2024-01-28- Sunday School- Paul Appeals to Caesar

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude for being in the house of the Lord and the love for Jesus. They apologize to their children for not hearing Brother Ant. The lesson is about Paul's appeal to Caesar and his example of how we should live. The theme of the lesson is character, contrasting the malice of the Jewish leaders and the political posturing of Festus with Paul's pure motives. The golden text highlights Paul's innocence. Paul had been under pressure since his imprisonment in Jerusalem, and Felix was unjust towards him. Festus took Felix's place, but the Jewish leaders still hated Paul. Paul's character remained unchanged despite persecution. The speaker briefly mentions a conversation with Brother Vance and recommends listening to the minister's conference. They discuss Paul's witness to Felix and his wife, warning them about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. The speaker emphasizes the importance of speaking the truth and not watering down the message. They Good morning. It's good to be in the house of the Lord again this morning. I do love him. I'm thankful for all he's done. I apologize to my children this morning. They love to hear Brother Ant say so. Let's turn to, I've got lesson, Paul appeals to Caesar lesson 9 here. And also we'll turn in Acts 24 in our Bibles. Back up just a couple of verses and remember where we left off. Brother Ant, did you teach out of this last Sunday? Well, we're in the life of Paul and we've been in it for a little while. Using him as an example of how we should live. That's some big shoes to fill. And I'm thankful for the life of Paul. I'm thankful for his example and I do want to live like that. Live like Jesus and we're going on here. The theme this morning says this lesson is a study in character. The malice that is shown by the Jewish leaders and the political posturing of Festus is contrasted by Paul's pure motives. Our golden text is from Acts 25 and 8. A portion of it says neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar have I offended anything at all. We'll go ahead and read that introduction. Paul had been under extreme pressure since his imprisonment in Jerusalem. Felix had failed to be just with him while he was governor. Another man took Felix's place named Festus. How would he react to Paul? Some circumstances changed in today's lesson, but the hatred of the Jewish leaders against the apostle had not. We can also confidently say that Paul's character was unchanging as well. Rivers can rush against gigantic rocks and wear away at them and eventually change shape. These constant rivers of persecution did not move Paul to evil. However, the anointing and love that flowed from the apostle did not change them from their evil ways. I got to go to the minister's conference for just a little bit. Things transpired that we didn't see, and that's just the way life is, and we're thankful for God's help. But in the midst of all of it, I got a chance to meet Brother Vance, and I had a really good conversation with him. As he was being wheeled out, he was asking about you and all that stuff, and I had a good conversation with him. He told me that Brother Gallagher probably writes the vast majority of these, so I can tell why it's such good material. If you haven't had a chance to listen to the minister's conference, it's really good. I got to listen to Brother John Brock last night talking about persuasive preaching, and especially if you're a preacher, it's awesome. I looked ahead in the material next week, and it meant a lot to me just according to that. So Acts 24 and 24, just backing up, we read this last week. This is where we ended. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, So we got Paul imprisoned again. It does say that Felix allows him some freedom. Some of his brethren can come tend to him and things like that. But by and far, he's back in prison. But after a couple of days, Felix says, I want to know more about this Christ that he speaks of. He wants to know more about the faith. And Paul gets an opportunity, which is amazing to me, to witness to Felix and his wife, Drusilla. Paul speaks to him about three things. Righteousness, a sanctified life before God, Brother Quentin. Temperance, which just simply means self-control. Judgment, there's a day of judgment coming, he warned him about. 2 Corinthians 5 and 10 says, So why did Paul, we talked about this a little bit last week, why did Paul highlight these things? As we stated last week, Jewish history tells us, and you have to take that for a grain of salt, it's not the infallible word of God, but sometimes we look to it to see what might be going on. It tells us that Drusilla was Felix's third wife. And she was a young, beautiful woman that Felix had taken away from another man. She had already been married. So Paul took this opportunity to warn Felix that the way that he was on led him to eternal damnation. I meant to send out a text, and y'all might not have anything that you want to add to it anyways, but I meant to send out a text about this. But I thought, what would have been the temptation for Paul at this moment? What could he have done? What would you be tempted to do in this situation? We think, you know, he's in prison. Felix has complete control over his freedom. He could flatter him like Tertullus did. I know some of you didn't read this last week, but you might be familiar with the story. Tertullus flattered Felix, and he could have tried doing that. You're doing a good job. I sure wouldn't want your job. I don't think I could handle it any better than what you're doing. He could claim, well, that's the way I believe, but I don't judge anybody. You've got to do what makes you happy. You only have one life to live. I'm not in your shoes. I'm not a governor. You know, he could have said things like that. He could have just gave him a little watered-down version, Brother Tim, but quickly move on. You know, something like church has really helped me. I'm not saying you've got to live just like me, but when I go to church, it starts my week out right. Have you ever heard anybody say that? Have you ever said that yourself? I've probably said things like that. And there's nothing really wrong with saying those things, but it's not really, it doesn't get to the point of why someone needs God. It doesn't do anything for their souls. It's not convicting. I think we should tell them straight. If you go to Romans 2 and 1, Paul says, Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are assured that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thankest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God. For despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. But after thy hardness and impotent heart treasurest unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds? Paul didn't say things like, well, you don't have to live like me, but, you know, in 1 Corinthians 7 and 7, Paul says, For I would that all men were even as myself. But every man that his proper gift of God, one man after this man and one after that. You've got to be living right to say things like that. I've never told anybody quite like that. You know, I wish everybody was like me. You better be living according to the word of God if you want people to live like you, and you're going to tell them that. I wondered this morning if anybody, like I said, I'm kind of putting you on the spot. I meant to send out a text. Has anybody been tempted to witness or felt a witness to somebody and maybe failed in that? Or, you know, maybe a boss or somebody that had authority over you and you felt the option to say something to them, and either you did or you didn't. Has anybody been put in that situation? We can learn from our mistakes, or we can, you know, you may have a situation where you feel like you've done a pretty decent job, and that's good. I mean, I hope you do. But I was reminded of the time a while back when Brother Tim got his healing and Brother Jameson spoke to him, God spoke to Brother Jameson, and how he went to his boss and asked him how he was feeling. And I don't remember it like you could tell it, but I think you told him exactly what had happened in a form of witnessing. You know, Brother Tim could have said, Well, I'm feeling a whole lot better by the grace of God. You know, he still said it was God's help, you know, that's still witnessing. But sometimes the Holy Ghost gives us a little bit of an option to say a little more, to share a little more, to sow a seed. And we should be willing and ready to do things like that. And I've failed in that in the past. I thought, I remember going to school, and I'm sure I've failed since then, but times that come to my mind is when I just recently got saved. And I was at Central Hardin, and me and Christy, I was largely going to church just to date Christy. And, of course, Don told me, If you want to date her, you have to be saved. And so it took me a while to get saved. And it's probably because I had the wrong intentions of why I wanted to be saved. And it took a little bit of a hurdle, but God worked through that, thankfully. And I did get saved. But I didn't really, I was raised Church of Christ, very loosely Church of Christ. And I didn't really understand holiness like I should have for a long time. And I didn't read the Bible like I should have. And, you know, but I got saved, and I got to date Christy, and things were going well. And I would still, you know, I started trying to live that holiness standard for the best way I knew how. And I would wear, I started wearing pants. And I wasn't into the long sleeves just yet, but I was wearing pants. And I didn't really understand why I needed to wear pants. But I knew that I was trying to get closer to the Lord. But I didn't read it for myself. And I remember going to playing basketball or things like that. And people would be like, my buddies would be like, why are you wearing blue jeans? I couldn't play basketball in blue jeans. There's no way. I wouldn't even want to play. And, you know, they'd be like, it's 90 degrees out here. What are you doing? And like I said, I didn't understand. You know, I didn't know about Aaron wearing undergarments in the temple, or even understand that my body was a temple, Brother Quentin, or that I should be coming out from among them and being separate. I didn't know really those things, but I did know that it was right to be modest. I did hear enough preaching that it was right to be modest. And I was giving things up and living in a way to try to be separate and try to get closer to the Lord. But I didn't say anything like that. Really, what I said, I can remember saying, well, that's, you know, I'm going to Christi's church, and that's how they believe, and I don't want to be an offense to anybody. And I can still remember how much of a coward I felt by saying that. I was kind of putting God out to dry, and I was putting Christi out to dry, and my church out to dry, and wasn't claiming anything for myself. I was a martyr because I was living this way, even though I didn't really believe it. I didn't think you had to, but I was wearing pants because, you know, I was such a good guy and was just trying to do what they thought was right. So Paul preached to these two. He was more concerned about the spiritual freedom of Felix than he was his own freedom. Like I said, he could have buttered him up and probably got out of there, but he didn't use that for that opportunity. Jesus says in Matthew 5 and 14, You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill, cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. I think that's what we're trying to do here at Gospel Light Homeless Church, surely. Have you ever had a flashlight that had like low, medium, and high on it? They make them like that now. I think they've always made them like that, but I was thinking Brother Tim preached a really good message a while back and he used a flashlight as a prop. But I thought, what is your flashlight? What is your light shining today? Do you have it on low where you're still a little bit of a light? You're living a little bit separate, but you're not putting yourself out there. You're not totally separated. You don't have it on medium. You don't have it on bright. You've just got it right there on low where if somebody approached you about something, maybe you would say something to them. You're never going to put yourself out there and be a witness. They're not going to see. It might take a long time at work before somebody even realizes that you're a Christian. But you're not doing anything wrong, but you're really not working for the Lord. I want my light to shine bright. I want to have it on its brightest setting this morning. Acts 24 and 26, back to the text. He hoped also that money, talking about Festus here in case you forgot, he hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him. Wherefore, he sent for him the offener and communed with him. I made the statement last Sunday that it seemed like Felix was under conviction. You might think I was wrong by saying that by reading this verse, but I still think I'm right. I still think there was conviction there. There's many a man that will come to church with some intentions. They might think they have some intentions, but God's only intention to deal with a soul is for salvation. You might come here this morning with different intentions, but God is here to help you. And he did have ulterior motives. There are many, like I said, that come to the house of God for many different intentions. Unfortunately, the free will of our lost loved ones or a visitor doesn't always heed to the call of salvation. They may come here for many reasons. I know there's some that come here thinking, my mom might show up and she'll say, well, my son's preaching. I want to go support him. I don't need really, I mean, I'm so thankful that she does do that, but that's not my intention. I want to help her. I want to give her the word of God. But I know stuff like that happens, and we may even use that. Hey, I'm preaching tonight. I don't preach very often, you know, if you want to come hear me, but really I'm thinking, I hope you give your life to the Lord, you know, is what we really want. But God can work through those things. The church has also seen it's very sure people come to the house of God looking for a handout. We're not ignorant of that fact. It may even happen here. The pastor and the deacons can handle that however they want, but we're not ignorant to that fact. God can and has worked through handouts. I do believe that. Even when the tensions may be off, Brother Quentin, God can work through it. No doubt about it. But we are stewards of God's money, and we need to pray for wisdom on matters like that. You know, people come time and time again looking for a handout. That's not really, we shouldn't really be handing that out. I don't think, you know, over and over when we see those intentions. Acts 24 and 27, moving along. But after two years, Porteous Festus came into Felix's room, and Felix, willing to shoo the Jews of pleasure, left Paul bound. So we learn that Paul was visited by Felix on several occasions and never got that payday that he was looking for, so he just sat on the situation until his position was finally replaced by another governor named Festus, Brother Jameson. We can also assume that politics had played a big factor in Felix. He obviously had power over these Jews, but what he most likely enjoyed was the by-factor of power of being buttered up or catered to or getting handouts from people that he controlled. That's often the case with people in politics. This was probably his major downfall, as it is for many that enjoyed riches and power in this world. If you want to turn to Matthew 19 and 16. We'll read of this rich man here. Matthew 19 and 16 says, And behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto them, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept for my use up. What lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor. And thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful. Free, he had great possessions. Often the rich and powerful can't receive the gospel message because they deal in materialistic wealth. They would be delighted to hear that eternal peace and security had a dollar figure on it. I'm glad that it doesn't as a poor man. The currency that God deals with is not tangible. It is obedience, trust, and faith, and belief. If heaven had a price tag, I probably couldn't afford it. But Jesus paid the price for me. Acts 25 and 1, moving into our lesson this morning. Acts 25 and 1 says, Now when Festus was coming to the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Take it for what you will, but don't take it for gospel. Because I got it from history that Festus was a pretty decent governor, comparably speaking, to like Felix. But Jerusalem was probably his most important city, and he wasted little time to get there, that much we do know. And Acts 25 and 22 says, Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul and besought him. It's hard to imagine that these Pharisees are still after Paul. He's been locked up for two years, and that's still not good enough for them. It's the first order of business for the high priest. Could you imagine coming to gospel-like Holiness Church and all Brother Tim would preach about is the man that disagreed with his religious views two years ago? How long would you keep coming? Let's see the Holiness Heritage here. It says, What were the motives behind the Jewish leaders and Festus? Do you see that? Okay, Jewish leaders and Festus, too, informed him against Paul. Look at the second paragraph there where it says 1.1, Hatred is the easiest motive to see. These leaders hated Paul because he began to preach Jesus as the Messiah. This brought them under condemnation, for they were responsible for his crucifixion. Their hatred for Paul was also combined with their abhorrence of Jesus. Brother Vance here makes the point that to believe Paul's message would be to admit that they killed the Messiah. Make no mistake, it was not too late for these men to be saved. Does everybody believe that? I do. Yes, they murdered Jesus, but even that was not unforgivable. 1 John 1 and 9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 2 Peter 3 and 9 says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us. Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Not willing that any should perish meant these men also, and it means you as well. To come to forgiveness, these men would have to face some hard truths. There's no doubt about that. I had a very hard time forgiving myself of things that I've done in the past, but it was necessary to admit those things, speak them to Jesus and ask for forgiveness for them and realize that I am not that anymore. 2 Corinthians 5 and 17 says, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new, and all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5 and 19, To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ's stead be reconciled to God, for he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. It doesn't matter what you've done this morning. If you are saved, you are a new creature. God has done the work of reconciliation. According to Webster's 1828 Dictionary, reconciliation means the act of reconciling parties at variance, a renewal of friendship after a disagreement or enmity. Reconciliation and friendship with God really form the basis of all rational and true enjoyment. The basis of all rational and true enjoyment. In Scripture, the means by which sinners are reconciled and brought into a state of favor. You're brought into a state of favor after natural estrangement or enmity. It blows my mind that I was brought into a state of favor with God after things that I've committed in my life, Brother Nathaniel. But to do that, I had to accept that I was a new creature, completely forgiven this morning. Completely forgiven of those vile sins. He don't even remember them. I might, but he don't. As Jesus hung on the cross, bruised, battered, mutilated and mocked, he looked out on the mob that were bidding on his clothes and said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. So you see, these men could have been saved. It was his will that they would be, but they would have had to face the truth of what they'd done and ask for forgiveness. They would have not only been forgiven, but they would have been a friend to Jesus. If the devil ever tells you you can't be saved, look what you've done. Remind him again, 1 John 1 and 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, every sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It's not anything that you can do. It's what he can do for you. There's no limit on his blood this morning and what he can and cannot cover. He can cover any sin, anything that you might have committed. It don't matter who you are. Paul said that he was the chiefest of sinners. Secondly, the second point in the Holiness Heritage, envy was also a clear motive in their evil speaking. If Paul were not effective in convincing people that Jesus was the Messiah, they would probably ignore him. He was so effectual that he could not be ignored. We should be a problem for Satan this morning as a church. Do you think the devil cares that there's a church here if it's not effectual? If someone walks through them doors and is not affected and walks back out them doors, we've just done the devil a great service. They will say to themselves, well, I tried it and I didn't feel nothing. They told me to try it and I did. I guess I was right not to go all along. And how many else will they say that to? I thought if we sailed a U.S. naval ship to the coast of North Korea's borders but just kept it totally unarmed, do you think they would even really care that it was there? They wouldn't. I mean, why would they care? Vance's final point, three, they may have feared Paul also. It was amazing that they felt him a dangerous threat even though he was imprisoned. Although he was bound, he still used every means possible to win those around him. Felix trembled as he spoke and maybe they feared Festus being swayed by his persuasive testimony. The Jews were right to see Paul as a threat even though he was in prison. We discussed the other day how Paul's message reached further by his imprisonment through his letters than they ever would if he was out walking around. How would these Pharisees feel to know that Paul's prison cell was basically ground zero for the expansion of God's inspired Word that would be preserved alongside the Pentateuch? Acts 25 and 3 says, And desired favor against him that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. So the Jewish leaders run to this new governor, Festus, and ask a favor. They asked if Festus would have him brought to Jerusalem so they could ambush and murder him. Who knows if this Festus could be bought like Felix? He might side with Paul. We already know that Felix could be bought, and the Pharisees weren't above that for sure. That's how they got to Jesus. Matthew 26 and 14 says, The one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priest and said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. What kind of religion have you got if it involves killing and scheming and bribery? And they prided themselves on how righteous they were. I said last week that conviction left unchecked will eventually subside. But it often does more than that. It will lead to a deep hatred for God and his people and righteousness altogether. Of course, I've never killed anybody, but I will admit there was a point in my backsliding that since I couldn't seem to get my sin, my own sin, under control, I started to despise those that seemingly could. I laid in wait, hoping someone would mess up and I could bring them down, mainly to my wife and kids. I hope nobody's doing that this morning. See, that's not right. I can't believe so-and-so would do something like that. I can't believe they would talk like that. I may not be living right, but I definitely wouldn't do that. I wasn't living the life I knew I should, so instead of doing that, I'll just bring someone else down. All I hurt by doing that was my own family. We need to watch how we talk about our brothers and sisters, even in our own household, especially in our own household. I know that it's tempting, but if we find ourselves doing that, we need to pray through it. There's liable to be something worse going on with you that you are deflecting from, and just because you point the finger at someone else, it doesn't stop your kids from seeing what you're doing. You're not pulling the wool over their eyes by pointing fingers at someone else. Jesus warns us concerning this in Matthew 7 and 4, Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the moat out of thine eye, and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the moat out of the brother's eye. Moving along, Acts 25 and 4, But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. The Bible does not tell us if Festus knew what these Jewish leaders were up to, but either way, God protected Paul. Festus made the decision that Paul would stay in Caesarea. Acts 25 and 5, Festus seemed to be fair and showed some wisdom here. Whoever wants to accuse this man, come to the trial in Caesarea, and I'll hear your side of it. We have a justice system here in America that says you're innocent until proven guilty. Most of the time it works. I believe it's a good thing. It goes a little too far sometimes, and unnecessary money is spent on some cut-and-dry cases, but I think that's a good policy. I like this part of the reading of the Holiness Heritage. I'll just mention it real quick. I agree with that this morning. Acts 25 and 6, Okay, this seems like a never-ending deal for us, and I can hardly imagine how it felt for Paul. And keep in mind, he's been held captive for two years this time, and he's completely innocent. He's now standing before Festus. Two years later, they have as much proof as they did at the beginning. Zero. But that doesn't stop the false accusations. This is obviously why they wanted to kill him. Acts 25 and 8, The problem with arguing with hypocrites is you're bound by the truth. They are only limited by their imaginations. But these hypocrites are actually the ones that have been bound this entire time. Paul's set in prison abounding in the work of the Lord while these hypocrites have been on the outside bound by their own hatred. They've been stuck in this hatred for two years, and here they are in the same place telling the same stories, singing the same songs. What Paul knew was the truth, and the truth is what sets men free. John 8 and 31, if you want to turn with me, we'll read that. John 8 and 31, I'll give you a second. The truth is what sets men free. John 8 and 31 says, Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and we're never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou you shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Barely, barely, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin, and the servant abideth not in the house forever, but the Son abideth forever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. If we continue in God's word, it doesn't matter what the devil tries to tell us. It doesn't matter what the world thinks of us. It doesn't matter if false accusations are made toward us. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Acts 25 and 9, But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, Here we go again, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? So much for Festus being a man of integrity. He quickly reminds us of Felix as he decides to please the Jews once again. It's hard to read the room sometimes when you read parts of the Bible like this, but I can imagine Paul being a man of integrity, standing there all by himself, kind of stoic, and simply just stating the facts. On the other hand, you have all these hypocrites yelling false accusations, and we know what liars can do. They put on theatrics and a show and try to be persuasive because they don't really have anything of substance to say. It's all a bunch of fluff. But they're yelling false accusations of religious matters at a Gentile governor, and he probably just wants to distance himself as far as possible from the situation. He doesn't really understand what's going on, but that does not mean it was the right thing to do. If it was a criminal matter, he probably would have delivered his verdict and just been done with it. With this being a Jewish matter concerning the faith, Festus felt it more suitable for the council or the Sanhedrin that we learned about, but that was basically a death sentence for Paul because he would have never made it to court. We already know that. They wanted to lay in wait and ambush him. Acts 25 and 10 says, Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. I love Paul for his boldness. History has a lot to say on his looks. It's interesting, but who knows if it's true. I mean, you can look up maybe, I don't know if it was Josephus or who it was, but there's a lot being said about Paul's looks. And I don't know if that's true or not. We won't waste a lot of time on that. But without a doubt, Paul was bold. I doubt he put on a whole lot of theatrics, but his words cut like a knife. It's no wonder Felix set a cross for him and trembled as Paul told him of Jesus. He looked this governor straight in the eye and said, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be judged. And furthermore, I've done nothing to these Jews, and you know it. This was nothing more than a witch hunt, and the contrast between the character of these hypocrites and Paul's integrity was all the proof anyone needed. And if the governor couldn't discern that, then he probably shouldn't have been in that position. Remember, Paul was the same man that said in Acts 21 and 13, then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And later he wrote to the church of Philippi in Philippians 1 and 20, According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. No hypocrite can win against a man like that. Paul was on a mission of God and he had nothing to lose. To live is Christ and to die is gain. How do you stand against a man that's convinced of God like that? We work next to a co-worker day after day and too backwards to invite them to church sometimes. I'd like to talk to so-and-so about the Lord, but the last time I did it was awkward between us for a few days and I don't really want to go through that again. What are we living for? Matthew 5 and 14 says, You are the light of the world. We talked about it, we read this earlier. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Can your light be hid this morning? Can it be hid? Are you eager to shine it everywhere you go? Are you lighting the path to the cross for your lost loved ones or do you keep it on them? They know I don't live like they do. If they ask, I'll tell them about it. We shouldn't be waiting for them to ask. Let's have some boldness about us. We're not even standing before a governor. We're not standing before Caesar. We're not standing before a king. We're not standing before some high priest that wants to put our head on a chopping block. These are just our loved ones and our neighbors and our coworkers that we've been filled with the love of Christ, and we know the truth, and the truth has set us free, and we need to tell people about that with boldness. Acts 25 and 11, For if I be an offender or have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things where of these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them, I appeal unto Caesar. Paul in his boldness once again says, If I've done anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. This leads to a point I'd like to make, and it might seem like I'm going off on a wild goose chase, but Paul never shied away from persecution. He was willing to bear the reproach of Christ as we should. There are places in the Bible that tell us to take up arms and defend ourselves, and there are places that tell us to turn the other cheek. If we take those out of context, they may look like a contradiction, and the Bible never, ever contradicts itself. That's why it is important to study and not merely read the Bible. Firstly, look at John 18, 10, and 11. John 18, 10, and 11 says, Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath, the cup which my Father hath given me. Shall I not drink it? Now, Peter has probably been walking around with that sword in his sheath the entire time. I'm sure Jesus was well aware that Peter had a sword. Peter seemed like one of those good old country boys, those fisherman type that always had a knife on them, probably to maybe flay a fish or whatever they do. They always had a pocket knife on them. When I was reading this, it reminded me of Brother Mark testifying one time at church, and I can't remember really what his point was, but he said something about boys going around. Do you all remember that? He said something about a man, some boy or something, didn't have a knife, and he said, I don't understand that to begin with. And I quickly checked my pockets and realized I didn't have a knife on me. I don't like stuff in my pockets, but I felt like I was about that tall. But I don't always carry a knife. But Jesus never had a problem with Peter carrying that sword until he used it to protect Jesus. Jesus came to die. Jesus' reason was to die for you and me, to die on a cross. That was the very reason. It wasn't his will to stop it. His hour had come. Notice he didn't tell Peter to get rid of a sword but to just put it up. In Luke 22 and 36, Jesus said unto them, But now he that hath a purse, let him take it. And likewise is script. And he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. So Jesus says here, if you don't have a sword, take your clothes and go buy one. You're going to need one. So he's not only okay with us having a weapon, he actually encourages it here. But let's take a look in Matthew 5 and 38. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say unto you that ye resist not evil. But whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And I know this is a lot of turning, but you don't have to turn. You don't have to turn. In Revelation 13 and 10, He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity. He that killeth with a sword must be killed with a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. The difference is the use of the weapon. Are you using your weapon to protect your family from harm or are you using it to avoid persecution? I thought if I was at Walmart and we was getting ready to put groceries in the cart and some man grabs Casey and starts to put her in his car, what am I going to do about that? Am I just going to stay back and say, Well, I'm a Christian and the world is getting more wicked every day. That's just the way the world goes. I've got another daughter. I'm not going to do that. If I have a gun, I'm going to put a bullet between his eyes. And I very well should, and I have the right to do that. I should do that. That's my responsibility. But if I'm at my job and somebody gets in my face and mocks me for my Christian belief, I really should just be an example of bearing that reproach of Christ. It's not right for me to lay somebody out because they make fun of me for being a Christian. There's a difference there. Hebrews 13 and 8 through 13, and I've got to hurry here. It says we're about done. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever, be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat, which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Wherefore, Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth, therefore, unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. There's great commentaries on that. C.H. Spurgeon has awesome commentaries on that. If you get a chance to read it, Charles Bradley, a preacher in the 1800s, has a great commentary on that. I don't have time to go into all that. But we should expect persecution, mockery, and hatred from this world for the cause of Christ, and sometimes even from family and friends and co-workers. But we are bearing that for Christ, and we should do that with a glad heart. How many opportunities did Paul have to witness for Christ through his persecution? He never got out of character. He simply said, if I did something worthy of death, so be it. But if it's proven that I have not, let me go. So Festus grants Paul his wish to stand before Caesar, and we'll pick up there next time. Cutting a little bit short. Our closing verse is Luke 9 and 23. Let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. We'll stop there. We've got about five minutes, I think.