Orchard Ridge Church

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” – Acts 26:29 Here’s a question for your consideration: In the realm of faith in Christ, do you play the long game or short game? Let me explain. Do you need immediate results from God? Or does He primarily serve as your “go to” in a pinch? Alternatively, are you playing the long game; are you trusting in God for this lifetime and even into eternity? Sometimes God shows up with immediacy. Those moments are wonderful and can build our faith – but don’t get used to it. Typically, matters taken to God in prayer are harvested after seasons of waiting and preparation. In Acts 26, King Herod Agrippa II was listening to the Apostle Paul tell his personal life story - how he came to know Jesus. It’s called a testimony. If you’re a Christian, you have one. After sharing his testimony, Paul essentially invites the King to believe in Jesus too. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). I love Paul’s response to this question: “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” I pray the same prayer for all of us – that we would play the long game with our trust in Christ. Even when the immediate climate of circumstances looks bleak. The King and Kingdom will always WIN in the long term!

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. – Psalm 37:6

In our nation, if a citizen is arrested, they are read their “rights.” The first thing an officer says before an interrogation goes something like this, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Acts chapter 25, however, takes place in Caesarea, Palestine, not the United States. And the year is 60 AD, not 2025 AD!

As the chapter unfolds, the Apostle Paul stands before the newly appointed Roman Governor Porcius Festus, and his friend, King Agrippa II. Paul must defends himself. There is no court appointed attorney. Or is there? Jesus had promised His followers that when they were falsely accused and tried, that the Spirit would speak through them guiding them as to what they should say. (Matthew 10:18-20)

Friends, the Bible says that Satan is the Accuser of the Believers or the ‘Brethren’ (Revelation 12:10). He’s the prosecuting attorney so to speak who, day and night, brings constant accusations against us before God. The good news is that Jesus Himself serves as our Defender! He’s our defense attorney and speaks on our behalf. Sometimes we must testify. But often, we don’t need to say anything. We can remain silent and trust Him knowing He will work all things out for the good!

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. – Acts 24:16

If you like good courtroom drama, Acts chapter 24 provides it. The Apostle Paul escapes death from a failed conspiratorial plot on his life in Acts 23 and now finds himself on trial before the Roman Governor Felix as his enemies falsely accuse him of crimes they hope will lead to his execution. In both chapters 23 and 24 Paul speaks about his “clear conscience.”

There’s a French proverb that says, “There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.” If that’s true – and it is – the Apostle Paul must’ve slept we’ll in his prison cell!

There is a simple path to a clear conscience.

The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. – Acts 23:12 Conspire… Dictionary definition: to agree together, especially secretly, to do something wrong, evil, or illegal: used in a sentence, “They conspired to kill the king.” Chances are you didn’t need that definition because we live in a modern world FULL of conspiracies and conspiracy theories. Tomorrow, we will study Acts 23:11-35. Here, there is no conspiracy theory only conspiracy fact. Luke explains it all for us – the plot to kill the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem by 40 Pharisees who had vowed to not eat or drink until the assassination was completed. Well, in the event they kept their vows, they’d have died from dehydration and malnutrition! Because their scheme was thwarted. So many of us living in 2025 don’t know what is true, or what is fake. Media, podcasts, and social media platforms have served to bring confusion, lack of trust in institutions and for many fear and anxiety. If you can relate to what I am describing, I highly encourage you to attend tomorrow morning at Orchard Ridge Church. As it always does, the Word brings clarity, confidence, and calm to replace the confusion, distrust and chaos!

The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them…. – Acts 23:10a Violence. If you haven’t noticed, it’s making headlines recently. But violence is anything but recent. It’s historic. It dates back to the first family of Adam and Eve. One of their two sons murdered the other. And the blood has flowed down through the centuries to this very day. As we study the Book of Acts we see violence directed towards the Apostle Paul when his message threatens those in power in the Jewish leadership from Synagogue all the way up to the Sanhedrin. As I see the violence in our nation and world today, I am asking God questions like, “Will this end soon? Or “Is their any hope?” and “What’s our place as the church in all of this—what is to be our response? The Bible is a library of books about things that HAPPENED historically; but it’s also about things that HAPPEN now. The Word is a Lamp to our feet and a Light to our path.

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‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ – Acts 22:10

Jesus’ invitation, to those first 12 apostles and to every Christ follower since, is a step by step – day by day journey!

“Come, follow me!” today… Don’t think about tomorrow. Stay in today.

As the Apostle Paul retells his storied encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus to an angry mob of Jews wanting to kill him, verse 10 of Acts chapter 22 stands out to me. Jesus tells him to “get up and go” to Damascus and he will then receive further instructions. This, my friends, is the life of faith. We step out in faith unless He directs us otherwise. We trust in Him to order our steps in His word (Psalm 119:133)!

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For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21

Let me pose a question. If you are warned that the road ahead in your life’s journey has pain and suffering, and you have the option to re-route or abort the mission entirely, what do you do? Are you safe to assume that pain and suffering = “not God’s will?” Most would assume EXACTLY that. In fact, in Acts 21, the entire church in Tyre tried telling the Apostle Paul to avoid going to Jerusalem because trouble awaited him there! Their message, even though motivated by love for the man, could be summarized in two words: Don’t go!

But while most of us live lives bent on avoiding any form of discomfort, the Bible teaches us a different message. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble.” He certainly did! It’s worth noting that sometimes, dare I say often, comfort is a curse!

Discomfort or comfort is NOT the criteria that we should be basing our decisions upon. The criteria must be “Jesus, is this YOUR will?” Because, if He’s in it, then we are not traveling that road alone! He is right by our side.

“…my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…” – Acts 20:24

What do you say when you’re with people you love and quite possibly this is the last time (in this life) that you’ll see them. Some of us have lived out this situation. It’s emotional. You move quickly to what truly matters. Small talk and “how’s the weather?” aren’t in discussed these moments.

In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul finds himself in this very scenario, among dear friends and brothers, when he addresses the Ephesian Elders (Pastors) at the port of Miletus just south of Ephesus. It’s the last time he will see them. Every word counts in moments like these. And just as every word spoken is intentional and from the heart, those listening are intensely focused on what is being said. In this address Paul says, “my only aim is to finish the race.” All of the men he was speaking to had their arrows pointed in the same direction as Paul’s!

Question? What are your ‘aims’ in life? Call them purposes, goals, whatever. But we are talking about your “WHY.” As in, “Why are you here?” or “Why were you created?” When you can answer these questions (and you can’t unless God reveals them to you), you’ll have your AIM. Without this revelation, you’ll either be aimless or you’ll be aiming at everything in every direction.

I want to be like Paul – singular in focus – MY ONLY AIM! How about you?