Self-Defense
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Introduction
Introduction
As we have worked our way through the book of Acts there have been several times we have noted that we have an enemy.
When the child of God lives out the will of God as revealed in the Word of God, our enemy brings active opposition.
That is why I have chosen this picture for today’s message (S).
In we are commanded to put on the whole armor of God.
That is why I have chosen this picture.
Throughout the years that Christianity has existed it has been noted by commentators that the majority of our armor is defensive, not offensive.
Our armor is defensive because we have an enemy constantly attacking us.
Satan is not occasionally flicking half hearted darts against us! On a daily basis he is sending specific targeted attacks!
Consider (S).
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
This is such a powerful passage.
We need to be on our guard, diligently watching because we have an adversary!
Don’t buy the lie that Christianity is supposed to be easy. We have an opponent, an enemy.
Make no mistake! Our adversary is out to devour us.
The enemy of our souls diligently seeks our destruction.
That is why we need armor.
Peter commands us to resist the devil.
We do not flee from our enemy. We stand against him (S).
He rages and attacks, we stand firm in our faith. We stand firm, knowing and believing that God can and will sustain us!
Put on the whole armor of God and stand against our enemy.
Our enemy is crafty. He disguises himself as an angel of light. He does not always attack directly. He often uses others to attack for him.
That is what we will consider today.
When we are attacked, we are to stand against the devil. We are to exercise self-defence.
This saga of Paul’s arrest and trial has been going on since ch. 21.
Today we will begin a study of his second encounter with the Spiritual leaders of Israel.
This passage reveals 3 requirements of Biblical self-defense.
We will only make it through 1 1/2 today.
Learning these requirements will better equip us to face persecution.
Growth and opportunities are found in the midst of persecution.
Requirement #1…
1. Self-Defense Requires Accusation vv. 1-9
1. Self-Defense Requires Accusation vv. 1-9
We already mentioned that our enemy uses various means to attack.
In this ongoing story of how Paul gets to Rome, we have been examining an attack through the spiritual leaders in Jerusalem.
In this portion of the story we find them making accusations against Paul.
Later in the story we will find Paul defending himself.
For Paul to defend himself, there must first be an accusation.
There are two essential parts of an accusation. The accuser and the actual accusation.
Therefore, if we are going to defend ourselves we must accomplish two goals.
Goal #1…
a. Disclose the accuser vv. 1-4
a. Disclose the accuser vv. 1-4
We need to know who is accusing us. Paul has had several different accusers throughout the course of the this arrest. Now we find out which of them are willing to come before the governor and bring their accusations against Paul.
READ v. 1
Paul is in the house of Felix for 5 days when the leaders from Jerusalem arrive.
With them is Tertullus a lawyer trained in rhetoric and speech.
The high priest, elders, and this man accuse Paul before the governor.
In order for us to have opportunities to defend ourselves, this is what has to happen. There must be accusers.
From this verse we learn a valuable lesson.
Our enemy is organized and prepared.
He has the leaders and Tertullus all ready.
This is why we are told to put on the armor of God. We need to be prepared!
This is why we are told to gather together more often as the return of Christ draws near. We need to be organized!
Without proper preparation and organization we have no hope of standing against our enemy.
Turn to (p. 1306).
(p. 1306)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
We are in a battle! Wake up!
Cast off those works of darkness. Put on your armor!
Walk as you have been called. Put on Christ.
We have an enemy. He is coming at us with everything he has (S)!
Be prepared.
READ vv. 2-3
Tertullus begins with flattery.
He credits the planning ability of Felix for their peace and prosperity.
The idea of this word “prosperity” is that Felix has made reforms that have improved life for everyone.
Last week we mentioned that history reveals Felix as a terrible governor.
Craig Keener writes
Although flattery was sometimes true, this example is blatantly false: revolutionaries had escalated under Felix’s corrupt and repressive administration, bringing neither peace nor reforms.
Although flattery was sometimes true, this example is blatantly false: revolutionaries had escalated under Felix’s corrupt and repressive administration, bringing neither peace nor reforms.
The bottom line is that the religious leaders of Jerusalem have brought a trained speaker to come and lie so they can get their way.
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), .
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), .
The bottom line is that the religious leaders of Jerusalem have brought a trained speaker to come and lie so they can get their way.
Beloved. This is the kind of opposition we will face. This is the kind of opposition believers have faced since Christ walked this earth!
Our enemy is the father of lies! He has lied since the beginning!
We need to be prepared for that kind of an attack.
The gist of verse 3 is “Oh Felix, you are so wonderful. Thank you!”
The gist of this verse is “Oh Felix, you are so wonderful. Thank you!”
Tertullus is laying it on thick.
v. 4
This expression “not to be tedious” was a oratorical way of saying “I could go on extolling your virtues, but I will stop here.”
Wow. Yuck.
The interesting thing here is that speaking to Felix about Paul is the whole point of this meeting!
This shows how ridiculous we can get when we depart from the truth.
So here are Paul’s accusers.
The high priest, some of the elders, and Tertullus.
Paul needs to face them.
Defense is impossible until we have faced our accusers.
When facing accusers we must be prepared.
Prepare for lies and flattery.
Prepare for underhanded tactics.
Prepare because the enemy of our soul wants to devour us and he will use any tactic necessary to achieve that goal!
If we are going to defend ourselves we must disclose the accusers.
Goal #2…
b. Discover the accusation vv. 5-9
b. Discover the accusation vv. 5-9
It is impossible to offer a defense if we do not know what the accusation is.
v. 5
They refer to Paul as a disease. That’s the idea of this word “plague.”
They refer to him as someone who intentionally brings division and unrest.
And as a leader in “the sect of the Nazarenes.”
At least they get one thing right!
It’s always nice when our accusers get something right. :)
This is another occasion where the impact of Christianity is revealed by those who oppose it.
Paul is accused of impacting the Jews through the world!
I picture Paul going yes! (S).
His ministry is having an impact!
H
However, there accusation is light on truth and heavy on invention.
READ v. 6
They make this sound like a premeditated attempt. As if Paul went to Jerusalem specifically planning and intending to defile the temple.
Let’s go back for a minute and see what really happened.
27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
They did seize him, but they were not seeking to judge him by their law. They were trying to kill him right then and there!
This is a blatant lie! And it gets worse!
READ v. 7
There is a little bit of truth here. Lysias did take Paul away from them by force. However, Tertullus leaves off the reason for the forced removal.
Commander Lysias saw that the city was in an uproar and that Paul was in danger of being killed!
He felt that he had no option but to remove Paul from the situation.
It is possible that Tertullus is referencing the removal of Paul from the council meeting. However, that too was caused by the violence of the people towards Paul. .
10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
What we see here is the typical mix of truth an error.
REVIEW THE VERSES statements in the temple and in the Sanhedrin.
This is where discernment is needed.
Just a little bit of a plug, we are learning about Biblical discernment in Sunday School.
READ v. 8
The arrogance! The confidence.
Tertullus is lying and doesn't expect to face any consequences for the lie!
You would think that previous experience would inform what is taking place.
So far their attacks against Christianity in general and Paul in particular have not gone well for this group.
From the statement about Paul’s ministry reach in v. 5, it seems that the stories are starting to get around.
The miraculous release of the apostles in ch. 5, Paul’s conversion in ch. 9, Peter’s miraculous release in ch. 12, Paul’s survival of stoning in ch. 14, and Paul and Silas’ miraculous release in ch. 16. If I were these men, I would be nervous!
So far arresting and putting followers of the Nazarene on trial has not gone well! Yet still they persist.
Why?
(S).
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Satan has blinded their minds!
READ v. 9
It isn’t just Tertullus who purgers himself.
The high priest and leaders of Israel all agree that these things are true.
As we have already seen, they are not.
These supposed men of faith are willing to lie just to silence Paul.
This is what all of us are up against.
When hearing an accusation, be discerning.
This is where we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him.
This is where we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him.
Why? Because He is the source of understanding. Our response will depend on His direction and on our understanding of the accusation.
The general rule from Acts seems to be that if offering a defense gives an opportunity to proclaim Christ, do it.
We will see Paul give his defense in the next few verses.
That is our first requirement of self-defense. Accusation. Before we can defend ourselves we must fist be accused.
Through that accusation we
Requirement #2…
2. Self-Defense Requires Accuracy v. 10-21
2. Self-Defense Requires Accuracy v. 10-21
As has already been mentioned, our enemy is the father of lies.
Two truths about accuracy.
This means that our most powerful weapon against him is the truth.
In one of the 7 “I Am” statements of John, Jesus calls Himself the way, the truth, and the life.
To defend ourselves against accusations we must accurately report what took place.
This passage reveals two truths about accuracy.
Two truths about accuracy.
If we are to defend ourselves, these must be true of us.
Truth #1…
a. Accuracy does not compromise vv. 10-16
a. Accuracy does not compromise vv. 10-16
When accused and brought to trial on false charges, it may be tempting to compromise simply to make the persecution stop.
Compromise is never the answer.
We must speak with clarity, passion, and boldness.
READ v. 10
“Answer” means defense. Paul is offering his defense.
Acting in a manner completely opposite of his accusers, Paul speaks only the truth about Felix.
Paul does not offer flattery.
Felix has served as governor for many years. This means he would be very familiar with the Jews, their customs, and their quarrels.
This is what leads to Paul’s next statements.
But first, this is how we need to speak. Like Jesus, Paul is very intentional in what he says.
Paul speaks only the truth.
READ v. 11
Paul had only been in Jerusalem a short time. How could he be such a troublemaker in only 12 days?
Furthermore, his purpose in coming to Jerusalem was not to profane the temple as Tertullus accused.
Paul came to Jerusalem to worship!
Paul is accurately and clearly presenting the facts of the case.
He is only able to do this because he faced his accusers and heard their accusation.
Paul remembered their points and is now refuting them.
As we just saw, this requires preparation and discernment.
READ v. 12
Though they have accused Paul of serious crimes, he maintains his innocence.
They did not find him doing any of the things they claimed.
What is interesting is that Paul’s normal approach to a city was to enter the synagogue and dispute. Look at .
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
This was his custom. To enter the synagouge, and begin disputing with the leaders to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
We have seen Paul do this in Athens (17:17); Corinth (18:4); and Ephesus (18:19; 19:8-9).
Paul is not saying that he has never done this. His statement concerns only that they did not arrest him while doing any of the things they are accusing him of.
Essentially, there are no charges that can be brought against him. That is where Paul goes next.
READ v. 13
They have no evidence!
In a court of law, their case should be thrown out because it doesn’t really exist. There is no case!
This is something Jesus mentioned in the sermon on the mount. (S).
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Jesus declares that there is a special blessing for those who suffer in this way.
Our responsibility is to be sure that the reviling, persecuting, and evil speaking are false.
We are to live in such a way that accusations don’t stick.
READ v. 14
Confess – ὁμολογέω (homologeō) confess; acknowledge. to admit v. — to declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of.
Confess – ὁμολογέω (homologeō)
Paul is making a declaration of faith.
If we are to defend ourselves, we must have accurate doctrine. We must also be willing and able to proclaim our faith publicly.
We must also be willing and able to proclaim our faith publicly.
Paul talks about this with Timothy in (S).
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Are we willing to make this kind of confession?
Will we stand before a group of our peers, and proclaim that Jesus is the Christ?
“The way” refers to the whole Christian system and manner of salvation.
Though they refer to Christianity as a sect, Paul claims that it holds to everything written in the law and prophets.
Christianity is not a new faith. Christianity is an outflow of Judaism. It is Judaism fulfilled.
Do we know who we worship? Do we know the historic connections of our faith?
Paul did, and he was unashamed to declare the truth of his faith.
We must know what we believe and be able to state it with clarity and passion.
READ v. 15
Here Paul gets a little deeper into doctrine.
“Hope” is a confident expectation of a future event.
What is Paul’s confident expectation?
The resurrection of the dead.
Notice how specific Paul is. He believes that there will be a resurrection of all dead. The just and the unjust.
The just are those who have been declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. The unjust are those who have rejected Christ and therefore remain in their sin.
How do we know this?
The word “just” refers to those who are righteous.
tells us (S).
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Furthermore, declares (S).
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
None of us are righteous and there is nothing we can do to become righteous.
(S).
21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation receive the righteousness of Christ!
That is what makes us just.
Therefore, when a believer is raised and evaluated, we enter heaven.
Those who have not placed their faith in Christ are not given His righteousness and are therefore unjust.
reveals their future (S).
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Those who do not believe spend an eternity in hell separated from God in conscious torment.
Paul is referencing that future time when all men will be raised and judged.
Those who have placed their faith in Christ will enter heaven. Those who have rejected Christ will be cast into the lake of fire.
This is spoken of in the parable of the wheat and tares, the sheep and the goats, as well as the book of Revelation.
We have this same hope!
We have the confident expectation of eternal life with Jesus Christ.
This hope is only the possession of those who have placed their faith in Jesus for salvation.
If you have never done that, please do so today.
Paul does not compromise his doctrine to appease the Jewish leaders. He states the truth of his doctrine with clarity and boldness.
He follows this up with a personal declaration.
READ v. 16
Paul gives strenuous effort to be blameless.
The idea here is not that Paul thinks he can be perfect. Paul makes sure that anything between him and others is dealt with as soon as possible.
This is to be true of us as well. We are to be uncompromising in our doctrine as Paul is here. At the same time we are to maintain good relationships with those around us.
Accurate doctrine
At the very beginning today we looked at . Turn there with me as we wrap things up. (p. 1306).
(p. 1306)
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
In those verses we are commanded to put off the deeds of darkness and to put on the armor of light.
We are commanded to walk properly, not in sinful activity. We are told to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh.
That is what Paul does here.
Paul’s ability to answer these accusations, to defend himself, are tied to the purity of his life!
Paul has a clear conscience.
Do you and I?
In self-defense, compromise ensures defeat.
We dare not compromise.
That is our first truth. We must pursue accuracy, and that means we cannot compromise.
We will continue with truth #2. Next week.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We have an enemy.
Our enemy is like a roaring lion stalking its prey.
The enemy’s goal is our absolute destruction.
We must stand firm.
(S)
To stand firm we need to practice self-defense.
This means we face our accusers and hear the accusation.
This also means we are accurate and uncompromising.
Every single one of us will be attacked.
It is imperative that we know how to practice self-defense.
The bottom line is that we must depend on the Holy Spirit and submit ourselves to His direction.
Be ready to confront accusations and accusers.
Be ready to defend accurately and without compromise.
As we do battle this week, put on your armor and stand firm.
“Wings As Eagles”
1 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,
3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.
5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
Acts 24:1-16
Truth #2…
b. Accuracy does not conceal vv. 17-21
b. Accuracy does not conceal vv. 17-21
Accurate description
3. Self-Defense Requires Action vv. 22-27
3. Self-Defense Requires Action vv. 22-27
Three actions we must take for self-defense.
God is ultimately the one who defends us!
a. Receive God’s will vv. 22-23
a. Receive God’s will vv. 22-23
Active provision
Knowledge
ge
Pronouncement
Freedom
Provision
b. Reveal God’s will vv. 24-25
b. Reveal God’s will vv. 24-25
Active proclamation
Faith
Righteousness
Sanctification
Judgment
Patience
c. Remain in God’s will 26-27
c. Remain in God’s will 26-27
Here God’s will is revealed to be two-fold.
Consistent conversation v. 26
Consistent confinement v. 27
Conclusion
Conclusion