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Introduction
Beginning in chapter 20 we have been learning about God’s Sovereignty over our circumstances.
We have examined God’s purpose in our suffering and God’s purpose in our story.
Today we will begin an examination of “God’s Purpose In Our Status.”
David.
God used David in some awesome ways.
Perhaps the most well-known is David’s defeat of the giant Goliath.
It is important to remember that those events didn’t happen in a vacuum.
The first time we meet David is when Samuel has arrived at Jesse’s house to anoint a new king.
At that time, David’s status was sheepherder.
He was the youngest son and didn’t even rate an invitation to see Samuel.
Next we meet David as a minstrel sent to soothe Saul’s spirit.
This is not where you would expect to find a mighty warrior!
My mental image of a man who slays giants is not someone who plays a harp and tends sheep.
Then we finally meet David at the war camp ready to face Goliath.
The problem is, this “mighty warrior” is to small to fit into the armor provided for him!
He’s kind of a shrimp!
When David stands before Goliath that is his status.
He is the forgotten son, the harp playing sheepherder, the one too small to use armor.
That lowly status makes him a perfect vessel for God to use.
When David kills Goliath it is obvious that it is God because there’s no other explanation!
Therefore, God gets all the glory.
It is not great ability, talent, or charisma that God honors.
It is great faith.
That is what David displayed.
That is what Paul displays throughout the rest of the book.
As we get into this I want us to realize that verse 11 is the hinge point.
Why does God allow the trial and the theological battle of vv.
30-10?
Because that is what motivates the men to want to kill Paul in vv.
12-22.
Which then leads to the fulfillment of what God promises in v. 11.
To reach God’s sovereign purpose of Paul testifying in Rome, the leaders need to get angry enough to allow men to plot murder which will motivate Lysias to send Paul up the chain of authority.
All of the events we will look at are tied to Paul’s status.
Paul’s status: A Pharisee.
Theological status.
Status as a prisoner.
Status as a troublemaker.
Status as a Roman?
Who is the Apostle Paul?
What is his status?
He is a Pharisee.
Which means he has a particular theology.
Now, as a believer he has a transformed theology.
Paul’s theological status plays a role in all this.
Paul also has status as a prisoner and as a perceived troublemaker.
His status as a Roman citizen ties in as well.
Here’s the point.
All of us have status that is sovereignly used by God as we serve Him.
There are four components of status that God will use.
First we are going to list them, then we will examine them both this week and next.
The four components are: Testimony, Theology, Tension, Temperament.
Testimony, Theology, Tension, Temperament.
Our goal this morning is to understand how God uses status.
Our understanding makes us better tools for God to use.
Component #1…
1. God Will Use Your Testimony vv.
30-5
We heard in the Scripture reading that Paul claims he has a good conscience before God.
That’s quite a statement.
What does Paul mean?
He means that though he has sinned and will continue to sin, He has been cleansed and transformed through faith in Christ!
He has confessed His sin and is endeavoring to live righteously.
How do you have a good conscience?
How do you live in such a way that you can say this?
How can you have a testimony that attracts others to Jesus?
Paul’s testimony is reflected in two actions he takes here.
From Paul’s actions we learn how we too can have a good conscience and a testimony that God can use.
Action #1…
a. Act on truth vv.
30-3
READ v. 30
The commander wants to know the truth so he investigates.
“Accused” is the idea of “bring charges against.”
The commander wants to know why they are accusing Paul and what exactly they are accusing him of.
I want us to notice the trust placed in Paul because it is important later.
The commander removes Paul’s chains for this trial.
We also see the authority this tribune possesses as he is able to command the Sanhedrin to appear and they do it.
The hand of God is present here as the tribune is interested in the truth, not in what might be convenient or easy.
It seems likely that Paul already has had an impact on this officer.
v. 1 – Paul’s defense.
He probably knew many of these men having served on the council himself.
READ v. 1
Paul’s defense.
He probably knew many of these men having been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and some believe Paul himself served on the council.
He addresses them with deference and respect even though he knows full well that he is guilty of nothing.
And so, Paul declares his innocence.
The declaration made by Paul is incredible.
He has lived with a good conscience.
But how can Paul say this?
After all, earlier he stated that he had killed Christians and approved of Stephen’s death.
Paul had always lived the truth he knew.
Once he met Christ and understood the Gospel, he lived it.
The ability to have a clear conscience comes when we put truth into practice as it is revealed to us.
For a clear conscience, live the truth you know.
This declaration of Paul’s leads to an interesting confrontation.
READ v. 2
The High Priest seems to be motivated by an assumption that Paul is being dishonest.
If he too assumes Paul brought a Gentile into the temple, that could be his reasoning.
Regardless, Paul’s response reveals the truth of this action.
READ v. 3
Paul is basically accusing the High Priest of hypocrisy.
He has commanded Paul to be struck which is a violation of the law since Paul has not actually been condemned.
Calling the High Priest a whitewashed wall was a pretty serious insult and accusation.
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