THE AUDACITY OF THE CHURCH
ACTS 26:16-23
SPORTS FANS WILL ALWAYS ARGUE OVER QUESTIONS SUCH AS, WHO WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME IN A PARTICULAR SPORT. I THINK IN REALITY IT IS AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FACTOR IN THE TIME VARIABLE. I CAN SAY GORDIW HOWE WAS THE GREATEST OF HIS TIME, AND WAYNE GRETZKY WAS THE GREATEST OF HIS TIME, BUT I CAN’T SAY EITHER OF THEM WERE GREATER THAN THE OTHER.
I THINK THOUGH, THAT IF WE WERE TO CONSIDER THE SPORT OF BOXING, AND WERE TO ASK MOHAMMAD ALI WHO WAS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME, HE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM ANSWERING THE QUESTION. IN FACT HE MAY BE ANNOYED THAT WE WOULD BE SO STUPID AS TO ASK HIM THE QUESTION.
ALI WAS A FLAMBOYANT CHARISMATIC INDIVIDUAL WHO TRANSFORMED BOXING, STOOD UP FOR HIS POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, AND COULD BACK UP WHAT HE SAID ABOUT BOXING IN THE RING.
ALI WAS SOMEONE YOU EITHER LIKED OR HATED, WITH NO ROOM FOR A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OPINION. THE CHARACTERISTIC THAT REALLY BROUGHT THIS OUT WAS HIS AUDACITY. ONE THING THAT HE WOULD DO THAT REPORTERS LOVED AND OPPONANTS HATED WAS PREDICTING, WITH GREAT ACCURACY, THE ROUND IN WHICH HE WOULD WIN THE FIGHT.
“YOU SHOULD GET IN FOR FREE CAUSE IT’LL BE DONE IN THREE.
DON’T BE LATE. IT’LL ONLY TAKE EIGHT.
IN ROUND SEVEN HE’LL BE IN HEAVEN.
SOME BOXING SCHOLARS BELIEVED ALI WOULD LET FIGHTS GO ON PURPOSELY SO HE COULD MAKE HIS PREDICTIONS COME TRUE.
THE WORD “AUDACIOUS” MEANS, DARING, BOLD, OR IMPUDENT, AND, IS OFTEN LOOKED ON AS A NEGATIVE QUALITY, OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR BRAGGING, OR A PERSON BEING FULL OF THEMSELVES.
A PROBLEM PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH THE CHURCH, IS THAT THEY FEEL A DEGREE OF AUDACITY IN SOME OF IT’S CLAIMS. IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT ONLY THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION ADDRESSES. IT MAY NOT BE WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR, AND SO THEY ARE ANGERED BY ITS TRUTHS.
THIS IS, IN SOME CASES DESERVED. SOME TELEVANGELISTS FOR EXAMPLE HAVE DISPLAYED SELF-RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDES, AND MADE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE HURT THE CHURCH, RATHER THAN BUILT THE KINGDOM.
1. HOW DARE THEY CLAIM TO BE THE ONLY ONES TO HAVE THE TRUTH?
2. HOW DARE WE CLAIM TO KNOW THE ONLY WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN?
3. HOW DARE WE SAY THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY, TRUTH, AND LIGHT?
THERE IS A FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THAT FACT IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. TO BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY MUST MEAN THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANY OTHER RELIGION. WE CAN RESPECT PEOPLE WHO HOLD TO OTHER RELIGIONS, BUT WE MUST COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEIR BELIEFS ARE WRONG.
WE, AS BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIANS BELIEVE ON THE BASIS OF FAITH, IN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS GOD IN HUMAN FORM, LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR OUR SINS ON CALAVRY, AND THREE DAYS LATER AROSE FROM THE DEAD. WE BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS ETERNAL AND WILL BE SPENT EITHER IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US, THAT WILL BEGIN IN THIS WORLD AND TRANSCEND ETERNITY.
NO OTHER RELIGION PRESENTS A GOD WHO IS AS PERSONAL AND INTIMATE AS YAHWEH. IT IS NOT AUDACIOUS TO STATE WHAT HE HAS DONE IN OUR LIVES AND CAN DO FOR OTHERS. IT IS NECESSARY TO DO SO AND IS A STATEMENT OF FACT.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT PAUL’S TRIAL BEFORE KING AGRIPPA. MANY WOULD VIEW PAUL TO BE AUDACIOUS IN HIS CLAIMS HERE. NOWHERE THOUGH IS PAUL TRYING TO FORCE HIS BELIEFS ON KING AGRIPPA, BUT IS PRESENTING HIS TESTIMONY IN DEFENSE OF THE CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST HIM BY THE JEWISH LEADERS.
PAUL’S GREAT MISSION WAS TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL NOT ONLY TO THE GENTILES, BUT TO KINGS AND THOSE IN RULING POSITIONS. PAUL WOULD USE HIS TRIALS, AS HIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL TO THE ROMAN LEADERS ALL THE WAY UP TO AND INCLUDING THE EMPEROR HIMSELF.
THE ROMAN TRIALS TOOK PLACE ON A SERIES OF LEVELS. IF A PERSON WERE FOUND GUILTY ON ONE LEVEL, THEY COULD APPEAL THE VERDICT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. ROMAN CITIZENS COULD APPEAL ALL THE WAY TO THE EMPEROR.
PAUL HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND FOUND GUILTY BY JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. THE ACCUSED HAD TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE ROMANS FOR THE SENTENCE TO BE CARRIED OUT. PAUL BECAUSE HE WAS A ROMAN CITIZEN HAD THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO HIGHER COURTS, AND IS NOW BEFORE KING AGRIPPA.
AS I READ THE PASSAGE OVER I WAS AMAZED AT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN JESUS’ TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION AND PAUL’S.
1. BOTH WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH JEWISH CRIMES AND FOUND GUILTY IN JEWISH COURTS FIRST.
2. THE CHARGES WERE FALSE, AND THEREFORE THE TRIALS WERE ILLEGAL.
3. THEY BOTH HAD TO APPEAR BEFORE ROMAN AUTHORITIES.
4. THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES FOUND NO LEGAL REASON TO CONDEMN EITHER OF THEM, NOR DID THEY WANT TO.
AS WE CONSIDER THE TRIAL NOW, LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE CLAIMS PEOPLE COINSIDER TO BE AUDACIOUS TODAY.
POINT ONE: THE AUDACITY OF THE PROCLAMATION:
THE FIRST THING TO NOTICE IN THIS PASSAGE IN THAT PAUL IS VERY MANNERLY AND RESPECTABLE TO KING AGRIPPA. HE RESPECTFULLY ASKS TO PRESENT HIS DEFENSE AND GOES ON FROM THERE.
HE GIVES TO US A PATTERN TO FOLLOW IN OUR WITNESSING. HE DOES NOT BACK DOWN FROM WHAT HE BELIEVES, BUT WITH CHRISTIAN BOLDNESS, PROCLAIMS THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY FOR SALVATION.
ACTS 4:12: JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE PEOPLE. NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD IS ABLE TO SAVE US.”
PAUL’S STATEMENTS ABOUT JESUS WERE WHAT EVENTUALLY GOT HIM ARRESTED, CHARGED, AND CONVICTED IN JEWISH COURTS. PAUL SPEAKS WITH THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE BEHIND HIM.
ACTS 26:22-23: BUT GOD HAS HELPED ME, AND SO I STAND HERE TODAY, TELLING ALL PEOPLE, SMALL AND GREAT, WHAT I HAVE SEEN. BUT I AM SAYING ONLY WHAT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS SAID WOULD HAPPEN—23 THAT THE CHRIST WOULD DIE, AND AS THE FIRST TO RISE FROM THE DEAD, HE WOULD BRING LIGHT TO ALL PEOPLE.”
THESE ARE WORDS NOT OFFERED IN AUDACITY, BUT SHARED IN THE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN, AND TURN TO THE LORD.
AS CHRISTIANS AS WE SHARE, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL IS MADE IN THE SAME MANNER. IT REQUIRES THE PREPARATION OF PRAYER, SENSITIVITY AND COMPASSION. JESUS LOVED THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY HE DID NOT CONDEMN HER.
THE WORDS THAT WE SHARE IN WITNESS MUST BE SHARED TO BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY SHOULD NOT BE USED TO BROW BEAT OTHER RELIGIONS, MAKING THEIR ACCUSATIONS OF AUDACITY AGAINST US TRUE.
POINT TWO: THE AUDACITY OF WITNESS
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY TOTALLY INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, THAT CAN LEAD PEOPLE INTO A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THIS MEANS WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE THAT WORD WITH OTHERS.
ONE WRITER HAS SAID “THE CHURCH HAS A DIVINE OBLIGATION TO INTERFERE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.” SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WITNESSING AND WOULD PREFER SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT. WE HAVE THE TRUTH WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE WE LOVE DO NOT. WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THEIR ATTENTION.
I CANNOT SWIM. I SWIM LIKE A ROCK. IF I WERE AT A POOL, AND ABOUT TO DIVE IN THE DEEP END OF THE POOL, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE STOPPING ME AND SAYING IT WAS THE DEEP END. IT WOULD SAVE MY LIFE.
MOREOVER I WOULD EXPECT YOU, IF YOU WERE A TRUE FRIEND TO STOP ME. I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO INTERFERE. WHAT KIND OF A FRIEND WOULD YOU BE IF AT MY FUNERAL YOU WERE TO STATE THAT YOU COULD HAVE STOPPED MY ACCIDENT, BUT DIDN’T WANT TO INFERFERE BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE A DIVINE MANDATE TO INTERFERE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES WITH THE GOSPEL.
WE CAN INTERFERE BY:
1. INVITING THEM TO DINNER, AND SAYING GRACE BEFORE WE EAT.
2. INVITING THEM OUT TO SPECIAL THINGS AT THE CHURCH.
3. DOING A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS FOR THEM
4. HELPING IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION
DOING ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. WHEN THINGS ARE DONE FOR OTHERS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE TO WITNESS.
MATTHEW 13:33: THEN JESUS TOLD ANOTHER STORY: “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE YEAST THAT A WOMAN TOOK AND HID IN A LARGE TUB OF FLOUR UNTIL IT MADE ALL THE DOUGH RISE.”
WE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE LOSTNESS OF THE WORLD BY SENDING OUT MISSIONARIES, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
SOME PEOPLE CLAIM THAT THIS IS AN AUDACIOUS PRACTICE OF THE CHURCH. THEY CLAIM MISSIONARIES SPREAD POLITICAL IDEOLOGY AND NOTHING MORE.
WHAT PEOPLE FAIL TO NOTICE IS THE GOOD THAT MISSIONARIRES DO IN THE NAME OF CHRIST.
SHORT TERM PROJECTS HAVE BUILT: SCHOOLS
ORPHANAGES
HOSPITALS
MISSIONARIES HAVE BROUGHT:
HEALTH CARE
EDUCATION
SOCIAL REFORM
AND HAVE BROUGHT BACK A DIFFERENT VIEW OF PEOPLE TO US
IF AN AUDACIOUS PERSON IS ALWAYS THINKING OF THEMSELVES HOW DOES IT FIT IN WITH PEOPLE WHO WILLINGLY LEAVE THE COMFORTS AND SAFETY OF THEIR HOME COUNTRY FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF EARLY AND VIOLENT DEATH, SICKNESS, AND TO LIVE WITH NO COMFORTS. THESE MISSIONARIES WILL RECEIVE NO ACCOLADES OR FANFARE WHEN THEY RETURN HOME.
WE HAVEW NOTED THAT PAUL WAS VERY RESPECTFUL IN HIS DEFENCE. ONE WRITER HAS SAID:
“THE DIGNITY OF PAUL’S MANNER BEFORE ALL THESE GOVERNORS IS PERFECT. HE ADDRESSES HIMSELF TO THE CONSCIENCE WITH A FORGETFULNESS OF SELF THAT SHOWED A MAN IN WHOM COMMUNION WITH GOD, AND THE SENSE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, CARRIED THE MIND ABOVE ALL EFFECT OF CIRCUMSTANCES.”
PAUL WAS NOT SPEAKING ABOUT HIMSELF WHEN HE MADE HIS DEFENCE. HE TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF THE EQUATION AND PRESENTED THE ACTION OF CHRIST IN HIS LIFE AS BEING MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO HIM.
IN V. 16 PAUL SPEAKS OF HIMSELF AS AN “UNDER-ROWER”. THIS REFERS TO A LOWLY SERVANT OR PRISONER WHO WAS FORCED TO MAN THE OARS OF A GALLEY SHIP. THE UNDER-ROWER IS CHAINED TO HIS OAR AND CANNOT BE FREE FROM HIS BURDEN. HE IS FORCED TO ROW THE SHIP, AND IF THE SHIP WERE ATTACKED MOST LIKELY WOULD BE KILLED.
PAUL USES THIS ILLUSTRATION TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM. HE NOW CLAIMS THAT BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST, THAT HE IS AN UNDER-ROWER OF THE GOSPEL AND ITS PRESENTATION.
PAUL HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE HIS TESTIMONY TO KING AGRIPPA, THEREFORE HE WAS NOT BEING AUDACIOUS.
JUST AS PAUL, WE TOO ARE UNDER-ROWERS FOR THE GOSPEL. WE ARE SLAVES BY CHOICE TO GOD AND THEREFORE COMPELLED TO SHARE OUR TESTIMONY WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST.
WE ARE CALLED TO: GO WHERE GOD WANTS
WHEN GOD WANTS
WHO GOD WANTS
WE ARE CALLED TO WITNESS TO GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE. THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE “MISSIONS”, IT IS A MISSION.
POINT THREE: THE AUDACITY OF PROMISE
THE CHURCH IS IN THE WORLD TO “OPEN THE EYES” OF PEOPLE CAUGHT IN SPIRITUAL DARKNESS AND LEAD THEM TO THE LIGHT OF SALVATION.
NEW LIFE COMES, WHEN A PERSON IS WILLING TO CHANGE GODS, AND STEP FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. IT COMES WHEN PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LIVE UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AND NOT SATAN.
PAUL PAINTS THIS WONDERFUL PICTURE FOR US HERE AS HE PRESENTS HIS TESTIMONY. ONE WRITER STATES:
“PAUL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRISONER. HE WAS A PRISONER TO THE JEWISH LEADERS AND THE LAW BEFORE HE ACCEPTED CHRIST, AND WAS MADE A PRISONER TO THE ROMANS BECAUSE HE WAS A CHRISTIAN.”
J.N.DARBY WRITES:
“OTHERS SHALL GAIN STRENGTH AND LIBERTY IN VIEW OF HIS BONDS, EVEN ALTHOUGH, IN THE LOW STATE OF THE CHURCH, SOME TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. BUT CHRIST WILL BE PREACHED AND MAGNIFIED, AND WITH THAT PAUL IS CONTENT. OH HOW TRUE THIS IS, AND THE PERFECT JOY OF THE HEART, COME WHAT MAY! WE ARE THE SUBJECTS OF GRACE (GOD BE PRAISED) AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENTS OF GRACE IN SERVICE. CHRIST ALONE IS THE OBJECT, AND GOD SECURES THE GLORY. NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED: THIS ITSELF IS OUR PORTION, AND OUR PEFECT JOY.”
IS IT AUDACIOUS TO PRESENT A PROMISE THAT CAN CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES AND PREPARE THEM FOR AN ETERNITY THAT PRESENTLY THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. IT’S A CHALLENGE, AND MANY TIMES UNHEEDED, BUT IT IS NOT AUDACIOUS.
WE ARE NOT BRAGGING ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE. WE ARE SHARING WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE TO OTHERS, IN THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL BEGIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH SALVATION.
CONCLUSION:
IS IT AUDACIOUS TO PRESENT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. IT CAN BE, IF WE PRESENT THE GOSPEL WITH THE MOTIVE OF BUILDING OURSELF UP. PAUL TEACHES US TO PRESENT THE GOSPEL IN HUMILITY, WITH ALL PRAISE GOING TO GOD. WHEN DONE SO IT IS NOT AUDACIOUS.
GALATIANS 6:14: I HOPE I WILL NEVER BRAG ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT. THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS MY ONLY REASON FOR BRAGGING. THROUGH THE CROSS OF JESUS MY WORLD WAS CRUCIFIED, AND I DIED TO THE WORLD.
SALVATION FOUNDED ON FAITH PRODUCES LIFE CHANGE WHICH DEMONSTRATES ITS FRUITS IN DAILY CONDUCT THAT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD.
LET’S NOT FORGET THAT LUKE’S PURPOSE IN BOTH HIS NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS IS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON CONVERSION, FORGIVENESS, AND SANCTIFICATION.
HERE HE NOT ONLY ESTABLISHED PAUL’S CALL, BUT ALSO THE MESSAGE HE HAD FAITHFULLY PRESENTED FOR OVER TWO DECADES.
RICHARD LONGENECKER WRITES:
“PAUL’S MISSION WAS A PROPHETIC ONE THAT PERPETUATED THE COMMISSION ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUS SERVANT, JESUS CHRIST. CHRISTIANS TODAY, AS GOD’S SERVANTS AND PROPHETS, ARE CALLED TO THE SAME KIND OF MINISTRY.”
IF WE WERE TO STAND BEFORE KING AGRIPPA TODAY, CHARGED AS PAUL WAS, WHAT WOULD OUR DEFENCE BE?
