Lessons In Courage Part 3 Series

ACTS

Lessons in Courage

Dr. Tom Bartlett

October 6, 2019

Acts 22 (part 2)

OUTLINE

A Faith That Is D.A.R.I.N.G. (i. n. g.)

Dignified respect for opposition

“Brothers and fathers. . . he was addressing them in the Hebrew language. . .” Acts 22:1-3

Assessment of your own personal failures

I persecuted this Way to the death. . . Acts 22:4-5

Remembering your own conversion

“And I fell to the ground. . . who are you Lord?” Acts 22:6-11

Identifiable life-changes because of Christ

“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ Acts 22:12-16

New purpose in following Christ

“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 22:17-21

Going forward courageously through Christ

Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. Acts 22:22-30

MANUSCRIPT

Good morning and welcome to Steele Creek Eastfield. My name is Tom Bartlett and I’m one of the pastors for this great church.

STORY OF COURAGE -

We’re in a new series called, Lessons in Courage. Paul has now arrived at his desired destination, Jerusalem. He’s brought an offering for the needy there, but immediately he is faced with his opponent, his enemies.

But quickly he was accused by the religious leaders and they ceased him and started to beat him. The Roman peace keepers jump in since their barrack were directly next to this Jewish religious site, often where Jewish religious skirmishes erupted, so the soldiers immediately came in and scooped Paul up from being mauled to death by these religious leaders. Half way up the stairs into the barracks the guard allows Paul to address the people.

Now everyone faces opposition in life. It may be physical, emotional, it may relational, or economic. It may be spiritual. Yet through out the Bible we are called to be courageous, to stand firm, to face life knowing God is with us.

From Paul’s interactions we can see no less than 6 key ways to respond to opposition.

A Faith That Is D.A.R.I.N.G.

[From part 1)

Dignified respect for opposition

Acts 22:1-3 “Brothers and fathers. . . he was addressing them in the Hebrew language. . .”

Assessment of your own personal failures