What Are You Expecting This Year? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: Life will be broken, but Jesus will be faithful.
SCRIPTURE: Acts 23:11-35
Happy New Year! As we enter into 2020 together, we’re going to begin by spending the next few weeks wrapping up our study of the book of Acts. We took the month of December off to look at Isaiah 9:6, so I want to quickly recap what’s led up to the passage we’re coming to this morning. Paul has finally made it to Jerusalem, and, just like the Holy Spirit told him, there’s been trouble. After a mob broke out and tried to kill him for supposedly breaking Jewish laws (which he had not), the Roman officials had to step in and carry him away because the crowd was so violent. However, most people, including the officials carrying him away, didn’t even know what Paul was supposed to have done. They were just joining in on the chaos. In fact, when Paul spoke to the Roman guard in Greek, the guard was shocked because he was under the impression Paul was an Egyptian who was leading some thousands of assassins out in the desert! In the midst of this confusion, Paul asked to speak to the crowd and was allowed to do so...which is incredible in and of itself. Instead of defending himself to this hostile crowd, however, he tells them all Jesus has done in his life. Why? He’s less concerned with his well being than their salvations.
This goes ok until he mentions his mission to share the gospel with the Gentiles...then they try to rip him apart. The Roman officials then step in to rescue him...by calling for him to be examined by flogging. That’s when Paul tells them he’s a Roman citizen which stops the beating and gives him an avenue to go exactly where God had been sending him—Rome. Before that happens though, he’s put on another trial before the Sanhedrin. This trial is a sham, and he calls them on that. In fact, before it’s over they end up fighting amongst themselves. It gets so violent that the Roman tribune has to step in and carry him away to prevent him from being torn to pieces! That night Jesus appears to him and says this, which is where we left off last month and where we’ll pick up this morning:
“11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."”
I want to always be transparent with you guys, so I’m going to admit this from the beginning here. The truth that is most obvious in our passage this morning—and honestly, this will be the case in some of the remaining passages we have in Acts as well—is 100% a truth we’ve discussed in the past. However, it keeps coming up. Here’s our gist: Life will be broken, but Jesus will be faithful. Bad things will happen in your life, but God always has a plan that is better than we realize. Why does this truth keep coming up? Well, have we learned it yet? ☺️ Think about it this way. When life takes a nose dive or throws you a massive curve, how do you react? Is your first reaction peace knowing Jesus isn’t surprised but is, in fact, still working; or is your reaction some combination of panic and anger? We need these reminders constantly because life tries desperately to make us forget.
I promised brevity last week… and lied, so I’ll make no such claim today. However, we do have only 2 points to walk through ☺️. Let’s do that. First→
I. EXPECT LIFE TO BE BROKEN
Let’s get some context for this. Not only has Paul not been having a great couple days, but if it could have gotten worse...it did. Look at verses 12-15.
“12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."”
Having a bad day? Have forty+ guys taken an oath to starve themselves to death or kill you lately? Probably not ☺️. This is serious. Note a couple things about this plot. First, this is being done by the “religious people”. Sin doesn’t only come in back-alley packages. It’s a devastating disease that affects every aspect of our society. Where there are people, there will be pride. We cannot for a moment assume that growing up in church or attending every Sunday, or so, somehow exempts us from the effects of sin. It doesn’t. We have to guard our hearts and take up our crosses daily.
Secondly, this was a big-deal commitment. These kinds of oaths were expected to be followed through. There was gravity connected to an oath like this, so there is serious dedication to their diabolical plan here. That’s how badly they want to kill Paul. However, as we’ll see in a moment, they don’t succeed in their plot. When I noticed that a few months back, my first question was...so, did forty guys from Jerusalem die of starvation that year cursing the name of Paul? We have no idea, but since it wasn’t recorded, and Dr. Luke undoubtedly would have had something to say about it had he known, it seems more likely that these plotters also became oath-breakers. Their deceit just continued to build...as deceit always does.
Ok, so I have three quick observations I want to make here. First→
Your Life Will Have Hardships. Junk will happen. We live in a world broken by sin. Brokenness will result. Sickness, loss, frustration, fear, betrayal, confusion, exhaustion, neglect, need. These will come. Now, don’t get me wrong, by no means am I saying that that’s all you have to look forward to in 2020! We’re coming to that back soon enough. However, don’t go into this blind. No “resolution” will ever prevent the natural downfalls of living in this sin-plagued world. Be prepared for that. Yet, more than this, the passage is pointing to the truth that→
Persecution Is The Natural Result Of Following Jesus For Real. And that “for real” part is key. Just taking the name of Jesus and claiming to be a Christian is not enough. We’re called to love Him with everything. If you do, the natural result will be persecution. He goes against the grain and so will you. Man, it is so much easier not to toe the line. It is easy to just give in and affirm everybody and every popular notion regardless of how sinful. And, honestly, Christians do this all the time. We don’t want to ruffle feathers or seem “behind the times”, so we compromise to put forth a better face to our friends and colleagues. We don’t admit that we’re being spineless. We give it more positive terms like being accepting or seeker-sensitive. However, it is never loving to smile while people march to Hell, and true devotion to Christ will never allow it. We have to keep our priorities straight, and our priority has to be Jesus and making Him known.
Look at Mark 8:36-38. “36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."” Please let that sink in.
I know this could definitely sound pessimistic. It’s not though. I’m a realistic optimist! I know what this world has to offer, and it’s not good. HOWEVER, I also→
II. EXPECT JESUS TO BE FAITHFUL
See, this passage doesn’t end with the plot to kill Paul. It ends with how Jesus used that plot to take Paul to a place where he’d continue to be a witness and pen many of the books of the New Testament. Your life stinking sometimes isn’t even half of your story either! There is so much good happening. Don’t miss it. Let’s just walk through the rest of this chapter (I know it is a bit lengthy), and then hit a few observations.
“16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.” This is Paul’s nephew. We know nothing more about him, though plenty of speculation exists. What is incredible to notice is that regardless of who exactly he was or precisely how old...etc., he was exactly the right young man at exactly the right time to get this accomplished. And he just happened to know about the plot, right? I don’t think so ☺️.
It keeps going. “17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him." 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you." 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" 20 And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent." 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of these things."” I have read so much speculation about these verses and why the boy was able to be so bold with the tribune and tell him what he needed to do, and why the tribune actually listened! And it is crazy. How many factors had to come into play for this to work? Exactly the right ones! How? God is sovereign! I feel like one of those infomercials. “But wait! There’s more!”☺️. Look at how this tribune then makes sure Paul gets to the next city safely.
“23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, "Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.” An armored guard of 270 soldiers? I think he probably made it! ☺️ “24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor." 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect: 26 "Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen.” He might have left out some key details here about being in the act of having him beaten before learning all this, but anyway... “28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him." 31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.”
This is excellent. Let me make three quick observations here. First→
Jesus Is Sovereign. His nephew, the tribune, and even the governor here. Everything worked out just right. This wasn’t good luck. This was God’s plan. Remember a couple weeks ago we talked about Him as the “Mighty God”, the one who always wins. That’s what we see here. Jesus is in control, and He works things out in ways we could never have imagined! Second→
Jesus Is Purposeful. Remember verse 11? “11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome."” Jesus told Paul he’s going to Rome. Why did all of this happen like it did? To get him there! The things happening in your life are equally purposeful. I know that is hard to see in the moment. Don’t think Paul somehow connected this plot on his life immediately to his being able to better spread the gospel in Rome either. So, whatever your circumstances remember this third point→
Jesus Is Faithful. You’re not. This world isn’t. Jesus 100% is. “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) He has a purpose. He has a plan. It’s for those who follow Him with everything, and it’s very good.
Let’s hit a few quick→
TAKEAWAYS
- Life will be broken.
- Jesus is sovereign.
- He will continue to be purposeful.
- He will always be faithful.
- You can trust Him. “5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8) That’s a New Year’s resolution worth having!
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