Good morning Gospel City!
It is great to be back with you in the preaching capacity this week . . .
I have been so thankful for Pastor Tyler, Pastor Brent, and Mitch who brought the Word the last several weeks.
We are blessed to have communicators who not only understand the point of preaching, but who are able to communicate the truths of God’s Word with boldness
And even as I’ve had some time to pray and reflect with the Lord over the last several weeks, I am even more convinced that it is a belief in the inerrant Word of God and a High view of the Holy, God of Glory that will continue to move us forward as a people in a strange and foreign land.
I want you to open your Bibles this morning to Acts chapter 25.
The plan was to get us through chapter 25 and 26 today, but as the Spirit has led I’m going to try to break that up into two messages.
Today, I want to preach a message to you that I’ve titled “Gospel Citizens In a Sinful Nation.”
In Acts 25, we see Paul continuing to deal with the governing authorities of His day . . .
All Paul was trying to do was advance the Gospel message of Jesus Christ, but the societal norms of wicked kings and agenda driven kingdoms saw Him as a threat, though he had done nothing wrong.
AND I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT SOMETIMES I GET DISCOURAGED BY STATE OF THE NATION THAT I AM LIVING IN.
America is a nation that has afforded us many blessings and opportunities, but one that continually claims to be “under God,” yet our actions prove otherwise —
Much of what is seen in our culture today, is the exaltation of Self in God’s rightful place.
What I want, I can have — because I’m an American
My body, my choice
Find Your Truth
#PrideMonth
CULTURE IS MOST POWERFUL WHEN IT SEEMS MOST NORMAL, NOT WHEN IT’S LOUDEST — BUT SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE THE NOISE JUST KEEPS GETTING LOUDER, DOESN’T IT?
So how do we as believers engage in a sinful nation that seems to slowly be drifting more and more away from the Word of God?
OR MAYBE, you’ve absolutely stressed yourself out worrying about the culture that surrounds you, and you’ve forgotten your place in the world as an agent of reconciliation — as one who has been called out of the world, only to be sent back in as salt and light!
OR PERHAPS you’ve gotten so focused on the culture that is right in front of you, that you’ve forgotten how evil nations have been throughout history, and how faithful God has been to preserve His Church.
It is my prayer that the Spirit would help us answer some of these questions and concerns today as we look to His Word.
CAN WE LOOK TO ACTS 25 TOGETHER, AND CONTINUE TO SEE PAUL ON TRIAL?
READ ACTS 25 AND COMMENT
NOW – Acts 26 continues with Paul’s incredible response before the massive party there to condemn him.
NEXT WEEK, we will see how the believer should handle themselves under pressure.
As Paul responds to the accusations, we see his mission is the same as if He was free — He seeks to make nothing known “but Christ and Him crucified–” even unto death.
BUT LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK AND GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLITICAL SCENE OF THE DAY THAT PAUL WAS WORKING WITH —-
IN ACTS 25 ALONE WE SEE SEVERAL LAYERS OF POLITICAL POWER — Each of them riddled with corruption and gross immorality
Roman Governors – Festus (v1)
Festus succeeds Felix who Pastor Tyler told you about last week
Felix as Governor divorced His wife, stole another man’s wife – Druscilla
Felix was so ruthless and evil that He actually got fired and sent back to Rome
Considering that Nero was the Caesar at the time, Felix must’ve been pretty ruthless
But Festus takes over for Felix, and Festus was a coward of a leader
Porcius Festus is described by history as fair and reasonable
But as we’ve seen in Acts 25, he simply wasn’t able to judge in a just way
Festus is essentially what Pontius Pilate was to Jesus —- More concerned with his political stance among the Jews than with executing what is right and just.
That’s essentially why Paul appeals to Caesar —
Festus wasn’t going to make a fair decision based on the truth, so Paul appealed to a higher authority, which ultimately gets him to Rome…
Chief Priests – High Priests – The men of the Sanhedrin (v2)
Now, another authority in Paul’s political reality was the Sanhedrin, which consisted of the high priests and 70 elders
We’ve already seen the injustice and hypocrisy that floods from their rule and judgment.
We’ve seen Jesus falsely accused and killed by them
We’ve seen Peter arrested, accused, and beaten by them for sharing Jesus.
We’ve seen Stephen stoned and killed by them
And we’ve seen Paul constantly trying to be killed by them
And these are the Religious leaders of the day!
Those charged to uphold righteousness and the law, were corrupt, murderous, adulterous thieves!
They lined their pockets with the tithes and offerings of the temple
They made up ridiculous laws, only to justify their own sinful situations — like, you can divorce your wife if she burns the toast…
And for people who were supposed to uphold the 10 commandments, they sure did a lot of murdering —-
And in Paul’s situation, like Jesus, they were so hypocritical that they’d pawn their victims off to the Roman government and relentlessly pressure them to do their dirty work…
Herod Agrippa II (v13)
Now, Pastor Tyler unpacked the Herodian line of leadership a little bit last week, but just as a reminder —- these were real leaders for a long time in the days of Jesus and Paul.
A Herrod wasn’t in for 4 years, then voted out.
The Herrod’s dominated kingship in Judea — they were subject to Rome, but had enough power, wealth, and pride to do some horrendous things with their reign.
Herod the Great (grandfather) had 10 wives, and was a baby killer . . .
Had every child 2 and under slaughtered in hopes of killing Baby Jesus.
King Agrippa’s Father is the Herod that we saw eaten by worms in Acts 12
The Herodian Line of leadership can be summed up by murder, evil, and gross sexual immorality
The same is true for King Agrippa II who we’re introduced to here . . .
We’re also introduced to Bernice, who happens to be His sister whom He is in a love relationship with . . .
Not something that would have been socially acceptable of the day, but the further you get away from God’s law and design, the weirder everything gets.
AND WITH ALL THESE UPSTANDING CHOICES OF LEADERS THAT PAUL HAS TO WORK WITH, HE DECIDES TO TAKE HIS CHANCE BY APPEALING TO THE CAESAR OF THE DAY –
Caesar Nero (v12)
Nero is the most infamous of Roman emperors – certainly not known for His moral rule
Nero grew up racing chariots through the streets of Rome, running over innocent people for fun
Nero was in an adulterous relationship with a woman who didn’t like His mother, so He killed his mother
Nero eventually killed His Father so he could take reign.
Nero kicked His pregnant wife in the stomach so hard that he killed her and his baby
Nero tried to marry his sister who refused, so he had her killed
Nero killed anyone who posed a threat on His political reign
Nero set Rome on fire, played his fiddle as it burned, then blamed it on the Christians
He made Chritianity illegal
He fed Christians to lions and bears for fun
He burned Christians at the stake to provide light for His garden parties
THIS WAS THE EMPEROR OF THE DAY
THIS IS WHO PAUL APPEALS TO GO AND BE JUDGED BY
And some of ya’ll need to head home and take your “Let’s Go Brandon” flag off of your house and thank God for His grace to you.
PAUL WAS LIVING IN AN EVIL NATION!
Paul had to be discouraged by the state of His country and the reality of His leaders . . .
Paul had to look at the actions of these different layers of political power and shake his head in disgust.
BUT IT WAS ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THIS ERA THAT PAUL WRITES IN
ROMANS 13:1-2
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
HOW COULD PAUL WRITE SUCH A THING IN THE MIDST OF SUCH POLITICAL INJUSTICE!? IN THE MIDST OF SUCH IMMORAL, EVIL GOVERNANCE???
Because of His statement “FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD.”
THIS STATEMENT IN ROMANS 13:1 SHOWS WHERE PAUL’S ALLEGIANCE LIED
It was not in the state
It was not in His heritage
It was not in His people or His leaders
Paul’s allegiance was to the God of Glory because of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross in His life
AND HE HAD SUCH A HIGH VIEW OF GOD THAT NO GOVERNING AUTHORITY, NO POLITICAL AGENDA, NO CULTURAL IMMORALITY COULD DETER HIM FROM HIS MISSION AS A GOSPEL CITIZEN IN A SINFUL NATION.
And in Acts 25, we see Paul – after 2 years of unlawful imprisonment remaining patient, respectful, and subject to these leaders who certainly didn’t deserve it . . .
YET PAUL BELIEVED IN THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
PAUL BELIEVED IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE.
PAUL TRUSTED GOD SO MUCH THAT HE UNDERSTOOD IN ALL THINGS GOD WAS WORKING OUT HIS GRACE AND HIS JUDGMENT IN THE WORLD SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Paul knew that “all things work together for the good of those who love (Christ), and have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Paul was “38 sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
Paul rested in Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
PAUL KNEW THE TRUTH OF DANIEL 4:17, THAT “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will . . .”
PAUL ARGUED HIS DEFENSE IN VERSE 8 —
PAUL APPEALED TO THE LAW OF THE DAY BY REQUESTING JUDGMENT FROM CAESAR IN VERSE 10 . . .
PAUL WENT BEFORE A PARTY OF POMPOUS LEADERS AND IN CHAPTER 26 HE SPEAKS WITH GRACE, PERSUASION, INVITATION, AND CONFIDENCE IN ONE, UNCHANGING TRUTH AND MESSAGE WORTH STANDING FOR…THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
AND LUKE GIVES US THIS ENTIRE SCENE IN ACTS 25 AND 26, SHOWING US THE GOSPEL CITIZENS RESPONSE TO CORRUPTION IN A SINFUL NATION . . .
Paul exemplifies a Christians response to corrupt leaders
Paul is really undeterred by their wickedness
He doesn’t call them out for their immorality
He doesn’t disrespect them
He doesn’t cause an uproar
Luke highlights a reality that has been true for all of eternity:
POLITICAL CORRUPTION IS THE NORM.
There will never be, and there never has been a perfect political system
Some have been better than others, but on their best day every leader falls short of the glory of God….
So our NEED FOR GOD never changes
It’s just sometimes we’re more aware of it.
BUT THE BELIEVER TAKES HEART IN ISAIAH’S PROPHECY . . .
Isaiah, by the way, was living in a wicked generation and political reign 600 years prior to Paul….
And Jesus had not yet come to save, but Isaiah faithfully declared as if it were already true —
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore!” – Isaiah 9:6-7
THAT’S OUR KING! THAT’S MY KING! THAT’S WHERE MY HOPE AND ALLEGIANCE RESIDES WHEN THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS SEEMS TO BE TAKING GROUND!
BUT WE SEE THE SAME POLITICAL WICKEDNESS IN ISAIAH’S DAY –
TO WHICH HE PROCLAIMED:
“Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes, who say: “Let him be quick, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of israel draw near, and let it come, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” – Isaiah 5:18-20
DOESN’T THAT JUST HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD CONCERNING WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR NATION TODAY?
We’re living in a nation where there is uproar and division over simple truths.
Things that we used to call good are now evil, and evil things are becoming good!?
There is uproar over simple truths, like:
Is it right to murder the baby that God has put inside a mothers womb?
Should children’s parents be able to lead their children in the discussion of God-given gender?
Our nation is normalizing sex-changes, and pedaling a message that says “be proud of your sexual identity,” when God wants to help you with your sexual identity —
And every person in this room is sexually broken by the way . . .
We desperately need Christ to reform our sexual desires to what He says in His Word.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE TODAY IS THAT THE CORRUPTION YOU SEE IN THE WORLD IS NOT UNIQUE TO YOU.
As sin in America gets louder, we’re seeing the results that follow “sons and daughters of disobedience,” who “follow the course of this world.” — AND GET THIS — scripture says, “AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU.”
SO RATHER THAN BEING SURPRISED AT THE WICKED CONFUSION OF OUR NATION AND GENERATION, WE SHOULD BE DESPERATE FOR GOD TO MOVE AMONG THE LOST, AS WE REMEMBER OUR OWN SINFULNESS APART FROM CHRIST
WHERE YOU SIT AS A BELIEVER TODAY IS NOT A RESULT OF YOUR IMPECCABLE OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
It’s not a result of you being a good person
It’s certainly not a result of you being a good American
IT IS A RESULT OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN YOU
IT IS A RESULT OF THE ATONING WORK OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS
HIS SPIRIT HAS GRACIOUSLY AND MERCIFULLY COLLIDED WITH YOUR ROCK HARD HEART, AND SHOWN YOU YOUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR
IF YOU NOT CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD TO SAVE YOU AND BE YOUR KING, DO IT TODAY!
MAKE JESUS LORD, OF YOUR LIFE — BECAUSE HE ALONE IS YOUR HOPE OF SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE!
But we cannot expect the world to live as if they know God!
SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE FROM OUR LEADERS?
SHOULD WE EXPECT MORE FROM OUR COUNTRY?
SURE . . . BUT WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM MEN AND WOMEN WHO DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES???
Those who are governed by the lust of their eyes, the lust of their flesh, and the pride of life???
PAUL WRITES IN Romans 1:21 -“that although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
America is a nation that has claimed to know God.
A nation that continually claims to be “under God,” and yet we do not honor Him as God, and we’re seeing the same pattern that took place in Paul’s political reality….
Romans 1:26-28 – “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men commiting shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”
DING! DING! DING!
Paul’s reality was the same as ours.
Isaiah’s reality was the same as ours.
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO BUILD OUR LIFE ON GOD AS HOLY CREATOR AND HAVE A HIGH VIEW OF WHAT HE HAS SAID IN HIS WORD, IT BRINGS HEALING, LIFE, AND JOY .
WHEN WE DO WHAT IS WISE IN OUR OWN EYES, WE BECOME FOOLS AND CONFUSION TAKES OVER, and “God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14:33).”
NOW I REALIZE I’M TALKING TO A LARGE ROOM FULL OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS –
I hope what you are hearing today are God’s thoughts and not my own . . .
Because my thoughts mean nothing, and God’s Word means everything.
AND IN A CHURCH THIS SIZE, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO ARE HURTING BECAUSE OF A FEW THINGS —
You may be hurting because of the actions of people who call themselves Christians, but they’ve been anything but loving, kind, respectful, and gracious when it comes to your current reality.
You may be hurting because you’ve tried everything the world is telling you is right, good and true and it’s still left you empty, unsatisfied, and angry
You may be hurting because you are absolutely confused and aware of your brokenness — and you’re looking for answers concerning your sexuality, feelings, or the abuse that you’ve faced.
Any abuse toward you, or evil spoken to you as if it were true is not the heart of God — it is demonic, it is wrong, and it is not the heart of God.
AND YOUR HUMILITY IS SEEN TODAY AS YOU STEP FOOT INTO THIS CHURCH AND LOOK TO GOD IN THE MIDST OF YOUR PAIN —-
James 4:6, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF BELIEVERS HERE TODAY WHO ARE JUST DISCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR NATION.
YOU ARE WORRIED FOR YOUR KIDS… [ FATHER’S DAY PLUG]
YOU ARE ANGRY AT THE LIES…
OR MAYBE YOU’RE DISTRAUGHT AS YOU TRY TO NAVIGATE YOUR OWN CONSCIENCE AND CONVICTIONS IN A WORLD THAT IS GOING AGAINST THEM. . .
BE KNOWN BY WHAT YOU’RE FOR, NOT AGAINST
As Paul stands before these wicked kings and rulers, he isn’t there because of his activism against the sin of the day . . .
HE STANDS BEFORE THEM BECAUSE OF HIS UNWAVERING BELIEF IN JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
This is our message
This is our hope
And this is the only truth that can bring healing and restoration to the lost
We are ambassadors of reconciliation
What have we been saved for?
We haven’t been saved for escapism
You have no more hope of escaping the culture, than a fish escaping water.
We haven’t been saved for accommodation
We don’t just except where the culture is going
We don’t just begin to architect our life around the evolving societal norms
WE HAVE BEEN SAVED FOR RESTORATION
Just as Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world but to save, we have been called out of darkness, into his marvelous light SO THAT WE CAN PROCLAIM JESUS TO THE LOST!
Jesus said in Matthew 5, that you are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?
Some of us could probably step up our saltiness in the world
BUT THE OPPOSITE IS ALSO TRUE
Some of us are WAY TO SALTY
SO WHAT ARE YOU FOR?
You are for people — not people who have it all together, but people who are hurting, broken, and lost
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost!
You should be known by your love . . .
John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
You should be known by the good news of Jesus Christ
The good news of Jesus should be readily available on your lips
Like Paul, your reputation should intrigue even the wicked, because of the message you carry
King Agrippa had heard of Paul, and didn’t want to miss the opportunity to hear from him
Festus and Felix were equally as intrigued and puzzled by what he had to say
And if Paul would have carried himself like an angry, shouting bigot who was more about behavior modification than heart transformation, I don’t think these kings would have been as intrigued.
BE UNWAVERING IN BIBLICAL CONVICTION AND GRACIOUS IN APPLICATION
Build your convictions on the Word of God and don’t go astray from them…
Long obedience in the right direction will cause unbelievers to turn to you when they need someone who seems to have something they don’t. . .
LIVE OUT YOUR CONVICTIONS UNASHAMEDLY
Colossians 3:5-10, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
As believers, we live by the standards of the Word of God unwaveringly . . .
We have a fear of the highness and holiness of God
BUT WHILE WE STAND ON TRUTH, WE SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE —
WE SPEAK AS A MEANS OF HOPE AND GRACE
WE TEMPER OUR DISGUST TOWARD SIN, WITH A LOVE FOR THE HUMAN SOUL THAT ONLY CHRIST CAN SET FREE!
BE UNCEASINGLY AND FERVENTLY DEVOTED TO PRAYER
I think we’ve learned enough about Paul to see that he was all in for the glory of Christ and the message of the Gospel…
And while he boldly preached the simple Gospel of repenting from sin and turning to Christ, He also was unwavering in His convictions and desire for righteous living…
But do you see what Jesus does to a true believer?
Jesus can give a believer a bold, fierce devotion to what is true, holy, and right while simultaneously creating in the believer the fruit of the Spirit!
Jesus was a perfect example of Grace and Truth
He was ALL GRACE and ALL TRUTH
AND IN A DAY WHEN THE POLITICAL REIGN WAS AS WICKED AS WE’VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, PAUL WROTE THIS IN 1 TIMOTHY:
1 Timothy 2:1-8 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle…
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling . . .”
The state of our nation does not have to be a source of quarreling and anger for us . . .
The state of our nation should remind us
The Gospel is my only hope of salvation
While I was an enemy of God Christ died for me
AND
The state of our nation should ignite us to PRAY
INVITE PEOPLE TO GET IN SMALL GROUPS AND PRAY BOLD PRAYERS . . .
PRAYER POINTS
Lord, would you draw President Joe Biden and His administration to yourself, so that ____________.
Father, let us live as agents of restoration in a land that continues to exalt darkness, so that ____________.
Spirit, open blind eyes to see that Jesus is their only hope of healing and wholeness.
Christ, have mercy because as a nation we’ve ________________.
