You Got to Have Courage 4

Remember the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.  Even in our times of fear, we must press on and just as the lion said, “It takes Courage”.

Acts 23:11  But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also."

Courage is reinforced by Christ.  The Roman commander sends Paul back to the Chief Priest.  Paul declares he is innocent.  The Chief Priest orders him to be beaten, which is a violation of the law and Paul calls him on it.

Paul realizes the counsel is split between Sadducees and Pharisees.  He exploits that by proclaiming that he is a Pharisee.  At this point, the counsel starts arguing among themselves.  The commander orders the soldiers to go get Paul before the crowd tears him apart. 

 

Forty individuals plot to kill Paul.  Paul’s nephew finds out and tells him.  Paul tells him to tell the commander.  The commander sent a large company to take Paul to Felix in Caesarea.  Felix orders that Paul be held until his accusers arrived.  Paul would remain in Roman custody for two years.

God has a plan for each of us and that plan is one of service.  From the time Paul was saved on the road to Damascus, it was God’s plan that Paul witness to the Jews, Gentiles and before Kings.  The events are taking Paul to Rome where he will witness before Kings. 

WHAT HAS GOD GOT IN STORE FOR YOU?

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."

You Got to Have Courage 3

Remember the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.  Even in our times of fear, we must press on and just as the lion said, “It takes Courage”.

Acts 22:21-29 NASB  "And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"  (22)  They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!"  (23)  And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,  (24)  the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.  (25)  But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?"  (26)  When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman."  (27)  The commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" And he said, "Yes."  (28)  The commander answered, "I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money." And Paul said, "But I was actually born a citizen."  (29)  Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

God supplies the courage for a Godly response in confrontation.  Paul gives his testimony, telling of his conversion and how God had called him to witness to the Gentiles.

The crowd wants him dead.  The Roman Commander orders him to be examined.  They were going to scourge him.  Paul was a Roman citizen.  He tells the Roman Commander that he was born a citizen of Rome.  Any Roman citizen had the right to be tried in Rome and this is why they backed off from beating Paul. 

Being courageous does not mean we must take unnecessary persecution or suffering.  Sometimes God provides us a way to legitimately avoid it.

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."

You Got to Have Courage 2

Remember the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.  Even in our times of fear, we must press on and just as the lion said, “It takes Courage”.

Acts 21:31-36 NASB While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.  (32)  At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.  (33)  Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.  (34)  But among the crowd, some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.  (35)  When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; (36) for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, "Away with him!"

Courage is revealed in conflict.  Paul came into Jerusalem and kept the traditional cleansing.  After seven days they went into the Temple.  Someone from Ephesus was there and stirred up the crowd.  This turned into and mob.  They literally drug Paul outside and kicked and beat him.  They intended to kill him.

The Roman Commander came to see what was going on.  He thought Paul was an Egyptian who had escaped the Roman soldiers after he and his men had killed a great number of the Roman Army.  The Roman Commander took Paul into custody.  Paul then told the commander that he was not an Egyptian.

Paul asked him if he could speak to the crowd.  Instead of running from the conflict, Paul boldly addressed it.  Even when this crowd was crying kill him he wanted to tell them about Jesus.

Many times, we spend a huge amount of energy trying to avoid conflict.  Often the sad reality is we lack the courage to face the conflicts.  We should always rely on Jesus to give the strength to come through our conflicts in a Christian way that reflects Jesus’ love and mercy. 

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."

You Got to Have Courage

Remember the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz.  Even in our times of fear, we must press on and just like the lion said “It takes Courage”.

Acts 21:10-13 KJV  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.  (11)  And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.  (12)  And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.  (13)  Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

Courage is rooted in our commitment to do God’s will.  This wasn’t the first time Paul was warned not to go to Jerusalem.  When Paul first arrived in Tyre friends told him not to go to Jerusalem.  At this time, Paul is in Caesarea which was located on the coast.  They are at Phillip’s house.  He was one of the original seven deacons.

Agabus tells Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  Paul says it take “Courage!”  He says he is ready to die if need be.  This says quite a lot about his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We may never have these circumstances in our lives but we all face frightening times.  

Consider your personal relationship with Christ.  What is it that you need to do to deal with your frightening circumstances?  

Deuteronomy 31:6  "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."

I believe this verse explains the type of relationship Paul had with Jesus

Check back May 8, 2014

We will begin a New Series on Courage