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Introduction
Last time in part one we learned of “God’s purpose in our suffering.”
This purpose is two-fold.
God desires our growth and He gives us gospel opportunities.
Here we find Paul right in the middle of a gospel opportunity.
As he takes advantage of it, he teaches us some powerful lessons.
Today we will learn of “God’s Purpose In Our Story.”
I love hearing how God brings people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite stories is of a faithful lady who taught piano lessons to some neighbor children.
The children’s father was in prison.
She didn’t worry about that.
For years she taught them.
Then they moved across town.
This was a rough city.
So she would take a bus into the rough part of town so she could keep teaching these children.
As she taught them, she would tell them about Jesus, eventually she even gave her bible to one of them.
That little boy grew up, joined the military, moved around, got married, had children and lost children.
But all that time, he kept that Bible with him.
It wasn’t until he was 40 years old and had gone through tragedy, that God finally brought that man to himself.
And so he sat down, and wrote a letter, thanking a little old lady for the Bible she had given him.
As far as I know, that man still carries it today.
Much worn, and recovered, but still going strong.
That little old lady didn’t know how God would use her sacrifice.
She was just faithful in making it.
That boy didn’t know how precious that Bible would be become.
He just kept it with him.
As I have talked with that man over the years, I have heard him praising God for how each trial, each hardship, each broken heart, brought him one step closer to Jesus.
Beloved, God has a purpose for your story.
Everything you are going through can and will be used by God for His purpose and glory.
Today we get to hear Paul tell his story.
He is going to show us how God can use our story as a witnessing tool.
We will learn three specific parts of our story that God uses.
God has given Paul a gospel opportunity and he is taking advantage of it.
Your story will only be used as you share it.
With God at the center, our story becomes a tool to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Part #1…
Part #1…
1. God Will Use Your Conversion 21:40-22:11
We are about to see Paul give his personal conversion testimony.
This is one of those verses that demonstrates the awkwardness of some chapter and verse divisions.
Paul has asked for permission to speak to the people.
The tribune has granted permission and now Paul get’s their attention.
The “Hebrew language” referred to here would be Aramaic.
I want to remind us of where we ended last time.
Paul has been falsely accused, beaten, and now arrested.
He is about to speak to those who were responsible for his mistreatment.
We have seen this attitude in Paul before, if there is a crowd, he is going to preach the gospel.
Even if that crowd is gathered to see him dead!
vv.
3-21 – Paul gives his personal conversion testimony.
He is recounting his commission by God and gets to the part where God is sending him to the Gentiles when the crowd flips out.
He is also defending himself against the accusations and rumors that he has turned from his Jewish heritage and now teaches against the Jews.
Paul is going to use this opportunity he has been given.
Your best witnessing tool is your personal salvation testimony.
Has anyone else ever struggled with thinking that your conversion story wasn’t cool enough?
I mean, I wasn’t saved out of drugs or alcohol.
I didn’t have years of sinning and then a glorious transformation.
I was 4 years old.
There were times growing up where I felt like my salvation story wasn’t very good.
I have since come to understand that the power of a testimony is not what someone is saved out of.
The power of a salvation testimony lies in the God who has redeemed us!
That our almighty, holy, righteous, and just heavenly Father would save any of us!
That is where the power lies.
And so we recognize that God will use our conversion, our salvation testimony.
Paul gives us a pattern to follow here.
When sharing our conversion there are two ideas we need to convey.
We need to share what brought us to the point of conversion as well as the conversion itself.
Idea #1…
a. Present the path of conversion 21:40-22:5
As Paul shares his testimony, he begins by describing how God brought him to Himself.
READ v. 40
This is one of those verses that demonstrates the awkwardness of some chapter and verse divisions.
Paul has asked for permission to speak to the people.
The tribune has granted permission and now Paul get’s their attention.
The “Hebrew language” referred to here would be Aramaic.
I want to remind us of where we ended last time.
Paul has been falsely accused, beaten, and now arrested.
He is about to speak to those who were responsible for his mistreatment.
We have seen this attitude in Paul before, if there is a crowd, he is going to preach the gospel.
Even if that crowd is gathered to see him dead!
Here is a question for all of us to ask ourselves, “Would I preach Christ to a hostile crowd?”
READ v. 1
Paul identifies himself with his fellow Israelites with the use of the terms “brethren and fathers.”
He is speaking with respect and familiarity.
Paul tells them he is going to make his defense.
Defense – ἀπολογία (apologia) defense.
The speech act of attempting to prove some act or belief to be reasonable, necessary, or right; especially occurring in a court of law.
Defense – ἀπολογία (apologia)
This is where we get apologetics from.
It is a defense of our faith.
Demonstrating why what we believe is reasonable and right.
We give evidence that would stand up in a court of law.
Paul is giving his defense because he wants them to understand why he teaches and acts the way that he does.
READ v. 2
Hearing Paul speak in Aramaic, they all hush to listen to him.
READ v. 3
Paul begins with his identity as a Jew.
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