This Week's Sunday School Lesson, In Defense Of The Gospel" 11/4/2012

IN DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL

 

ACTS 26:19-32

 

The Apostle Paul, a missionary for God, winding up his missionary trips was determined to visit Rome to preach the Gospel ( Act 19:21). God arranged for him to be taken captive in Jerusalem (Act 21:10). The non believing Jews in Jerusalem were determined to kill him without a trial (Acts 21:31). But God protected Paul so that his case would be heard before Caesar in Rome (Acts 25:11).

 

AN ATTITUDE OF OBEDIENCE

V:19.  "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven."

 A. Our obedience is to God and not the world.

     1. Following God's commands will sometimes cause the world to oppose you.

     2. Paul was imprisoned because the non believing Jews hated his message that

         Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the redeemer of mankind.

        a. They hated Paul, because he had been one of them and changed sides to follow

            Jesus.

        b. They hated Paul because he loved the Lord.

        c. They hated Paul because he preached the truth.

 B. When we stand on God's Word in opposition to the world, God's message will

      reach

      the top of any organization. 

      1. King Agrippa was the top local official of the Roman government.

      2. God can open doors of opportunity for us to preach the Gospel in ways that may

          not be comfortable to us.

      3. When we rely on God, we can expect some trouble in our lives.

           a. The trouble in our lives as a result of our obedience will give God Glory and

               be effective in moving the Gospel into the lives of others.

           b. Our work in the ministry is not about us, but the glory of God.

 

A HISTORY OF SERVICE

V:20. " First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds."

 A. Nobody can tell your story like you.

      1. If someone  else tells your story, they may tell it wrong.

      2. You need a defense for why you preach the Gospel.

 B. Give an account of the road you have traveled with the Lord.

     1. Paul spoke of the places he had been and the people he preached the Gospel to.

     2. Every Christian ought to have a track record of service.

 C. Paul gave us his method of preaching the Gospel.

      1. He preached repentance.

          a. Stop doing wrong and do what is right.

      2. Turn to God.

          a. Rely on God's Word for directions.

      3. Serve God.

          a. The evidence of a changed heart is what you do for God.

          b. Talking the talk is easy.

          c. Walking in obedience to God takes time and effort.

 

TROUBLE FOLLOWS OBEDIENCE TO GOD

 V:21. "That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me."

   A.  The truth shed light on those who are doing wrong.

        1. Those who do wrong hate the truth and they hate the ones who preach the truth.

   B. Some who hate the truth are in the church.

        1. Some who hate the truth will make trouble for you in the church.

        2. Don't be surprised if the one who smiles with you is the one who is against you.

   C. Paul was caught preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Church.

        1. We ought to be caught teaching the Gospel wherever we go.

        2. It is a good thing to be brought up on charges for proclaiming the Gospel.

            a. Recently, some High School cheerleaders  in Texas were brought up on the

                charge of displaying a banner with the Word of God during game time.

            b. Their efforts drew the attention of the Governor of Texas who was on

                 their side. 

            c. Your stand for the Gospel encourages others in their faith.

            d. We need opposition to increase our faith.

        3. Paul was not running away from his opposition.

           a. Paul ran toward his opposition to get caught. Acts 21:13

           b. God's divine plan for us includes both the good and bad times.

           c. It is the bad times when our faith is tested and we mature in the faith.

       4. There are times when conflict between the Gospel and the world cannot be

            avoided.

          a. When you travel with the Gospel of Jesus as your focus, the world will   

              confront  you.

 

GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE

V:22. " But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen."

 A. You don't have to worry about your enemy, because God is your help.

      1. Give God the credit for your success.

      2. Give God the glory for His guidance, directions and protection.  

 B. Our charge from God is to stand on the Word before the small and the great.

      1. Everybody needs to hear the Gospel.

      2. God is no respecter of person.

 C. Speak the truth about Jesus and nothing but the truth.

     1. The Old Testament foretold the coming of Jesus Christ, his mission his

          death and His resurrection.

     2. The prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus were fulfilled in the New

         Testament.

          a. The Old Testament was completed 400 years before the birth of Christ.

          b. This should give us confidence in the truth of the New Testament.

          c. This should give us confidence in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 D. No matter how many people oppose the message about Jesus, you should stand on

      the

      Word, because God is your help.

     1. God is more than the whole world against you.

 

THE WORD PROCLAIMS THE GOSPEL

V:23. " That the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

 A. The New Testament is the proof of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus

      Christ.

      1. Christ would suffer by the will of the Father.  Isa 53:10

      2. Christ would rise from the dead. Isa 53:12

      3. Christ would proclaim the light to his people and the Gentiles. Isa 53:11, 49:6.

 B. Jesus is the First to rise from the dead.

     1. Jesus death paid the price for all believers to be resurrected with Him.

 

V:24. " At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."

  A. When you proclaim the Gospel, some non believers will call you crazy.

      1. The Christian faith is odd to the world.

      2. The Word of God is spiritually inspired and foolish to the World.

  B.  When others call you crazy for your belief in Jesus, it is a testimony to the

        effectiveness of the Word. 

     1. First, it says that the Word has been heard.

     2. Second, it says that the Word has affected the hearer's belief.

     3. Third, the hearer has been brought to the light.

         a. The hearer now has a decision to make; to accept or reject the Word of truth.

    b. The hearer, having heard the Word is responsible for his decision.

 

V:25. " "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable."

 A. Don't let your faith be affected by the non belief of others.

     1. It is not our job to convince others of the truth of the Gospel.

     2. It is our job to proclaim the Word.

     3. The Word will convict others who have been drawn to Christ.

         a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 

         b. God uses believers to put the Word in the ears of the non believers.

 B. Don't get offended by an attack from non believers.

     1. They are not attacking you, but the Word of God.

     2. Ridicule by non believers goes with the commitment of proclaiming the Gospel.

 C. The Word is true whether others agree or not.

     1. Be calm and courteous to those who do not believe the Word.

        a. Down the road of life, their hearts may be convicted by what they have heard.

        b. The calmness of our attitude is evidence of your faith.

 

V:26. " The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner."

 A. You history is an open book for others to review.

    1. Be quick to remind others of what they know about you.

    2. When you have a history of serving the Lord, people know what you have done

        

        and when you did it.

 B. You don't have to be ashamed of you work for the Lord.

     1. Speak boldly and confident about the Lord.

     2. It is the Lord's call that you testify to others about Him.

     3. Your testimony will affect the lives of others.

 

V:27. "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."

    A. It is a good idea to know what your accusers believe.

        1. When you know what they believe, you can use this knowledge as common

            ground to begin your defense of the Gospel.

        2. Many times people base their beliefs on the Word, but arrive at different

            interpretations.

           a. It is the interpretations that become the reason for disagreements.

           b. Differences in interpretation of the Word is a reason for serious Bible Study.

 B. Notice, Paul expressed confidence in the King's belief.

       1. This confidence could be the start of effective Bible Study.

       2. It is the continued Bible Study that brings about a right understanding of

           scripture.

 

V:28. "Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

 A. When you are exposed to the light, you will understand the direction that God is

       taking you.

    1. The King understood that belief in the Word was belief in Jesus Christ.

    2. The King understood that belief in Christ would set him apart from his crowd.

   3. The King having heard the Word, was now in a position to make a decision

        about Christ.

  4. His "question" indicated that he was rejecting the truth about Jesus.

 

BELIEVERS CHARGE; PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL

V:29. " Paul replied, "Short time or long — I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

 A. It should be the Christians desire that all who comes in contact with him

      hears the Gospel and become believers.

    1. Not all who hear the Gospel will accept it immediately.

    2. Some come to faith early in life and others later in life.

    3. We should not become discourage at the slowness of some to accept Christ.

 B. We should be in constant prayer for the salvation of others.

 

V:30. " The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with

   them."

 A. Non believers are not qualified to judge the actions of a Christian. John 8:15-16

     1. Since they are of this world, their judgment will be based on worldly values.

 B. You can't always expect a fair judgment from people who have their focus on the

      world.

     1. You can't always expect a fair judgment from people who are tied to the

         accusers.

         a. Fetus favored the Jewish accusers.  Acts 25:3

     2. You can't always expect a fair judgment from people who have questionable

         character. 

        a. Felix who was replaced by Fetus wanted a bribe to release Paul. Acts 24:26-27.

        b. Felix had no evidence to hold Paul, but left him in prison for two years.

 

GOD USES EVIL TO PROMOTE THE GOSPEL

V:31. "They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."

  A.  The truth is the light.

       1. They could not find any evidence to convict or hold Paul.

       2. Men don't always make judgments based on the truth.

       3. Sometimes judgments are made to satisfy the loudest voice.

 

 V:32. "Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he

  had not appealed unto Caesar."

 A. Paul was found innocent of the charges against Him, yet he was not released.

     1. Because Paul had appealed to Ceasar, his case was taken to Rome.

     2. When men don't have the strength to stand against the opposition, they take the

         

         easy way and pass the responsibility to someone else.

 B. God is in control of all situations.

    1. God used the injustice done to Paul to move the Gospel to Rome. 

         a. It was Paul's desire to reach Rome before he was held captive.  Acts 19:21

         b. Trouble does happen to good people, but for good reason intended by God.

   2. Sometimes it takes injustice to call attention to the truth about Jesus Christ.