Untitled Sermon (4)

Text: Acts 23:12-35

intro: Here as we finish the chapter 23 we we will read a chapter where we see little progress in the way of the spread of the gospel. There is not gospel preached, there are no saints encouraged, edified, exhorted, but we still see something that is pretty amazing. You see religion would tell us that Acts 23 was a waste because there was no progress, but here is the problem with religion, it only sees...

Paul, through the relationship that He has with His Lord and His Saviour, realizes that there is so much more than just sight… Paul understood that through the down time of his life, that God was still working. He was preparing Paul, for the work that He had for him. He was also, preparing the hearts of those that would hear Paul’s message of hope in the near future.

Progress is not only seen outwardly, but it is also the work that God does inwardly and on behalf of the believer. We believe it by faith, even when we are unaware of God’s working, or we simply cannot see it!

We left off with Paul in Jerusalem, arrested and under Roman supervision for protection. We saw that “the Lord was with him.” You will also recall the angry mob outside that prison that wants him dead… There religious zeal has pushed them to religious hatred and is pushing them into religious extremes. We are aware of the religious extremism of our day. We call it terrorism and that is in a sense what we are going to see here.

We begin with a: Plan of persecution that was planned by religious radicals… vs. 12-15

Notice: The very people that Paul loved and was willing to be cursed for, those he was willing to die for and spend eternity in hell for, are those that vow to kill him…

Romans 9:1–3 KJV 1900

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

This is not the first time we have seen one turn on the one that loved them. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Christ, all of the multitude of disciples that followed Christ, stopped by the end of His earthly ministry. We cannot allow the disappointment and discouragement of those who turn against us to cause us to quit following the Lord. We cannot throw up our hands and quit on God, because God has never quit on us! Religion would tell us there is no point, but a relationship tells us the keep on pressing on because God is at work!

This plan of persecution is approved by the religious rulers...

That is because, Satan is the father of false religion...

John 8:42–45 KJV 1900

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 KJV 1900

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The provision of the Lord. vs. 16-20

With not gospel preached, and no saints edified, we still see the Lord’s working! It is a simple thing for God to bring to naught the plan of the wicked.

God uses a faithful nephew!

We know nothing of Paul’s family but we see here that he at-least had a sister and a nephew. We don’t know if they are saved, religious or pagan but God uses them. It is not a coincidence that Paul’s nephew stumbles across the plan for Paul’s assassination. As he has gone unnoticed in the scriptures up to this point, he goes unnoticed in the presence of this plot as well. There is a truth here that we see throughout the entire Bible. God can and will use anyone!

God uses a fearful Roman captain!

He hears of the plan and he knows he must get Paul out of Jerusalem before the Jews succeeding in there plot.

Proverbs 21:1 KJV 1900

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.

The protection for His servant: vs. 23-35

Daniel 4:35 KJV 1900

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

There are a total of 470 soldiers called on to protect Paul and move him to Caesarea. Who is Paul again? To the Roman soldiers he is but one citizen. Does 470 soldiers seem extreme to protect one citizen? Did you know that there is only roughly 25 visible agents that move with the president. Here Paul is sent with 470… An act of God?

At this point in history Roman emperor's had been assassinated without protection. Imagine what this must have looked like…

They left under the cover of darkness, so know would know that Paul was gone until it was to late to do anything about it… Paul was sent to a larger garrison for greater protection.

Paul was sent to a higher court for a decision on his freedom. He, as far as we know is not saved but viewed it as nothing more than a religious squabble. Imagine the impact that bad religious motives have on a lost world. But, think of the effect that Paul’s faithful commitment to His Lord and Saviour had on this captain…

How wonderful is it so see that God prepares His servant beforehand… In this case, even seeing to their birthplace and citizenship…

Isaiah 40:13–15 KJV 1900

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or being his counseller hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, And taught him in the path of judgment, And taught him knowledge, And shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, And are counted as the small dust of the balance: Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Paul does reach Caesarea and he will spend 2 years there before being moved again. During his stay he is given opportunity to teach and preach the Gospel of Christ to many gentiles, but again God gives him the opportunity to speak to Jews also…

Closing:

Again, religion would tell us that there was no progress here because no one got saved, and no lives were visibly changed… It wold tell us that we should be discontented with the situation and do something to alter to course.

But, a relationship with Christ shows us, that to God progress is determined by Him and that just because things are hard, or difficult or impossible, that it doesn’t mean that God is not working, in fact, I think it speaks to the fact that God is preparing us. We often measure success by mountain tops, but Biblically, I would say that success is measured through valleys...

Enduring a difficult time in his life, Andrew Murray wrote this:

“First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time, He can bring me out again, how and when He knows. Let me say I am here: by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, and for His time.”

Remember: God is in control, and that He will take care of you!

Psalm 91:1–5 KJV 1900

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;