Sanity or Insanity?

Introduction

Radical conversion of Kanye West - famous celebrity - Is he really a Christian?

https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biostudd5.html

In 1885 - most famous athlete in England - C.T. Studd (Great name for an athlete.) Expert cricket player. (When’s the last time you played cricket?)

Heard the great evangelist DL Moody and was saved - Gave up fame and went to China. His father was wealthy - and died while he was in China - at 25 received inheritance (What would you do with an inheritance at 25?) - wrote checks before he new what he was receiving - gave most all of it away!

Famous quote: “Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell. I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell.” C.T. Studd

Some would consider Studd’s life a waste of talent, a waste of resources, etc. Some would say he was insane. Or was he sane?

In this morning’s passage, Paul accused of being insane.

When you follow Jesus faithfully, insane in the eyes of the world. Who lives that way? But, what’s insane in the eyes of the world is the most sane way you can live.

This story: a contrast of two lives: Paul and Agrippa. Who is sane? Who is insane?

The way you are living: are you living an insane life or a sane life? Two simple truths from this passage. 1. Sanity is living for an eternal hope. 2. Insanity is living for a fleeting world.

Sanity is living for an eternal

Kingdom.

- Paul convinced the Spirit of God leading him to Jerusalem then Rome knowing that affliction and imprisonment await him.

Paul goes to the temple. Doesn’t go well. He’s seized, dragged out, and the Jews attempt to kill him. Roman guards intervene and take him to their barracks.

Paul persuades the Romans to give him an opportunity to speak to his Jewish brothers and sisters. It didn’t go well. , “Wipe this man off the face of the earth! He should not be allowed to live!”

Romans: “Let’s interrogate him by scourging him!” Paul: “You can’t do that, I’m a Roman citizen!” ()

Next, before the Sanhedrin. Paul caused a riot by bringing up the resurrection - Pharisees and Sadducees divided about resurrection. Romans get Paul out before he was torn apart by the Sanhedrin.

Jews conspire to kill Paul. Paul’s nephew hears about it, reports to Paul. Paul reports to Romans. Two hundred soldiers move Paul to Caesarea! (Acts 22:22-29)

In Caesarea, he is put under the watch of Felix - governor of Palestine - he had an intimate knowledge of The Way. () Paul faces more accusations from the high priest who comes to Caesarea with a lawyer.

Paul testifies before Felix, but Felix didn’t know what to do with Paul. Paul had done no wrong, but Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, so he left Paul in prison for two years.

Eventually, a new governor, Festus. He doesn’t know what to do with Paul either. “Let’s take you to Jerusalem and let you stand trial there.” Paul: “I appeal to Caesar.” () He knew he wouldn’t get a fair trial in Jerusalem. A better chance before the emperor, and that would get him to Rome!

King Agrippa - Grandson of Herod the Great. Ruled over kingdoms outside of Israel but was given responsibility for the temple and appointing high priest.

Festus tells him about Paul - Agrippa very knowledgeable about Jewish affairs. Maybe Agrippa can help Festus decide what to do with Paul. He has to send him to Rome, but what will he say about Paul? ()

Paul before Agrippa - Paul’s longest defense of himself - two years of imprisonment - an opportunity to clear himself. But, even greater than opportunity to clear himself, and opportunity to lead a prominent Roman king to faith in Jesus.

Paul gives his testimony and what God has done through Him. Festus response: “You are out of your mind! You’ve gone mad!” (Acts 26:24-25)

What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ? He could have avoided all of this. Maybe Paul had gone mad. Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all. After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ? He could have avoided all of this. Maybe Paul had gone mad. Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all. After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

Imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to Philippi:

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. ()

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ? He could have avoided all of this. Maybe Paul had gone mad. Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all. After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

That’s sanity! Seeing life for what it really is and choosing to live for what is going to last forever instead of what’s not going to last. When you choose to live for what will last forever:

Imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to Philippi,

1. You will embrace the worst. When God calls us to obey, we assume the worst, and disobey, rather than embracing the worst. Seems like Paul is living in the worst, but it’s actually going to get worse! And, he’s going to keep living with an eternal perspective! Embracing the worst by asking the question: “What’s the worst that can happen to me when I obey Jesus? I get ridiculed? My friends think I’m crazy? I lose my job? I have to suffer? I die for my faith? I have to make some sacrifices?” For Paul: “The absolute worse that can happen to me is that I die, but then I will gain heaven.”

If you follow Jesus, the worst that can possibly happen is that you die and gain everything. Sure, there may be some suffering along the way. There may be some pain. But, it’s all temporary. Your reward in Christ is eternal.

2. You will give your best. In the worst circumstances, Paul doesn’t shrink back. He keeps speaking truth. He doesn’t recant.

Every day is a gift and every day is full of opportunities for you to be a blessing. God has given you His best, why would you give Him the leftovers of what you have? ()

When you hold on to an eternal Kingdom - you give your King the best because He is worthy of it. Since you know that your worst circumstances on earth will ultimately lead to your eternal gain, why not give God your best? After all, He gave you His best.

Where are you skimping?

Luke’s view of daddy’s preaching -

Best of your time to hear His voice and do His will?

This is sanity! Sanity sees life from God’s perspective.

Best of your intellect? To think deeply of Him? Skills? Talented people! Why not give God your best? Resources? What if everyone of us gave generously? What could we accomplish for the Kingdom with our financial resources?

Luke sleeping in church - Some of us are sleeping through our walk with God. Insanity!

Insanity is holding on to a fleeting world.

Give God your leftovers?

Everything about Paul, Festus, and Agrippa seems so different. Paul - imprisoned. Festus and Agrippa - free. vs. 23 - Power and prestige exude from Agrippa. NOT from Paul.

Different lifestyles - Likely that Agrippa was in an incestuous relationship with his sister.

Paul speaks truth, but Agrippa ignores because he couldn’t let go of a fleeting world.

Young runner ripping his shirt off - I was tempted to do the same - to remind him that looks are fleeting.

When you hold on to a fleeting world:

You ignore the power of God.

Paul gives a clear and compelling testimony of the work that Jesus had done in his life. A former Pharisee who believes hope is realized in Jesus Christ. ()

A demonstration of the power of God stood before Agrippa. Paul radically changed by the Gospel. The response… “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”

Maybe you ignore the power of God. In front of you you see the evidence of the power of God. In this church - people freed from addictions. People who used to live one way now a completely different way. People giving sacrificially, serving, etc. Evidence of the power of God - your response: “That can never be me.” Or, “They’re faking it.” Reality: You know it’s true. You just refuse to pursue because you’d rather hold on to a fleeting world. Insanity.

You ignore the evidence of God.

vs. 26 - To Agrippa: “You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been around. Your great grandfather tried to kill the baby Jesus. You’re great uncle killed John the Baptist. Your father tried to stamp out the Way. Your family has been intricately involved in the Christian movement because you know there’s something to it. You know the noise the resurrection of Jesus caused in Jerusalem. I don’t believe a fairy tale. You know God is up to something.” Evidence of Resurrection everywhere - Local Jewish coffee shop - Hebrews - “Yeah, I saw resurrected Jesus.” Or, my uncle was healed by Jesus. Or, what if you were at the market buying olives, and you ran into Lazarus? Evidence of Jesus everywhere. What about empty tomb? You could go to Joseph of Arimithea’s tomb, and Jesus wasn’t there!

For you, you’ve ignored the evidence of God. The evidence of His power in the lives of people changed by the Gospel. The evidence of His existence in Creation. The evidence of His work in history - countless men, including the Apostles, willing to lay down their lives for what they believe. Evidence in His Word - eyewitness accounts of people who saw the resurrected Lord.

Why ignore this? Ample evidence that God exists and has revealed Himself in Jesus. You ignore because you think what this world offers is better than what Jesus offers. That’s insanity.

You ignore the Word of God.

Paul to Agrippa: “Come on. You have Jewish heritage. You believe the prophets, don’t you? You believe the Bible. It points to Jesus. Believe that He is the Messiah that the prophets point to.”

That’s some of you - you’re not opposed to Christianity. You half-way believe it. You came up in the church. You’ve been around the things of God. You even believe the Bible is probably true. You just don’t want to live it. You know it’s true, but you don’t want it to be true because of what it would mean for your life. It’s must easier for you to ignore it. You have no interest in Scripture. You don’t see the value of it for your life. You fail to realize that every page of Scripture is speaking truth to you. Yet, you choose to ignore. You’d rather hold on to a fleeting world. That’s insanity!

Amazing boldness of Paul - not because he was insane, but because he was perfectly sane. He had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, and it changed everything for him.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart… (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .aul - not because he was insane, but because he was perfectly sane. He had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, and it changed everything for him.

God has put a longing in your heart to know Him, and you know it… You will not be satisfied until you do - it is insane to ignore that longing. Insane to not pursue the One who has pursued you through His Son.

Real question for everyone of us: will you choose sanity or insanity?

Insanity is to hold on to this world and to ignore what you know is true: . To live like this is all that matters. Choose what is sane, and more importantly, life changing - believe that Jesus died and rose again. Repent of your sins and follow Him.