Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

Introduction:

How sad it is when sharing the Gospel that some people reject it outright. My encounter with a motorcycle gang in Thirsk. Drawing board with the story: Almost persuaded

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Response from Festus

Paul asserting the reality of the resurrection of Jesus as being sane and credible

Basing this on the law and prophets and addressing Agrippa as to his decision.  It is a clear conundrum: 

1. If he says no, then he denies his own people and his culture
2. If he says yes, then why does he not accept Jesus as the Messiah?
3. His response is sarcastic by avoiding the issue

Paul asserts his primary function in life to lead people to Christ.

1. Does not respond to sarcasm, but takes a very serious view of the consequences
2. Does demonstrate his innocence of charges success
3. Does not get released, future is determined

Similarly to JESUS HE IS DECLARED INNOCENT 3 times but is still in custody

Application

            Where are you standing in response to Jesus? Are you almost persuaded?

            If you believe? Have you confessed and repented?

            Are you bringing forth deeds consistent with that repentance?

Introduction 

Sharing a testimony: before meeting Jesus, A Jesus encounter, what is my life like afterwards?

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Explain Text

Obedience to the heavenly calling: 

Proclaiming repentance

            Turn to God

            Perform deed consistent with repentance 

Testifying to Moses and the Prophets

            Messiah must suffer

Be resurrected 

Proclaim light to first to the Jews and then to all

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.”

John 3:14-15

“And then He said to them, “You foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.” Luke 24:25-27 

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and put it on a flag pole; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, and looks at it, will live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and put it on the flag pole; and it came about, that if a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” Numbers 21:8-9 

“He was despised and abandoned by men, A man of great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. ¶However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, And our pains that He carried; Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, Struck down by God, and humiliated. But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:3-6

Introduction 

Life is short, enjoy it, or eternity is long, better prepare for it!

Read Text

Explain text.

What does “kicking against the goads mean?”

            The 4 things it means to Paul: Notice he talks about the “saints”. Verse 10 gives us the answer based on what he “did” in Jerusalem based on what “he thought was good to do.

1. I imprisoned many
2. I gave approval to put to death
3. I punished
4. I pursued

For this purpose or cause:

Compare to jesus

I have appeared to you

I have appointed you

I have rescued you

I am sending you

Examine the text and point to:

Private discussion between Festus and Agrippa. Points to Resurrection 

Public discussion between Festus and Agrippa. Points to lack of evidence

What does this tell us?

The need for political maneuvering- no longer able to do Jews a favor. 

Even the unsaved know that Paul holds to the resurrection.

“and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

1 Corinthians 15:14, 17 

            Resurrection brings salvation, hope, and much more. 

            Everything in the Christian life revolves around the resurrection. 

Particularly the transformed life – away from self-focus to love.

Love is read, heard, seen, and does affect you.

Resurrection says God loves you and sends his children to communicate it.

Walk in Love

“and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:2 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 

“Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;” 1 Thessalonians 4:9

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor,” Romans 12:10 

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Colossians 3:12-14 

“Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 

“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34 

“This I command you, that you love one another.”  John 15:17 

“No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

1 John 4:12 

Result: Focus on how to love.

Recounting the story:

A demonic plan – not about religion, culture or philosophy, but plain evil.

How did a boy find out about the plan?

How did the boy get to Paul?

Why did the commander take him aside personally?

God overrules the enemy because he knows all and has ways to confound the enemy to accomplish his purposes. 

God repeated his purpose several times over the last year in many different ways including the most recent one at the end of the last chapter.

You cannot thwart the purposes of God!  He can use a Pharaoh, a lion’s den, a nephew, or you in a way you are not even aware of.

What do we learn from this event?

God will use whoever he wants!

He is not impressed by greatness!

He uses many to build his Kingdom!

He is not taken by surprise!

God will thwart the devil’s purposes!

God makes a show of his victories!

In your life:  if you sin: you have an advocate with the    Father!

If you are sinned against: God fights for you!

“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

1 Timothy4:12

““No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.”

Isaiah54:17

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

Proverbs15:22

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.”

2 Corinthians 2:14

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”

1 John 2:1 

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than rubies. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!”

FromProverbs 31:10-31 

Recounting the story:

A demonic plan – not about religion, culture or philosophy, but plain evil.

How did a boy find out about the plan?

How did the boy get to Paul?

Why did the commander take him aside personally?

God overrules the enemy because he knows all and has ways to confound the enemy to accomplish his purposes. 

God repeated his purpose several times over the last year in many different ways including the most recent one at the end of the last chapter.

You cannot thwart the purposes of God!  He can use a Pharaoh, a lion’s den, a nephew, or you in a way you are not even aware of.

What do we learn from this event?

God will use whoever he wants!

He is not impressed by greatness!

He uses many to build his Kingdom!

He is not taken by surprise!

God will thwart the devil’s purposes!

God makes a show of his victories!

In your life:  if you sin: you have an advocate with the    Father!

If you are sinned against: God fights for you!

“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

1 Timothy4:12

““No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; And you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.”

Isaiah54:17

“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

Proverbs15:22

The Gospel is unfettered!

Paul’s defense:

1. His Innocence with a clear conscience –
2. The chief priest is an example of sin and the law being abused.
3. Why did he order Paul to be hit?
4. For pronouncing the Devine name, speaking out of turn, or claiming a clear conscience?
5. The testimony of Jesus resurrection and thus the Messiah of Israel?

How did Jesus see his witness? Both to the mob and now to the Sanhedrin? – take it to Rome!

The importance of the resurrection at the center of our witness? (See Athens and here)

This is the key to a relationship with God in a whole new way, not available in any religion!  

            Are we hoping to go to heaven, so we believe?

            Or do we believe, and the result is the gift of eternal life? 

            Are we keen to be with Jesus, or are we afraid of death?

What are the responses to this declaration of the Gospel?  They are universal to our day as well:

1. We do not believe in life after death.
2. We believe that there is life after death, but Jesus is not central to that.
3. The Pharisees have a wait and see attitude.
4. They align themselves with the legalists.
5. They reject Jesus as the Savior.
6. We believe in Jesus and live our life in relationship with him!

The Riot in Jerusalem and Paul’s initial response: He is at Peace. At this point he diverts from Jesus’ path since he is not going to die for the sins but yearns to see those who are his persecutors saved, even as he was saved as a persecutor of the Way.

He has been mistaken as a polluter of the temple, and as an Egyptian revolutionary. Now he has the chance to share who he is and why.  But the primary motive, is that he wants his listeners to become like him! He uses what he knows to be an attack to demonstrate God’s love others! He sees through the spiritual blindness of those he is now addressing.

First of all, what didn’t he do?

He didn’t demand a lawyer.

He didn’t accuse his tormentors.

He didn’t get angry.

He didn’t lose his peace.

See Elizabeth Elliott:  Christ in you is the secret, not me in my situation and circumstances. Circumstances change but Jesus doesn’t. Even in the midst of having been beaten he is able to give his defense.  But his defense is really a desire to see them saved, not himself!  Now he sets his witnessing in a different setting to address the people whose culture and attitudes he knows.

In Athens he uses their history, culture and beginning with creation shows the way to the resurrection. Here though, by establishing where he is is from, raised and educated, he already laid a foundation with the acceptance of resurrection (that is the basic difference of belief to the Sadducees) in their culture.  He also establishes his credibility as a Pharisee who had the best education in the law and prophets.

• Notice how Luke likes to repeat matters where something needs to be learned! Peter with Cornelius, Jesus in Luke, and Paul’s testimony. 
• Paul uses his credibility to establish that he is a witness to the resurrection of Jesus.
• Light is a recurring theme in this passage and has divine importance, as it indicates the Glory of God! The repetition in his testimony along with his credentials now demonstrates that he has the authority of God to speak. “For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 
• His time in the temple shows: a direct rebuttal of their claim against him. He shows his claim to the guiding beliefs of Judaism, his long standing devotion to the temple; his prayer life demonstrates his piety, and the temple as a place of prayer (just as Jesus had done); his Vision relates to Paul’s vision regarding the clean and unclean; and most importantly:
• When Paul sees the vision in the temple, he is now claiming the same authority of a prophet – speaking both of Jesus and of Isaiah! Isaiah was in the temple when God called him. (6:1-10) and the message is similar: “He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the protected ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”” Isaiah 49:6 and  Isaiah 6:8-10 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; And keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’ “Make the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes blind, So that they will not see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.””
• The response is violent, similar to how it was with Jesus in Luke 4:28-29: “And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and brought Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, so that they could throw Him down from the cliff.”

Paul claims safety in Roman law to secure his passage to Rome, and fulfill his calling.

For us it is important to know that the Gospel is offensive, regardless of how lovingly we share it.  But it is required of us to love and demonstrate that love in word and in deed.  We can see how Paul identifies with the good in the people, but is uncompromising in his stand on the messianic mission.  He finds a way to share that in a context that ought to be understood, even if it is not.  I heard a woman decry on TV that Christians love sinners and hate sin.  Even if Jesus did do that.  But folks today want to be identified by what the do or have. Christians want to be identified by who they are in Christ. Who are you? What determines the values you have in life? What is your focus?

The Battleground

The grounds for a charge against him:

            A misunderstanding

            Hostility against Paul

What to do?

“I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB2020

Patience in the midst of persecution

When to say what to whom

Facing disappointment

Facing abandonment

Facing corruption

Facing injustice

How to respond like Jesus did – using previous experiences and spiritual growth

            With love

            With prayer

            With forgiveness

            With trusting and faith

            Seeing God’s purpose step by step

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NASB2020

The conundrum is to know how to deal with your leaders when you disagree with them.  How do you submit to them in matters that you see differently?

Here is the struggle:  on the one hand Paul does not dispute that he is a Jew, that he understands the Law, he circumcised Timothy whose mother was a Jew, thus making him a Jew.  He does make vows and keeps them as well as shaving his head.  He understands the need for Nazarite vow of cleanliness, especially when he has touched a dead corpse.  He also sees the law from the eyes of one who is free from the law and who understands the law being written on the hearts of those who believe.  He does see the need for purity, holiness, as well as mercy and grace.  Especially when they seemingly are conflicting with one another.

But here he chooses the way of love in dealing with real people!  Not just theoretical theology to be disputed, but relationships that are messy because of the difference of both experience and understanding of the scriptures.  He chooses to serve and love – theological debates can happen at another time when it is appropriate.

He doesn’t raise the matter of money in this situation, but submits to his leaders of the church. They see his funds helping his cause with the Jewish believers, even if they do not come to his rescue.

Conclusion?  How will you react to those who disappoint you and who see things differently to the way you see them?  Will you respond in love?