Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

What do you stand for?

Bob Dylan sang, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.

This passage alla bout what you stand for, and based on what you stand for what you can expect to happen before God and man.

But ht eproblem is that the ain character here is have trouble standing?

Can you relate to him?

Probably not directly, Paul had just been beaten within an inch of his life by Jewish mob who thought he was descrating the temple, then he was apprehended by Roman authroities who came rushing out of that Anatonian Fortreess - and they streched him out for flagelluem - get a confession of what really was his deal.

But Paul revealed to the centurion who had to tell it to the Chiliarch - I was born a Roman citizen - treated as equal, removes bonds at some point - more protective custody, but what’s this Romand offcial goign to do with Pual.

Keeps himin the slammer - but only hold him if he has a charge, Morning comes and he summons the Jewish council, to meet him down stairs - he hiself non Jews present their beside Paul - and the question f the hour is what do you stand for Paul, how will you stand?

Key Truth: Those who testify to the facts of Jesus in their lives can be filed with courage as Jesus Himself stands with them!

Sense the tension of this moment, probably early morning torch lit lower chamber of this fortress, barracks upstairs, just spent lonely uncertain night.

But now who is Paul before, from 20 years ealerier - Pharisees SAducees , priets who had hired him to perseecute Jews - And they had just heard th day before of His radical covnersion - what turns a man imprisoning and even standing by as Christain’s are killed into missionary - They had heard the rumoours - accusations - that he was no longer a jew, told people to apostasize the faith, that he defies the temple.

But they know how much He loves the Torah, how careefully he lifted up those promises - what will this man says!

And its in imformal gathering, no presiding highpriest front in centre with ceremonianl robes, no Sanhediren speaking firs or givg charges.

Most of the Saducees not even seated, buut standing.

And contrary to official proceedings, Paul addresses them no Brothers and Fathers, NOt Hig Pirest, no fofical titles, but Brothers!

And now here the first part of Paul’s testiony and ask yourself whtehr you could say the same.

And its in imformal gathering, no presiding highpriest front in centre with ceremonianl robes, no Sanhediren speaking firs or givg charges.

Most of the Saducees not even seated, buut standing.

And contrary to official proceedings, Paul addresses them no Brothers and Fathers, NOt Hig Pirest, no fofical titles, but Brothers!

And now here the first part of Paul’s testiony and ask yourself whtehr you could say the same.

A. Testify to Jesus with a life of Integrity

Paul begins not by claiming perfection, (he will even admit that he sins and isn't perfect in the next few moments.

To be godly is not to have sinless life in this world.

To be godly , to have your life back up your testimony to Jesus , is for Paul about two things.

Paul begins not by claiming perfection, (he will even admit that he sins and iisn’t perfect in the next few moments.

To be godly is not to have sinless life in this world.

To be godly , to have your life back up your testiony to Jesus , is for Paul about two things.

For many religious people in Isreal they had been taught that integrity was keeping the 627 laws, and even more the oral tradition.

Jesus had taught them taht they keep the traditions of man but neglect the law of God.

Keep the little technicalities but leave weightier matters undone.

Paul uses this word “lived my life” - it is the same word for conduct, way of life.

It is actually a political word - for the way of life a people belonging to a ceratin king and kingdom.

I conduct my self as a citizen.

Paul would have been expected to say - Look a keep the rules just lik you as his defense.

But the life that backs up his witness is basedo n rule keeping- My citizienship is a way of life - living before the living GOd - CORAM DEO The only other time Paul uses this word is when he says: in

Philippi was a Roman colony that prided itself with way of life of Rome, privileges of citizen responsibility leading Roan city.

Paul is saying that the big deal of my life - as follower of Jesus - you know I walk in His ways - don’t trust my own righteouness but found new way of life that upohlds the Law and teh Temple.

“Your talk talks, and your walk talks, but your walk talks, louder than your talk talks!”

Like Martin luther later did, he is standing before people, boldly saying, witha sound conscience I’m innocent of all these false rumours, and I really walk with integrity.

And when you understand that this One who claims to have herad and seen the Risen Lord Jesus is floolwoing God’s ways - not violtaig them, the High Priest blows a gasket!

Follower of Jesus must be a fanatic who distorts all truth and imorral rebel rouser.

By way of application, what does your life speak to this world - conscientious live before God according to his will - something attractive to most people, but upsetting to those who are only concerned about following traditions!

The NT speaks of those who have an evil conscience - it accuses them and they deaden it, and it distorts God’s moral compass - and they need their heart cleansed.

Understand let you consicence be your guide dangerous instruction, Until your conscience is cleansed.... we are just living in dead acts and can’t really serve God out of love and in His acceptance:

The NT also speaks of those who have a weak conscience - live in fear and not the bold approach - But in Christ turning to him - clear and conscience, and testimony of our words are back up with this testimony of our lives!

We are to have a life-record, a conduct, - in our dealing with outsiders, with how we treat each other, with how we walk with God - that enables us to stand.

But look what happens when Paul’s testimony confronts someone who conduct can’t stand, here too we learn something about standing for Jesus!

B. Testify with Bold Confrontation and Humble Respect

Aninias orders those standing beside Paul to strike him on the mouth.

And you can just see those fellow Sadducees hesitating, looking at the chiliarch and then back at the high priest.

The chiliarch already in hot water for having bound a Roman ciitizen who is his equal, do you think he’d let him be beaten while under his protection, without a trial.

He just wants to find out what the offense is and whetehr their is grounds for an aresst and trial.

No one strikes.

But now Paul is almost blowing a gasket!

He swiftly turns to the one who had issued the command, whether realizing him to be the high priest or not, he forgets that because he has not a charge but a dreadful and prphetic warning to give in such circumstances!

And it is one the whole counsel would know well - it is from the Lord:

was used at this time as a kind of curse and warning.

There God said to servatns that God set up oin Israel who twisted his message and proimsed a false peace tot he people - you are tottering stone wall that is only held together by whitewash - Paul is aiming not so much at the person of the high pirest but the whoel system he represetned - and in his testimony to Jesus he dares to confront the problem.

He asys look at your manner of life what a hypocrisitcal constrast:

b

You claim to have the right way of living from God’s law - that you are judges of others on this, yet this very law , and hear Paul quotes directly from Exodus 22 says that you can’t strike or punish your fellow man before gviing him a trial.

You are called to judge by the law, yet your conduct in doing so is exactly against that law with your own life.

Do you see Paul’s confrontation , and efven more do you see his boldness in not exposing the inconsitatency but in saing that God is about to strike him down.

That he is in that kind of danger!

Would you dare confront someone’s inconsitency in living life.

While not the whole gospel would you dare boldly say that when we fail to live up to even our own standards, let alone Gods’ - we’ve got a big rpoblem with our way of life, with our religion - and need another solution.

Before therir is good news in Jesus, abiblical testiony requres that we come to terms with the badness about our hypocisicy and self-righteousnss that doesn’t work!

Paul is not wrong in using such strong Language.

Jesus himself called Herod a fox.

Jesus hismelf had said in the face of such hyspicisy YOuare whitewashed tombs.

Jews had a practice of whiewashing tombstones, reminding peopel that the stone defiles, touchd by death.

And both Paul and Jesus then are saying hat kind of citizenship to religion, that kind of way of life - smear of whitewash - but rotten and about not only to fall but be punsihed by God !

As it turns out Anaianias eally needed this warning.

Had already extroted the tithes that priests were to live off of, and left them destitute 5 years aelrier.

Had to goto Romer, but friend got him off.

Reutrned in burtal power hungry manner, thenationalist Jews hated him for caving in to everything Rome, IN the Jewish Wars was ascicnated by zealots.

This divided house of Phrisees and Saduccess whitewashed, but without integirty of embracing God’s Way and His Savior - it did come crashin down never to be raised up again@!

But look what happens next, Paul in his passion had made a mistake and comitted a sin, whether out of ingroance or out oversight.

Those around Paul, say, wow - that’s the leader appointed for Gods’ eople there, pliticial authroity establsihed by God - God hadn’t removed the sanhedrin , yet, nor this high priest, worthy of respoect for his office.

That’s in God’s law too.

And Paul quickly and I think sincerely repents.

No claim to pefection, but a lcliami to this new way of life in Jesus That has both boldness, but humble respect.

And isn’t that what our year’s

Theme Verse: but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

I think of Ken Smith Pastor in Syracus … responded to letter to edittor of LGBTQ advocate Rosaria Butterfield, head on confrtonation of claim and ideas, but warmth and calm love of her as a person.

Remarkable so that she continued to engage in conversation, not plying her to come to church pray a prayer, but really wrestle with the issues and eventually with claims of the gospel!

THink of Jesus confronting the rich young ruler who knew the law and kept some of it so well, but had made his ossessions his treasure and iodl of life - Jesus boldly confronts, but we read as that man walked away from Jesus - Jesus loved him!

What is it thtism ornign God is calling you to grow in in your witness boldness or the gentle love and respect?

Well, after Paul confession and repentance, you can imagine the examination went to the claims of the day before about Paul, and Claudius Lysias this chiliarc is tying to follow the discussion on Resurrection , Messianic Kingdom, the Tmeple descearation Jews and Gentiles, - and he sees while the hate Paul and this Jesus, they are very deivied about why Saducees as Paul records didn’t belive in spirtis angels or the resurrection.

They were basically the liebrrals of the day, materialists, who didn thave a suprneratural view of life or the world.

Our Soul died with our bodies, No angels or spirits in heavenly realm.

Only God and GOd has no cerne about what we do good or evil ther is no judgment.

No resurrection at the last day and a Messiah’s kigndom for those who taste resurrection.

And what Paul does next gets us to the heart of testifying for Jesus.

In the middle of the clamour between the Saduceecs and Phariseess he’s almost forgotten, so he has to cry out.

And everyone stops to listen.

He cries out the heart of his testimony about Jesus to them.

Acts 23:6

C. Testify to the Resurrection as our Present & Future Hope