A Lifestyle of Serving God (Acts 24:14-17)

CPT: Paul worshipped God through faith by believing in his word, having a future hope, striving for personal holiness, and doing good works.

Purpose: To encourage the men in our church on living a life of worship.

CPS: Worship is living life according to God’s standard.

Introduction

Happy Fathers Day to all of our wonderful dads. Fathers are so important in our families. These holidays have different impacts for so many of us. Some of us had great dads. They weren’t perfect, but they were men who loved us and gave us a godly example.

My own father is a godly example for me. As a child, I would walk into his bedroom and see him on his knees, praying to God. He is a music minister. He wrote songs. I grew up watching Dad sing songs in church, and praise Jesus through his music. It was obvious that his gentleness and humility were a product of Jesus working in his life.

For others, a lack of a godly father in the home left a hurt in their life. During my time as a police officer, there were so many homes that I went to that I realized I was there because no father was around. So many exasperated mothers would call 911 for the police to come and talk to their child. One time, I came to a house and the mother said, “It’s okay, he is in the shower now. You can go now.”

Problem

We need more fathers who are willing to live a lifestyle of serving God in their home. What does a lifestyle of serving God look like? How can we do this? We will see this in Acts 24.

Scripture Reading

In Acts 24, the Jews present a case against Paul before a governor named Felix. The high priest is there, along with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. The lawyer gets before Felix and talks about the peace the Jews have under Felix. They are grateful to him. But they have found Paul to be a plague, an agitator, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. They accuse him of trying to desecrate the temple, and the Jews stand there in agreement.

Paul then gives his defense to Felix. Look at Acts 24:10-21:

Acts 24:10–21 CSB

10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”

After Paul’s defense, Felix adjourns the hearing. He orders Paul to be kept under guard. Paul has a chance to speak with Felix again on faith in Jesus, including righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, which scares Felix. It says that Felix would send for Paul often. Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, so he left Paul in prison for the next two years. That ends us in chapter 24.

Pray

We are going to focus specifically on Paul’s confession in verses 14 through 17. Paul admits to some interesting things here, which speak to how he serves God.

First,

A lifestyle of serving God is lived by faith in God’s way and trusting in God’s Word.

State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point

Text: Acts 24:14 (Seven ways of serving God verses: Matt. 4:10; Luke 2:37; Rom. 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; Heb. 12:28; Acts 24:14; Phil. 3:3)

Serving God is a lifestyle of faith before him. It is a faith that believes in God’s standard. It is a faith rooted in what God says in his Word.

Paul makes his defense before the governor Felix and then makes a confession. He confesses that what he is guilty of is his worship of God. Take a look at verse 14.

Acts 24:14 CSB

14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.

The NASB translates Acts 24:14 as “I do serve the God of our fathers,” which I think the word “serve” is a better translation. But in any case, Paul “worships” or “serves,” the word can be translated either way, but he serves the God of his ancestors.

As I was researching this word, I found seven ways the Bible says in how we can serve God. Take a look at these verses.

Seven Ways to Serve God

Matthew 4:10: Serve God through worshipping him only

Luke 2:37: Serve God with fasting and prayers

Romans 1:9: Serve God by sharing the good news of Jesus

2 Timothy 1:3: Serve God with a clear conscience

Hebrews 12:28: Serve God by being thankful

Acts 24:14: Serve God by believing God’s Word

Philippians 3:3: Serve God through the Holy Spirit

Paul says that what he is guilty of is serving God, the God of his ancestors. Isn’t it good to know that the God of the OT is the God of the NT? Paul is worshipping and serving the same God that his ancestors served.

Faith in God’s Way

Look at how Paul puts this: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way. There is a particular standard that Paul follows. The worship of the God of his ancestors, the God of the OT, is done through Jesus.

Paul has a faith in God through Jesus, and this faith comes because he believes “everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.”

Faith needs to be according to a certain set standard. Paul has a faith in God according to what is written about him in the Bible.

Explain

Believing According to a Standard: Feelings are something that is popular in our culture. People want to make feelings the arbitrator of truth. But feelings have never been an accurate standard. You don’t go up to a San Diego police officer and say, “Arrest this guy, because I feel that he is a jerk!” The police officer will just look at you like you are crazy. No, you need to prove according to a set standard that the individual has broken a law. The law is the standard. It’s not your feelings that matter. It’s the law. So you go into the law and show that at a certain time and place, the person did an action that was in violation to the set standard of the law.

But how many times do people want to worship God according to their feeling? “Well, I feel that God wouldn’t be against it, so that’s what I’m going to believe.” Well, you may feel like that, but that’s not the set standard. The Bible has clearly revealed who God is, and we need to worship God according to his standard.

A life of serving God is through faith in God’s way and trust in God’s word. Second,

A life of serving God is lived by having a future hope of resurrection.

State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point

Text: Acts 24:15; Daniel 12:2, John 5:25-29; Romans 6:5; John 11:25

A lifestyle of worship looks forward to our future with Christ, knowing the power and authority of the one we believe. Jesus has the final authority over all mankind. Everyone will respond to the voice of the Son of God and will be raised to eternal life or eternal condemnation.

A second part of Paul’s confession speaks to the foundation that his hope in Jesus is grounded upon. He speaks about the power of knowing his that his future is secure in Jesus. Look at verse 15.

Acts 24:15 CSB

15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

Paul is looking forward to the future. He sees the future judgment before God as something to be hopeful about.

He is not worried about his future. He is looking forward to his future.

His future does not give him anxiety. He knows who holds the future.

What is this future that he is talking about? We see this in Daniel 12:2:

Daniel 12:2 CSB

2 Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.

Jesus also spoke of this. Look at what he says in John 5:25-29:

John 5:25–29 CSB

25 “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

This is a picture of the final resurrection. Jesus is spoken of as “the firstborn from the dead” in Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5. At some point before the final judgment there will be a physical resurrection of everyone who has ever lived.

At this time, it is the voice of the Son of God, Jesus, who will raise the dead bodies to life. The Lord will judge. Everyone who has been born again in Christ will arise in their new physical body to eternal life with Christ in heaven, and everyone who has rejected eternal life will rise in their physical body to eternal death in hell.

But notice that this future judgment is a source of hope for Paul. Why is that? Why is Paul hopeful? Because there is a guarantee on this future. There is a guarantee in Jesus. Because He lives, we also will live. Look at how Paul describes this in Romans 6:5:

Romans 6:5 CSB

5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.

Jesus speaks of this guarantee of life in him in John 11:25:

John 11:25 CSB

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

There is eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Explain

Confidence in the future: If you are going to trust in the future, you need to have special information. There needs to be an authoritative source giving you this information. The chances of winning the lottery are 1 in 40 million. If your playing the Mega Millions, its 1 in 300 million. You are more likely to be struck by lightning, to be killed by hornets, wasps, or bees, become a movie star, to go to the emergency room for with a pogo-stick related injury, or become president of the United States than you are to win the lottery. So if you won the lottery one time, you might think the person was really lucky. What if that person won twice? What if that person won over and over again, year after year after year? You would say that there is no way, that person must have special information that no one else has. That person knows someone on the inside who is rigging the lottery for them.

That’s how biblical prophecy is. There are fulfilled prophecies over and over that point to Jesus. Beyond all odds, the Lord Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about his first return. The only thing that needs to be fulfilled are prophecies about his second coming. We have someone with special information. The Lord Jesus points to his future coming, and we can have a hope in his word. We look forward to a future with Christ.

A life of serving God is lived by faith in God’s word, living in the hope of resurrection, and third,

A life of serving God is lived by striving for personal holiness and good works.

State the point; Anchor the point; Validate the point; Explain the point

Text: Acts 24:16-17; 1 Peter 2:12; Col. 1:10; 1 Cor. 9:27

Christians are people in process. We serve God daily through his work within us. We strive for personal holiness through the power of God’s Spirit. Our good works are a result of a life lived for Christ.

Here in Paul’s confession in verses 14-17 is a third way in which he serves God. Look at Acts 24:16:

Acts 24:16 CSB

16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.

Paul strives to have a clear conscience. The word translated here as “strive” has the sense of training the body, controlling the impulses of our spirit, engaging in self-control.

What is he controlling? He serves God by engaging in controlling his spirit to try and have a clear conscience before God. Our conscience is that inward place within us that helps us distinguish right and wrong. There is a peace in our souls when we are in Christ, and when we are in sin, our conscience should ring the alarm within us.

A conscience must always be guided by God’s word. The word of God is the measuring stick by which we strive for a clear conscience before him.

Notice also in Acts 24:17:

Acts 24:17 CSB

17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.

Paul also serves God in good works. Here he speaks of his charitable gifts and offerings. Christians serve God through good works.

Tony Evans said something interesting about good works. He says an atheist can do good things, but he cannot do good works. Someone can do good things, but good works is something different. Our good works are done to glorify God. Take a look at 1 Peter 2:12:

1 Peter 2:12 CSB

12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

For a Christian, a good work gives the glory to God. As the world observes our good works, it is a sign to the world of Jesus at work within us. Look also at the effect of good works in our life in Colossians 1:10:

Colossians 1:10 CSB

10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God,

Good works help us grow in the knowledge of God. It’s why Jesus says in Matthew 25 that as we do good works for others, feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, visiting those in prison, its like you are doing it for him. We grow in the knowledge of God through the process of serving God with good works.

But what I love in verses 16 and 17 is the process. Look carefully at how Paul says this. He says he strives for a clear conscience. After many years, he brings these charitable gifts. Paul is a man in process.

Isn’t that good? Paul was someone who was growing in God. He was someone in process. When someone becomes a Christian, they don’t all of a sudden start doing things perfectly. They are perfect in Christ, but they are still people in process. The Christian life is a work in process. Every day is a daily surrender to Christ. I may have messed up yesterday, but there is grace in Jesus. Today is a new day, a day to live for Jesus. We strive to have a clear conscience and glorify God in our lives in good works.

Striving towards a goal: Every Olympic athlete started as someone without the necessary skills to win a gold medal. Michael Phelps started swimming at 7 years old, and had to stay disciplined to get where he wanted. He studied under a coach named Bob Bowman, who Michael described as a drill sergeant because of his disciplined and regimented ways. Yet Michael loved swimming, and practiced diligently. He is now the most decorated Olympian of all-time, with a total of 28 medals, including 23 gold medals.

Michael Phelps strove towards a goal for a gold medal. We strive for something that will last a lot longer. Paul compared the Christian life to running a race. He says that in a race, people are trying to get a prize. But we are running a race for a heavenly prize. So he exercises self-control on his body. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:27:

1 Corinthians 9:27 CSB

27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

This is what it is like to strive for personal holiness and good works. We do our work through the power of the Spirit and for the glory of God. We are conscience of our life, how it glorifies God, because of the goodness of God in our life.

Where does personal holiness begin? It begins by a life that is surrendered to Christ. The Bible says that we need to be born again. It is the holiness of Christ that I need in my life. That comes through faith in Jesus, in his finished work on the cross and in his resurrection. Surrender to Christ, and let him work his righteousness in you and through you.

Conclusion

A lifestyle of serving God is lived by faith in God’s way and trusting in God’s word.

A life of serving God is lived by having a future hope of resurrection.

A life of serving God is lived by striving for personal holiness and good works.

Conclude

Have you heard the message today and realized that you need Jesus? Are you ready to put your faith in Jesus? We want to pray with you, and celebrate your new life. Please see one of our pastors after the service.

Prayer

Last Song

Announcement about Sal

Doxology

Numbers 6:24–26 CSB

24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’

Jude 24–25 CSB

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!