Finding Courage for Living - Acts 22:23-23:11

“Finding Courage for Living”

Acts 22:23-23:11

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, January 25, 2004

You just never know when courage will be called for in your life. In every war there are stories of those who put their life in great danger in order to stand for a cause or to save another. This has been true of the war in Iraq. We have heard stories of people who went to heroic effort to save someone who was wounded or to protect their fellow soldiers. Difficult times often bring out the best in others.

You may not know a soldier who was heroic but you may know someone who was courageous in a fight against disease or some personal limitation. You may know someone who courageously gave himself/herself to care for a special needs child or who fought against the odds to stand for what was right. You may know someone who showed great courage when they faced opposition regarding the gospel. You cannot have enough people of courage.

This morning as we look at Acts 22:23-23:11 we find Paul standing up courageously in difficult circumstances. From this text I am hoping we will learn something about finding courage for our own lives.

Paul had been arrested because of a riot that took place in the temple when Paul was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple area. Paul spoke to the crowd and for a little while Paul had the crowd’s attention. As soon as he mentioned his ministry to the Gentiles, however, the riot resumed. We pick up our story from there.

HE DREW COURAGE FROM HIS CITIZENSHIP

The Roman commander needed to discover why Paul was so hated by the people of Israel. He assumed that Paul must be guilty of something. He decided the best way to get the information he needed would be to have Paul scourged or whipped. A Roman scourging was done with a piece of leather that was interwoven with pieces of bone and metal. This beating was often so severe that many people died from it.

Paul was strapped to the appropriate device and readied for this tortuous beating. Paul did not cry out. He drew courage from the fact that he knew the law. He asked a simple question: “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen?” Paul knew that it was in fact ILLEGAL to do so. He drew courage from the benefits of his citizenship.

Often we can draw our courage from something external. We may draw courage from the fact that we are Americans. Because the power of the American government stands behind us, it gives us courage to stand tall. We may draw courage from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights.

A member of a labor union will have greater courage pushing for positive change in the workplace than a person who is not part of the union. There is strength in having others stand with you. We see this principle in the idea of peer pressure. We have much more courage when we are with a group of friends than we do when we are by ourselves. This courage can embolden us to do what is right or what is wrong.

When we belong to the body of Christ we can draw courage from each other. I think this is one of the reasons the Bible calls us to love one another, care for one another and encourage one another. We draw courage when we function in love as the body of Christ. On the other hand, if a church turns in on itself and the people bicker rather than love, we will dis- courage each other. The influence is powerful, one direction or the other.

HE DREW COURAGE FROM HIS CLEAR CONSCIENCE

The Roman commander still wanted to know what Paul had done to create such a volatile situation in Jerusalem. He ordered the Sanhedrin to assemble so that Paul could stand before them. As Paul stood before the men, he made this opening statement: “Brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Paul told the group that his conscience was clear. He had no regrets. He didn’t feel he had anything to be sorry for. He said, “I am here today because I have been doing God’s work”. He stood courageously under this interrogation because his conscience was clear.

Ananias, the High Priest, (who was a man who reigned for 11-12 years and was one of the most cruel, evil and corrupt high priests to hold office) apparently didn’t like Paul’s answer. He commanded that Paul be struck. The word is stronger than merely a slap. It must have been more like a punch.

The assault against Paul was illegal and Paul reacted with strong words: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

I detect a little frustration on Paul’s part. Paul re-acted. We must always remember that the disciples of Jesus are not the same as Jesus. Though Jesus responded without malice in every circumstance, his children sometimes do lose their temper.

When Paul called the High Priest a “whitewashed wall” he was calling him a hypocrite (a rotting wall or grave with a coat of paint over it). The man was presuming to judge Paul for something he didn’t do, while at the same time violating the clear law that a prisoner who had not been charged or convicted could not be abused.

Those around Paul rebuked him for speaking that way to the High Priest. Paul apologized saying he did not realize it was the High Priest. How is that possible?

Paul may have had eye trouble. He has several references in the Bible (specifically in Galatians) that seem to indicate he had some vision problems.Paul may have been sarcastic: “I’m sorry, I guess I figured someone who acted like this certainly wouldn’t be the High Priest.”Since the group was gathered quickly by order of the Roman commander it is possible that it was an informal gathering and the High Priest was not dressed in his usual garb. Since Paul had been gone for 20 years he would not have known who the high priest was.

Paul was very familiar with the Sanhedrin from his days as a Pharisee. He knew he had little hope of getting a fair hearing. So, he decided to get them to turn on each other. He declared that he was on trial because of his belief in the resurrection from the dead. Paul knew this would immediately engulf the council into an intramural debate. The Pharisees also believed in a resurrection (even if they did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus) while the Sadducees did not believe in any resurrection or anything supernatural (that’s why they were sad-you-see). The two groups started arguing and the Roman commander must have shaken his head in frustration once again.

The thing I want you to see is Paul’s strength to face this situation with courage because “his conscience was clear”. We have a clear conscience when we have done what we believe to be right. Our conscience screams when we go against what we know is the right thing to do. Guilt plagues us and makes us tentative.

Recently on the TV sitcom, “According to Jim”, the main character played by Jim Belushi, was hoping to win a waterbed at a local church bingo game. Jim sat next to an old lady and he helped her play her Bingo cards. During the game for the waterbed the lady fell asleep. Jim continued to play her cards. Finally, the lady had the winning card. Jim looked around and was having an internal struggle. He switched cards with the lady and claimed his waterbed.

The next day, Jim went to pick up his bed and the Pastor of the church told him that he knew what he had done and showed him the video tape from the security camera. Jim didn’t care, and took the bed. That night he looked forward to sharing the bed with his wife. When she came out of the bathroom in her nightgown Jim didn’t see his wife, he saw the Pastor! After several such visions he returned to the Pastor and realized he had to give the bed to the lady.

The lady didn’t want the bed so he offered to buy it from her. She asked what a fair price would be and he said $15.00. She happily agreed and that night the old woman was in his wife’s nightgown!

Jim went back to the woman, paid her the full amount and then sold the bed to his brother-in-law for a profit of 10%. You guessed it, that night the brother-in-law was in the nightie!

It was a silly program but it illustrated the power of the human conscience. If our conscience is clear we will have more courage.

Unfortunately, the conscience is not a reliable guide for life. Earlier in his life, when Paul was seeking to destroy the Christians, he also had a clear conscience. He was convinced that he was doing the will of God at that time as well. Our conscience does not tell us what IS right, it only tells us whether we are living by what we BELIEVE is right. A clear conscience will give us courage but we must seek to train our conscience by the Word of God.

HE DREW COURAGE FROM THE LORD

Meanwhile, back in jail, Paul continued to sit. The next night we are told the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

I suspect Paul may have been sitting by himself feeling overwhelmed by what “might happen” next. He began to look at his own strength and wondered how much more he could take. I suspect Paul was frustrated, hurt, and confused. He may even have been upset with God. Sometimes we need courage to overcome our doubts and feelings of personal unworthiness. We think about the possibilities of life and feel a sense of paralysis coming over us.

· We don’t know how we can possibly do the work required

· We don’t know how we will be able to face the financial demands

· We don’t know how we are going to measure up to the many expectations

· We don’t know how we will survive after a crushing disappointment

· We don’t know why no one seems to like us

Sometimes the most terrifying times of life are when things are quiet. In these quiet times we sometimes are most in need of courage.

The Lord’s words to Paul reminded him of several important things. First, He reminds him that He knows the work he has done. The Lord told Paul that he was proud of him for testifying in Jerusalem. Paul felt like a failure but he had done what the Lord wanted him to do. God is much more concerned with our faithfulness than our press clippings.

Second, the Lord told Paul that he had more work for him to do. Paul certainly didn’t miss the fact that if he was going to testify in Rome, he obviously wasn’t going to die in Jerusalem! The Lord still had confidence in Paul and He still has confidence in you.

Finally, the very fact that the Lord appeared to Paul showed him that he was not forgotten and he was not alone. Paul gained courage from the Lord.

Perhaps you are like me, you would like very much for the Lord to come and physically stand near to us and give us courage. Most of the time God doesn’t do that. What God does do is draw close to us through the promises of His Word, through the comfort and strength of His Spirit living within us, and through other people that He brings our way. God still brings courage to His people.

Perhaps you can remember a time when you received a note, a phone call, or a visit that was at “just the right time”. . . . That was God coming to give you strength. Maybe you remember a time when you were reading your Bible and a verse “jumped out” at you and addressed a very specific need. . . .That was God speaking courage into your heart. Maybe you remember a time when you were feeling low and a voice on the radio, the music of a song, or the words of an author spoke to your need. . . That was God’s Spirit infusing you with His courage. God knows where you are; He knows the work you have done; and He wants to keep using you for His honor and glory.

CONCLUSIONS

Let me get very practical about finding courage for our daily living. We need to remember four key truths.

First, God does not ask us to do great things. He asks us to be faithful to Him, so He can do great things through us. We like to watch the show “Trading Spaces” in our home. It’s a show where neighbors trade homes and then with the help of a designer and a carpenter they remodel one room of their neighbors’ home. Admittedly, there are some designers who are very strange but most of them are very good.

I am always amused by the looks on the faces of the couples as the designer shows them the color of paint they are going to use. They are generally very skeptical. As the designer asks them to do various things, they will wrinkle their nose and even complain that it “isn’t going to work”. However, more often than not, when it is all finished the couple has been won over. The designer brought it all together and everyone is amazed at the result.

You and I are like these couples. God is the designer. Our job is to trust Him and to do what we are told. At times it feels like we are making a mess. At other times we feel like we are destroying what once was good. Fear not! God has a plan. His results are always breathtaking. We draw courage from the fact that His work is not finished yet. Courage means not giving up.

Second, Courage results not from our strength, but from His. God does not ask us to “get stronger” He calls us to trust Him more. It is true that we will not understand that Jesus is all we need until Jesus is all we have. We find courage when we stop looking at the situation and start looking at the Savior; when we stop looking at the mountain and start trusting the Mountain mover.

The best illustration of this is David with Goliath. David did not face this well equipped giant with his slingshot in the confidence of his own ability. David went out to meet the giant knowing that the living God was on his side. He went forward in God’s strength.

I don’t know what the giant is in your life right now. If you compare the obstacle with your strength you will be overwhelmed. However, if you compare the obstacle with God’s strength, you will have the courage to go forward.

Third, faithfulness, trust and courage are given to us when we are willing to take the first step of faith. When I was young and single I found it hard to ask anyone out on a date. I was sure they would say “No”. There were times when I was in college that I would call someone on the phone and after two rings I would quickly hang up (that wouldn’t work as well with caller ID). For me, courage required I make the first phone call.

God may be asking you to take a “first step” today.

· Dare to volunteer for a job that seems beyond your ability

· Go ahead and visit, call or write that person that God has placed on your heart

· Sit down and begin writing that book

· Dare to ask your friend or co-worker about their relationship with God

· Extend forgiveness and look beyond a hurt

· Write the check

· Go ahead and ask someone for a date

· Dare to surrender your heart and life to Jesus

Courage begins with a first step. God will increase our courage as we increase our faith.

Finally, we can draw/drain courage from each other. The Lord has called us to help each other in this area of our lives. We DIScourage another when we spotlight faults, criticize, and tell others they cannot do something. We ENcourage another when we put our arm around them and let them know we care about them. We encourage another when we remind them of the sufficiency of the Lord. We encourage another when we pray with them and for them. We encourage each other when we thank a person specifically for their impact on our lives. We have a choice: we can give courage or take it away. Generally what we give is what we will get back in return.

We need courageous men and woman. We not only need them on the battlefield; we need them in the classroom, in the marketplace, in the media, in our clubs, and even in our churches. Let us take Paul’s example to heart. Let us strive to be courageous Christians. Let’s hold fast to the truths of God, let’s draw strength from each other, let’s keep our conscience clear by doing what we know is right, and let us go forward into this next week knowing that God will give us the strength we need to do what He has called us to do.

©Copyright 2004 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, January 25, 2004