Living Life with a Single Minded Focus

INTRODUCTION

Paul is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem now, you will notice phrases like, “and he boards another boat,” “and the next day we boarded another ship.”

We read in Acts 21 that Paul was on the fast track towards Jerusalem and his impending death. He set a straight course for Cos, and then to Rhodes, and from there to Patara a port of Southwest Asia Minor. The boat continued Eastward along the coast of Asia Minor going through Cyprus, to Syria and unloading cargo at Tyre. They stayed there for 7 days to encourage the believers.

Read Acts 21:4

Notice that this is the first group to discourage Paul from what they viewed as a fool hearty plan to go to Jerusalem.

Notice that we read at the end of verse 4 that those at Tyre were speaking through the Holy Spirit not to go. Does this mean that Paul was acting against the Holy Spirit in continuing His Journey?

No this means that they knew the dangers that were ahead of them and they longed for their shepherd and friend not to go through what he would suffer at the hands of those in Jerusalem. They were trying to spare Paul. What we see here is a normal human reaction when we see potential danger ahead. (Danger Will Robinson)

The Question:

What course should we take when our friends’ conviction about God’s will for us is different from our own? Why did Paul ignore his friend’s warning not to go to Jerusalem?

When the day had come for Paul to leave notice that the whole congregation with their children followed Paul outside the city to the beach and knelt to pray with him.

Acts 21:7–14 ESV

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

Paul at Caesarea Philippi

Apparently there was a prophet named Agabus who came down from Judea and coming to Paul he hijacked Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Look at the seen that follows as the people make a seen urging Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul’s response is classic for Paul. What are you doing weeping for me, you are breaking my heart.

Sound familiar to those who followed Jesus down the road to Calvary crying and weeping, remember what Jesus told them. “Do not cry for me,” you should be weeping for yourself.

Paul’s final words must have stung the crowds, “I am ready not only to go to prison but to die at the hands of my accusers.” Notice Paul is ready to go through all of this for Jesus Christ alone.

1. Love People, But Love Jesus More.

No one, and nothing is more valuable or important than Jesus Christ.

Do you truly believe this statement? I doubt many of us truly do.

If we did we would live our lives much differently. I have said it 100 times and I will say it again, our Fear of Man much of the time Trumps our Fear of God.

From the Lesser to the Great Principle

The more we grow in our fear of the Lord the lesser the fear of man will have a hold on our lives.

Here is the problem! The fear of man many times closes or disguises itself in the robes of perceived righteousness. It robes itself robes itself in the perception of love and consider the other one as more significant than ourselves. The fear of man clothes itself in the robes of trying to please others first and best in our lives.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Remember when Saul wanted to kill David he gave him his daughter Michal as his wife he would kill 100 Philistines. Saul said to himself let me give her to him that she might be a “snare for him” that I might use it for his downfall.

What happened next is a clear picture of what the fear of man does to a person. David went above and beyond killing 200 Philistines. Saul recognized that God was with David and that scared him even more than what God could do to him.

*Only When God Becomes our Greatest Fear Can He Become our Safest Place.

(Ed Welch, When People are Big and God is Small)

“All Experiences of the Fear of Man,” share at least one common feature: people are big. They have grown to idolatrous proportions in our lives. They control us since there is no room to worship both God and People.”

God Has Designed us to Fear Disapproval

Think about it for a moment, what is the one thing most kids want to do when they are young. They want to gain the approval of their parents.

It is the same thing in our post-modern world, all of us know that our existence fits into a larger story or picture. So, we chase after an identity for value and meaning in our lives. This is why our social platform today has exploded to epic proportions. Some people live on their social networks 24 hours a day.

God designed us this way. We are designed to display who or what we love the most. This fear comes to the place where our true treasure is stored.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

*The Person We Give the Greater Authority to is Who We Fear.

Maybe it’s the people we work with, maybe it’s the club or group of peers we hang out with outside of the Church, or maybe it’s our spouse or family.

This is why the Bible speaks so much about the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7).

Listen to what Jesus says….. Matthew 10:28

Matthew 10:28 ESV

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Acts 21:17–26 ESV

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul Returns to the Hub of Jewish Ritualism

When Paul first came to Jerusalem his first visit was with James. James was the first leader of the local church in Jerusalem. James is usually referred to in scripture as “the brother of Jesus.”

James and his supporters were thrilled with the success of Paul’s missionary journey however, they had to look for a way to defuse the volatile situation going on in Jerusalem. If the Jewish Christians had some prejudices against Paul, then rest assured the unbelievers even had a greater disdain for Paul.

After a brief celebration of Paul’s report the Elders and Church leaders offer some advice to Paul.

They had these four Jewish Christians who had taken a vow. We assume that they took the Nazarite vow. At the end of such a lengthy time period for the vow they did not have the money to pay the expenses involved in fulfilling their vow.

The Nazarite had to offer three animal sacrifices, a grain and drink offering, and a basket of bread. The cost was high but, it was a complete show of devotion to God.

During this time he could not put a razor to his head but at the end of the vow he shaved his head to show complete devotion to God.

The advice that Paul was given, was to take part in this vow by paying their expenses. James knew this right very well, early church fathers have portrayed James as a Nazarite. Paul keeping true to his policy became as one under the law. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22

1 Corinthians 9:20–22 ESV

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

QUESTION: Can the policy of being “all things to all men” go too far, even if it is pursued for the gospel’s sake, that “by all means” some may be saved?

Note: Paul’s goal in returning to Jerusalem was at all Costs to seek the Unity of the Church. As much as it depended on him he desired to seek the good of the believers and the Church. The proclamation of the gospel however, trumped everything.

This desire however, quickly goes south. Paul had to first purify himself because he had just returned from Gentile territory and then he purified the four men.

Acts 21:27–28 ESV

27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”

Notice that for the first week that Paul was in Jerusalem he went virtually unnoticed. He had been gone so long that most people did not even recognize him.

The first to recognize Peter were the Asian probably those from Ephesus.

First Charge: he teaches all men everywhere against the people of the law.

Second Charge: He even has brought Greeks into the Temple, the holy place. Groundless rumor, because no Gentile would ever think about entering the Jewish Holy place. (Trophimus had been seen with Paul a converted Gentile from Ephesus)

A few days earlier people had seen Paul with Trophimus a gentile Christian from Ephesus. Now the crowd was so worked up that they were tearing their clothes off and throwing dirt up into the air in a rage.

2. Love People, But Love the Defense of the Gospel More.

The temple gates are now shut to Paul. We should never forget the significance of the temple curtain separating us and the Holy of Holies was ripped from top to bottom when Jesus gave up his live on Calvary.

Paul is now being removed from the very place that Jesus died for his entrance into the Holy place. We do however know that Jesus tells us in John 10 that the Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know Him.

There is no fear on Paul’s part that He will be turned away from the throne of Grace, the Mercy seat of God.

Paul loves people but, he loves to give a reasonable response to the great hope he has in Jesus Christ more.

Question: Where would you rank your passion of love for people with sharing Christ with people? Do you have a greater passion for appeasing and pleasing people or God?

If you would honestly admit that you struggle more with sharing your Apologia or defense of the Gospel then relationships you have with other people then why?

Perhaps you fear rejection. (Paul had already experienced rejection) guess what that puts you in good company. John 15:18

John 15:18 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Perhaps your life is a busy mess and you don’t have any time to talk to people about Jesus.

Perhaps we are all (this animal) we are slothful in our zeal for God. Romans 12:11

Romans 12:11 ESV

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

They Drag Paul out of the Temple and Shut the Gates

Paul now reaches the top of the steps of the Roman barracks and before going in he wants one last opportunity to give a defense or Apologia, Apologetic, a Reasoned defense before the people in Jerusalem.

The guards assume that Paul is an Egyptian Assassin sent during the revolt.

Acts 22:1-20

Paul’s Defense

Former Zeal for Persecuting Christians. (vs. 3-5)

Encounter with Jesus (vs. 6-11).

The Commission (vs. 12-16).

Acts 22:14–16 ESV

And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Make no mistake all of you are called and commissioned by God to take the message of Jesus Christ to the World.

Vision in the Temple (vs. 17-21)

This is very much like Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 where Isaiah was taken up into the presence of God, God’s call was “who will we send, who will go for us.” And Isaiah responded, “here I am Lord send me.”

Paul tried to make the excuse of what a horrible sinner he was by dragging Christians off to their imprisonment and death. He recounted being at the stoning of Stephen cheering the executioners on as they bashed Stephen to death. THE MOMENT that he mentioned his call to go to the gentiles the crowd begin to yell out that he does not even deserve to live.

*We Give our Defense with a Calm Assurance

Let’s not forget that when Peter charges believers in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be prepared to give a reasoned response for our faith he say’s that we do it with all gentleness and respect.

Look at Paul’s calm assurance as he steps to the top of the stairs to make his defense, and the boldness to seek the mercy of the Roman guards to allow him to speak.

I think maybe the greater reason we fail to give a reasoned response is that our lives are filled with chaos and trouble. We fail to cling to the hope of our faith in troubled waters.

Where do you go for your fountain of hope in troubled waters. Paul just calmly addresses the people as “brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

Fluency of hope is when you can think, feel, and speak in a language. In a sense a new language that becomes the filter through which you perceive the world and help others perceive your world and theirs. This is what Paul is doing.

Acts 22:22–29 ESV

Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Roman Justice and Jewish Justice

The Roman tribunal brought Paul into the barracks of the Roman guard and wanted to know more about why the people were in such an uproar.

So, the form of interrogation was to have him flogged. Paul was not in danger of loosing his life until he pulled the Roman citizen card.

Paul was both Roman and Jewish. So, the most probable explanation was that Paul was actually born a Jew because he was the son of a Pharisee and had a Jewish mother, but also enjoyed the benefits of Roman citizenship because his father was a Roman citizen. We do know that Roman citizenship was a coveted thing in the First Century A.D.

The gospel was the most important thing to Paul. This is why at certain strategic times he would pull out the Roman card to delay his impending death. Paul was destined for Rome.

The protection of Roman Justice is Clear in the trial of Paul. We will look at the great lengths they went to protect Paul.

Like Jesus Paul was exonerated by the Roman tribunal yet found guilty deserving death by the Jews.

Acts 22:30–23:5 ESV

But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

3. Love People, But Love Having a Clear Conscience Before God More.

Paul stood in the exact place where Stephen had stood more than twenty years earlier. Although Paul had stated that he was ready to die for Jesus in Jerusalem (21:13), he also knew that the Roman commander was responsible for his safe conduct. As a Roman citizen, Paul always had the right to request trial in a Roman court.

Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, “Men and brothers, I have lived my life with a perfectly clear conscience before God to this day.”

When it comes to defending the faith, our Christian character really matters.

1 Peter 3:16 ESV

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

*We should Pursue a Blameless Life.

“Brothers”

It appears that Paul was attempting to finish the defense that was interrupted.

“I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

Living with a Good Conscience

Conscience can be defined as an inner feeling that acts as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one’s behavior.

For those who have a biblical worldview that conscience is the part of the human soul that is the most like God. (Genesis 3:22) Those who disbelieve God have a difficult time explaining the human conscience. Evolution cannot account for this facet of the human spirit, which cannot be explained by a survival of the fittest mentality.

The conscience of man was awakened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of god and evil in the garden. It was God alone whole Adam and Eve sinned against violating their conscience.

Humans have made failing attempts ever since to clear their guilty conscience on their own everything from charity work to self-mutilation. So we often turn to our own means to drown out that inner voice that declares him or her guilty so we turn to immorality, addictions, violence, greed that are deeply rooted in the soil of a guilty conscience.

It’s kind of like the story of Pinocchio with Jiminy Cricket in the 1940’s animated children’s film was Pinocchio’s conscience.

We can have our conscience cleansed when we bring all of sins, failures, and miserable attempts to the foot of the cross.

Our conscience can be clear before God like Paul when we regularly confess our sins to the Lord and trust in the blood of Christ to make us right with him.

2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Having a clear conscience also affects our witness to the world.

1 Peter 3:16 ESV

having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Paul is struck in the mouth. Is it possible that he did not know to whom he was speaking, or perhaps his eyesight had gotten so bad that he did not recognize Ananias.

I think this is highly unlikely. I think Paul like many of us get carried away at times with our passion. Paul admits when he is wrong.

Paul describes Ananias as a “white washed wall.” In other words Ananias was like a tottering wall that had a fresh coat of paint on the outside and looked good, however inside the mortar was falling apart. If a really strong storm came it would easily be knocked over.

In Matthew 23:27 Jesus gives a similar illustration to white washed tombs whose white washed exterior hides the dead bones inside. (You are just a sack of dead bones)

Paul then attempts takes the scissors to the Religious leaders Acts 23:6-8.

Acts 23:6–8 ESV

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

*Our Conscience Should Bear Witness to the Resurrection.

If you are truly saved, born again, brought back from death to life. Then the new conscience we have been given as a follower of Continually reminds us of the freedom we have in Christ through His Death, buried, and Resurrection.

Paul now purposefully divides the Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or in the Spirit and Angels.

CLOSING

Our whole faith and belief system hinges on what we Believe about the Resurrection. Without the resurrection it all falls apart.

You have no Gospel message without the Resurrection.

So, our passion for Jesus, for giving a Reasonable Defense, and for having a clear conscience rises and falls on what we believe about the empty tomb.

Acts 23:11 ESV

11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

APPLICATION

*JESUS WAS WITH PAUL WHEN HE STOOD AND SPOKE BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND HE IS WITH YOU AS YOU MAKE YOUR DEFENSE TO AN UNBELIEVING AND DEFIANT WORLD.

We close today with a picture of the Sovereignty of God and the Character of a Faithful Christian Witness.

There was a group of around 40 people who took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Now the son of Saul’s sister heard of the plot against Paul’s life and went to warn him. Paul convinces one of the centurions to take the boy to the tribunal to tell what he had heard. The boy recounted how the Jews were going to ask that Paul be brought out so they could discuss things with him more, however, it is ploy to get Paul out in the open so that they can’t kill him.

200 centurions are sent to guard Felix as they move him to Governor Felix to preserve his life.

There are no lengths that God will not go to so that His Gospel Message may be heard.