["Pomp and Circumstance"]
Hello, church.
We're ready to see you all here for our Thursday evening service.
If you'd all please have a seat.
And open up that envelope.
Son of 38.
Begin this evening's service by singing
Son of 38, hallelujah, we shall rise.
["Son of 38"]
Thank you both.
Let's turn ahead and listen to song number 127.
Song number 127, "'Tis So Sweet, Cushman Jesus."
["Tis So Sweet, Cushman Jesus"]
Alright, if you'd like a bulletin, just go ahead and lift up your hand.
Brother Adam will bring you one.
Of course, you have the service times on the upper left-hand side.
We'll be in Acts, chapter number 25 tonight.
We have the announcement to the right.
Of course, the chili cook-off has come and gone.
We've had our winners.
A little bit of controversy around the rulings, but it was the way it was done.
No sense crying over spilled chili, as they say.
But we will have some consolation pie tonight,
for those of you that maybe are a little raw about how everything went.
So there's one last pumpkin pie we've got to finish off.
There's hot cocoa as well.
And don't forget the yearbook portraits are going to be taken Sunday, November 26th.
So that's going to be here before you know it.
And you know the drill there.
We'll just take those immediately after the morning service.
There's some small-town soul winning taking place this week.
And then continue to pray for the expectant ladies in the back.
The big news, of course, don't forget about the FWBC missions conference up in Tempe.
This is starting this time next week.
Those of us that are going for the Thursday night will be hearing about Asia, the Muslim world, and India.
There's a lot going on throughout the afternoon.
If you can make it for any of this, I highly recommend you do so.
Try to find some time to make the trip up there.
As a reminder, there won't be a midweek service down here that week, this next week.
So just keep that in mind.
And of course, these are all going to be livestreamed as well.
If you can't make it, you can catch the livestream.
And that's about it for announcements.
Let's go ahead and sing.
Excuse me, let's go ahead and count the soul winning.
We're going to go to Monday.
I think for Monday.
Or Tuesday.
Or Wednesday.
One for Wednesday and anything from today.
Alright.
We'll go ahead and sing one more song before we get into the preaching tonight.
So, 210, one for the grace of Jesus.
There's no faith in faith.
Taking away my burden.
Staying with fear and grief.
For the love of the grace of Jesus.
Leads me in.
For the love of the grace of Jesus.
Higher than the mountains,
higher than the clouds,
higher than the oceans,
higher than the seas,
higher than the scope of our expressions,
greater than the heart of all the saints,
higher than the shame,
higher than the compressions,
name of Jesus.
Amen.
Let's start with Pastor Dale from the point of view.
He's around. Let's turn around.
This is Acts chapter 25.
As always, we'll read the entire chapter.
Please follow the sign of Jesus.
We'll give you the exclusive Acts chapter 25.
Acts chapter 25.
Verse 1, the Bible reads,
Now when Ctesus was coming to the province,
after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Then the high priest, the chief of the Jews,
informed him against Paul,
whom he sought in his desired favor against him.
He would send for him to Jerusalem,
laying weight in the way, to kill him.
But Ctesus answered that Paul should be kept in Caesarea,
and that he himself would depart from the devil.
That then, therefore, said he,
Go down with them, and accuse this man,
if there be any wickedness in him.
And when he had Terry among them more than ten days,
he went down to Caesarea,
and the next day, sitting on a judgment seat,
the man who Paul had to interrupt.
And when he was come,
the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about,
and laid many grievous complaints against Paul,
which they could not prove,
while he answered for himself,
neither against the law of the Jews,
neither against the temple,
nor yet against Caesar,
have I offended anything at all.
But Ctesus, willing to give the Jews a pleasure,
answered Paul, and said,
Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem,
and there be judge of these things before me?
Then he said, Paul,
I stand at Caesar's judgment seat,
where I ought to be judged.
But the Jews have I done no wrong,
as thou very well knowest.
For if I be an offender,
if I have committed anything worthy of death,
there is few not to die.
But there be none of these things,
thereof, whereof they accuse me.
No man may deliver me unto them.
I appeal unto Caesar.
If it confesses to me,
I confer with the council an answer.
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar,
as Caesar shall now go?
And after certain days,
the king and griffith,
and Renice, and Cain,
and to Caesarea,
to salute Thestas.
When they had been there many days,
Thestas declared Paul's cause to the king,
saying, There is a certain man
who left them bonds by Theolos,
about whom another Jerusalem,
the chief priests,
and the elders of the Jews before me,
desired to have judgment against him.
To whom I answered,
It is not the manner of the Romans
to deliver any man to die,
before that he which is accused
have the accusers face to face,
who have licensed to answer for himself,
concerning the crime against him.
Therefore, when they were committed,
without any delay on the morrow,
they sat in the judgment center,
commanded the man as he brought forth,
against whom, when the accusers stood up,
they brought none accusation of things,
as I supposed,
but had certain questions against him
of their own superstition,
and of one Jesus, which was dead,
whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Until I doubted with such manner of questions,
I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem,
and dare be judged in these matters.
For when Paul had appealed
to be reserved as a hearing of justice,
that commanded him to be kept,
so that I might send him into season,
then Agrippa sent him to Thestas.
I would also hear the man myself.
To-morrow said he,
I shall hear him,
that on the morrow,
when Agrippa was come
and released from the great pond,
and was entered into the place of hearing,
with the chief capitalist
and principal men of the city,
at Thestas' commandment,
Paul was brought forth.
And Thestas said,
King Agrippa,
and all men which are here present with us,
you see this man,
about whom all the moltus of the Jews
have dealt with me,
both at Jerusalem,
and also here,
crying,
that he ought not to live any longer,
when I found that he had committed
nothing worthy of death,
and that he himself appeared,
healed to Augustus,
and determined to send him,
of whom I have no certain thing
to write unto my lord.
Wherefore,
I brought him forth before you,
and specially before thee,
King Agrippa,
that, after examination had,
I might have somewhat to write,
for it seemed unto me,
unreasonable to send him prisoner,
and I would follow to signify,
that the crime is against me.
To-morrow said he,
I shall hear him,
that on the morrow,
when Agrippa was come
and released from the great pond,
and was entered into the place of hearing,
with the chief capitalist
and principal men of the city,
Amen.
So in Acts 25,
we're kind of wrapping up
Paul's time there in Caesarea,
after he's been in prison,
prison and if you remember he's actually been there for some time if you back up
to Acts chapter number 24 there towards the end it says in verse 24 and after
certain days when Felix came with his wife Drusilla which was a Jewess he
sent for DePaul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ and as he
reasoned of righteousness and temperaments and judgment to come Felix
trembled and answered go thy way for this time for this time when I have have
a convenient season I will call for thee he hoped that money would be offered him
and then if you look at verse 27 but after two years Portia asbestos came
into Felix room and Felix willing to show the Jews a pleasure left Paul bound
so we're picking up Acts chapter 25 you know two years have gone by where now
your Paul is you know again coming before the you know local magistrates
the rulers here in and it seems like he's gonna be going through this whole
process so his legal proceedings are just being drug out right which is you
know no new thing there but nothing's changed but what's interesting here is
that in in acts 25 if you look there in verse 1 it says now when Festus was come
into the province after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem but
the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul and
besought him and desired favor against him that he would send for him to
Jerusalem like laying in wait in the way to kill him so they're hoping
basically what's going on is the Jews are still plotting against Paul okay
they're not they haven't let up if you remember in the previous chapters and
we'll go back to Acts chapter 23 we we saw the first instance where they're
trying to vow themselves with a vow they had the 40 guys that said they would
neither eat nor drink until they'd kill Paul it's been 40 days or 40 excuse me
it's been two years rather so you kind of wonder did they get an IV drip you
know was there you know attrition it was just like a an assisted fast a
medically assisted fast that could that can go on for years even and and and
obviously I'm trying to you know be silly here but you know you kind of
wonder what happened those guys right but the thing is is that the the the
Jews haven't given up right two years later here they are plotting against
them again using the local authorities trying to pull the wool over their eyes
trying to get a favor out of them hey you bring him up to Jerusalem you know
and they're gonna attack him there and it says there in verse 23 chapter 23
verse 12 and it was day certain the Jews banded together and bound themselves
that are accursed saying they would neither eat nor drink till they had
killed Paul and there are more than 40 that made this conspiracy verse 23 and
the chief cap and and he the chief captain Claudius Solicius called unto
him two centurions and he's you know he makes ready the soldiers he makes ready
the horsemen and he provides them be so he kind of is you know because remember
Paul's sister son came and tipped him off right but what's going on here is
two years have gone by you've got a new ruler coming into place and you know
Festus isn't ruling now and you know and now you got this new guy there time has
gone by they're hoping probably thinking maybe they kind of forgot that we were
gonna plotting to kill Paul right they were kind of waiting for their moment
biding their time they kind of hoping that that previous plot in acts 23 had
been forgotten and now they can spring another trap right and what we can learn
from this is that our enemies are persistent enemies of God are persistent
they're not going to stop they're never going to cease there's always going to
be plotting there's always going to be attacking as soon as you get done with
one battle there's another one coming right behind it I remember hearing and I
think about this often at least what I preach on this topic anyways is that
you're really in only three stages in life you're heading into a storm you're
in the middle of a storm or you're coming out of a storm right and you're
coming out of a storm then you get a little reprieve you know but you're
actually headed right back into one okay that's kind of how life is life has its
trials just life inherently is difficult life inherently is going to have trials
and tribulations when you pile on the fact that we're Christians that we're
serving God that we have an enemy in Satan right and he has his his people in
this world you know we have to also you know account for that we you pile that
on top of the Christian life you know we have to remind ourselves that there
is always going to be an attack that there is always going to be difficulties
and trials the enemy doesn't let up right he just waits for time to go by
and when people kind of forget the names and the you know the players have
changed but the game remains the same right it's the same attack lying and
wait to kill him it's the same strategy okay and obviously you know it might be
different people here even on the Jews side there might be some people that
have changed places right but ultimately if the attack is coming from Satan okay
Satan is the one that is trying to undo the work of God okay he'll attack the
church he'll try to stop good soul winning churches he'll try to stop you
in your own personal Christian life he's gonna try and stop you he's gonna try
and get you out of the way okay he's gonna try to bring your service to God
to an end as well you know and you might have some victories early on you
know you might even go two years where it seems like you're at least at peace
I don't know Paul would really say that in this instance being you know under
house arrest essentially but you know you might have two years go by or it
just seems like well nothing's really happened you know it just seems like
we're kind of have this calm but we have to you know let him that think if he
stand it take heed lest he fall you know we're always need to keep our guard we
need to be vigilant right as the Bible says we have to be vigilant we have to
be you know on guard against our enemy the devil who walketh about as a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour you know he's always looking and you might be at
the head of the pack in your spiritual life you know and Satan's going for that
weak one right like it like a lion he's always going after the the scraggler the
lame the weak the young those that can't defend themselves and you might be at
the head of the pack today but if you get comfortable and you get apathetic
and you start to get lackadaisical in your Christian life you know you could
two years later maybe you'll be in the back of the pack and now Satan can
spring his trap on you so we always need to be reminded of that that's a really
good reminder in the story that these Jews you know they're still lying in
wait to kill them they're still conspiring but it says in verse 4 festus
answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea and that he himself would
depart shortly thither so he says no we're gonna keep him where he is now I
don't know if he said that because he kind of knew that he's like I see what
you guys are doing or is this God kind of put it on his mind to deliver him you
know God is intervening on Paul's behalf perhaps the Bible doesn't say you know
we can all we can do is kind of speculate on that but whatever the
reason you know Paul is once again delivered from these enemies that are
attacking him you know the Bible says that it when a man's ways please the
Lord he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him and maybe not that
they're necessarily not hating him but they just can't attack him the angel
Lord cut you know it camps about those that fear him right so we have God's
protection if our ways please God you know we can rest assured that you know
we will be spared at times and if we go through something you know and that
should serve as a reminder that when we do go through tribulations when we do go
through attacks and we do God does allow those things to happen that there
is a purpose behind it you know because obviously if God can shield us from all
these things from all harm and then when things happen we have to ask ourselves
well why did that happen okay and there might be various reasons why things
happen might not even be clear why things have happened to us we have to
maybe we'll understand you know later but in any case so that's kind of the
first lesson we can get out of the story you look there in verse 5 it says let
them therefore said he which among you are able to go down with me and accuse
this man if there be any wickedness in him and when they had tarried among when
he had tarried among them ten more days he went on to Caesarea the next day
sitting the judgment scene he commanded Paul to be brought and when he was come
the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many grievous
and many grievous complaints against Paul which they could not prove right so
it's just the same thing is playing out again and you can kind of see why Paul
is getting frustrated at this point because this is the exact same thing
that happened last time right when he's being grilled and being examined and the
Jews are making all these accusations and he says you know let him prove it
where's the proof where's your witnesses where are the people that can you know
that can validate what it is that you're saying and of course they
couldn't and then as a result Paul gets you know left in house arrest you know
he's left with a centurion for two years in Caesarea and he's got you know the
oftener coming him trying to get money you know bribe money out of him you can
kind of see where Paul is just kind of throwing up his hands with you know
man's legal system at this point and I think that's why Paul does what he does
that's why he ultimately just takes advantage of the fact that he's a Roman
and he has this ability it says there in verse 8 while he answered for himself
neither against the law of the Jews neither against the temple nor yet
against Caesar have I offended anything at all but Festus willing to do the Jews
a pleasure answered Paul and said wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be
judged of these things before me so now Festus is you know he's saying well
maybe I'll do the Jews the pleasure right he'll he'll do what they want
right and now he's asking Paul well are you willing to go to Jerusalem can we
drag this out can we move you know the the court date can we move this to
another location now I don't know if it's interesting obviously the Bible
isn't real clear right we don't know did Festus know about the plot and he's kind
of like you know what let's just let these Jews do whatever they want to him
or was he ignorant of it I think he didn't know about it you know I think he
obviously it was just acting out you know keeping Paul there just because
it's more convenient or whatever I'm not sure exactly but you know you have to
ask yourself did he know about it I think not and he's saying will you be
willing to go up there and maybe now you have to ask yourself just does Paul know
the does he is he kind of remembering what they tried last time is that his
motivation that he called upon say hey I'm gonna go to Caesar right because
that's what he does next verse 10 then set Paul said I stand at Caesar's
judgment where I ought to be judged right so he's it's like he's appealing
to the higher court I ought to be judged there of these things before excuse me
we're out to I ought to be judged to the Jews I've done the wrong as thou very
well knowest right so but to me it seems like Paul's just fed up with the process
he's just fed up with waiting around for some guy to figure out what to do with
him and he's like you know what let's just take this right to the highest
court in the land let's go to Caesar and let's get this dealt with okay it
could be that Paul you know was probably suspecting that the Jews were up to
something too I mean he wouldn't be shocked what the Jews are trying to kill
me you don't say you know like obviously that wouldn't have come to a surprise to
Paul but I think his motive there is just that he's just fed up with this
whole process and he's ready to just move on with his life you know he's
ready to just let's take get this taken care of once and for all and it's part
it's a pretty cool thing when he's appealing unto Caesar when you think
about it that'd be like you saying you know I'll talk to the president about
this you know you're in like some local magistrate you're in some court you're
like you know what let's take let's take this to the White House you know I'm
gonna take this the highest court in land so it's pretty interesting that
Paul is being given an opportunity to be taken to such a you know high position
in power now we'll come back to that in a minute but if you let's just move on
here in the story he says in verse 11 for if I be an offender have committed
anything worthy of death I refuse not to die he's saying I don't have anything to
hide but if there be none of these things where they can accuse me no man
may deliver me unto them I appeal unto Caesar then Festus when he conferred
with the council answered hast thou appealed unto Caesar unto Caesar thou
shall go shalt thou go and after certain days King Agrippa and burnissi came unto
Caesarea and to salute Festus and when they had there been there many days
Festus declared Paul's case unto the king saying there is a certain man left in
bonds by Felix about whom when I was at Jerusalem chief priests and the elders
of the Jews informed me desiring to have judgment against him to whom I have to
whom I answered it is not the manner of Romans to deliver any man to die before
that he which is accused have the have the accusers face to face and have
license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him therefore
when they were come thither without any delay on the morrow I sat on the
judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought forth so he's retelling this
to Agrippa right Festus is retelling what we just read okay he's reiterating
it everything we just read about now it's interesting here in verse 18 he
says against whom Paul when the accuser stood up they brought none accusation of
such things as I supposed so you can kind of get a sense again that that
Festus here he's kind of in the dark with Paul like he's kind of new to the
case he hasn't looked at the file you know he's like what is this about you
know and he's got his own ideas about what this must be about and but then he
get we get there and I hear what the Jews had to say and they bring these
accusations of such things as I had suppose it's it's not what I thought
right but verse 19 had certain questions against him because of their own
superstition right now what's their own superstition right their religion
so he's calling their religion their superstition okay and of one Jesus which
was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive so he's like this there's something
about this guy Jesus that died the Jews say he's dead Paul saying he's alive I
don't know what's going on you know and it's interesting here and he calls it a
superstition and he's kind of dismissive you kind of get the sense that he's you
know obviously doesn't know a lot about it but he's pretty dismissive about
everything isn't he it's just another day in court to him it's just another
case that's coming across his desk and he's just talking shop you know with
King Agrippa and he's just sitting there chewing the fat telling them hey let me
tell you what I've been putting up with lately you got these Jews this guy Paul
you know Felix just handed me the bag you know just left this one for me to
deal with and you know I thought it was gonna be one thing but then I get down
here at some stew precision about some resurrection some guy named Jesus what
are you gonna do you know and what we can get when we need understand is that
the world is indifferent to the gospel they're indifferent okay because
sometimes when people you know they they go out and we preach the gospel and
sometimes they can be taken aback by the fact that nobody wants to hear it
obviously people want to hear it but this sometimes I think people they they
allow themselves to get discouraged or they even surprised by the fact that
that there's whole swaths of people out there that you know know more about
Jesus then you know then then you know in it then in this case right then
Festus here they know more about Jesus they've heard more it's not just some
you know something that they heard about you know briefly they know the gospel
they know what the Bible is they've heard all these stories like they know
who Jesus is what the claims are that he's God that he resurrected but you
know what they're just as dismissive because people today are they're not
interested in the gospel they're not interested in it they're kind of like
Festus here yeah it's just some superstition I mean it doesn't always
doesn't ever surprise you that when you go to the door and you tell somebody hey
I can show you from the Bible and just a few moments how you can be a hundred
percent sure that you're gonna go to heaven and it's a lot easier than you
think that people are just like well you know I'm busy that's you know I'm
cooking I'm sitting down at dinner you know I'm just not interested I mean is
that you know I remember when I first started hearing that it just really
surprised me I'm like wait a minute didn't you hear what I said you know the
Bible says you can know but what we fail to realize is sometimes that the people
don't give Bible much credence do they to them what is it it's just some
superstition it's just some book you believe in right that's the world at
large that's the world we're living in the world is full of Festus is that are
just you know they just count the Bible's you know maybe it's some good
moral guidebook or maybe it's some brown age book written by a bunch of goat
herders you know that or it's just some book you know it's just some giant vast
conspiracy by the Vatican I mean people have all kinds of you know accusations
and ideas about you know the origins of the Bible and I don't you know obviously
a lot of them are just completely wrong and half-baked and erroneous but you
know that's what people's general attitude is out there well just something
about Jesus you know some superstition and they're dismissive so don't let that
surprise you okay don't let that catch you off guard and don't let it
discourage you you know the world is indifferent to the gospel you know
there's another you know incident of this if you remember back in acts 18
right where they grab Paul and they take him to the deputy of a ki galileo right
and the Jews made insurrection against Paul and brought them the judgment
saying seat saying this fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to
the law and Paul was now about to open his mouth galileo said unto the Jews if
it be a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness oh you Jews reason that I
should bear with you but if it be a question of words and names and of your
law you know if it's just some religious dispute that you're having look ye to it
for I'll be no judge of such matters and then of course they took sos and he's
the chief ruler of synagogue and beat him and says that galio you know cared
for none of those things he's you know he's just dismissive of the whole
situation so that you know we're just seeing you know in in the scriptures the
magistrates the powers that be the world at large they're unconcerned with the
gospel they're not impressed with it you know and and I see people sometimes kind
of get frustrated like why would you want to hear this well because the game
is on you know because the dogs are barking because it's been a lot it was a
long day at the office you know and I got I got steaks on the grill right now
and I know they are that's why I hate you know soul winning at 5 a.m. on a
weekday you know when it's nice out you walk through these neighborhoods now
he's just like all the barbecues are on you haven't eaten yet right but that's
that's why and you know it's and it's unfortunate right it's sad that there's
gonna be people go to hell you know they're gonna they're gonna come to the
gates you know they're gonna come to Jesus's door and knock and say let me
in he's gonna say well I'm busy right now I'm well I'm hanging out with my
family oh we're sitting down to supper you know it's it's unfortunate it's sad
you know they're gonna hear that same excuse they're not you know they're not
because the dogs are barking because there's no dogs in heaven sorry
right but that's what you know people are dismissive and just they're not
impressed with the gospel don't let that discourage you that's just the way the
world is I mean think back in your own life I mean what you know before you got
saved before you got interested in the gospel how interested were you in the
things of God at all if someone had come to your door at some point in your life
and offered to preach you the gospel there's probably would've been times
we're like yeah you know I'm just not interested it's just not their day so
the world's indifferent meaning this you know that they're not going to go and
proclaim the truth on our behalf obviously right they're not gonna go out
there and proclaim the gospel they're not gonna preach the gospel that's why
we have to do it that's why it's all the more important that we have we do it
because we're the only ones that really care or at least should the world's not
gonna pick up that mantle they're not gonna run with that they're not gonna go
out and proclaim you know the the gospel of Christ to this world in fact Satan
uses them a lot of times to stamp it out and try to stifle that you know that's
why you know we are ambassadors for Christ you know in fact go to 2nd
Corinthians 5 let's just take the time I know we all know it but it's good to be
reminded of this because sometimes when you aren't in the habit of soul winning
when you're somebody doesn't a regular basis it can just turn into like just
something you do right and obviously there's times where we just make
ourselves do it whether we feel like it or not but we don't want to forget how
important what we're doing really is what we're doing matters out there folks
even if we're knocking on doors where no one wants to hear it even we're in some
unreceptive neighborhood what we're doing matters because we still have that
burden we're still carrying the message we're still being obedient to preach the
gospel to every creature and you know whether they want to hear it or not that
doesn't cheapen the message does it you know if we get for in front of some
Festus and he's just like oh it's some superstition something about Jesus yeah
I've heard all that you know just some Galileo you know see you to it you know
it's just some matter of your names and laws when we get in front of them you
know and they reject it they're not interested they're dismissive they're
unimpressed does that make the gospel unimpressive to us does that make it
less important do we walk away and say well maybe what I'm doing doesn't really
matter no it doesn't cheapen the gospel at all verse 17 of 2nd Corinthians 5 we
all know this verse if any man be in Christ he's a new creature old things
are passed away be all things have become new and all things are of God who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ and hath given unto us the
Ministry of Reconciliation now Paul's gonna repeat himself here again in the
next verse but here he says that he has given us the Ministry of Reconciliation
right verse 19 to wit that God was in Christ reckoning side of the world unto
himself not impute imputing our trespasses unto them you know Christ was
was in the world when he was here he was doing that work and hath committed unto
us the word of reconciliation so he's given to us the Ministry of
Reconciliation and then he has committed unto us the word of reconciliation so
obviously us being given that Ministry of Reconciliation which is what the
preaching of the gospel right that ministry is something that has been
given to us you know that you know it's the idea of like it's you're being given
an opportunity right like you would give a gift it's something it's an
opportunity that's being given to you to preach the ministry there excuse me
to preach the the Ministry of Reconciliation that you can be
reconciled unto God I mean that's what we're preaching and just because people
are dismisses and dismisses of that they don't want to give it the time of day
that doesn't cheapen the message when we're preaching hey you can be
reconciled to God when we're saying you are at odds with God you are under the
wrath of God but you have the opportunity to be reconciled with him
to be turned to God through faith and to be born again that's a powerful message
and something that's been given unto us it's an we that's the great privilege
that we have to carry such a great message it's a great privilege to be
able to preach something that powerful but also he says in verse 9 he had
committed unto us the word of reconciliation meaning that if hey it's
committed unto you and if you don't do it nobody else is going to you know the
world is full of festuses the world is full of the enemies you know it's if
they're not interested in preaching the gospel they're dismissive of it they're
maybe even opposed to it that's why I had to be wrecked you had to be
committed rather unto us because nobody else will carry that message you know and
if our gospel be hated it's hit to them that are lost and if we don't preach it
it will go un-preached and people that would get saved will die and go to hell
that's a fact that's a very powerful truth so always remember that you're
gonna run into festuses all the time you know he's retelling the story here to
King Agrippa and he's just like yeah just some superstition you know these
Jews are you know these Christians are you know you know how they are about
Jesus these Bible thumpers you know these people that go to door to door and
they bother you and they just they want to tell you about their God I've heard
it all before you know they they're not they're uninterested and if you know
don't let that get to you don't be indifferent to the world is the world
indifferent to the gospel at best right they're just there's people like festus
they're not necessarily opposed to it they're just kind of whatever they're
indifferent you know and if we're not careful if we forget the the what's been
given unto us what's been committed unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation the
great privilege the great power that we have to preach that message you know we
could end up becoming indifferent to people we could look at the fest of this
world and say I'll go to hell then well that's your attitude oh you're too busy
to hear it well you know what whatever and look I see people do this they get
an attitude at the door of people that don't want to hear it it's not right
why are we there why are we even at the door why are we even going out and doing
or doing because we love people because we want people to get saved hopefully
that's why we're going you know always because we wanted people to be
reconciled unto God you want to preach the gospel and see people get saved so
if I love the person person I'm preaching to even if they're indifferent
if they're pulling a festus on me you know I'm not just gonna treat him poorly
you know people I see people at the you know sometimes people are knocking the
door and someone's just not interested there and it's not like they're jumping
down the you know the soul winners throat it's not like they're being mean
they're just saying I'm not interested can't you smell the steaks don't you
smell the Indian food pouring out the door you don't you smell you know the
the spaghetti sauce don't you hear the game but you see my dogs you hear my
dogs you know can't you tell I'm not interested and they're just saying I'm
not interested and then then people just they are fine all right bye you
know and it's just like hey can you can still say have a nice day you can say
well hey God bless you I still want God to bless that person I still want God to
show mercy to that person I still want that person to have another chance it's
not like I walk in and get to the end of Simon like my guys obviously a reprobate
he didn't want to hear the gospel what other possible explanation could there
be I mean look how well dressed I am look how I'm so articulate I'm such a
people person I mean I'm so charming like the only reason anyone would ever
reject me and the message I bring is because clearly they're a reprobate but
people get this idea and they become what indifferent to people that are
indifferent to the gospel and if you do that you're gonna lose your burden and
soul winning will become a chore and it'd probably be something that you just
stop doing and have no interest in picking back up because the world's full
of people that are indifferent the world is full of festuses you're gonna knock
door after door after door after door after door after door you're gonna knock
more doors that aren't interested than are fact now look at it's great when we
hit those pockets it's great when we go on those missions trips and these
certain places we go to the reservations and other super receptive places and
that rekindles our zeal that lights a fire on us reminds us that there's
people that are out there that desperate you know wanting to hear the gospel that
the fields truly are white unto harvest you know that's not every day not it's
you know that's not the vast majority of our soul winning you know efforts what
is a lot of our soul winning efforts especially you know in in 20 to 23
America it's festus I've heard it I've heard about Jesus I've heard about this
you know that you allege he's alive it's just some superstition to me you
know I'm more interested in other things that's what you're gonna hear the
majority of the time people who are indifferent don't let it make you
indifferent don't let it squelch you know your zeal don't let it you know
snuff out your burden for the lost if you would go to Matthew chapter 9 Matthew
chapter 9 we are not indifferent to the world you know when I go out there soul
winning I you know we can knock door after door and get rejected I don't sit
there and dwell upon the fact that I just talked to another festus and go I'm
out here wasting my time why am I even doing this why do we have dry over here
why did why do we all show up on a on a Wednesday or Thursday or afternoon or a
Saturday morning and drive to where we're going and and spend all that time
and money you know I could be at home grilling a steak I could be at home
cooking spaghetti dinner and sitting down to dinner with my family you know
why are we doing this you know we could develop that same attitude if we allow
ourselves to become indifferent you know I never I don't feel that way when I'm
out there soul winning I'd never walk away from the door going watch you know
I could be you know I'm sure there have been times where I felt that way but you
know people have to get this mindset and and mature and grow into this that when
I'm out there soul winning the only person I'm looking for is the person
that's interested and I know they're out there and it used to surprise me oh they
want to hear it again now I'm like of course of course there's gonna be
somebody out there that wants to hear it you know and whether they even if that
person who wants to hear it gets saved or not at least they wanted to hear it
they're not indifferent they're not callous they're not under interested
maybe they just they're interested but they didn't understand well praise God
that you know they got to hear it you know more than the guy down the street
it was just like meh whatever they're out there they're everywhere you know
and we just got to go find them you know and that's a whole nother sermon right
there not wasting your time trying to try to preach the gospel people who
aren't interested right it's like Paul's going okay you don't want to hear this I
appeal to Caesar you know that's what we need to do spiritually sometimes we're
out there we need to figuratively appeal to Caesar oh you don't want to hear this
you know you want to keep you want to take me to some other place and go have
an argument somewhere else in Jerusalem I'm a I appeal to Caesar I'm gonna go
find somebody else I'm gonna go preach it somewhere else and just go you know
and find somebody else that'll hear don't be in come and different to the
world just because they're indifferent to the gospel look at Matthew 9 verse 35
and Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every
disease among the people every sickness every disease people mean miracles just
being done all over the place he's preaching all these cities people are
just thronging him the multitudes and experts are following him like man
that's great wow it's powerful yeah but that's Jesus we're not Jesus obviously
we're not gonna do this you know it was a very he was very unique time but look
at verse 36 but when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion
moved with compassion and you know even Christians can start to look down their
nose at other people right you know we get saved we clean up our life we start
living right you know and then we're at the red light we're at the stoplight of
traffic and we hear the whatever it is you know whatever the the latest music
thumping out of the car you look over at some guy smoking you know looking like a
thug you know some hoochie mama putting makeup on and you know who knows what
you know just people being people out in the world right and we could go
heathens he's sinners don't they know why aren't they more like us you know
we're all clean-cut on our way to church on Sunday morning and they're you know
in some parade of lowriders you know that's what they're doing and that's out
there ever I've seen them I've seen that on my stretch of road you know
Valencia right I think it's like an annual event that's and I think it's on
a Sunday where they just have I don't know where they were going but man there
was just a whole bunch of lowriders going somewhere you know and I could
have gotten an attitude you guys should be in church what's matter with these
people right but that's the world they're indifferent that they're not
concerned about the things of God should that shock us don't become indifferent
to people because then you'll lose your compassion and you'll start to look down
your nose at others the people you should be burdened for the people you
should care about the people that you should love and want to see get saved
you know you'll start to judge them and I look I'm not saying we're gonna
tolerate every you know wicked sinner out there and but you know the vast
majority of people you know aren't these horrible reprobates they're just they're
just the multitudes they're just you know they're taken captive by the devil
at his will they're powerless they're just they're just the children of
disobedience they're just doing what comes natural to them they're without
without have they have no hope and are without God in the world and so were we
we were the same way before we got saved you know and some of you kids that are
coming up in a Christian home that are gonna be spared a lot of the grief and
suffering hopefully if you're smart and you listen to your parents and the
people that are trying to guide you and lead you through life you know you you
might never experience some of these things that these other people are into
you know and praise God for that but don't develop an attitude restart
looking down your nose at other people and just think that you're better than
them you know it's only by God's grace that any of us are you know anything of
value to God at all you know there's nothing stopping any one of us from
being that guy on the corner now look obviously it's at a certain point in
life like I'm not worried at 40 almost 43 years of age that all of a sudden I'm
gonna develop a meth addiction you're like well wait a minute you can take heat
lest you fall right and I understand that we know once we've opened certain
doors and we have proclivities towards certain sins we could fall back in our
old ways we have to keep on guard of that and we do you know if we have
addictions and things in the past you know we need to be on guard against that
but I think it would take a lot for me at this point to go that far down you
know the rabbit hole sin to where I'm you know I'm a derelict on this on the
street right does that mean I should start looking down my looking down my
nose at those people no now obviously you know what they're derelicts need to
straight get straightened up but at the same time it's it's sad what they're
going anyway I don't want to go off on that but the point is this is that you
know no matter what kind of upbringing you had if you're turning out well if
you're if you're if you're not dealing with some of the things that the other
people in this world are dealing with well that should cause you to thank God
for your parents for your church
and don't think just because you're sitting in faithful word tonight that
somehow that's still not possible
go way off the rails if they wanted and you know what young people you wouldn't
be the first one I saw do it you know I mean I I've known young people that came
up and good godly Christian families churches a lot like this hard preaching
and turn you know those kids are just there's kids out there that are just
plotting they're just counting down the days so they can get away from church
and get away from their parents and go out there and live like the world well
you know what you're gonna end up like the world you know the world is not
impressed with the gospel they're indifferent to it right but Jesus when
he sees the multitudes he's moved with compassion why because they fainted
they're scattered abroad a sheep having no Shepherd then he said of his disciples
the harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few pray therefore the Lord
of the harvest that he will send forth labors into his harvest we need to keep
laboring at preaching the gospel for how long till you're dead every single
moment you have with every breath we need to keep preaching the gospel the
world's not impressed with the gospel you know they're indifferent to it let's
not become indifferent to the world you know but let's not also be impressed
with the world okay because this is another thing that happens to people you
know and and I'll you know this is especially true for young people they
grow up in a home where maybe there's some standards there's some rules
there's restrictions they're not allowed to go out and do everything that all
these other people are doing and then they start to envy that because all they
see is the is the the bright shiny side of that right they just see everything
that everyone gets to all the fun stuff quote-unquote that you know other young
people are doing you know the party that they're having out there the drinking
the fornicating the drugs the worldliness all the stuff that they're
just everything that their parents are just saying do whatever you want and we
could actually end up becoming impressed with the world if you would go over to
Luke chapter 12 Luke chapter number 12 the Bible says in Proverbs 24 fret not
thyself because of evil men neither be thou envious at the wicked who in the
world would envy the wicked you see that's impossible well then why is the
Bible warning us not to envy wicked people because wicked people there is
pleasure and sin for a season you know it's you know why do wicked people why
do people get involved in the sin that they do it's because they're just
they're dumb or stupid no it's because there's pleasure in it there's a lot of
consequences but that's not what the devil shows you is it you know that's
not what the beer ad shows you you know they don't show you the guy with the
beer gut they don't show you the guy on dialysis they don't show you a guy with
you know liver failure they don't show you that the car wrapped around a you
know on fire wrapped around some pole somewhere they don't show you you know
the the drunk driver who killed somebody else some innocent person
because that wouldn't sell what it what they show us is you know a bunch of
ottles playing you know volleyball on some beach somewhere reaching into a
cooler that's like all the beers are just perfectly placed you know sticking
out of the ice like beer get some you know that's or whatever that's what the
hip-hop cup you know the hip-hop cold go out there smoke weed get high and a
bunch of other stuff that would be totally inappropriate for me to say
from the pulpit right they're all about that life but they're not going to sit
there and tell you about all the negative effects of getting high and
smoking pot and look
it makes you dumb it makes you forget things it literally affects your brain
cells and I've preached about this at length it's a wicked sin you shouldn't
be smoking pot period you don't do it you know the Bible commands that we are
to be sober okay they're not going to show you that though and the hip-hop
song they're not talking about you know I don't know maybe they do because hip
hop really is that dumb well they're probably that stupid already that they
would brag about how dumb they are you know or they're gonna you know they're
not going to show it talk about you know all the diseases the STDs that they're
gonna get so why would you envy the wicked because that's how the devil
works we don't want to become indifferent to the world but we don't
want to become impressed by the world world's indifferent to the gospel
they're not impressed by the gospel let's not become indifferent to them
let's also not be impressed by them look at Luke 12 verse 13 and one of the
companies said master speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with
me this is kind of a side note but as I was thinking of preparing this I you
know I can't help but think about you know Jesus is the counselor right people
are cut he's coming to him for counsel he wants to work out some relationship
he has with his family you know there's some there they're at odds here and you
know Jesus says man who made me a judge or divider over you he's like I'm not
gonna tell you what to do with your money and he said and this guy's coming
and say hey you know tell my brother to divide the inheritance which was the
right thing to do right you can't just keep it all for himself but Jesus said
I'm not you know I'm not here to resolve financial issues but it's not
like Jesus is dismissive he's not like like saying well I sorry I don't do
counseling it's just he does counseling it's just not what this guy wanted to
hear right be careful when you go to someone and ask for advice you might
someone might tell you the truth you know don't go asking for counsel unless
you actually want to hear the truth you know and if you can't handle it you know
don't go to counsel to find counsel just so you can be told what you already
want to hear people do this all the time you know they'll form their their their
their concern in a question right anyway and he said unto him take heed and
beware of covetousness that you know that was his advice to him oh you got a
problem with your brother keeping the inheritance beware of covetousness what
are you suggesting I'm covetous yep you're gonna ruin some family
relationship your brother over money over inheritance over stuff over things
and he that's you know verse 15 is tied in with the previous verses so it's not
like he's just saying I don't do counseling it's just that he says here's
the council that you probably didn't want to hear what he wanted was Jesus to
go hey where's your brother at let's get him in here you know let's divide this
up right
of covetousness for a man's life consists if not in the abundance of the
thing you know and if we start to covet after things of the world we're just
going to make our life be doing the work of God
they just become more concerned with things at this world the affairs of this
come entangled with the affairs of this life they cease to be a good no man that
warth entangled himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him with
called him to be a soldier that's what Paul said
that's what they do they get entangled with the things of this life they get
caught up in the things this world and there's just so much okay and this
message cannot be repeated enough because there's so much today to get
entangled in you know it's
there's just nothing to do every once in a while the circus blew through town you
know and you'd be lucky to get a hayride you know down you know getting the
hay wagon go to town and see a circus now today the circus is like at your
fingertips the circus of social media is just people can be distracted
are just helping and not having and never having a boring moment in their
life like boring
them might actually compel you to do something worthwhile you know but it's a
lot easier to just scroll or click or you know surf whatever
that's why this message has to be preached you have to constantly bring
us up in the day and age that we're living in don't get entangled in the
things of this life you know there's too many Christians out there today they
look like the world they talk like
it's the world they look at the world go I want to be like that I want to have
their hair
they're impressed with the world the world's not impressed with Christianity
but they're impressed with the world and you know what they get more caught they
get caught up in doing those things and they aren't then serving God
verse 22 and he said to disciples take no thought for your life what you shall
eat neither for the potty what you shall put on the life is more than meat the
body is more than raiment you know there's more to life and then style and
entertainment and food I know that last one's tough right
look
29 seek ye not what you shall eat or what you shall drink neither be of
doubtful mind for all these things do the nations of the world seek after
that's what you say what's the world about food clothing comfort
entertainment that's what they're about just passing the time just making life
making sure they're having enough calories and just enough leisure time
working their 40 and taking their vacations look I'm not against those
things they're not inherently sinful but if that's what we're gonna make our life
about you know then we're just seeking after the same thing the world does the
Gentiles that's our life just revolves around the same things as the world how
are we in it any different he says in verse 31 seek ye the kingdom of God and
all these things shall be added unto you verse 32 fear not little flock little
flock Jesus said few there are that be saved right
they asked him are there a few that be saved and he said entering at the
straight gate for wide as the gate and brought us away which leadeth under
destruction and many there be which go in there at and narrows the gate
straightest way which leadeth in eternal life and few there be that find it he's
saying yeah there are few that be saved he called us his little flock you know
there's there we there's already so few of us the world is full of fastest is
the world is full of people who are indifferent and unimpressed we're just
this little flock we're just this little group of people comparatively speaking
you know we make up such a small minority of the world I know there's
lots of people that claim Christianity but how many are those people are
actually saved and are those people that are actually saved how many of them are
actually on fire and zealous for the things of God it's a very small minority
you know what and but and it's to them that you know to that little flock has
been committed the ministry of reconciliation what is that that God was
in the world reconciling it unto himself right he wants to save the whole world
and it's this little flock that has to do it so don't you know don't get drawn
away we need if you're in the little flock you are incredibly important if
you're saved and you have the Holy Spirit I mean you are of great value in
the eyes of God and God could do great things through any one of us many people
can be saved but not if we're more concerned with the things of this life
if we're more impressed with the world
then we are the things of God first John chapter 5 I'll close there and I know I
didn't really didn't get through the whole chapter tonight but you know in
this chapter there's just not a whole lot going on other than it just kind of
telling us you know how Paul ended up in Rome right there's just this
interaction with Festus and Agrippa and the Jews and then eventually you know
you have a grip of talking to Festus about the situation and then you know
Agrippa says hey I want to hear him right I want to hear I want to meet this
guy this Paul and he says wait tomorrow you'll hear him that's kind of where the
chapter ends of course next week we hear what Paul has to say to Agrippa but you
know the takeaway this this evening is that Festus isn't impressed with the
gospel it's just a superstition to him that represents the world as we know
that's the vast majority of the world there's very few of us we're this little
flock we don't want to become indifferent to the world because there's
already so few of us and they you know even though the world's indifferent
maybe doesn't care about the things of God they still need to be saved there's
still people out there that will get saved so little flock you know don't
don't become callous don't forget to have compassion on the multitudes like
Jesus did and if we're if we're losing that you know maybe I you know there's
only so much I can do from the pulpit to fan that flame to try to you know stir
up that that gift to you know to reignite those embers of zeal and of
love for the lost you know if that's if that's something that's dying out in
your life that's something you're sitting there saying you know what I
don't have that burden you know the best place to get it is on your knees in
prayer and ask God to give you a burden you know and prayer and Bible reading
and one of the best places to get is to just go out there and do it you know
we're go to one of these trips you know and I know I say that I know it's easy
for me to just say that but I don't just say it because it's easy you know
honestly if you're having a hard time go somewhere where it is you know it's
gonna be receptive you know the missions conference is coming up and we're
talking about all these places we're gonna be going over the next calendar
year it's like maybe you need to put you you know instead of taking that two-week
vacation and going to Disneyland or whatever which I have a lot I could
preach a whole sermon right there right I wouldn't go to Disneyland if you gave
me tickets I mean that now if you want to give me tickets to Six Flags it's a
different story okay Christmas is coming alright but you know what was I
saying I got caught up in the things of the world you know see right there yeah
well then the missions trips are coming instead of going you know wherever maybe
if it's even somewhere you you know it would be nice to go maybe you got a pass
in that trip to wherever and say you know what I'm gonna go to this place I'm
gonna go to the Bahamas I'm gonna you know I can hear my savior calling oh I
must go to the Bahamas why are you going to Bahamas for the Lord but it's super
receptive down there the tropics you know are super receptive you know and I
know it's like you know you the the cruise ads make it look like everyone
down there is just has dreadlocks and is playing a steel drum and and and having
a great time on the beach but I live there for two years I've lived in the
tropics you know there's some squalor there there's some shanty towns there's
people living in tin shacks there's people suffering down there just like
any other part of the world you know and they're receptive maybe you need to go
there you know you know bring get a bottle of suntan lotion grab your King
James Bible buy a plane ticket you know the church will take care of everything
else well feed you lodge you and and take you where you need to go transport
you and you can go out there you know and that would probably rekindle some
zeal like I'm not saying you can't do it here
imagine you could just go right over the border here and get a burden for people
I've never been but from what I've seen from satellite imagery and the stories
I've heard it's pretty rough it's not far from here go to Mexico you know if
you could speak Spanish yeah right but I'm just saying you know don't become
indifferent to an indifferent world it's too easy to do it's easy to do that it's
easy for us to scale they don't care why should I that's not right we have to
have keep our compassion on the multitude another danger is what being
compressed with the world what they're doing and envying the wicked first John
5 verse 19 and we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth and
wickedness we know we're of God and that the whole world lies and wickedness do
we know that this this evening do you know that you're a son of God that
you're a child of God I mean you know you're saying but do you really know
what that means you really know what that means to have an inheritance in
Christ everything that has been given to you in Christ you know not just not
even just the new body and the New Jerusalem and all those things but the
spirit of wisdom and understanding and knowledge to be able to have the mind of
Christ to be able to pick up the Bible and understand it look there's people in
this world they pick up this Bible they don't even they can't even make heads
and
he's these you know these cults and these false churches out there they're
totally backwards on the Bible it's like they're reading it upside down
things but you and I have the Spirit of God we know we're of God we could pick
up the Bible read it did you know that that's a great privilege people
understand the Word of God to be able to go out and preach the gospel it's a very
you know it's the little flock that gets to do that and the whole world lieth and
wickedness that world that we're lusting after and coveting after and envious of
and want to be a part of its wickedness you know what they're saying is come
join us in the mire of sin come hop in the slop with us that's what they're
saying come lie down and wickedness in the world and roll around in it you know
that's what they're that's what is really going on okay and the devil would
love nothing more than just shove you in there with them but he John is saying we
know we are of God and verse 20 we know that the Son of God is come it's not
just some superstition to us folks we know this how do you know that because
faith is the evidence of things not seen you know because faith cometh by hearing
and hearing by the Word of God we know these things we have the witness of the
spirit bearing witness with our own spirit that we are the sons of God that
we are the children of God we know these things we know that the Son of God has
come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we
are in him that is true even in his son Jesus Christ this is the true God do you
believe that tonight that this is the true God that Jesus Christ is the truth
of God and eternal life you know we know these things we are in him we have this
understanding least we ought to you know and he could kind of get a sense
you know Paul said I know whom I have believed and I'm persuaded that he's
able to keep that which I've committed on him against that day we all know that
verse right we sing it or I know whom I have believe it and am persuaded that he
is able what's the first part of that verse for the caught which cause also I
suffer these things nevertheless I am not ashamed why because I know whom I
have believed why was Paul willing to suffer why was Paul willing to go down
to Jerusalem and go through everything and he did because he knew who he
believed in he knew that he was part of that little flock and no matter how
indifferent or calloused or even you know just even aggressive the world
could be towards him you know he knew that he still had compassion you know
these are still people for whom Christ died you still want him to get saved he
never lost that don't become indifferent to an indifferent world let's go ahead
closing the word prayer dear Lord again thank you for the fact that we know that
we are your children Lord thank you that we can know as John said that we are the
sons of God and that you have given us an understanding and Lord help us to
know that there's others out there that need to know the true God that they can
have eternal life that this truly is our life's work for every one of us to
bring the gospel to a lost and dying world Lord help us to not become
indifferent help us not become impressed with the world or they're they're lost
they're ignorant and they need to be saved just like every single one of us
were at one time we ask these things in Christ's name Amen
all right we'll go ahead and sing one more song before you
I know that my heart wants this place to be, and it knows
Lord my word, as it would be, if your wings were full
I know who I have believed in, and it was stated that he is very bold
to lead that new travel day unto him against that day
I know now how this saving place will be given more
I know I have believed in, and it was stated that he is very bold
to lead that new travel day unto him against that day
I know now how this saving place will be given more
I know who I have believed in, and it was stated that he is very bold
to lead that new travel day unto him against that day
I know now how this saving place will be given more
I know who I have believed in, and it was stated that he is very bold
to lead that new travel day unto him against that day
I know now how my Lord gave me, and I am fully there
for if my walk would well please me, for he did give me
I go to where I believe in, and it was stated that he is very bold
to lead that new travel day unto him against that day
I know now how this saving place will be given more