Bible Talks - Sunday Night Church
Series: Chained Messenger Unchained Message - Acts 20-25
Wrong Way – Go Back
Sunday, 13 June 2004
Do you recall that ad on TV a couple of years ago? With the guy in the hat driving down the freeway talking to his wife on the phone. And she says to him be careful, I've just heard on the radio there's some mug driving down the freeway the wrong way. And he says to her, it's worse than what they're saying… there's a whole lot of them. As hundreds of cars are hurtling towards him.
At which point you realise he's the mug she's talking about. Heading the wrong way up the freeway - and badly needing to turn around.
Now it may be you're living life that way in relation to God. Because according to the apostle Paul, the very essence of his message to every person he meets is exactly that. And we saw it last week. Where he says the message he's proclaiming to Jew and Greek alike… is they need to repent towards God. And put their faith in Jesus Christ, who'll wash their sins away.
Repentance in Greek is the word metanoia. Which means literally a metamorphosis of the mind. A complete change of thinking. A mental turn around.
Repentance is a complete change of orientation towards the God we've consistently ignored. The creator we've turned our backs on, as we've re-invented right and wrong for ourselves, and reaped the consequences.
And it's a complete change of thinking that's going to lead to a complete change of living.
1. Royal Introduction
We're picking up where we left off last week. Another trial for the Apostle Paul - who's come to Jerusalem and been falsely accused. He's been in front of a lynch mob, he's been slapped around by the Jewish Sanhedrin; and because Jerusalem is under the Roman empire, he's passed on for trial to the Roman governor. First Felix. Then in chapter 25, when two years later Felix moves on, Governor Festus. And Festus is perplexed. Because for the life of him, he can't see the problem.
Festus wants to hand him back to the Jews. But if you pick it up where we left off in chapter 25:11, Paul plays his ace. He's a Roman Citizen. And that means he's got the right to appeal to Caesar. Which is what he does.
But Festus needs some help. Because before he can send him to Caesar, he's got to figure out exactly what Paul's done wrong.
Now, King Agrippa's happens to be in town. Ruler of Palestine. With his wife Bernice. It's a social call. But as you do when you're talking shop over a few drinks, Festus wants to get some advice on the strangest case he's had all year. The case of Paul.
And King Agrippa's keen to hear first hand.
Chapter 25:23, and if you think back to Paul's ambition to take his message to the top, it's going incredibly well. I mean, he's in chains, but take a look at the audience. Everyone who's anyone. Out in all their finery. And the chief attraction is the apostle Paul. Imagine the scene. The trumpets. The red carpet. V23 in chapter 25,
The next day Agrippa and Bernice turn up with great pomp and come into the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Here's the Chief of Police. Here's the Manager of Westfield, Parramatta. Here's the local council member. And the State MP. Here's the guest list at Bob Carr’s Christmas party. All ready to hear Paul.
Now I don't know how you go when you're face-to-face with someone important. I bumped into Gough Whitlam at the airport once. He didn't recognise me. But if I'd had to say something, I imagine I would have gone all tongue-tied.
Like my mate who was eating a hamburger when he sees Bob Hawke coming towards him; so excited he shakes Bob's hand with a handful of lettuce and beetroot.
Well, here's Paul up in front of King Agrippa; and he's called to put his case.
And so Paul stands up, and he tells his story. Right through chapter 26. Very politely. Look at 26:2. “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defence today against all the accusations of the Jews,” As he is. Because Julius Marcus Agrippa is Jewish himself!
A grandson of the great Herod family. Who'd accommodated themselves so comfortably with Roman Rule. And he's constantly trying to hose down Jewish controversies, and keep the peace.
Paul says, "...you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.." 26:3
And on he goes. In detail. With the story of his own turn around. His own repentance. As he makes his defence to Agrippa and the "A-list" audience.
And it's quite a story. He says, I'm the guy who used to hunt down Christians and vote for the death penalty. Now I am one myself!
Which is almost like Osama bin Laden turning up here to church, as a convert.
Now, I know that most of you will be familiar with Paul’s story, but there’s always something new to learn from Scripture, so lets take a few minutes to look a little closer...
Paul's Story
a) What he was (v4-11)
And as you run your eye down his words, look for everything he said he was. Everything he used to be.
Because he says in v4, the Jews have known me since I was a boy. I was a Pharisee, v5… living according to the strictest sect of our religion. Tithed on the herb garden. Measured the number of steps you'd walk on the Sabbath. And no more.
And I was convinced, he says in v9, that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that's exactly what I did. He says, on the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
So passionately against them I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and tried to make them blaspheme. In my obsession against Christians, v11, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
And now Paul's on trial for being a Christian himself.
b) The Turn-around
Which is an incredible turnaround. So what happened? What happened is Paul ran into the ultimate ‘wrong way go back’ sign.
Which he describes in v12-18. The confrontation with the risen Jesus Christ, who appeared to him on Damascus Road in a blinding light. And commissioned him with a simple message.
V14. He said there was a light from heaven. Incredibly bright. And a voice that said “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It's hard for you to kick against the goads.”
As if Jesus knows that somehow deep inside, this Saul who's going to become Paul knows he's doing wrong. As maybe you do if you're in the same situation. Knows he's persisting in going the wrong way. As if he's bruising his ankles at every step.
So Jesus turns him round. And commissions him with a message.
Have a look at the wording in v18. And notice the heart of what Jesus wants him to do. Because the fact is, no matter who you are… you need to turn around. And it may be that you're not like the guy on the TV ad at all, because it's not that you're the only one going the wrong way. Maybe there's plenty of company, and you're just going with the flow. And it's the whole flow that needs to turn around. Which must be what it sounded like to Paul. A message for everyone.
"I'm sending you," Jesus says in v17-18, "to your own people and the gentiles as well”… to everyone… "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’"
Now this is one of those times where I've got to say if you're not a person who's taken the step of becoming a Christian, if you're sort of vague what it's all about… or if you've been a Christian for years and you're still vague what it's all about, here's one of those times where it's spelt out very clearly.
Turn around. From darkness to light. Stop kicking against the goads. Because ultimately, you do know the difference.
Turn from the power of Satan to God. And receive forgiveness of sins in Jesus name, and a place among the people of God.
Paul says to Agrippa, that's exactly what I've been preaching. And if you look at v20, he sums it up again.
Paul says, I did what I was told. First in Damascus, then Jerusalem and Judea. Then to the Gentiles also. “declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”
3. A Proven Repentance
Now I do want you to notice that last bit. Because it's a mistake to think when you read about repenting that it's just a matter of crying some crocodile tears then keeping on doing what you like.
I mean, repenting isn't just a matter of just saying, Gee I’m driving the wrong way on this one way street.
It's not just even saying I'm really sorry I'm driving the wrong way on this one way street.
Repenting is when you turn around.
Paul says, I'm telling you, you should prove your repentance by your deeds. Show your repentance … by what you do.
When Rene Rivkin was sentenced last year to 9 months periodic detention for insider trading, he fought it every way he knew how – faking illness, extended recovery time from a real illness, appeal after appeal. He admitted he had committed the crime he was convicted for, but he just felt that he shouldn’t be punished for it. No change of behaviour and lifestyle, and certainly no real repentance at all.
Paul's message is, repent. Turn around from the direction you are currently going in, and turn to God. At which point you'll receive absolute forgiveness for all your sins.
But real repentance is always going to show from that point on … in a whole new way of living. Prove it by your deeds.
So you say you'll take Jesus seriously and you won't live anymore for wealth and status, or whatever... Prove it by your deeds.
You say you'll take Jesus seriously and you won't sacrifice your family and your eternity for the sake of ambition and overwork and getting ahead and paying off the bigger and bigger mortgage. Prove it by your deeds.
You say you'll take Jesus seriously and won't be so consumed by yourself that you're totally insensitive to the people around you… well, what are you actually proving every day? By the way you're living?
In the end, maybe you're not convinced. Festus and Agrippa certainly aren't. Festus thinks he's crazy. Agrippa laughs. V28, he says "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
To which Paul says, I don't care how long it takes. "Short time or long—v29—“I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
That you and everyone else… would know what it means to really repent. And have your sins forgiven in the name of Jesus.
Would know what it means to really turn around. In a way that turns around the way you live your life. As forgiven followers of Jesus.
Way back in 1959 Billy Graham, the famous American evangelist, was here on a preaching tour. It was a hugely important and significant event in the Christian history of this country.
And he was preaching exactly the same message Paul preached.
3 million people heard him speak – more than a quarter of the entire population of the country. And the effects were dramatic. One guy who heard him was a safecracker. The night he came along, he was in the middle of planning a robbery with his mates. He came along; he heard he had to repent. so he did. And the next day, fronted up to the gang and told them he couldn't do it. Turn around. And prove it by what you do.
Another guy was cheating on his wife – actually went to hear Billy Graham with his girlfriend. It was their last date. Because when he heard the gospel he was cut to the heart. The next day he was back apologising to his wife. Begging her to take him back. A changed man, with a changed life.
Turn around. And prove it with your deeds.
Or the bank clerk. Who'd been embezzling money and he'd never been caught. The next morning, he confessed; and offered to pay back every cent.
Real repentance means real change. Paul said repent. Turn back to God. And prove it by the way you live.
And I can guarantee there are people here today who need to hear that, and do something about it.
Stop kicking against the goads.
Stop playing the Christian. And be real.
Because the great news is, when you're real… there's real forgiveness waiting at the end of the road.
