Spiritual Sleepers

[tony.h...@fbcrpb.com]

SOAP

8/30/08

Acts 28:17-31



S: Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would
not believe. 25 And when they did not agree with one another, they
began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit
rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,

'GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY,
"YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES;
OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM."'
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has
been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen." 29 [When he had
spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among
themselves.] Acts 28:24-29 (NASB95)



O: Paul is preaching the gospel to the Jews here in Rome, and some
were persuaded, but others were not. If Paul is proclaiming the same
truth in the same way, why would some be persuaded and others not?
What was it that stood in the way of belief for ?



The imagery that Paul uses here in applying this quotation for Isaiah,
is that some of the Jews, refused to believe because they were in a
spiritual half-sleep. Their hearts were dull, they could barely hear,
and they had closed their eyes.



I cannot think of a better description of the spiritual conditions of
our times. People whose hearts are dull--almost asleep in a spiritual
sense. The distractions of the world have lulled them into a spiritual
slumber that is very difficult to penetrate. They do not see, and they
can barely hear the truth when it is proclaimed.



Then, Paul details the process to reverse this spiritual slumber, he
begins with opening their eyes to see, then hearing, then
understanding with their hearts. How can we engage in opening eyes and
ears, so that people will understand with their hearts. Is this even
our call, or are we to simply concentrate on those who have not yet
gone to sleep?



Paul does not seem to spend too much time trying to cater to the
sleepers. He continues to preach the truth to those who will listen.



A: sometimes, I tend to spend so much time and energy on trying to
wake up those who have fallen asleep, while their are plenty around me
who have eyes to see and ears to hear. I need to determine just what
my role is and what God wants me to do. I do not want to waste time
and resources on sleepers if that is not what God intends.



P: Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to minister effectively. Help
me to follow Your plan for reaching the lost. Help me to discern the
difference between trying to wake up sleepers and proclaiming Your
truth, and help me to know when and if I should be doing each.