Acts 26

If we turned back to Chapter 21, we’d find Paul continuing to communicate about everything that God was doing to turn the hearts of men, both Jew and Gentile [Problematic] to Christ!

Because of this some of the jews took exception with Paul and the gospel he stood for [the gospel naturally offensive] …and so to discredit Paul and his message they accused him of defiling the Temple by taking [a gentile] into the inner courts of the Temple, which was reserved for Jews only.

Have you ever observed something like this?

Have you ever had someone who bore false witness against a church leader in order to hurt them, their message and/or their ministry?

I want you to be mindful of something….and that is that when you hear that or see that “perk up and be alert.” Be alert when people accuse God’s leaders of things, because that person may very well be trying to discredit them and the work that God has called them… to accomplish.

Acts 21:30 says that because of these trouble makers in Jerusalem that …. “all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.”

The following verses state that the jews intended to kill Paul but as they beat him… the Romans…the Military stepped in and saved him.

And over the course of the next couple of chapters…the jews continue to try to kill Paul…and because of this the order is given for Paul to be sent to Caesarea [60 miles away] where he could safely stand trial and kept safe.

Listen…just a note…Paul was not afraid to die…”to live is Christ, to die is gain” but God was not finished with him yet! God’s timing is always perfect. And that doesn’t mean that things always work out for us physically the way that we want them to…but if we pay attention… we can see God’s hand at work in life.

God could have used an infinite list of means or methods to get Paul to Caesarea…but he chose to use the Romans! The very people who crucified his son on the cross…the very people who would take the life of the man that they now were advocating for.

Church…don’t limit God to temporal [humanistic, limited] outcomes…because when the Creator intervenes…his plans and timing are always perfect.

I remember being sick…Jolyn and I had been married for 6 months…for weeks I laid in Memorial Hospital…We left Lufkin and arrived to Methodist Hospital in Houston through the ER… New drains were placed…New medicines were given…and within a week or so I had drastically recovered…The doctors said if I was two days out from dying…God’s plan is always perfect…

But its not always that serious….we were on a hunting trip one time and our jeep sat down on us in the middle of absolutely nowhere… we were 9 miles away from camp…but unbeknownst to us…God had put a man on the road… 8 hours earlier that morning so he could meet us as we stepped out onto the lease road…He didn’t know we needed help and we didn’t know that we were going to need help…but help arrived…because God’s plan is always perfect…

Dakota in the dorm at camp living stones…

Always on Time - Elevation Worship [2024]

I remember how you provided…How you held me through the night…And I remember how you sustained me…when you stepped in to save my life…

If I knew then… what I know now…I would be still and let you…work it out

Jesus…I was tossed in the water…But I never went under

You were always on time….

And Jesus…when I went through the fire…You were right there beside me…

And You were always on time…

You were always, always, always on time…

And you were always, always, always on time!

ch 26 In Caesarea - Paul openly shares the message that Satan and the Jews have been working hard to shut down…to the very people that took part in the killing of his savior…

Acts 26:19-29

The Apostle Paul arrived at Caesarea and instead of pleading for his chains to be loosed…he boldly stood and delivered the message that God had send him there to delivered…

I want you to notice that:

The people recorded did not receive his word…

He wasn’t in comfortable situation…

People had lied about him… accused him

He was or had been physically injured…

His life was on the line….

And yet…he trusted God’s plan and stepped into it….

Pray- as Spurgeon…Lord, will thou not grant us our hearers souls? Then walk in that way…position the Lord to use you to honor your request….God for those who will hear my voice … watch my life…receive my words… Deliver there souls from the bondage of sin…and whatever has binded me from being obedient to you…break them.

You may have someone in your life..

Trust Gods plan and timing and step into the moment…

Tesitfy and pray [for strength] for the salvation of those we know…