TO CAESAR YOU SHALL GO!
Text: Acts 25:1-12
Introduction
1. "In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hoped for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God's hand, but a humble acknowledgement of helplessness and dependence. When we are on our knees, we know that it is not we who control the world; it is not in our power, therefore, to supply our needs by our own independent efforts; every good thing that we desire for ourselves and for others must be sought from God, and will come, if it comes at all, as a gift from his hands.... In effect, therefore, what we do every time we pray is to confess our own impotence and God's sovereignty. The very fact that a Christian prays is thus proof positive that he believes in the Lordship of his God." (JI Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. InterVarsity Press. 2008 pp. 15-16).
2. In our text today, we see some amazing things, but the greatest thing we see is Paul’s belief and trust in the sovereignty of God.
3. Now, put yourself in his shoes. Jesus had appeared to him and told him that he was to preach the Gospel in Rome. Since then, he had spent the last two years in jail when he hadn’t done anything wrong, and there was a plot to assassinate him. If that were me, I probably would be moaning and complaining, not to mention, worrying myself sick.
4. But nowhere in our text does it say Paul was worried. Why? Because he believed in the sovereignty of his almighty God.
5. Read Acts 25:1-12
Transition: Let’s see what happens as Paul’s journey to Rome takes another step.
I. The Sovereignty of God at Work
A. At this point Paul has been incarcerated for two years for a crime he didn’t commit. The previous governor, Felix, didn’t find him guilty of anything, but wouldn’t decide about letting him go because he was afraid of the Jews.
B. But now we find that there is a new sheriff in town. There is a new governor in the region, and he will now be making the decision on Paul. Luke tells us in vv1-2, “Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul.”
1. The new governor, Festus, didn’t waste any time in getting to work. After just three days, he went to Jerusalem and met with the Jewish religious and political leaders.
2. Of course, their first thing on the agenda was to get rid of Paul, and so, they told Festus the same old lies that they had told his predecessor.
3. We don’t know much about Festus, but what little we do know is that he was a fair-minded person, which was the opposite of Felix.
4. In fact, other than the Jewish historian Josephus, what Luke tells us about him is most of what is written about Festus.
5. For two years, the greatest evangelist and church planter in the early church had been sitting in a jail cell.
6. But let us be reminded that the goal here was to get Paul to Rome safely so that he could preach the Gospel.
7. God promised Paul this would happen, and God always keeps his promises.
C. Then Luke tells us in vv. 3-5, “They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”
1. Again, it had been two years, but the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Paul.
2. In fact, what started with 40 radicals has increased to all of the Jewish leaders. They concluded that the Romans weren’t going to convict him of anything, so they had to take matters into their own hands.
3. As a result, they asked Festus to bring Paul back to Jerusalem for a hearing. They were savvy leaders and wanted to use this “favor” from Festus as a means of building a good relationship with them.
4. But Festus told them that Paul was already in Caesarea, and he would be returning there soon, and they could come with him.
5. Of course, this didn’t make them happy because their hatred a vindictiveness against Paul was an obsession, and it was surely stimulated by the devil, but they would have to wait.
D. As the story continues, Luke tells us in vv. 6-8, “About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove. 8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.”
1. After about a week and a half, Festus returned to Caesarea with the Jewish leaders in tow.
2. The next day, he took his place in his seat in the official Roman court, and ordered for Paul to be brought in.
3. When Paul came into the court, he was literally surrounded by the Jewish leaders, who began to shout out accusations against Paul, that once again, they couldn’t prove.
4. Paul defends himself by saying that those bringing the charges against him was nothing but unsubstantiated nonsense.
5. But this time Paul adds something that he hadn’t before. He brings the Roman government into the story. This was a very savvy move by Paul because he knew where this was headed.
6. The Jews wanted to make the accusations towards Paul based on Jewish religious law, which Festus knew absolutely nothing about.
7. So, Paul wanted to keep Roman law in the mix to prevent the governor from throwing up his hands and saying, “that’s your law; you deal with it.”
E. But if you think for a moment that you don’t find politics in the Bible, look at what happens next. In vv. 9-11 Luke tells us, “Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?” 10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
1. Luke tells us that Festus wanted to do the Jews a “solid” (politics), so he asked Paul if he was willing to go back to Jerusalem and stand trial.
2. Now, Paul knew what was going on here. Festus didn’t want Paul to go to Jerusalem, the Jews did, so they could kill him on the way.
3. So, Paul replied, “no, I’m in Caesar’s court right here, and this is where my trial should take place. I haven’t done anything wrong, and you know it!”
4. Then he says, “If I’ve done anything deserving death, fine, but no one has the right to just turn me over to these men to kill me.
5. Then he turns the whole proceeding on its head with these words, “I appeal to Caesar!” You see, all Roman citizens had the right to have their case heard in a superior court, much like our Supreme Court.
6. Once he asked to go to Caesar, the case was out of Festus’ hands.
F. Now listen to what happens in v. 12, “Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
1. After Paul made his request to go to Caesar, Festus knew his hands were tied.
2. So, just to double check, he conferred with his advisers, who obviously told him he had no choice.
3. So, Festus turns to Paul and says, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
4. There is something going on here that we must not miss. This is nothing else but the hand of God!
5. Jesus had promised Paul that he was going to go to Rome and preach the Gospel, at that time the center of the world, and now he was assured to go.
6. And the best part is, the Jews couldn’t do anything to stop it.
7. When God promises you something, it’s going to come true, no matter what the world or the devil tries to do!
Transition: So, what do we learn from the beginning of Paul’s journey to Rome?
II. What We Learn from Paul’s Journey to Rome
A. We need to put our faith and trust in the sovereignty of God.
1. “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” (Acts 23:11).
2. Jesus promised Paul that he was going to preach the Good News in Rome, and now the Roman government themselves would see to it that would happen. Or was it the Roman government?
3. Let me strongly suggest to you that it was no less than the sovereign hand of God.
4. Now, Pastor Mark, that’s an awful big word, what does it mean?
5. Sovereignty of God means: “God’s unlimited authority to act in any way He chooses with regard to His creation.
6. Arthur Pink said, “Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things.”
7. That means that God is in control of your finances, and if you have more bills than you have money, God will provide. Now that doesn’t give you permission to go out and be stupid with what money you do have and expect God to get you out of a hole. But we all know that money problems happen, even if we have been good stewards with it. God will provide!
8. If you’re having problems with your job, know that God is in control.
9. If you’re having trouble with relationships, God is in control.
10. No matter what the world or the devil throws at you, know that God is in control, and He has your best interest in mind.
B. God calls us to be patient and wait on Him.
1. “Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Ps. 27:13-14).
2. God has promised to meet all your needs according to His riches in glory. That doesn’t mean He promised to give it to you yesterday!
3. There’s an old song that says, “God may not come running when you call, but He’ll be there just in time! Because He’s an on-time God!”
4. Do you believe He’s an on-time God?
5. Do you believe He’s going to meet your needs?
6. Do you believe He’s going to fix your problems?
7. If you answered “yes” to those questions, it doesn’t mean He’s going to do it the minute you want Him to, but He will do it at just the right time.
8. We need to come to the realization that God is not a microwave; it’s not going to be ready in 30 seconds, but it’ll get done!
9. Be patient and trust in the goodness of God!
C. Anger and Bitterness will destroy you!
1. “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27).
2. Don’t be like the Jewish leaders, who let their anger and bitterness towards Paul control them.
3. Is it a sin to get angry? That’s a really good question! The answer is “no, getting angry is not a sin.” However, staying angry, refusing to forgive someone, and letting your anger turn to bitterness and letting it control you, is a sin!
4. Notice what Paul says, “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” It’s when you allow you anger to fester and control your life is when it becomes sin.
5. Let me tell you something, getting bitter and allowing hatred to come in doesn’t hurt the person you’re mad at; it only hurts you!
6. So, let it go, and turn it over to God!
Conclusion
What’s the point preacher? Our God is a sovereign God, who is in control of all things. Make sure He is in control of you!
