in it. We should be people of one Book. All other books should be read in the light of the Word of God. I am concerned because that is not so today, even among so called believers. Our relationship with the Word of God is one of embracing it, being zealous to keep it, receiving the gift of it with thankfulness. What a gift we have been given! * The Benefits of Being A Berean: * A humble faith * A Heart for God * I will praise You, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your love and your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your Word. * A knowledge of God’s Word * A perspective of where we came from Genesis 1 and where we are going Revelation * A Firm and Sure Foundation Matthew 7. 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the Rock….and that Rock is Christ. * Hope I Peter 1. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,through the living and enduring Word of God. * 24 For, “All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the Word of the LORD endures forever.” And this is the Word that was preached to you. * Psalm 138.2 Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119.89 The Word of God is our sole basis for truth and error. Testing the Scriptural Teaching To see if what is being proclaimed is true. To see if what I believe is accurate. * You didn’t hear from Bereans: “Wow! What a great message! What an awesome speaker. I could listen to that man preach all day! What a great preacher!” May God help us move away from such childish thinking across the Body of Christ! * Here is Paul’s Testimony: I Corinthians 2.1 And so it was with me, brothers, When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. * The Bereans were a people who held Scripture in such a high regard that it became their daily pursuit, their source of truth, the only reference book or material they would read in search of what is true. There is no record of any letter to the Bereans. * Sifted Getting the wheat separated from the chaff Pulling out the truth Examined Checked out his quotes from the Old Testament. Judged Is it reasonable? Is it right? Listening to the Word of God put them in the Word of God daily. Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good. Be a Berean! One word on searching the Scriptures without having Christ: John 5. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, 40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. Christ in us as we study the Scriptures. If you don’t have Him within you don’t have Eternal Life. Have a plan of reading the Bible, God’s Word. I have changed mine over the years. Now I am slowing down to take more in. Be disciplined. Enjoy. Celebrate. Stick to your plan until God changes it. The Sunday Morning Message Listen to men of God expound the Word of God. Check out everything you hear from the Scriptures. Be a Berean!