"When Things Don t Go Your Way"

Rev. Terry Breum St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lindenhurst, Illinois Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany February 02, 2014 "When Things Don t Go Your Way" Acts 25:13-27 (NLT) [13] A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. [14] During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul's case with the king. "There is a prisoner here," he told him, "whose case was left for me by Felix. [15] When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and other Jewish leaders pressed charges against him and asked me to sentence him. [16] Of course, I quickly pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They are given an opportunity to defend themselves face to face with their accusers. [17] "When they came here for the trial, I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. [18] But the accusations made against him weren't at all what I expected. [19] It was something about their religion and about someone called Jesus who died, but whom Paul insists is alive. [20] I was perplexed as to how to conduct an investigation of this kind, and I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. [21] But Paul appealed to the emperor. So I ordered him back to jail until I could arrange to send him to Caesar." [22] "I'd like to hear the man myself," Agrippa said. And Festus replied, "You shall -- tomorrow!" [23] So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. [24] Then Festus said, "King Agrippa and all present, this is the man whose death is demanded both by the local Jews and by those in Jerusalem. [25] But in my opinion he has done nothing worthy of death. However, he appealed his case to the emperor, and I decided to send him. [26] But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no real charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. [27] For it doesn't seem reasonable to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!" Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen. Paul is in prison. He is very familiar with his surroundings for he has now been in the same cell for over two years. Paul is a doer, not a sitter. Paul is a high achiever, not a lazy person who prefers the easy chair. Every bone in his body wants to preach and teach the Gospel to as many people as possible, to the ends of the earth as commanded by Jesus. He was full of God s Holy Spirit, filled to the brim with God s truth, and constrained by the Gospel. No one could explain God s truth to so many people and do it so well. He had so much 1

to give and now he was wearing prison clothes and possibly chains confounded to a small prison cell. This was not his choice. This was not his doing. This was God s choice for Paul. God s hand was in Paul s circumstances completely. God is sovereign. Paul was not alone in that prison cell. God was right there with him and God s purposes were being served in Paul s life even in this tiny little cell. Paul still did ministry even though he was behind bars so to speak. I believe Paul inwardly never felt freer in Christ than he did in prison. Prison did not shut him up from sharing the Gospel. More than likely while in chains he wrote several letters to the churches which eventually were gathered and ended up in our New Testament. It was his time in prison that he was given the freedom to speak the Gospel to the big wigs, to people in power, to governors and eventually to Caesar himself. God had promised Paul when he first became a Christian that Paul would carry the name of Jesus to the Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15.) Paul would have the freedom to speak to governors and kings bound as a prisoner. When you rightly understand the Gospel and experience its power you are free in Christ even if you are in jail. God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. I spent a lot of time with a person who had a debilitating disease. I saw this person lose her mind over a period of 21 years. Up until the last five years when she could no longer speak, this person would share the Gospel of Jesus, share Bible verses, would pray with, would encourage people to love Jesus and live for Jesus, would play the piano at worship services, and would gladly share a word of testimony that came straight from her heart. My mother with Alzheimer s was a finer witness for Christ than some of the healthiest Christian people I know. Mother said, Honey, my mother died of cancer. My father died of Alzheimer s. I am glad I have my father s disease. This is what the power of the Gospel does; it produces a faith in you that overcomes the world. My sermon title is, When things don t go your way. Friends, when you find yourself in prison, the prison of circumstances that you did not choose, this is your opportunity to shine 2

brightly for Christ, for the light of Christ to come through you brighter than ever. You may not have chosen this course for your life but God has you exactly where he wants you. You may not like where you are but God has placed you where He can fulfill his purposes in your life. May the name of Jesus be praised. Pastor Shields spoke of Paul s defense before Felix. Now Felix is out of the picture. Chapter 24 of Acts ends with this verse. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. Felix himself was quite a scoundrel and is thrown out of office for good reason. More than likely Felix recognized Paul s innocence but tried to win favor with the Jews by keeping him in prison. This was not Paul s choice but God has his ways of working even through our enemies. What do you do when you find yourself in a place you do not want to be? You wake up and look at your spouse and all you want is to get out of your marriage? You go to work and you really hate your job. You had so many dreams and now you are living in a nightmare. Someone you love so much has grown ill and it s not getting any better. These are tough questions and I may not have the answer that will help. When Paul was in prison in Rome he wrote this, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Col 3:1-2). Friends when things don t go your way God is more active in your life than ever. When things don t go your way it is essential for you to seek the wisdom of God more than ever. God has a way for you and Jesus is the way. Jesus will make a path for you. His Word will bring light to you and will show you God s path for you. God s Word came from heaven. Heaven is where God s truth reigns supreme. What you need more than ever is God s truth for his truth sets you free. If all you do is think about how bad you have it and how awful your circumstances are you will fall into despair and that is an awful place to be. But if you 3

seek God and His Kingdom and get in tune with God s eternal perspective on your life you will rise above your circumstances and be so free in Christ. One more thing must be said before I continue. Paul was not in prison because he deserved to be in prison. Paul was innocent of all charges. On the other hand, some of you find yourself where you do not want to be because you have made some sinfully wrong choices and now you are reaping the consequences of your own actions, your own sins. Sin tends to ruin lives and tear apart relationships. Please see the error of your ways and go to Christ and repent. Ask for the Lord s forgiveness. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. God is faithful and just and will forgive you when you ask. No matter how bad you have sinned God still has a plan for you. God is not through with you. You may feel like you have a death sentence but still there is good news. The resurrection power of Jesus is right there to give you new life as you experience the blessings of forgiveness. The Bible tells us over and over of the blessings that come straight from God through the forgiveness of sins. Your life can be right with God again. This is what the power of the Gospel is all about. Back to the text. Let me fill you in on the first part of chapter 25. Festus hit the ground running. After only three days in office he travels to Jerusalem. The chief priests and other leaders made their case against Paul to Festus. What they wanted the most was for Festus to order Paul to be brought back to Jerusalem so they could kill him on the way or sentence him to death. Festus said no and told them to gather leaders to bring their charges against Paul in Caesarea. A few days later Festus brought Paul out to meet with his accusers from Jerusalem so Paul could defend himself in front of Festus. Serious charges were leveled against Paul but none of them could be proven. Paul defended himself with great expertise. Festus wanted to get the Jews to like him so he asked Paul if he would be willing to travel to Jerusalem and be tried there. Paul then speaks these most famous words, I appeal to Caesar. Festus responds, 4

To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go. As a Roman citizen Paul had the right to do this, a protection against summary punishment, execution, or torture without trial (John Stott, The Spirit, the Church, and the World, The Message of Acts, pg. 367). Several days later King Agrippa the 2 nd and his wife enter the scene. Agrippa s wife s name is Bernice. Agrippa married his half-sister. As a king he was not as bad as the others. His relationship with his wife was an incestuous relationship but at least he did not go around killing people like the other kings. Festus gives to Agrippa the background of his famous prisoner Paul. Festus sees nothing in Paul worthy of death. Agrippa was rather interested in Paul and asked for Paul to be brought in to speak. Verse 23, So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus order Paul to be brought in. Friends the great leaders were brought in in all their regalia. What they wore was outstanding. These were some of the most important people of that time in that place. And yet, the most important person in the room was wearing a prison uniform and probably some form of chains. In all their pomp these civic leaders were full of themselves and Paul was full of Christ. The great theologian and missionary Paul could intellectually eat these pompous people for lunch. But he comes into the room as a servant of Christ and full of grace. He is not wallowing in self-pity feeling sorry for himself for being in prison unjustly. No, has lived for this very moment, to speak to kings and those in authority the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was his calling and being in chains could not stop God s calling on his life from being fulfilled. I believe Paul was tremendously excited about this opportunity. He knew that underneath all of their pageantry were hungry souls in need of Jesus Christ and the salvation that Christ brings. Paul was the freest man in the room, free in Christ. His mind was on that which is above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. He was to speak eternal truth to those whose souls were empty. He had what they so desperately needed. These leaders according to heavenly wisdom 5

were really slaves. They were slaves to sin and slaves to themselves. Paul was the only free person in the room even though he was in chains. God promised Paul at his conversion that he would speak to people such as this and God is always true to His Word. There was nothing about Paul s appearance that would draw you to him. Tradition has him as a rather homely person, small in stature, balding, with beetle brows, hooked nose, and bandy legs, yet full of grace. Still he dominated the court with his quiet, Christlike dignity and confidence (Stott pg. 369). When things don t go your way, God is more involved in your life than ever. Jesus will provide a way for He is the way. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things on earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His glory and grace. 6