The Good Governor

Can we say that anything that happens is bad? As Christians who believe in God’s sovereignty, can we say that anything that happens is bad?

Intro

Illus: The Good Doctor

Autistic Doctor who is seen by some as good because he saves lives. Yet, others see him as a problem because he isn’t like other people.

Dilemma: What is good?

God is good.

Principles of Faith

God governs his people by:

Preparing them (22:17-21)

God prepares Paul

Paul was a praying man

He sought to be in line with God’s will

Converted from a man who thought he was doing right to doing what God wanted him to do

Stephen’s stoning

God responded to Paul’s prayers

This was a unique situation

God speaks to us through his word today

God told him what to do

Let him know he was going to be a witness to the Gentiles

God prepares the world

Stephen’s Stoning

Used to be a witness against Paul with the Jews

Seen and known by Jews

Christians were afraid of him

Many people would see and hear of Paul’s true conversion

Ananias - also spoke with Jesus

God would receive the glory

Used to bring sight back to Paul, baptize him

Jews from Asia

Held Paul in contempt

Imprisoned him

Wanted him dead

Ready to beat him

App: God prepares us and the world around us for his purposes. The things in our life are things that God uses to prepare us for certain purposes for His glory.

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Paul was a witness of conversion and God’s power over man. He was a witness to a people that had not known God.

But, God prepares us for the very moments that he uses us. The moments in time are not an accident.

We are chosen instruments for God. The circumstances of our life are not chance or happenstance. They are ordained by a good governor, God.

God prepares us through prayer: We should be a praying people, seeking God’s will for our life. You want to be prepared, start praying.

God governs his people by:

Placing them (22-24)

Paul was at the stoning of Stephen

So he could be seen as persecuting Jesus and his Disciples

So, that at this moment He could be a witness to the power of God

Paul was in the midst of adversity

Jews from Asia sought to silence him

How can men seek to stop such a wonderful witness?

Not all men love God.

enemies of God

Seed of the serpent

Roman Tribune was seeking to uphold the law

Sent Paul to be examined by flogging

Paul was placed in each situation by God

He was here by the same hand that saved his life

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

We are chosen instruments for God. The circumstances of our life are not chance or happenstance. They are ordained by a good governor, God.

App: God places us where He wants us. You are here today because God has called you to this city, this state. He has placed you in this church for a reason.

Are you seeking his will through prayer? If so, then you should be seeking how God will use you here? Are you serving? Are you faithfully seeking to be a part of Kingdom building?

God, the good governor, has placed you here.

God governs his people by:

Protecting them (25-29)

Paul’s citizenship saved him

Paul used this as a matter of fact

Verse 28 shows it is not an easy thing to claim, and much value is placed on this citizenship

Centurion reported it

God protected Paul from an examination by flogging

interogation

Men withdrew immediately - Paul was spared

Illus: Avoided wreck in our Ford Granada. Tire marks under the car. God spared our family.

App: God protects his people. How? Wasn’t Stephen stoned? Yes, both in life and death, God receives the glory. Stephen the first Martyr. Paul was being used for something greater.

God is in charge and governs his people by protecting them. Protection does not mean that we are protected from death. It means we are protected for our purpose and then protected from eternal death.

Times I thought I would

Death is a part if life. Yet, for the Christian it is something we do not totally fear. We know that this is not the end.

Conclusion

Good Governor:

We might look at the tribune - Claudius Lysias = Roman Commander as good. In the end he let Paul go and did not examine him by flogging. But, what is at focus in this passage is not a Roman Tribune who did a good dead to Paul. No, what we see is a passage about a good God.

A God who:

Can we?

Prepares his people for his glory.

Places the where he wants them for his glory.

Protects them for his glory.

Paul wasn’t a witness unto himself, he was going to be a witness for God.

App: How will you be a witness to the work God is doing in your life, if you don’t even recognize that he is working. He is a good God who saves his people for his purposes.

Can we say that anything that happens is bad? As Christians who believe in God’s sovereignty, can we say that anything that happens is bad?

Can we say that anything that happens is bad? We can say things are pleasant or unpleasant. Yet, God remains good and all that he does is good.

I imagine his disciples were very concerned when they saw him hung on a tree and buried in the ground.

We are worried when we look around us and see things that concern us. America could be on the brink of war. Our country is divided. America seems to be going liberal. Churches are splitting. Death still takes all of us.

So, how do we say God is good?

Even death should not cause us fear and worry.

Illlus: How do I know that God is a good God who prepares, places and protects his people. I know because like Paul, I too have met the risen Jesus.

Jesus - through his death we were made righteous.

I imagine his disciples were very concerned when they saw him hung on a tree and buried in the ground.

We are worried when we look around us and see things that concern us. America could be on the brink of war. Our country is divided. America seems to be going liberal. Churches are splitting. Death still takes all of us.

So, how do we say God is good?

So have you. If you believe in Jesus Christ, and have faith in Him, you know that God has graciously worked in your life. That doesn’t stop at conversion. No, like Paul, God uses that to work for his glory. Like Paul, you are a chosen instrument.

This means that everything in our life is governed by God, the good governor. Nothing is chance. Nothing is in my control. And, let us praise God for that. Let us be the first to live in that fact and worship Him for his goodness.