A Zealous Apostle - Andrew Tucker

It's great to see everyone here this morning and it's great to

be here and I'm so thankful to be back in Bakersfield.

I believe this is the second time I've preached in

Bakersfield, the first time was over at Brundage Lane, that was

about 15 years ago. I think that was when I was just

starting out preaching. And when I was first starting

out, Matt Trent was working in El Cajon, that's where I live

and work. So whenever I'd go to a meeting

or something. I'll go up to come up here to

the valley or go up to Sacramento area.

Matt would always call somebody. And I get a call and say, hey,

we want you to come speak and they had no idea who I was.

They never heard me before. I wasn't very, I wasn't good at

all, but they really wanted to encourage me to preach and to

get going. So I really appreciate you

inviting me. For those of you that don't know

me, I work with the congregation and El Cajon down in San Diego

area. The last, Ten Years.

Also, the last two years I've been working for a congregation

and Tecate Mexico, very thankful for that.

And of course, we have a three-week-old baby that we

decided to bring up here where our drive this morning, and she

did great, by the way, we were the ones running behind the baby

did find, but I'm so thankful to be here to worship god with you.

That's what we're doing. We came here as a church, the

body of Christ to worship. Our God, our savior I don't know

everyone here, I do know, there are some sports fans here and

I'll MIT in El Cajon. I gave a lot of sports

analogies, I've coached a played Sports, I try to limit them, but

the two lessons I brought I open with the sports analogy.

So, if you don't like sports, well, tell me later at maybe.

After I'm done, When I was in fifth grade in our area, we are

all really excited because the Chargers we're going to be in

the Super Bowl and that's a team that used to be in San Diego,

which I don't pay attention to them.

Now, they Traders, LA, but growing up in San Diego, in my

elementary school went to very small, M Elementary School, half

the kids or charger fans, it seemed like and half.

The kids were 49er fans, their bandwagon fans, of course, Is

there probably Patriots fans now.

Well, at that time, we were not getting cited for the Super

Bowl. We're getting ready for the big

game and that's cool. We were, you know, kind of going

back and forth who was going to win.

Of course, I was so confident the Chargers were going to beat

the 49ers not Super Bowl. So we got a good defense.

We got a good running back. I mean, Steve Young.

What has he ever done? You know, he's never won

anything. You don't have Joe Montana

anymore. We were so Confident that the

Chargers were going to win. And then of course, the game

started and it was over within the first five minutes of the

game. It was very clear.

The 49ers were a much better team and not only will we not

going to win? We were embarrassed.

And I remember thinking I do not want to go back to school on

Monday, the face, all my friends who were 49er fans well,

sometimes in life we're so confident that something's going

to happen. We're so confident in the way

that We think that we can't even comprehend that we could be

wrong. I'm sure every single one of you

here is confident that where you need to be is here part of the

Church of Christ that you understand, the scriptures that

you understand the Bible and that you are confident that you

are in the right place. Worshiping God today.

You know, there was, there have been people in the Bible who

felt that way and we're gonna learn about one of these

characters in The Apostle, Paul, the Apostle Paul lived his life

with complete confidence. Now we're going to talk a little

bit about before he became Paul and when he was solved, but when

he was Saul, He was completely confidence in his mind set now.

Paul was a zealous Jew, this is how he referred to himself in

scriptures. Now, Zeal is great energy or

enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective writing about

his own life and acts 22. And three has, I am a Jew born

in Tarsus. It's in Celia, but brought up in

the city educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the

strict manner of a law of our A father's being zealous for God,

as all you are this day. The Apostle Paul lived a

privileged life. He was educated in the Jewish

law. He says he was a Pharisee

Brothers. I am a Pharisee, a son of

Pharisees now, he's explaining to this to show is his

credentials. It says, I was, I was so

immersed in the law. I was zealous for God.

Not only that but I was educated in the way of the Greeks in

philosophy and Paul really saw himself, as kind of the bridge

between two worlds. Here is a man that says he was

zealous. For God.

Now, that's something that we, I think we talked about and

worship that were zealous. Well, In Jewish culture to say

that you were zealous, I think it has a greater meaning than we

actually understand today as Christians.

When Paul says that he was zealous, he was willing to use

violence on behalf of God, think about his persecution of the

church, it was an outward sign. It was a badge that you could be

zealous in this way. Now he had great influences in

being a Pharisee and his knowledge of the scriptures and

in my understanding of Jewish history There was a folk hero in

the Bible that as Christians we don't pay a lot of attention to

but Jews. They knew about him and when you

say you were zealous, you were kind of in the same mindset.

This man, his name is Phineas, he was a folk hero among Jewish

people. Now the story of finit Phineas

not a long story, but it begins and numbers 25.

We find ourselves and course God's people.

The children of Israel have. Taking upon false gods, they're

not living the right way. They're not living a lightweight

all, and Phineas the son of Aaron now says, while Israel or

main that shit on the people began to play the Harlot with

the daughters of Moab for they invited the people to the

sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to

their gods. So Israel joined themselves to

Baal peor and the Lord was angry against Israel.

The Lord said to Moses, take all the leaders of the people.

People and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so

that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.

So Moses had the judges of Israel.

Each of you slay, his men who have joined themselves to bail.

Pure God is mad, he's not happy. He told Moses you have all

straight, you know, I want all these men to be executed.

We see here in verse 6. Then behold, one of the sons of

Israel came in brought to his relatives, a midianite woman and

a side of Moses in the sight of all the congregation of the son

of the real sons of Israel, while they were Weeping at the

doorway of the tent meeting. What, what is he saying?

While this Proclamation was being made, that there's going

to be Mass execution. Everyone's crying, everyone's in

tears, they're all weeping. And here.

A man takes a woman into his tent.

Right in front of everyone that I don't know if you've ever been

in the situation like this. Usually I can think of with my

kids where the boldness to disobey in front of everybody

maybe in school, you seen some lesser at work but everyone's

about to get executed and The reason why is because of their

fornication and they're serving false gods.

And here is a man that does the act right in front of everybody,

right? When this is happening, now I

don't think I can put myself in Moses, his shoes, but I tried to

and as a preacher I think you would just be shocked.

Just be speechless, you wouldn't even know what to say, like, the

audacity like people are not going to die, and you're going

to disobey God right in front of everybody.

Well, it doesn't say what everyone was thinking, but

obviously, everyone knew this was wrong but one man had enough

he had enough and that was Phineas says verse 7.

When it's finding a son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the

priest saw it. He hurt a Euros for the midst of

the congregation took a spear in his hand and he went after the

man of Israel into the tent and Pierce both of them through the

man of Israel and the woman through the body.

So the plagues of the sons of Israel was checked.

Those who died by the plague with 24,000, the Lord spoke to

Moses saying, phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron,

the priest has turned away, my wrath and the sons of Israel in

that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I

did not destroy the sons of Israel in my jealousy.

Phineas was a man of zeal. he saw what needed to be done, and

he in a violent way, stood up for God, and because of that,

God relented, we read about this occasion.

In Psalm 106. 28 to 31, says the psalmist writes.

Then they yoke themselves Avail of P or 1/8 sacrifices.

Offered to the dead, they provoked, the Lord to anger with

their deeds and a plague broke out broke out among them.

Then Phineas stood up and intervened and the plague was

stayed and that was counted to him as righteousness from

generation to generation forever.

Phineas is essentially a minor character in The Bible, but to a

Jewish person, he was a hero the same language.

That is talked about, Ibrahim, as mentioned here, but Phineas

the, someone who was counted to him as righteousness.

When you hear that, in your Jewish person, your ears perk

up. You know what that means and

Everlasting Covenant with God. We see another example, someone

has such as Elijah and just real quickly in First Kings, chapter

1 Kings 18 · chapter mention

18. Of course he had a prophets of

Baal slaughtered and he says, later in Spurs Kings chapter, 19

kind of reflecting on his past, I have been very zealous for the

Lord God Almighty, These people fought for God and people die

because of it. Well, the Apostle Paul looked

upon the Zeal of Phineas and Elijah and others in his

persecution of the church. This is why I'm telling you

about this. It may not seem why we talking

about Phineas and Elijah thought were talking about Paul.

Well, This is the pasta. Paul's influence.

Why did he persecute the church? He saw himself like Elijah.

He saw himself like Phineas that hears, these false prophets

rising up and they're defiling God.

Paul sighs. Paul says, I'm gonna stand up,

I'm going to stop this. He was zealous in.

Paul's defense of King Agrippa and x26 inverse.

Starting in verse 9, he says I myself was Inst they got to do

many things in opposition, the name of Jesus of Nazareth and I

did. So in Jerusalem, I not only

locked up. Many of the Saints in prison

after receiving Authority from the chief priests.

But when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them and

I punished them often and all the synagogues and tried to make

them blaspheme and in Raging Fury against them.

I persecuted them even to foreign cities Starting to make

sense, isn't it? Apostle Paul saw the church

Jesus as the enemy of God. Now.

There are many people in this world who are like, Paul.

Or who were like, Paul. Fully convinced what they were

doing was right there, people out there who are fully

convinced that there's no God. They're fully convinced that

their religion is correct. They're fully convinced of that,

their understanding of the scriptures is right.

Paul support all the before he became Paul, when he was solved,

he felt this way and not just as well.

I'm excited about my religion and I talk.

No, he was willing to persecute people.

Throw them in prison, do whatever it takes just like

Phineas just like Elijah. But that all changed one day,

didn't it that all changed his eyes were opened and acts 22.

He says, I persecuted this way to the death binding and

delivering to prison, both men and women as the high priest, in

the whole Council of Elders, can bear me witness from then I

received letters to the brothers and I journey toward Damascus to

take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to

Jerusalem to be punished. As I was on my way and Drew

near. To Damascus about noon, a great

light from Heaven. Suddenly Shone around me and I

fell to the ground. Heard a Voice saying to me, Saul

Saul, why are you persecuting me?

And I answered, who are you? Lord and said to me, I am Jesus

of Nazareth whom you are persecuting Saul's life was

forever changed. when he met Jesus Christ, Course, Jesus had

instructions for him to go speak to ananias, skipping ahead here

in verse 12 and one and I said devout man, according to the

law, well spoken, while the Jews and lived there who lived, there

came to me standing by me, said to me, brother Saul, receive

your sight and that very I received my sight and saw him

and he said the god of our fathers appointed, you to know,

his will to see the righteous one and to hear a voice from his

mouth. For you will be a witness for

him to every one of whom you have seen and heard.

And now why are you wait? Why do you wait arise, and be

baptized and wash away? Your sins calling on his name?

The Apostle Paul met Jesus Christ.

And, of course, we're just getting abbreviated version but

we see the transformation. He got baptized into Christ that

day. Underline.

This passage right here, it says and you will be a witness for

him. The other.

What do you want to do? You ever wonder why some people

in the Bible? Get more things written about

them than other people. I often think about that is

that, you know, like to know more about this person.

I like to know more about this person.

Why is there so much about Paul, is that Paul wrote so many of

the books? And why is he so important?

Obviously, he's not as important as Jesus.

We understand that, but why is so much written about him?

The life of the Apostle, Paul was to be a testimony for all

people. He was the bridge of Two Worlds.

He was a Jew who fought for the Jewish way.

Even to put people to death, starting us.

Teaming, the Stephen, the Apostle Paul was there holding

their clothes watching over everything?

That's what he was. Well, not only was the Apostle

Paul converted. God how to use for him, and he

became one of the most prolific preachers in the church.

What a powerful testimony? What a powerful testimony from

Jesus? In 1st Timothy 1:15, this is a

faithful saying and who were they accepted that?

Jesus Christ came to the world to save Sinners of whom.

I am chief Paul said I was against the church, I was the

worst sinner. What are we supposed to do with

that information? It's like, well, that's

interesting. That's good thing to know.

God's telling us. you know, those people out there who think

they're lost, Well, many of them of course are lost.

They think that, you know, what the Christian life is just too

hard. I can't overcome my sins.

I don't think I can change. Have you ever heard those words

from somebody? I know I have.

I know people in the church that have told me that they don't

think they're going to heaven. Because they can't overcome the

things that they struggle with. Paul says.

I was the worst sinner, but Jesus Christ, changed me.

And I use that Zeal that I had against the church to be zealous

for the Lord in Jesus Christ. the point of this is, Do not

lose hope do not lose. Hope on yourself on your family,

on your friends, to those you meet.

The gospel can change your life and can change the life of

others. In Colossians chapter 3 verses 1

Colossians 3:1–4

through 4. If you if then you have been

raised with Christ seek, the things that are above where

Christ is sitting, at the right hand of God, say your mind on

things that are above not on things on the earth for you have

died, and your life is hidden with Christ, in God.

When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will

appear with him in glory God knew that we were going to need

a savior that we were weak. That we could not do this on her

own. That's why he sent Jesus to die

on the cross for our sins. That's the thing.

We're not strong enough. If you feel that you do on this,

not strong enough to be a Christian, you're actually at a

good starting point because once you feel like that I am strong,

I can do I can do anything on my own.

Well, that's your kind of starting off on the wrong foot.

Well, starting out Paul realize that he had sinned.

So he he received the Forgiveness of his sins and he

rebuilt his life in Christ, that's what God wants to do said

once he been raised with Christ, now we're getting Seekers of

things. Above set, our mind on things,

not on the Earth, but things in heaven.

Many times you hear a lesson and course, that ends with an

invitation to be baptized to have your sins washed away,

prayers of the church. And for many of us here, I'm

sure many of us are not all the adults.

At least are probably baptized. And you here you here versus

like this and you think well you know I was raised a long time

ago in Christ, I was baptized a long time ago.

And that renewal Port of that, renewal part of my life is over.

But that's not true. We need to be renewed in Christ

each and every day, we have to work on putting the old self

off. It's not a one-time thing where

we get baptized and say, okay? I got rid of all the ways of the

world and now I'm just going to start, you know, living the life

perfectly. Yes, that's a great mindset, but

that's not reality. We're going to continually

struggle with things, it's gonna be a continual renewal.

If you look at Colossians chapter 3 verses 5 through 13,

Colossians 3:5–13

we're told that put off the old self and it I just kind of broke

this down in a list form, sexual immorality, impurity evil,

desire covetousness, Going back to.

The people that we had talked to that feel that, you know, these

things, these things are just too strong.

They can't be overcome. You know, Paul was here right

now. He would say, you know what,

it's not true. I overcame the world.

I was 100% confident in the way, in which I thought, I did a 180.

Because his eyes were open to the scriptures.

We continually put on the new self, compassionate Hearts,

kindness humility, meekness patients forgiveness.

You know, it's it can be overwhelming.

Sometimes, look at the fruit of the spirit or or look at Peter,

or look at passages here where it says, you know, we need to

add all these things to our faith.

We need to be accomplished all these things.

But it's a lifelong journey. It's a daily process.

We can we can look at these and say where can I grow today?

How can I be kinds? Now I'm a, I'm a I'm a list

person. I like to write things out.

I did a lesson recently about having a vision, not going to

preach you a sermon within a sermon.

However, What do you visualize yourself?

Being, let's say three years from now.

That's a good amount of time. You know, you may not be able to

improve all these things tomorrow.

What about three years from now? What do you, how do you envision

visualize yourself or three years from now?

I see myself having memorized parts of the Bible.

Maybe I've read it three years in a row from here and then And

I've learned to become more kind and compassionate.

When I see someone that needs help along the road, you know,

I'm going to stop and help them. I used to not be that way, but

I'm going to do that. When I'm at the grocery store

and I'm really, this is I'm talking to myself here.

I'm at the grocery store, I'm focused.

I got my all my gross, I used to work at the grocery store.

So I got all the items separated from cold too Frozen to dry.

I got the heavy stuff in the back.

I'm ready to go the cashiers at how you doing, like, good throw

my things across, get my bags and go.

So you know what? The new improved Andrew.

I'm going to make conversation with the cashier.

I'm going to ask her. Hey how's your day going?

No, it's look a little down. Is everything, okay?

The we can make subtle changes each and every day of our life.

We understand the Apostle. Paul wrote about this is that we

are saved by God's grace. We're not saying because we're

strong people, it's because God was willing to save us in

Galatians, chapter 1, verse 11, through 16 for, I would have

Galatians 1:11

never have, you know, brothers that the gospel that was

preached by me is not man's gospel.

Far, did not receive from any man, nor was I taught it.

But I received it through the revelation of Jesus Christ for

you have heard from my former life in Judaism.

How Oh, I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to

destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism

Beyond many of my own age among my people, so, extremely

zealous. Was I from the traditions of my

father's, but when he who had set me apart before I was born

and he who called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his

son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles

Paul saying my upbringing, really did it matter.

I knew all these things about the Jewish way, but really, it

was God's grace that saved me that let me come to god.

Notice here in Ephesians 2, but God being rich in Mercy because

of the great love of which he loved us.

Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive

together. With Christ by Grace, you have

been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in

Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So here in the coming ages, he

might Might show the immeasurable Riches of his grace

and kindness toward us and Jesus Christ for by Grace, you have

been saved through faith and this is not your own doing.

It is the gift of God. Not a result of works so that no

one may boast. Paul knew this better than

anyone, he follow the law perfectly, he understood that I

know all this the statutes of the Old Testament.

I know all the the Commandments. he says, even knowing all that,

and following that I had sinned, That's why it took God's grace

for me to be saved. I realize in the church,

sometimes we can be a little reactor reactionary and of

course, I understand. Why is that someone will come to

us and say, you're saved by faith only or your only saved by

God's grace that you can't do anything to earn your salvation.

And immediately, you say, well, that's not true.

You have to get Sized. Well, yes, you have to get

baptized but we shouldn't be afraid to say that we are saved

by grace. The means is, yes, the process

is we get baptized, that's where we have our sins forgiven, but

it's because of God's grace that's been possible.

I think sometimes we kind of overthink it and I know I have

in the past as where where someone says we are saved by

grace, you say absolutely. But when were your sins

forgiven? Well, my sins were forgiven when

I got baptized into Christ, that's what it says in the

scriptures. But the point is, if you feel

weak, that's okay. We all feel weak Paul was weak

but God is strong. The last thing we want to

mention very briefly, this morning is that we want to be

like Paul here. Is that once we realized the

riches that God has poured out on us that that he has given us

the tools and the ability to not only saved for us to be saved.

The other people can be saved as well.

In Philippians chapter 3, verse starting at risk for, if anyone

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

else thinks, he has reason for confidence in the flesh.

I have more circumcised on the eighth day of the people of

Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin. A Hebrew of Hebrews asked, Allah

Pharisee. As to Zeal persecuting.

Either the church as to righteousness under the law

blameless. This is his credentials, isn't

it? But whatever gain I had I

counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Indeed, I count everything a loss because of the surpassing

worth of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord for his sake, I

have suffered the loss of all things and count them as

rubbish. In order that I may gain Christ

and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that

comes from the law. But that of which comes through

faith, in Christ, the righteousness from God, that

depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his

resurrection. And they share his sufferings

becoming like him in his death, that any, by any means possible

by May attain the resurrection from the dead.

I realize that's a long passage, but it's important to

understand, Apostle, Paul's mindset when he's preaching.

This past. It's just trash to him.

That's what it means to him. Now, now that he's in Christ He

realizes what he was missing out on.

And this is where it comes back to us.

The Paul had an understanding of zeal.

Was that mean a violence? That's was the way that he

learned through Phineas Elijah through Samson.

All these people that stood up for God and led the armies into

battle King David Saul. That's what they pulse.

Appalled, thought he needed to do.

But then he met Christ and realize that Zealand Christ was

something different Zealand Christ.

Meant it was through love and patience.

Not ref. Do you realize that?

You have a different way of thinking and probably 95% of the

rest of the world. Now, I'm not saying that to Puff

anybody up here. But people think that we're weak

because we're not willing to fight, we're not willing to take

up arms, we're not willing to destroy the enemies of the

world. People look down on us for that.

Say, you're leaving that up to someone else.

But that's not the way his Christ.

We are to love our enemies zealous.

For Christ means to put others ahead of ourselves.

Even our enemies in the Paul realized that that was actually

more powerful. That was much more powerful than

running a spear through somebody.

It says, no, he allowed himself to be persecuted and he saw the

church grow because of it. And people were inspired by

that. Romans 12 verses 1721 repay.

No one evil for evil, but give thought to what is Honorable in

all in the sight of all if possible as so far as.

It depends upon, you live peaceably with all beloved never

avenge ourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God for his

written vengeance. Is mine?

I will repay says the Lord to the Contrary, if your enemy is

hungry, feed him if he is thirsty give him some drink for

by doing. So you will Heap.

Burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but

overcome evil with good. This world.

There's depression. There's sadness.

There's loneliness. Who better than us to bring a

light of Christ to them people that were without hope to give

them the hope to the scriptures. Never think that someone is a

lost cause Apostle Paul, to Testament to that Christ can

change. Anyone who's willing to submit

and come to him through faith. Paul says, for I am not ashamed

of the gospel for it is the power of God, for salvation, for

everyone, who believes to the Jew first, and also, to the

Greek for in it, the righteousness of God revealed

from Faith to Faith as written, the righteous shall live by

faith, when Paul says, I am not ashamed of the Gospel, he's

actually being a little sarcastic and this was custom to

Jewish culture. He was willing to sacrifice his

life for God and he was, he was very zealous.

So I would even say I'm not ashamed of the Gospel.

He's being sarcastic. How well why would I be ashamed?

Of the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone,

everyone who believes. Do you believe the scriptures

are powerful? Do you believe that today that

the scriptures can change people's lives?

That someone who is addicted to drugs and abuse?

ER, who is just completely lost can come to Christ and be

changed. We thank you for listening to

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