Building the Church (25)
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In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
Good morning and welcome back.
I hope all had a great Christmas.
How did you see God move this past week?
1500’s Hugh Latimer - Preacher and reformer in England
Preached a sermon that offended King Henry
The King demanded his presence and an apology
Latimer read the same passage he had read the previous Sunday - then said:
Acts I. Introduction: Hugh Latimer before Henry VIII
Hugh Latimer, dost thou know before whom thou art this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life if thou offendest: therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest—upon whose message thou art sent? Even by the great and mighty God, who is all-present and who beholdeth all thy ways, and who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully.
Then preached the same sermon.
I sometimes wonder about defending or even sharing our faith when it really counts, when it could cost what would I do.
So many have watered down the message or compromised and twisted it so it might be received better.
in 1973 a leading psychiatrist Karl Menninger published a book called “Whatever Became of Sin”.
Dropped from our vocabulary - mistakes, faults, weaknesses
People see our faith as a political movement, a superstition, ignorance and prejudice
We have the message of hope and answers to the deepest questions we ask.
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
We have a message that has not changed and is still needed
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
The question today is,
If you were to stand trial would your faith convict you?
Would you be able to defend the faith?
When we left Paul, he had been taken to Caesarea
He is getting his day in court before his accusers and the Roman Governor in real court of law where life, death, and freedom could be decided.
This is what I want us to dive into today,
When it is all on the line, will we defend?
Let’s Pray
1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
Our enemy is prepared
Brought a lawyer
2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
Our enemy is prepared
Over the last 200 years our faith has been being chipped away at
Darwin in 1850’s, Early 1900’s Biblical criticism (bible is just a book), secularism, liberal Christianity.
But:
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
In all their advances and ideas, they still cannot give answers or provide hope.
Instead they use flattery and deception
Paul uses truth
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
Stand and proclaim the truth in you.
Stand and proclaim the truth in you.
No one can deny or challenge the truth of your changed life.
16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
Felix was only looking for a way to profit from this spectacle.
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”
When you get the opportunity to testify, tell it all
24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
When you get the opportunity to testify, tell it all
Paul did not hold back and Felix had no excuse
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
We end with Felix leaving and a new Governor - Festus
2 years passed.
Festus was determined to deal with this
On one side keep the peace with Jews who wanted Paul dead
On the other they were holding a Roman with nom real charges.
1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him,
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
Nothing changed - still want him dead
So he tells them come and bring charges
7 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. 8 Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.”
9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?”
But Paul said no
11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”
God has a plan, trust it.
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.”
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
No greater privilege than sharing faith and answering for the hope inside us.
“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” Charles Spurgeon
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
In Defense of the Faith Pt 2
May that be our hearts cry
My we be ready
Let’s pray
