Praying through Acts- Acts 26

Intro:

Acts 26:1–3 NKJV

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

Tonight, as we continue to pray through the book of Acts, we will focus on chapter 26.

I love verse number three— I think myself happy.

I looked at that passage in other verses.

The NLT says, I am fortunate.

The NASB, NIV, and ESV write, I consider myself fortunate

I prefer I think myself happy, but all of these translations come up with the same conclusion:

Followers of Christ should think and act different than those who do not know the Lord.

When we remember and look back on God’s faithfulness, we should feel happy, fortunate, and honored that God would save us.

Our thoughts are important for they help determine our actions.

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

Furthermore, Paul encouraged the church in Philippi,

Philippians 2:5 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

We should pay attention to our thoughts, for our thoughts become actions, and actions become habits, and our habits tell a lot about our lifestyle.

Do we constantly think negatively?

Do we constantly think judgmentally?

Do we constantly think positively?

Do we constantly think constructively?

The Early Church had a lot to think about by the time we get to Acts 26. I do not know the process of writing the book of Acts.

However, it was written by Luke and he was not present for much of what happened. Which means he had to interview people to develop his book.

Imagine how Peter, James, John, and Paul felt remembering:

Acts 1 - promise of power

Acts 2 - received power

Acts 3- exercised power

Acts 4 - prayed for more power

Acts 5- people lied and God displayed His power

Acts 6- conflict arose and God used people of power to help the church

Acts 7- Stephen reminded them of God’s power in history

Acts 8- walked in power to spread Gospel in Samaria

Acts 9- Saul was converted through an encounter with God’s power

Acts 10- the power of God fell on the Gentiles as Peter preached

Acts 11- Peter defended Gentiles receiving power

Acts 12- the church prayed and Peter was released from prison

Acts 13- God sent Barnabas and Paul as a result of prayer

Acts 14- Paul and Barnabas took the gospel to new regions proclaiming God’s message with power

Acts 15- they prayed and God gave powerful discernment

Acts 16- Paul and Silas prayed and praised in prison, and God set them free

Acts 17- Paul stayed consistent in the face of hardships because of his prayer life

Acts 18- Paul prayed and God helped him reach the city of Corinth.

Acts 19- Paul put what he prayed for and believed into practice and God answered

Acts 20- Paul prayed as he headed to Jerusalem, knowing difficulties laid ahead

Acts 21- Paul Told everyone he was ready to go to Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit led him there

Acts 22- Paul took time to witness to those who hated him

Acts 23 closes with Paul waiting for his accusers and for the governor, Felix to determine his fate.

Acts 24- Paul shared the truth of the Gospel with His accusers and enemies

Acts 25- Paul awaits an audience with King Agrippa after speaking to Festus

Paul could not wait to share with another person what Jesus did for him. He took King Agrippa on a stroll down memory lane, reviewing his life— the good, the bad, and the ugly.

We should learn from Paul and begin: [Remembering our Roots], [Remembering our Redemption], and [Remembering our Responsibility].

Let’s begin

1. Remembering our Roots

Acts 26:4–6 NKJV

4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

One of the problems Paul faced with the Jews is that they KNEW him. It was not as though Paul just showed up on the scene as an Apostle.

Like most of the leaders of the Early Church, Paul was a Jewish man who accepted Jesus Christ as his Messiah and Savior.

But Paul wanted King Agrippa to know, I was raised in a strict Jewish home. I was given thorough training in our faith since my earliest memory.

They also know that I was a Pharisee. I knew all of the laws, the rules, the regulations within our religion.

Then he attempted to explain why he was on trial, it all had to do with his belief in the fulfillment of the prophets, which the Pharisees also knew.

It was as though the Pharisees could see that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy, yet they chose to turn a blind eye.

Why?

In part they wanted to keep their political power. Paul understood this because he too was like them.

Acts 26:9–11 NKJV

9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

First Paul outlined the positive side of his roots. Then he laid bare the negative side of his past. He, at one time, HATED Christians and anything to do with Jesus of Nazareth.

He had legal permission to send followers of Jesus to prison and he even cast a vote in favor of their death.

Why wouldn’t Paul hide this part of his past?

Because he knew that his roots helped shape him into the person God wanted him to become.

He used his roots as a testimony and a way to identify with those who also did not know Jesus.

Whether we have Godly or ungodly roots, the Lord takes us as we are, makes us more like him, and uses our past to help reach others.

2. Remembering our Redemption

Acts 26:15–19 NKJV

15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ 19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

This is the third time Paul told his salvation story. He never grew tired of sharing how God redeemed him.

Redemption is an amazing word. When we think redeemed, we should not think of forgiveness. Instead we should imagine a purchase.

We owed a debt to God, and the Lord canceled that debt to God.

Imagine how deep Paul’s debt to God was. He had a hand in the deep persecution against the followers of Christ. Yet the Lord, took Paul and changed his life.

Some of what we’ve read is repeated information, but Paul includes aspects of his redemption account that are new to us in the book of Acts.

The Lord promised Paul that he would tell people about Jesus. He also had this promise that God would send him to the Gentiles to tell them about Christ.

Imagine how excited Paul was. He had lived out this prophetic word for over twenty-five years. Now, he is speaking to the highest ranking Gentile of his ministry.

He wanted God to turn King Agrippa from the power of Satan to the power of forgiveness.

So Paul told him, I HAVE OBEYED THAT VISION FROM GOD.

Four vision surrounded Paul’s redemption.

Paul watched as Stephen shared his vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.

He had a vision of a bright light shining around him.

Ananias had a vision of Paul coming to his house

and Paul knew how to get to his house through a vision

No wonder Paul was willing to do whatever God wanted him. He never forgot how supernatural his redemption was.

While we were in sin, God had a vision of us finding Him and living a redeemed life.

3. Remembering our Responsibility

Acts 26:19–24 NKJV

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” 24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

Paul obeyed God’s vision for his life, but that does not mean it was always easy.

He began preaching Jesus to both Jew and Gentile, calling on them to repent of their sins. Those who listened enjoyed the blessings of redemption.

Those who did not repent delved deeper into rebellion against the Lord. Those who rebelled against God persecuted Paul.

They threw him in jail

They beat him

They tried to kill him

Now they wanted the Romans to sentence him to death

But God protected Paul. He shows us that NOTHING can remove our responsibility to live for Jesus and tell others about Jesus.

Paul’s message was not against the Jews, but a fulfillment of what the Jews believed. Jesus was the answer to what the prophets and Moses promised would happen.

What was the message?

Jesus had to die and rise from the dead!

When Festus heard about the resurrection, he accused Paul of being crazy and insane.

This was not Paul’s first run in with that type of accusation.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

People’s positive or negative response to Jesus does not change our responsibility to live for Him and to tell others about Him.

Acts 26:27–29 NKJV

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” 29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

Paul turned his attention back to Agrippa, who accused Paul of almost converting him to Christianity.

Close:

What do we think about?

What consumes our thoughts?

I pray I never get over all God has done for me.

I never want to lose the awe and wonder that:

Jesus saved me

Jesus baptized me in the Holy Spirit

Jesus healed me of a blood clot

Jesus called me to preach

Jesus allows me to pastor our church

Just yesterday, I feel God protected me. I was leaving Potosi and stayed a little longer than I expected. I was JUST about to get in my car and drive off when I told Pastor Davis, let me show you a few pictures of Davis.

About a few minutes into showing off the best baby ever, we saw two wreckers drive by his house. Three or four minutes later I left. I went down the street turned left and noticed a big wreck ahead at the intersection.

The same intersection I would have been going through five minutes earlier.

At first I thought nothing of it, but then I felt the Lord REMIND me, I protected you. You were in a hurry to leave, but you stayed five more minutes.

I never want to FORGET what He does for me.

We need to remember and thank God for our roots, whether they are good or bad.

For regardless of our past, Jesus has redeemed us.

And now we MUST tell others about Him, it is our responsibility!

We need to take time remembering and thanking God for all He has done for us.