September 15, 2014
Evening Service

This morning we saw Paul’s personal testimony of how the Lord called him on the road to Damascus.  We were encouraged to be ready to give our personal testimony at all times.  Each of us has our own unique story and journey that we need to share with others to bring glory to our Savior.  If you are not sure how to tell yours, try writing it down first and let the Holy Spirit guide you.  It is simply the story of where you were before meeting Jesus and where you are now.

 

The last few chapters in Acts have truly been eventful for Paul.  He is completing his 3^rd missionary journey and has seen some of his closest friends for the last time.  Along the way he has been warned of the chains that lie ahead of him in Jerusalem, but he is determined to finish the task God has called him to faithfully.  Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the church leadership had him to take a vow according to Jewish laws to show his adversaries that he indeed keep the Law and was not forsaking it.  As he carried out the purification process along with others, he was seized by a mob and beaten.  The Roman guard intervened or he would have been murdered.  His testimony this morning was to the very mob that sought to kill him.  After they rejected his message, he was taken to the barracks to be scourged.  His Roman citizenship saved him the torture and now he faces his accusers as he stands before the Jewish leaders. 

 

Act 22:30 On the next day, he desiring to know with certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their Sanhedrin to appear. And bringing Paul down, he set him among them.

 

Act 23:1-3 And looking earnestly on the Sanhedrin, Paul said, “Men, brothers, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”  (2)  And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.  (3)  Then Paul said to him, “God shall strike you, whitened wall! For do you sit judging me according to the Law, and against law command me to be stricken?”

·         First we see a very powerful statement from Paul.  He is living “in all good conscience before God.”  He is simply saying, “I have done my very best to serve God in my life according to what I knew.”  Our “transforming” (Romans 12:2) into what God wants us to be does not happen overnight; it is a process of our yielding to God’s will as it is revealed to us.  When the Word or Spirit reveal something to us that we should be doing, or perhaps should not be doing, our conscience remains clear as we line up our life to that knowledge.

·         Second we see Paul’s deep knowledge of the Law of Moses.  He even calls out the unlawful act that the Ananias tries to bring upon him.

·         Thirdly we again see the same disfavor that Jesus showed towards the religious leaders of this time for their hypocrisy.  Pretending to be something on the outside that you are not truly on the inside.  We, as the church, continue to battle that even today.  Many claim to be following Christ, but their fruits show otherwise.  That becomes a hurdle that true Christians have to overcome.  Our actions will reflect our heart.

 

Act 23:4-8 And they who stood by him said, “Do you revile God's high priest?”  (5)  Then Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people."  (6)  But when Paul saw that the one part were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, “Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.”  (7)  And when he had said this, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the multitude was divided.  (8)  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

·         Paul here is able to use the gifts given him to discern his audience.

·         We are also given the difference of these two sects of the Jewish faith.

 

Act 23:9-11 And there arose a great cry. And the scribes who were on the Pharisees' side arose and strove, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”  (10)  And dissension arising, the commander, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and to take him from among them by force, and to bring him into the fortress.  (11)  And the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you also must bear witness at Rome.”

·         What a blessing for Paul!  He is affirmed by the Lord himself not to give up but keep on his calling. 

·         Have you been there?  Beat down, worn out and not knowing if you can go on and maybe not the Lord himself, but perhaps a friend, stranger, a song, or verse speaks to you just as plainly to as plainly as this.  God knows when we need it and He is faithful to send it.  Please be faithful if calls you to speak those affirming words to someone.  It is a joy to give and to receive such comforting words from our Lord.

 

In verses 12-35, we see a plan being put in place to murder Paul.  Through this, we are able to see God’s provincial hand at work.  He has promised Paul that he will testify of Him in Rome and now He begins the events that will lead to Paul’s journey there.  We can learn, just as with the story of Joseph, that God has a plan in place for each of us and it will work out for the best for us.  We are not given the “broad” picture of what lies ahead of us, but we are simply called to trust Him and be faithful to our calling on today.

 

Read Acts 23:12-35

 

What an exciting time for Paul!  Every day was a new adventure.  He did not get caught up in the hardships he was asked to endure, but always trusted God’s will to be done.

 

1Co 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.

 

Next week we see Paul speak before Felix.

 

Lord grant us the strength and faith to live today and the trust and hope that You will do the same tomorrow.