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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (13-8-2000 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
After preaching to Felix, Paul meets Felix’s successor,
Porcius Festus, who held the office of Procurator of Judea from 60-62AD. Festus
talked the case over with the puppet Jewish King Agrippa who was ruling under
the Romans. Together they hear Paul’s defence and agree that, despite the
claims of the Jews, Paul has done nothing worthy of death or prison. He should
have been set free, but for his appeal for justice to the Roman Emperor.
Luke paints a picture of a
splendid court scene. Festus, the Roman Governor, a hard-headed man of the
world, wearing the red robes kept for state occasions, surrounded by tall
legionaries; then King Herod Agrippa II, allowed by the Romans to rule a little
of Palestine (Galilee and Perea), dressed in his royal purple robes with his
golden crown.
Agrippa II’s father, Agrippa
I, had killed James and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12). His great uncle was Herod
Antipas who had killed John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29). And his
great-grandfather was the Herod who killed all the baby boys at the time of
Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-19). The woman at Agrippa II’s side was Bernice,
the shameless sister of Drusilla and also of Agrippa himself – an incestuous
relationship. She became mistress of Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, but
always returned to her brother. So if ever a congregation need the Gospel, it
was the one gathered in this court.
The court was assembled, and the
prisoner was brought in, in chains. Tradition has it that Paul was a little man,
a Jewish tentmaker, of unimpressive appearance, balding, beetle brows, hooked
nose and bandy legs. Soon he was going to dominate this splendid court with his
quiet, dignified, courteous but plain speech. Here was the king of preachers and
preacher to kings. In the speech he gave, his defence was not so much his
conversion as his commission to be an apostle.
Jesus had warned his disciples that they would be brought before rulers and authorities, but they were not to worry about what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say (Luke 11:11,12). One New Testament manuscript says that Paul was confident and encouraged by the Holy Spirit. This is not the best manuscript, but it is expressing what was the undoubted truth.
Paul begins his defence by
describing his Jewish upbringing (Acts 26:4,5). He was in the strictest Jewish
party, the Pharisees. He hated Jesus, and persecuted His followers to prison and
death (Acts 26:9). Events on the road to Damascus led to his submission to the
very one he had hated (Acts 26:13). Then Christ commissioned him for future
work. He was to be the servant and witness of the Lord, and God promised to take
care of him and rescue him. No one would be able to silence his testimony until
God decided the task was done (Acts 26:16). His job was to go to Jews and
Gentiles and open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a
place among those who are sanctified by faith in me (Acts 26:18). He did
this by preaching that Christ would suffer and rise from the dead, and saying
that people should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance was real by
changed lives and good deeds (Acts 26:20,23).
This is to be our task too. This
should be the burden of our witnessing and preaching. The Gospel tells us men
and women are blind and in the dark, facing the wrong way, under the grip of the
devil and under the judgement of God. We belong to a world which is organised
apart from God, and desires to do the opposite of what God requires. There is
enormous misunderstanding of Christian truth, emptiness in lives, and moral and
spiritual weakness. We must face these fundamental facts about the world we are
in and the people we live among. We need to see that the Gospel alone is the
answer to man’s need – a whole-hearted, unconditional turning from self and
sin to God in Christ. Then man’s eyes will be opened, and he will be brought
into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:10), and be freed from condemnation (Romans
8:1). Then he will hear His voice say, “Your sins are forgiven”, and be set
apart for God and sanctified and progressively changed into the image of God.
The secret of it all is that
total child-like humble reliance which the Bible calls faith in Christ Jesus.
The man of faith is so different from those around him. He is in the light. He
knows the truth of God and the plan of salvation. He is emancipated. He has
entered the Body of Christ and the church of the living God. He is a citizen of
a new world, and is being progressively changed, heading for a wonderful
inheritance. Everything hangs on that personal relationship.
What a glorious message this is.
It explains the purpose of life, the meaning of life, and it meets the deepest
needs of life. We are at peace now about the past; we have confidence in the
present, and hope and certainty about the future. Our life is under new
management, and God is in control of our whole being – mind, will, conscience
and heart. He creates a revolution.
This message demands the utmost attention. We reject it at our peril. There is an enormous difference between rejecting it and accepting it. We are face to face, not with a theological system or moral code, but with a person who demands a whole-hearted response.
“So then, King Agrippa, I
was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then
to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached
that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their
deeds. That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
But I have had God's help to this very day” (Acts 26:19-22). Paul had
responded gladly and wholeheartedly to all that God made clear to him. Happy is
the Christian who can say, “I have not been disobedient to the vision from
heaven”. Being a Christian is not just about forgiveness of sins, but also
about recognizing that henceforth I am the Lord’s. I am set apart for Him, and
have to live for Him, please Him, walk in His way and His will. “My
food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his
work” (John 4:34). I desire to do your will, O my God (Psalm 40:8).
You are not your own; you
were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Dare not to take back what
has been given over to Him. God is constantly making known His will about our
character, conduct and career. Every part of life should be handed over to God
as His right and due because of what He has done for us. Our whole self is His.
So renounce all right to self. Always be at His disposal. It is a solemn matter
when God makes His will known to us through His Word, circumstances, counsel of
others, or inner conviction. George Muller’s counsel to a friend: “If God
has given you light, you are responsible for its use. Obey Him and walk in the
light. Then you will have more. If you do not, the light will be withdrawn.
God’s Word is ‘use or lose’”
It is often costly. It can lead
to loneliness. Life can be like an eagle’s, if you fly into higher levels and
live in God’s sunshine. No bird is so solitary as the eagle. Life lived for
God may forfeit human companionship, but it knows divine companionship. He will
never leave you alone. Be prepared to follow the light He gives you, regardless
of other’s opinions, tradition, and approval. Then shall we know, if we
follow on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3 AV).
The secret of Paul’s life was
that he had not been disobedient to the heavenly vision he received. It was
costly. It involved sacrifice. But how blessed he was. He could testify to
having God’s help to this very day. Later, when deserted by everyone at his
first trial in Rome, the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength (2
Timothy 4:17). For me to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). Through
glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as
impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten,
and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich;
having nothing, and yet possessing everything (2 Corinthians 6:8-10),
knowing the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (Philippians
4:7).
Has God given you a heavenly vision? Do you know it? Are you sure of it? Are you clear what you have to do? Are you fearful and trembling? Do not be disobedient to the heavenly vision. He has not called you to mock you or fail you. He gives the Holy Spirit to them that obey Him. “God’s work done in God’s way never lack God’s supplies.” (Hudson Taylor).
So Paul finished his speech, and
Festus concluded that Paul must be out of his mind (Acts 26:24). Agrippa asked, "Do
you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all
who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these
chains." (Acts 26:28,29). This was an extraordinary statement from a
prisoner about to be tried by the Roman Emperor that might well lead to
execution.
Why such assurance from the man
in chains? He had tasted to see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8): he
had discovered that God is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews
11:6); he had found that If you seek God with all your heart, you will find
Him (Deuteronomy 4:29); he had found the truth that He who comes to me
will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John
6:35). He had grasped these truths in both hands. He believed them with all his
heart. The Holy Spirit had changed him, and it was undeniable. His aching heart
had been satisfied, and there was no other explanation. He had placed his feet
firmly on the rock which is Christ Jesus and had absolute assurance that because
of Christ he need not fear death and judgement. Being with Christ was far
better. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day (2 Timothy 4:8).
The favour of God was a thousand
times better than the approval of men. Nothing was too much for Him who loved
Paul and gave Himself for Paul. His life was knowing Christ, and spending and
being spent for Him. There are few who can speak like this in the world. But
those who are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the glory of the
church, can keep this thought alive. These are the people who shake the world
and leave an indelible mark behind them. They have inward peace regardless of
outward troubles. They can sing in prison and sleep on the edge of their grave.
They are safe, and prepared to meet God at a moment’s notice.
Could we say to anyone – apart from my chains (my outward circumstance, ill-health, small income, difficult neighbours, present pressures) which I would not wish on anyone, I do wish you were like the real me, the person I am at heart? The Gospel is not hearsay, but I testify out of a real and full experience, I speak not of 20-year-old experiences but present day experience, for I am personally involved with Christ. I am rooted, settled, and have a firm conviction, and wish others had the same confidence. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day (2 Timothy 1:12). For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39).
Christ lives and never changes. He is able to save, receive, fill and empower. With His grace, nothing is impossible. Go on with Him to the end.
