Cesarea’s Prison
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Intro
Intro
Trapped. The most dynamic man I've ever met locked in a cage for 2 years unfairly.
In those 24 months Paul did not plant churches, he did not reach pagan nations, he did not encourage communities, he could not educate and train ministers.
Apart from a few visits (Acts 24:23) and some liberties, Paul remained locked up.
We can all experience moments like this: times in which we feel locked in a cage, days where we can neither move forward nor go back.
Everything is closed, we are in the cell.
It's true, by the grace of God we have some freedom, we have some visits, some relationships, but it's not like before.
We are encouraged and wonder when that cell will open for us too.
An illness or a financial difficulty seems to be that prison that takes away the joy of living our existence to the full.
Yet, in God's perfect plan, even prison can have a purpose.
Illustration. There’s a story of a man (Carcere di Re Bibbia) who went to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. While inside, he learned new skills and eventually became a successful entrepreneur after his release. His time in prison, rather than being a setback, turned out to be a blessing in disguise, shaping his character and resilience. It reminds us how God can turn our worst situations into platforms for greater purpose!
Sermon outline. In this biblical passage we will consider:
The prison is a defence;
The prison is a gym;
The prison is just a stopover.
N.1 - The Prison is a Defence
N.1 - The Prison is a Defence
When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
Safe place. Luke tells us that even though 2 years had passed, the Jewish leadership still had a lot of hatred against Paul (Acts 25:7) and were ready to kill him.
God used what was a dark, damp cell as a means of protection for Paul's life.
My Favorite Illustrations He Was There All the Time
The son of an Indian chief had reached the age when he had to prove he was a man. Part of the testing required him to spend a night alone in a forest inhabited by wild animals. All through the night the wild animals gathered around the boy, growling and snarling. If he ran away, he would fail the test. Even though he was frightened, he was determined to stay.
Finally the dawn began to break, and the night shadows began to disappear. The animals slunk away. As the boy began looking around in the morning light, much to his surprise he saw his father stationed behind him with an arrow fixed in his bow. Unknown to the boy, his father had been there all the time to protect his son from harm.
Little King Joash was preserved. The story of the little heir to the throne of Judah is truly emblematic:
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
Like that little boy, we too feel caged because of what we define as a problem, a cell that keeps us imprisoned.
Yet, there are problems that God uses as protection, as a shield to defend our lives and our homes.
Samson's restrictions. The judge had cells represented by the Nazirite vow. If he had respected those limitations, his life would certainly have ended differently.
N.2 - The Prison is a Gym
N.2 - The Prison is a Gym
When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them.
Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”
Paul's preparation. We note in Paul's words that that time in prison was useful for him to reorganize his defense which is summarized in 3 main points:
No sin against the Law;
No sin against the temple;
No sin against Caesar.
Sometimes it is precisely the problems, the periods of immobility that allow us to reorganize our ideas.
Just like Paul, those few but "good" visits and that limited freedom allow us to put our minds in order.
Paul's discernment. Festus asks Paul to go down to Jerusalem, but Paul declines this proposal:
Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
This time no one warns Paul of a plot against him (Acts 23:16), but he realizes that that proposal hid a danger.
The prison, the difficulty, the illness you are experiencing will serve to sharpen your discernment.
Only if we live certain experiences does our soul become sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Joseph. Suffice it to recall how Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. In prison he was called to exercise that gift and when he stood before Pharaoh, Joseph was ready to be used by God:
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
N.3 - The Prison is just a Stopover
N.3 - The Prison is just a Stopover
After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”
Our destination is another place. Two years is a long time.
Paul could begin to believe that that cell would be his final destination.
Unfortunately, when we experience a difficult situation we start to think that we will always be in that cell and that that prison will be our future.
Yet God had been very clear with Paul:
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
The apostle would have proclaimed the Gospel to the kings and the powerful and so it was.
Joseph had also received dreams and soon God would make them come true.
The difficult situation is temporary.
Your destination is to appear before the King of kings and Lord of lords: Christ Jesus!
Jesus guarantees that the believer will arrive at his final destination.
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (American Theologian)
My Favorite Illustrations What Assurance!
What Assurance!
Conclusion
Conclusion
In prison. Do you feel lonely? Forgotten? Are you unable to live your life as you would like because you are trapped by this problem?
Take courage and remember that God is the One who protects you, shapes you and has destined you for Heaven.
