Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Acts: Enlarging Our Vision

By Looking for God to Prepare the Way (9/20/09)

Sermon Series: Acts: Enlarging our Vision

Title: : ‘By looking for God to Prepare the way’     Text: Acts 25

Introduction: In the late 1800’s a member of Britain’s Parliament went to Scotland to make a speech. He got off the train in Edinburgh, and then took a carriage south toward his destination. Unfortunately, the carriage became stuck in deep mud. A local farm boy came to the rescue with his team of work horses.

 

In his gratitude, the politician offered a reward, but the boy refused, saying he wanted nothing. "Well,” persisted the legislator, "Is there anything I can do for you? What would you like to do with yourself when you grow up?" "I’d like to become a doctor" the young man replied. The Member of Parliament promised to do what he could, and in fact secured admission to the university for the young man.

 

During World War 2 more than 50 years later, Winston Churchill lay dangerously ill in Morocco, suffering from pneumonia. A new wonder drug was administered to him, penicillin, which had been discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming, the Scottish farm boy of so long before. And the politician who had sponsored him to the university? He was Randolph Churchill, the father

of Winston. (Jason Jones)

 

·       Have you ever wondered what it takes to get you to be where God wants you to be?

·       Have you ever wondered what it takes to get you to do what God wants you to do?

 

I have spoken in previous messages about ‘the invisible hand of God.’ We see it here once again in this story. But here and in our text, ‘The invisible hand of God’ is more than just God’s watch care over our lives and interventions to bring about His will and purposes. It is God orchestrating events, preparing us for something He wants us to do.

 

In other words,

·       ‘The invisible hand of God’ is often at work preparing the way for us to follow,

·       orchestrating events in our lives,

·       so that we will bring about God’s intended purposes.

 

And more often than not, we fail to see his prep work, because we’re simply not looking.

 

Transition: Open your Bibles to Acts 25:1 (pg. 853 in the Bibles under the chair in front of you) For it’s there we’ll discover that we enlarge our vision of God by looking for God to prepare the way.

 

I. Acts 25:1-6 A look at the ‘New Guy’ in town

Read: Acts 25:1-6

 

It’s hard being the new guy. I know. I attended 3 different schools in 3rd grade, 2 different schools in 9th grade and 2 different schools in 12th grade. Needless to say, we moved a lot when I was growing up. And ‘fitting in’ was always difficult. I often found myself doing and saying things that were ‘not me’ in order to fit in. I think the new governor Festus could identify.

 

Historians tell us that Festus was a novice when it came to dealing with the Jews. His inexperience played a major role in Paul’s case and was the reason Paul appealed to Caesar.

 

It seems Paul’s case was not as easy as it first appeared to Festus. God would use this ‘newbie’ to get Paul to Rome and in the mean time, prepare the way for Paul to fulfill what God had called him to do.

 

Read: Acts 9:15 ‘But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

But I am getting ahead of myself. The Jewish religious leaders come to Festus asking him for a favor...to release Paul to their custody so he can stand trial in Jerusalem. But we are told their real agenda...to kill Paul along the way.

 

I think Festus grasped the political implications of doing what the Jewish leaders wanted. It would give the appearance that they were in control and calling the shots. Festus declined. Not because he really cared about Paul, but because he cared about his political clout.

 

It’s interesting that God uses the inexperience, pride and insecurity of this Roman governor to prepare the way for Paul to fulfill God’s calling in his life. Never forget,

 

·       God can use whatever He wants, whomever He wants, whenever He wants, to accomplish His will.

 

Transition: Festus goes to Caesarea and immediately has Paul brought before him. You’ve got to hand it to Festus, unlike his predecessor, Felix, he didn’t waste any time.

 

II. Acts 25:7                 Another look at the lies

Read: Acts 25:7

 

Like a pack of angry dogs, the Jewish religious leaders circle Paul and unleash their anger and hostility. They shouted many serious charges against Paul, none of which they could prove.

 

Transition: When they were done, Festus gave Paul the opportunity to speak.

 

III. Acts 25:8-12         Paul looks at his options

Read: Acts 25:8-12

 

Paul restates his innocence. I am sure Festus is a bit perplexed:

·       The Jews are shouting bloody murder... literally, they wanted Paul dead for his actions.

·       The Jews are not able to prove any of the accusations.

·       And Paul, after being in prison for over 2yrs, with great confidence, asserts his innocence.

 

Remember I said when I was the ‘new kid’ in school I would do and say things that were ‘not me’ in order to make friends and get along with the other students? We see Festus do the same thing here when he asks Paul if he was willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial.

 

·       This would make Festus’ relationship with the Jews better.

·       This would ‘pass the buck’ of having to try Paul’s case himself.

·       And would give him some breathing room as he starts his new job.

 

Paul, once again declares his innocence of all charges. He even adds that if he were guilty of anything deserving death, he would not fight the death sentence. But...he was not guilty.

 

I believe Paul, looked around and saw that

·       Festus didn’t want to or didn’t know how to, properly try his case.

·       The Jews would not give him a fair hearing in Jerusalem, in fact, he knew he wouldn’t make it alive to Jerusalem.

 

So, Paul refuses Festus’ offer of a change of venue and makes an appeal to Caesar, as was his right as a Roman citizen.

 

If you read between the lines, this next part is pretty funny. Festus is taken back by Paul appeal to Caesar. He goes to another room and gathers his advisors. He asks them ‘Can he do that?’ Remember he’s new at this governor thing. Although not mentioned by Luke, they said yes. So Festus, perhaps a little embarrassed, decides to send Paul to Rome to present his case before the emperor Caesar.

 

Do you see ‘the invisible hand of God’ working to prepare Paul to fulfill his calling to go to Rome? But before that, he will speak to kings...just like God told Paul he would do.

 

Transition: Let’s see how God prepares the way for Paul to do that.

 

IV. Acts 25:13-22 Looking for another perspective

Read: Acts 25:13-22

 

Festus shares his dilemma concerning Paul with the King and Herod expresses an interest to hear what Paul has to say. OK God, I definitely see your invisible hand now!

 

But wait...the Herod family has not been a friend to Christianity.

·       They killed all the male children under 2 in Bethlehem, looking to kill Jesus

·       They killed John the Baptist

·       They killed Jesus

·       They killed James, the brother of Jesus

·       Would Paul be next?

 

Herod was an expert in Jewish affairs and his family has had many encounters with Christians. So, with Festus being a novice, Herod would get to play the part of the BMOC. Herod says he wants to hear Paul personally....and Festus jumps at the offer.

 

But this is not going to be an actual trial because Herod held no jurisdiction there. He was merely an advisor and Paul was perhaps nothing more than entertainment.

 

If you step back from the scene, you might say ‘What a coincidence...the King of Israel, Herod Agrippa II and his sister, Bernice, just happen to visit Caesarea to say hi to the new governor and gets a chance to see and hear Paul speak.’ No, if you look closer, you’ll see it was God preparing the way for Paul.

 

Transition: What happens when everyone gathers to hear Paul speak?

 

V. Acts 25:23-27        Looking for a way out

Read: Acts 25:23-27

 

A great show takes place as King Herod and Bernice enter the governors palace. Everyone is dressed up and excited to see the King.

 

Festus begins by welcoming Herod and Bernice and stating the problem he is having with Paul’s case. Particularly that he can’t find a reason to have Paul executed...sound familiar? Isn’t that what Pontius Pilate said to the Jews about Jesus when he was governor? Festus and Pilate held the very same office...another coincidence?

 

But this wasn’t all fun and games for Festus. He could not send Paul to Caesar w/o serious charges and w/o proving that he had done everything in his power to try the case successfully himself.

 

Well, we will find out next week what Paul says and if Festus gets his charge against Paul.

 

Conclusion

When I read Acts 25 and 26, I see chapter 25 as how God prepared the way for Paul to share the gospel to a large crowd. The events of chapter 25 set the scene for Paul’s preaching in chapter 26.

 

Paul in chapter 25 is given the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to a large group of very prominent people. His audience is much larger than just the governor. In addition to Festus, those present will include King Herod Agrippa II and Bernice, Roman military commanders, and a large number of the prominent men of the city of

Caesarea. They all came to hear Paul speak.

 

This is a far bigger and more influential crowd than a preacher could ever have hoped to have assembled in one place and at one time. But it was not Paul who arranged this meeting, it was God. And God prepared the way for Paul to speak without interruption from the Jews because... they weren’t invited.

 

What a wonderful opportunity...all perfectly orchestrated by God’s invisible hand to bring about his will and purposes.

 

We must remember, and never doubt, that God is absolutely sovereign.

 

Listen to what Paul wrote during his imprisonment.

 

Read: Romans 11:30-36

 

Do you see it? Considering who we were and what we did...still, God was able

·       to bring us to saving faith in Jesus Christ and an eternity in Heaven.

·       He orchestrated the events in our lives to bring us to the foot of the cross,

·       to repent of our sin,

·       to ask Jesus for forgiveness

·       and to give us eternal life in heaven.

 

God’s ways are not our ways, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts....that’s because He’s God and we’re not.

·       He alone is sovereign,

·       He alone is in control.

·       He alone prepares the way for us,

·       so that we can accomplish His will and purposes.

 

Like Paul, we must look for God at work around us. And ask the question each day....what is God preparing, though the everyday events of my life, for me?

 

We enlarge out vision of God, by looking for God to prepare the way.