Author: missionspaul

Don’t be swayed by numbers

Acts 25: 2 “Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul.”

We do not know how many, but this is a group of the present high priest and previous ones no doubt and other religious leaders of all persuasions.

As with any group there would be differences of opinion about a whole realm of things. However, they are united over the charges against Paul.

A united front doesn’t mean they are right.

“I am right and you can ask such and such. Hey will you back me up here and tell them what I’ve told them?” And yet even with such displays they can be miles from the truth.

Don’t let the weight of opinion persuade you to believe something is true no matter how many ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ there are!

It is possible that the large group is wrong and the one person is innocent. It takes strength to slow the situation down and discover yourself the truth.

Numbers isn’t everything especially when there is no evidence or fruit.

A leader in the heat of the battle – that could be you!

Acts 25:1 “Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem”

There isn’t a lot known about Festus except that he ruled for 3 years (AD 59-62) until his death. Josephus writes of him being an honourable man but he had major challenges ranging from the Jews and Greeks fighting in Caesarea to a group of Jewish zealots called Sicarii who carried very small daggers (that’s the meaning of their name) and who opposed the Roman occupation of their land. In Jerusalem the Jews had erected a very high temple wall so that no one could see what was happening in the inner courts especially any Roman officials and there was also at that time a Messiah pretender leading people into the desert. So, welcome to your new role Festus!

After 3 days he is on his way to the centre of the divide, the hub of activity of the major problems, to Jerusalem.

In the first year of taking office, President Trump visited Saudi Arabia (to address terrorism), Israel (for peace with the Palestinians), Vatican City (to meet the Pope), Brussels (NATO allies) and then Italy (G7 leaders). I don’t want to get into any thoughts of Trump except every major world leader’s first visits become headline news, as these did.

The headline news for Festus was that his first visit after arriving into office in Caesarea was to go to Jerusalem. For him he not only needed to meet the main religious and political leaders but he also wanted to get into the heart of one of his major challenges.

A leader is not afraid to go into the heat of the battle.

So today, go and face it, don’t make it a side issue. What needs to be sorted out? How long are you going to be in this position/place to make a difference? You don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but today you know that in ‘Jerusalem’ lies the centre of the problems. Get ‘Jerusalem’ solved and the effect will be far-reaching. Go and speak to the right people, have the right conversation, don’t be afraid.

Jerusalem could not be solved by staying in Caesarea. It could not be solved by thinking about it and talking to friends and discussing the different opinions. Jerusalem had to be visited. So go and make some headline news today.

 

 

Leadership Change

Acts 24:27 “When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favour to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.”

A change of leadership can often mean everything changes.

It changed for Felix. Josephus writes of this change as being more of a recalling by Nero than any retirement or voluntary stepping aside. Felix carried defeat in his heart, perhaps he was too angry and twisted to feel regret, but whoever stepped in as successor would be assured of not being able to lead as badly as him.

It changed for Festus. Following a bad leader can be difficult to adjust to the cynicism and anger within the society, so much so that without applied wisdom it can appear that it was better with a bad leader than a weak leader. Festus didn’t last long probably only 2 years.

It changed for the Jews. Felix did something for them for once. Most probably connected to him trying to stop their continued complaints to Nero he tried to placate them by not ending the trial of Paul and so keeping him in prison. Deals done at the last minute by those exiting are often bad deals. But with Festus they would find a greater listening ear.

It changed for Paul. He had waited in limbo for 2 years. Now with the change of leader there was a new appetite to get the problem (him) sorted. He must have been very frustrated to not be able to be mobilised for the gospel.

It changed for Luke. Luke had stayed with Paul and had used the 2 years to most probably get the information to write his gospel and the majority of Acts. It is believed Paul also wrote to the Philippians in prison. Luke was facing a new chapter and a new page. The story continued.

Now look back to see the underlined words.

In the time of leadership change (whether that leader or the people want change or not) there are always:

Assurances: a perceived belief that life will be better.

Acumen: the need for this is crucial for all, the leader and the led, early good judgments and small victories brought about by some quick decisions are essential.

Arrangement: a jostling, moving into position, trying to make gains in the short vacuum of leadership, people arranging themselves sometimes with further discord.

Appetite: new ones, to deal with complexities left undone.

Advancement: of the story, the excitement of action

We shall see how the new leader gets on in the next few days!

Bribes, Corners and the Gospel

Acts 24: 26 “At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.”

Not everyone who wants to talk wants to talk for the reason you think.

Maybe Felix thought that Paul had collected such a large amount of money that he could be bribed within this trial.

Luke records it so how did he know? Paul must have known about the hidden agenda of Felix and later told Luke.

This shows that given an opportunity to share the gospel you should take it even if you know the listener would prefer something else.

We can imagine the suggestive hints, the nods of the head of Felix and winks to Paul, promises and threats. Yet at the same time this steadfast refusal by Paul to give way and to cut a corner, to give some money so that he could be free. When you are free you never have to pay for your freedom. We don’t peddle the gospel for gain. We lose our life for the gospel.

Everyone had to decide

Acts 24:25 “As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

Paul needed Felix to give him a fair trial. But this didn’t sway him from giving Felix the straight gospel.

This was not a “God thinks you’re really nice” message. Paul could have spoken some prophetic encouragement that God would use Felix in some mighty way. That God was pleased with their marriage etc. Not Paul!

This was 3 points (all the 3 pointer preachers shout Amen!) and it was strong.

1. The standards of God, the righteousness of Christ and the living of our lives with justice.
2. The immorality of life, the desire for selfish living, to wander away from God.
3. The end result of the above 2 points. The result and the last day rewards.

It was strong and it was challenging. Felix was afraid. It uprooted Felix’s position in life. There was someone bigger than him, more powerful, who does and will deal with man. This was better than the famous British preacher, Jonathan Edwards, who delivered a sermon title in the 1740’s called, ‘Sinners in the hands of an angry God’. The power of preaching can make people afraid for their lives? Is that possible? What were the results of Jonathan Edwards sermon? Well, nearly 3 centuries later it is still being studied in theological courses around the world!

Felix was afraid. He made the excuse of convenience. It never was convenient again. This was his moment, a missed opportunity to get right with God, he never took it and there is no record of him doing so. But of course, his foolishness meant that his young wife, Drusilla, followed his lead.

So hard preaching or soft preaching there are no guarantees of results. People decide and often their decision disappoints.

Drusilla

Acts 24:24 “Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.”

So this is what I find out about Drusilla from the writings of Josephus:

Her father was King Herod Agrippa 1 who died suddenly after he appeared in Caesarea as a god. (Acts 12:19-23)

When her father died she was 6 years of age. She married Felix at 14 years of age and she is standing before Paul at 19 years of age.

She was already married to a king in Syria but Felix hired a magician to tempt her away on the promise he would make her happy.

She was Felix’s third wife.

Four details about Drusilla.

A young woman who had experienced grief, who had grown up in her formative years without a father and who was then taken by older men to be their wife.

She is 19yrs and has experienced brokenness and sin.

Here she stands listening to Paul explain why Jesus had to suffer and die and the effects of the resurrection.

She hears that God loves her.

Today everyone deserves to hear of the story of love.

In each generation broken people need healing, sin needs forgiveness, Christ needs to be preached.

Who do you know today who has a life similar to that of Drusilla?

Pray for the opportunity Paul was given and then take it.

Friendship

Acts 24:23 “He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.”

Paul was chained and imprisoned. He had various needs like food and clothes. Above all he needed a friend to care of him.

Are you a friend to those who are held back?

Are you a friend to those with little freedom?

This week I heard how one of my missionaries was taking a lady to the market because that lady was too afraid to leave her home. That missionary was a friend.

Paul was chained and imprisoned. Yet he had some freedom. Friendship needs space to breathe and prove its worth. Some shut down this space maybe because they have been hurt or perhaps they don’t have time for people in their lives. We were not created to be alone. We must not allow pride or pain to close down God’s purposes for our lives.

For friendship to exist there needs to be 2 elements: the desire to be a friend and the desire to have a friend.

Which desire will you focus on today ?

The adjournment

Acts 24:22 “Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.”

The adjournment would mean that Paul would remain in custody for 2 years.

But that is only half the story.

The adjournment would also mean:

Paul would have several sessions of witnessing to Felix and his wife Drusilla.

Paul most likely wrote to the Philippians from there.

Paul took the opportunity to share with Luke the parts of the story that he had not witnessed which were vital for his gospel and the book of Acts.

The adjournment was not wasted time.

You might be waiting for something but God is using this time and soon the time will be over (v27) and you will look back and see what God has done.

The one thing … resurrection!

Acts 24: 21 (Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin) –  unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: “It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.”’

This one thing, resurrection!

It is what unites and divides.

Paul preached it and some outside the Church sneered (Acts 17:32) and some inside chose not to believe (1 Corinthians 15:12).

This one thing, resurrection, is not only the foundation of our faith but for Paul it offers the true essence and meaning for our faith.

Why so?

If Jesus Christ was not raised then he lied about his own resurrection (Mark 9:31).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then the cross has no power to save (1 Corinthians 15:3).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then there is no hope that anyone be raised (1 Corinthians 15:18-19).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then God who raises the dead has not vindicated him (1 Corinthians 15:20).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then sin and death cannot be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

If Jesus Christ was not raised then there is no new life in God now (Romans 6:4).

Paul and resurrection, one thing, this is why he is on trial.

Most importantly, if this one thing did not exist then … where is the body of Jesus? The Sanhedrin could not and would never be able to explain the whereabouts of the dead body of Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees also believed in resurrection. That was not the one thing Paul was meaning.

You speak to people today and many will hold to a nice thought that people are still alive after their death. But this is not the one thing that challenges.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ and all of the effects of that one thing, that is the one thing!

The difficulty of judging

Acts 24:20 “Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin.”

Paul is on trial before Felix accused by the Sanhedrin’s lawyer of being a troublemaker, of stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world and a desecrator of the temple.

There was no evidence for any of these accusations and Paul points out that the ones who initially made up these lies were not there.

So he then refers to the time Claudius the Commander took him to the Sanhedrin, to the people who were standing there now behind Tertullus their lawyer. What crime did they find in him then? Well he knew the only offence was his outspokenness to Ananias, the High Priest, but Felix would soon judge their provocation and response to that was far too much, so they would hardly bring that up as a crime.

You see friends the lesson is simple, don’t stand on the side of the prosecution if you cannot give evidence of the crime nor state it because you yourself would not survive the cross-examination. Jesus stated it well when he said make sure the log is taken out of your own eye before you start complaining about the speck in someone else’s.

Judging is really difficult and it is best left to God.