January 30, 2012

On The Sidelines? 

My Dear Friend, 

            Imprisoned in Caesarea, Paul found himself set aside from his beloved missionary travels “two years” (Acts 24:27). How strange that he should be on the ministerial sidelines.

            In American football, “starters” (first teamers) never want to be on the sidelines during a game. They want to be on the field, rushing, passing, receiving, scoring, blocking, tackling, and making big plays! But injuries, sickness, fatigue, ejections, or breaking team rules force them onto the sidelines. There they eagerly watch and wait to reenter the contest.

While Paul was sidelined in Caesarea, other ministers were “rushing” (carrying) the gospel football by evangelizing and teaching God’s Word, “passing” it to new disciples who then ran with the Good News, and scoring kingdom “touchdowns” (conversions, church plants) all over the Mediterranean world! But Paul could only watch.

How disappointing and confounding this was! Jesus had appeared to promise Paul he was going to Rome (Acts 23:11), yet Paul remained in prison, pending the arrival of his chief defense witness, Lysias (Acts 24:22). The governor, Felix, knew Paul was innocent, but wasn’t about to displease his Jewish constituents by releasing him. As the weeks became months, and then years, Paul realized this—and surely wondered why Jesus permitted the lengthy, contradictory, and unexplained delay. It made no sense. When Paul should be sailing to Rome, he was sidelined instead in Caesarea. Felix repeatedly summoned Paul to talk, but only hoping for a bribe (from Paul or his friends), never to hear his case or release him. Why did God permit a corrupt Roman governor to delay His best minister’s itinerary two years?

            We don’t know. But we know it wasn’t because Paul was injured, sick, or had broken God’s rules. So we’re left to guess.

Perhaps these exercises in waiting for God’s help and resisting Felix’s temptation (for a bribe) refined Paul’s patience and character, so the wine of his preaching, teaching, and writing became sweeter. Maybe his imprisonment was a sabbatical; he surely needed an extended rest after years of fruitful but turbulent ministry. Perhaps God was making him an example, as He did Joseph and Moses, of one faithfully awaiting the fulfillment of His call to special service. Maybe the Lord used this quiet period to draw near Paul with new visions of Him and revelations of His purposes for the church (2 Cor. 12:1). Perhaps He was letting His unjustly detained servant illustrate a cross-bearing overcomer, to inspire us to carry our crosses as Paul did, with honor and hope. Through it all, Paul recognized God’s loving control and wise timing. And he received the ministry of memory.

            He surely recalled how God kept him waiting years to minister in Asia, detouring him through Macedonia and Achaia (Acts 16-18), where God did great things through his ministry until His time came for Asia. When it arrived Paul enjoyed his best season of ministry: three years of prolific evangelism, teaching, and miracles powerfully impacting the whole region (Acts 19:26-27)! Paul realized God had made him wait only to be more gracious to him and the people of Asia (Isa. 30:18). These memories helped him await God’s time, again, in Caesarea. And occupy well: “Occupy till I come” (Lk. 19:13).

            How? He sought Jesus daily in prayer, and with the help of local Christians (who saw to his needs, Acts 24:23), in the scriptures. And he stayed busy. Knowing Paul’s character, past experience, and teaching, we may assume he offered thanksgiving “in” his unpleasant circumstance (1 Th. 5:18), praised and worshiped God (Acts 16:25), and submissively chose to be “content,” though “abased” (Phil. 4:11-12). He probably wrote (non-canonical) epistles and fellowshipped with local ministers (Phillip), church leaders (Cornelius), and other Christians he met during his travels. He practiced his personal evangelism and debate skills in his many conversations with Felix, thus sharpening his speaking gifts. And it’s likely he made a few tents! Thus, wisely, Paul made the best of a bad situation. Is your situation similar?

            Are you a “starter” in your trade, business, profession, or ministry, yet sidelined? A caring pastor between churches? A skilled worker unemployed? A committed missionary without a sponsoring church? A fervent evangelist without any scheduled meetings? A gifted teacher without a position? God understands your frustration. Ask Him why you’re sidelined. If you’ve broken His team rules, submit, obey, and wait to labor another day. If like Paul you’re innocent, occupy well, believing God is delaying only to be more gracious to you and others. And have hope: In God’s time Paul arrived and thrived in Rome (Acts 28:30-31)! You will too.

So don’t rebel; excel on the sidelines!

Excelling,

Greg Hinnant Greg Hinnant Ministries