The Facts Must Go Forth

Introduction

Good morning Live Oaks. Praise the Lord for gathering us together again this morning.

A few years ago Kaitlyn and I were heading to a staff retreat in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with 3 other friends. My father in law let us borrow his dodge durango. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but we made it work.

That is until we hit the Ocala area. We were cruising down the highway, making great time, then all of a sudden it seemed like the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree.

At least as I recall it, things were lighting up, gauges were going crazy, and, to top it all off, smoke started pouring out from under the hood. This durango had overheated, bad.

Which of course set us of course into a random Ocala gas station where we all made camp for about 2 hours or so figuring out an alternative ride and a tow truck.

We eventually made it to our stop for the night by God’s grace, albeit several hours later than we had planned. But, in all honesty, at least the majority of us that were riding together look back fondly on that car overheating.

It made for some pretty funny memories that we had all shared together. It certainly wasn’t the way we would have planned for the trip to go. But, in a weird way, I’m glad that did happen to us.

Between the lessons learned and the laughs shared, that was a worthy speed bump in our plans.

We will witness something similar in our text this morning. Certainly Paul and his brothers and sisters in Christ wouldn’t have planned for Paul’s journey to go the way it was going. Standing before the council, being tried on false accusations.

However, what we have been witnessing, will witness today, and will continue observing throughout our time in Acts, is that God’s sovereign plan includes many unexpected situations, often some not some pleasant ones.

Regardless though, we can and should trust that whatever comes our way is for the glory of God and our good in Him.

The title of my message this morning is “The Facts Must Go Forth”. By God’s grace we will see how God is preserving and carrying Paul, out of care for His servant and for the sake of the facts of the Gospel going forth.

READ Acts 23:1-11.

Paul’s Plea and Repentance Before the Council

Don’t forget how we’ve gotten here in Acts 23. Paul was seized in Acts 21 in Jerusalem in the temple on false accusations made by Jews in the area. Therefore, a Roman tribune (or official, meant to look out for the people) has now brought Paul before the Jewish council to find out what Paul is actually being accused of.

Clear Conscience before God

Paul looks intently at the council, you can imagine the scene that was. He then opens to the council with a plea, stating his good conscience before the Lord.

Sitting in this for a second, I must ask us, can we say the same thing as Paul here? That we have lived our lives before God in all good conscience? Is your conscience clear before God today?

I know I was overwhelmingly convicted reading this. You see, yes, positionally as believers, we stand covered in the blood of Christ clear before the Father.

(If you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ this morning, repent and believe Him and His finished work on the cross for your salvation!)

However, we tend to drift as believers. Either out of sloth and laziness or distraction. So, I ask again, can you honestly state this morning that you are living in all good conscience before God, believer? You’re not Paul, but this is an example we should follow here.

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

If you have heard the gospel, if you’ve heard the word of God, pay closer attention to it!

Repent today and live with a clear conscience before the Lord, believer and unbeliever alike.

Paul’s Repentance

Paul then gets struck on the mouth for saying such a thing by the high priest. To which Paul responds in rebuke, calling the high priest a “whitewashed wall”.

According to the reformation study Bible, Paul uses such language in referencing either “tombs (then) were often whitewased to be made more visible”, or he’s appealing to Ezekiel 13 imagery where “whitewash adds to appearance but not strength”.

Either way, Paul is correctly characterizing the corrupt high priest.

Interestingly, next Paul is seemingly made aware that he has just rebuked and called for divine retribution against Ananias, who is actually the high priest.

A plain reading of the text here seems to reveal that Paul did not know that he was addressing the high priest in such a way. Therefore when he’s made aware of that fact, he seems to repent essentially.

Read Acts 23:5!

We should note this encounter. Paul was not necessarily wrong in what he said about the high priest, but Paul does realize that talking to this ruler in this was indeed wrong. Paul acknowledges this fact.

Now although this is interaction is with the high priest over the Jews of the time, I believe there is a principal at play for us all to grasp and apply here.

And, let it be known, we will study and see how Paul interacts with other authority figures, such as Felix the governor, in our remaining time in Acts.

1 Peter 2:13–17 “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

We are to submit to and honor the authorities placed over us! Up to the day, Lord forbid it, that said authority commands us to do something or submit to something that is clearly against God’s commands.

What does that mean for us today? If we’re all honest, I’m sure there are a lot of us in this room that can recount a day not to long ago that we made fun of or disrespected the President of the United States. There’s at the very least a heart check that needs to occur if thats you.

Let me be clear about what I am saying and what I am not saying.

I AM saying we should respect and honor those in authority over us, yes, even the emperor.

As alien citizens in this land, this is not our home, as Christians the kingdom is our home, with Christ.

I AM saying that we should honor and submit to the Lord above all else.

I AM saying there may come a time in this country where we may have to submit to the Lord instead of the commands of the government.

What I AM also saying is that it is not biblical, it is not Christ honoring to share posts on social media that make fun of Joe Biden. Or Donald Trump. Or whoever is in a place of authority over us as Americans.

It actually harms your Gospel witness.

Brother and sister, you are a CHRISTIAN. Honor Christ and honor the emperor as one who follows Christ.

I AM NOT saying that you have to pretend to agree with everything the president does.

I AM NOT saying you must blindly submit to our government.

I AM NOT saying I fully agree with everything our current President or past Presidents have done. There’s plenty of things said and done that I disagree with strongly, trust me.

My brothers and sisters, please hear me on this. This is not a “left” or a “right” thing. This is about being biblical.

Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Like Christ and Paul did.

Paul’s Cleverness

Paul observes that the council is made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. These are groups of Jews with authority that in many ways couldn’t stand each other.

Paul then uses this to his advantage while at the same time speaking in all honesty. Read Acts 23:6!

Paul is not being overly clever, that is the truth of why he’s on trial. He chose to state such a thing because he more than likely knew this would stir up the council and get things moving.

Paul was on mission and he knew this was all a part of that mission. He also knew how much the Jews hated this gospel he was preaching, therefore he contextualized his language while not sacrificing the truth. He still got the gospel forth.

The disagreement between these two parties was so bitter and so violent that the Roman tribune actually stepped in to keep Paul from getting torn to pieces. He brought Paul somewhere safe.

What we should glean from this is that using God-given wisdom is never frowned upon, as long as its for the glory of God and the good of the gospel.

Divine Encouragement and Direction

Read Acts 23:11!

We finish this morning with Christ giving Paul special revelation. Imagine just how desperately Paul would have needed this. Falsely accused, threatened for his life. Christ is always on time.

And what does Jesus direct Paul to do next? Testify to the facts about the Christ in Rome. The facts about Christ, the joy of the gospel, the way, the truth, and the life must go forth to the ends of the earth.

No matter what else Paul is going to go through, Christ said that Paul must testify in Rome. Therefore, Paul WILL testify in Rome, according to the sovereign plan of the Lord.

Conclusion

Paul’s journey certainly would not have been planned this way by the church or himself. Yet, Paul and the saints around him trusted in the sovereignty of God to get the gospel spread through Paul.

You can trust that same sovereign God to use you in such a way. It won’t be easy. It is guaranteed to be tough. This life is full of rough circumstances and hardship.

Yet, let us find our rest in the one that commands us to go. Let us go this week, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, for the glory of God and the joy of His people.