Standing Your Ground

Text: Acts 25:1-12

Intro: We have all had in this life what we would call bad days. Sometimes they are a day, and sometimes they are a season. I am speaking physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Day to day, living where adversity, or difficulty have us down or discouraged. I want to encourage each of us today to stand your ground. Your marriage, your kids, your family, your church, your state and your country need you to stand.

These are difficult days in which to stand and I believe they are only going to get more and more difficult.

On April 22, 1996, Supreme Court Justice Scalia said, “Devout Christians are destined to be regarded as fools in modern society.”

As chapter 24 of Acts closed, Paul was still being held. He had not been found guilty of any crime, nor had he been released. For two years he sits in a jail cell, being called upon for earthly gain whenever Governor Felix called.

In Acts 25 we move back to Jerusalem. With a new Governor of Caesarea he waits only 3 days and he ascends to Jerusalem. All of this takes place around 60 AD and Christ’s death on the cross took place almost 30 years ago.

The Request of the Jews: (1-6)

They Pleaded For Paul’s Transfer.

Is anyone still wondering if those men that took a curse to not eat until they killed Paul all died? Is this a new group of men desiring to kill the Apostle?

Two years time had not diminished their determination to see Paul’s death. His continued presence in Caesarea was like a plague to these men. Their desire to see Paul dead only grows. Regardless as to what that would mean for them individually or even as a Jewish nation. Killing a Roman citizen that was being kept in Roman custody would have brought a response of massive retaliation. They were blinded however by there own pride to care about what their actions would mean.

Festus does not give them their request but requires that they come to Caesarea. Can I say that the Lord intervened in a Governor that desires to do good in sight of Jews by not allowing Paul to be moved. In doing so, God’s plan for Paul to preach Christ in Rome remains in tact.

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.

2. The Accusations Against Paul (vs. 7)

After 10 days in Jerusalem Festus returns to Caesarea and Paul is again on trial.

The Jews surrounded him, perhaps hoping to intimidate him and the angry group of “religious” men laid false claims to the apostles charge. As far as we can tell Paul was alone, but he was not really alone. He firmly stands his ground because he is relying upon God.

1 Peter 4:12–16 KJV 1900

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

3. Paul’s Response: (8-12)

Paul states:

First- He had not offended the Jews’ laws.

Second- He had not desecrated the temple in any way.

Lastly- That he had not done anything against Caesar.

Paul - Like Joseph who had been accused but had done nothing wrong, Paul was waiting patiently for the Lords will and timing.

Psalm 105:17–20 KJV 1900

He sent a man before them, Even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: The word of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

Paul knowing God’s plan, ceases the opportunity and challenges Festus.

Paul requested to go to Rome and as a Roman, he had the right to do just that. No longer, did any other court of law matter. Even in hearing his case, and desiring to set him free, Paul would be on his way to Rome. The very place that God had planned for Paul to end up. Like Joseph, Paul’s testing was to prepare him for the journey ahead.

And Paul’s faithfulness, stands as a testimony and example for us all.

I want to end today with a story.

In July 1862 a man by the name of Joshua Chamberlain enlisted in the Union Army. On July 2nd by order of President Lincoln for more troops, the 20th Maine was organized. “It was not, Chamberlain noted, one of the state’s favorite fighting units — No county claimed it; no city gave it a flag; and there was no send-off at the station.”

At its beginning the 20th Maine had a total of 1,621 men. Just one year later however through the stress of the rigorous campaign the 20th Maine was reduced to just 266 men. Early that year however in May, the 20th Maine had the remaining 120 men from the 2nd Maine added to their regiment. The second Maine had also dwindled down due to the majority of the men having a 2 year service contract. Those that remained were on a four year service contract and felt cheated that they were still here. Chamberlain was given orders to shoot anyone on sight who refused to fight. Fortunately for the second Maine troops, Chamberlain was a friend. He wrote the governor of Maine asking him to personally reach out to each of his men about the mishap with their enlistment. He also grew up in the same town that these men were from so had known many of them and their families growing up. For the event that took place on Little Round Top, Chamberlain dispersed the veteran 2nd Maine throughout the 20th Maine men, who had little battle experience.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day battle where over 100,000 Americans clashed against one another and the battle would claim the lives of 53,000 men.

Chamberlain was given the assignment of protecting Little Round Top, which was the far left flank of the Union Army. He was told to hold the line at all costs. If the 20th Maine fell, then the Union Army would have fallen.

The Battle was intense. The 386 Mainers were up against a much larger 15th and 47th Alabama regiment that consisted of 650 men. The 20th Maine held their ground through 6 attempted advancements of their enemy. However, their ammunition was low, and Chamberlain knew they would not make it through another attack. The commanded the men to fix bayonets. It is recorded that most of the men did not hear the command but at the sound of metal of metal of the bayonets being fixed to rifles they followed suite. The command to charge was given and gain, many accounted that the battle field was loud and it was impossible to hear but seeing their men run down toward the enemy, they engaged. The Alabama regiments had moved to just 30 yards from the Maine men. Through the surprise of their charge they drove the Alabama regiments back and captured over 100 men. Gettysburg was the beginning of the end of the Civil war. Prior to the charge Chamberlain had been hit by shrapnel in the foot and although he was slowed by the injury, he endured in the charge with his men. Two accounts written by confederate soldiers that day speak of moments that could have ended the life of the war hero. A soldier who twice failed to pull the trigger having second thoughts of killing the officer, and once during the charge having an officers pistol misfire twice just feet from his head.

During the course of the war, Chamberlain was wounded six times and fell ill twice. Six times his horse was shot dead from underneath him. At Petersburg he was mortally wounded being shot through the hips by a .58 cal minie ball. Knowing that he would likely parish he stuck his saber in the soil to remain upright to encourage the men as long as possible to keep fighting. He laid on the battle field that day for over an hour. When he arrived at the hospital, his request of the doctors was that others be treated before himself. He wrote to his wife back here in Maine that evening, “My darling wife I am lying mortally wounded the doctors think, but my mind & heart are at peace Jesus Christ is my all-sufficient savior. I go to him. God bless & keep & comfort you, precious one, you have been a precious wife to me. To know & love you makes life & death beautiful.”

He returned to the field of battle just 5 months after that injury, though still weak and in pain. Chamberlain’s perseverance garnered respect among his comrades, who nicknamed him “the Lion of the Union.” By the end of the war, he was a major general and a bona fide war hero.

When the war ended, Chamberlain was chosen to receive the Confederate surrender of arms at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. The then-brevet major general did not require the defeated to surrender their weapons and "ordered his men to attention as the Confederates passed as a sign of respect for their defeated foe." Seeing this moment as the first opportunity to heal and restore a broken nation.

Chamberlain left the Army in 1866 and returned to Maine, where he continued his military career as a major general for the Maine National Guard. He was elected to four terms as the state's governor. Chamberlain went on to become the president of Bowdoin College from 1871 to 1883. He spent his last decades writing and speaking about the Civil War.

He died on February 14th 1914 from his wounds recieved at the Battle of Petersburg. He was the last Civil War veteran to die from the sounds sustained in battle. Chamberlain recieved the Metal of Honor for his heroics displayed during the Battle of Gettysburg.