The Religious

1 Now when Festus set foot in the province, after three days he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2 And the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought charges against Paul to him, and were urging him, 3 asking for a favor against him, that he summon him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to do away with him along the way. 4 Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself was about to go there in a short time. 5 So he said, “Let those among you who are prominent go down with me, and if there is any wrong in the man, let them bring charges against him.” 6 And after he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. On the next day he sat down on the judgment seat and gave orders for Paul to be brought.

Pray

Read acts 25:1-6 cover through Acts 26

What happens next in the History of the Apostles primarily focusing on Paul at this time. Festus the new governor in Caesarea and he inherits all the administration problems and maladministration of his predecessor. And on the onset he applies himself to almost impossible task of appeasing the Jews. Makes me feel for our politicians as they try to appease not just the Christians who can’t be made happy but the atheist and all that lies between all desiring different things.

Three days after his arrival in Caesarea he goes to Jerusalem to pay his respects to the religious leaders and to cultivate their friendship. And what do they talk about well Paul of course the High priest still wants him dead. And once again they try to get Paul out in the open so they can kill him themselves. He must have suspected something so he told them to come to Caesarea instead, and they do and they bring the same charges once again against Paul. Paul at this point realizes that he cannot be freed by this man because of the pressures of the Jews and request to be sent before Caesar. And after Visiting with Herod Agrippa II son of Herod Agrippa I found in Acts 12. And Paul Pleading his case before both. Paul is granted his change of venue to Rome and the Supreme court of Caesar.

The Struggle of Religion

I struggled with this passage not in that it is not applicable it is very applicable, Not in that there is nothing you can learn but in that what can I say that I haven’t Said before. What would make this new. Could talk about Paul and his testimony. How important it is for you to know your testimony best defense of your faith.

Why you just to believe in something that is illogical after a point because you can’t scientifically test God.

Could talk about how Paul didn’t fear about what he was going to say because God was with him.

Could talk about how God directed Paul to Rome where he had promised Paul he would Go. Just not that Paul wanted to Go. As a prisoner instead of a freeman.

And all these things are good thing for you to know

But there is one thing that I kept going back to and it is what really enraged me in this passage. That is these Jews. These religious people, Even the high priest and it tricked down, Not all Jews are like these religious people, But these religious people enrage me because it is to close of a reflection of our current situation.

These Jews are Scheming, Manipulative, Even to the point of murder.

Some of the worst atrocities in history have been done in the name of religion

Rape

Murder

Wars

Abuse

Child Prostitution doesn’t sound so bad when it’s done in the name of religion and I am not just talking Islam with their terrorist Attacks.

Christianity look at:

The Crusades

The inquisition

Salem witch trials

Atheist aren’t free either:

Look at Stalin

Religions are prone become corrupt because they are lead by corrupt people. Doesn’t matter if you believe in God or not people can take the good and ruin it. Both those who believe or not can be really good people but in the end People are fallen and prone to corruption and evils. Fact of life any race any believe can go bad. And Religion is just another excuse for people to use, To control and to seek selfish desires. And this is why I can say that religion often goes bad Bad.

Why are you here?

Why even be part of the Church why do I bother preaching?

As where Religion is bad we are here not because of religion but because God is in us. Because we have a relationship with God. We aren’t here for religion. We are here to declare worth to the Alpha and Omega, the abba father, the creator , the God who sees me, the God that Judges, the God that Bestows mercy and Grace, God of love. The God that pours out his righteousness. Who became flesh became completely man and completely God, suffering, and dying, raising from the dead. So that our sin by be up on him and his righteousness may be put on us. Not in our religion but in our communion with God. Meaning I Know him and He knows me

And My heart Longs for him, As should yours

Psalms 42 echo of the desires of the heart that longs do declare worth To God

Psalm 42:1–5 CSB

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, “Where is your God?” 4 I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts. 5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.

My heart desires God as a deer for water not a Mm I’m thirsty.

I need water to survive.

I will praise my Savior my God despite the religious and the non religious alike. We desire to be so close to him that our wills are one. Not that he wills what I want but that Mine is His. As it is not mine but thine will be done.

And as we have God in us we have his righteous in us

Psalm 1 CSB

1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.

With God you are righteous

Without your the wicked, chaff, mocker. Even if you are a “Christian”

Next Steps

Who are you?

Do you know God?

Its more than being part of a religion. It’s about being in a relationship with God and Declaring worth to him. As Jesus is the way the truth and the life. To God through the blood of Jesus Christ enabled by the Holy Spirit.

It’s not about what you do but who you are. If You are in Christ then you bear the fruit of that relationship. Meaning you act a certain way

How is your relationship?

Need to make that call go spend time to strengthen it. Protect your relationship before you too (I too) become the Religious