WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:04.230 I'm going to invite you this morning to Acts chapter 25 is where we're going to be together today. 00:00:04.940 --> 00:00:06.780 Acts chapter 25. 00:00:06.920 --> 00:00:11.520 And I'm probably going to spend the beginning of this talking about of paying attention. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:18.640 But I just want you to know, just being upfront and candid out of all the chapters in the book of Acts, chapter 25 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:20.240 is the one I like the least. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:27.500 And I know I'm probably not supposed to say that as a minister, but even before we start in the book of Acts, I remember thinking to myself, man, what are we going to do when 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:28.430 we get to Acts chapter 25? 00:00:29.340 --> 00:00:37.380 Because to be honest, this chapter is the bridge chapter between the contents of Acts chapter 24 and Acts chapter 26. 00:00:37.620 --> 00:00:44.680 This is just kind of tying those two chapters together and helping you to see the significance of what took place in those two particular chapters, which 00:00:44.680 --> 00:00:48.160 we'll dive a little deeper into Acts chapter 26 next week. 00:00:48.360 --> 00:00:52.380 But I do want you to know Acts chapter 25 has an important part, and we're going to look at that together. 00:00:52.940 --> 00:01:00.080 I think all of the Bible is important for us, but sometimes the way the Bible is written, there's you get a powerful punch, You know, sometimes in 00:01:00.080 --> 00:01:07.540 just a verse of Scripture and then other times of the Bible, it's trying to paint a bigger story over a broader span of passages, right? 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:13.250 Like we just, if you're doing our Bible reading plan in the year, it wasn't just a few days ago, we were in the beginning of the book of Chronicles. 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:17.580 If you know anything about Chronicles, you're several chapters of genealogy, right? 00:01:17.580 --> 00:01:24.800 It's like, here I am, seven chapters deep in Chronicles, and I'm just still reading a list of names, and you might read that and think, what do I what 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:27.760 is this doing for me other than I just get to check off? 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:30.080 I just read names real quick to get through these chapters. 00:01:30.440 --> 00:01:37.680 It has a place and it's important, but sometimes you read passages of the Bible and there's just a powerful punch and a verse, and other times it's a span 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:40.180 of several chapters trying to communicate to you. 00:01:40.320 --> 00:01:43.620 And that's where Acts chapter 25 falls for us. 00:01:43.740 --> 00:01:48.560 I like to compare it to it's a lot like driving through Nebraska, right? 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:55.720 If like, and I'm sorry if you're from Nebraska, but if anyone ever says, I went through Nebraska, the point of that journey wasn't to stop 00:01:55.720 --> 00:01:56.480 in Nebraska. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.480 They were on their way somewhere else, right? 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:02.920 It's like if you've ever been to Nebraska, Nebraska is good for a couple of things. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.020 Corn and wind that's about. 00:02:05.160 --> 00:02:08.680 And I know like for the five people there, they probably really care about it, right? 00:02:08.680 --> 00:02:11.560 Like, and it probably feeds half of America. 00:02:11.600 --> 00:02:13.860 So it's a, it's not to say it's not important. 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:15.600 You can be boring and important. 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:16.590 And that's Nebraska. 00:02:17.020 --> 00:02:20.560 In fact, I've even like just to just check myself. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.060 Like, is Nebraska really this boring? 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:26.500 I just looked up what are the top attractions to go to if one were to go through Nebraska? 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:28.360 It's really got one. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:29.840 It's called chimney Rock. 00:02:30.200 --> 00:02:36.120 And it's like as underwhelming as just any particular rock you might pick in Utah. 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:39.280 I think it's just because it's flat Nebraska and they have a rock there. 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:46.460 Like, look, when people come, let's tell them there's a chimney rock here and they call it a chimney rock because it's a mound with a point 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:47.280 in the middle. 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:54.770 And like other than that, like, just to give you an idea, if you ever go to Nebraska, this is one of their top five tourist attractions. 00:02:54.940 --> 00:02:57.100 It's called the Archway Museum. 00:02:57.100 --> 00:03:01.160 If you've ever driven through the state, you know the interstate runs right under it. 00:03:01.260 --> 00:03:08.380 And like and I have teased about this place for years, I didn't know until this week that it's actually a top five tourist attraction 00:03:08.380 --> 00:03:09.520 in Nebraska. 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:13.840 But when you drive under it, you're like, why is there a random bridge to nowhere going over the interstate? 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.510 It doesn't lead to anywhere. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:16.600 It doesn't start from anywhere. 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:17.490 It's just a random bridge. 00:03:18.120 --> 00:03:19.460 I have joked about this for years. 00:03:19.460 --> 00:03:22.620 Sometimes people be like, there's a museum there, right? 00:03:22.700 --> 00:03:23.640 Like I need to stop. 00:03:24.060 --> 00:03:28.530 I never in my life, I'm driving down the road where I'm like, I really need a good museum right now. 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:34.190 I can't imagine why this was a necessary in Nebraska, but there is a random museum. 00:03:34.340 --> 00:03:37.460 If you're ever driving through and you need to plan a plan a stop Acts. 00:03:38.160 --> 00:03:45.540 Acts chapter 25 is like driving through this portion of Nebraska. 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:53.020 But when you look at this particular chapter or when you're driving through Nebraska, I know there's one thing that you need in 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:53.780 both Circumstances. 00:03:55.040 --> 00:03:55.950 And that's patience. 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:59.320 And that's what we're going to talk about today. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:06.840 In fact, I think in looking at this particular chapter, it's important for us to learn that this was actually critical 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:08.020 for the apostle Paul. 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:15.360 As you look at Acts chapter 25, especially in terms of learning what it means to live in light 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:18.529 of God's will for your life rather than your own. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:24.940 If you remember, at the end of Acts chapter 24, Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem. 00:04:24.980 --> 00:04:27.140 There was a mob that wanted to kill him at the temple. 00:04:27.520 --> 00:04:33.230 Some Roman soldiers saw him there and in a desperate situation, they come down and they rescue the apostle Paul. 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:37.460 They can't quite figure out what's going on and why the Jewish people are so mad about Paul. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:44.880 They see it as an argument among their religious beliefs, but they can't imagine that it's to the point that you would have to physically harm or 00:04:44.880 --> 00:04:45.920 even kill someone. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:47.480 That was their desire for Paul. 00:04:47.740 --> 00:04:49.780 But they knew Paul wasn't safe there. 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:57.000 And so they took him to Caesarea to be overseen by a ruler named Festus and Festus. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:04.110 It tells us in Acts chapter 24, verse 27, kept the Apostle Paul in prison for two years. 00:05:05.060 --> 00:05:06.040 For two years. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.360 You can imagine the way that the Apostle Paul has lived his life up to this point. 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:11.140 He is a world traveler. 00:05:11.580 --> 00:05:13.130 He's not one to sit on his hands. 00:05:13.440 --> 00:05:19.840 And now all of a sudden, he's met this place in his life where he's the just pause button has been put on him. 00:05:19.880 --> 00:05:27.080 And you can imagine in your own life, like the kind of questions that might arise within you when you go through a season 00:05:27.080 --> 00:05:34.340 where you don't feel like you're quite moving forward the way that you would want, but it's this time period of just being 00:05:34.340 --> 00:05:36.740 still in the presence of the Lord. 00:05:36.760 --> 00:05:38.100 Like, how do we do that? 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:45.180 I don't think as people, we're really designed to always do that well because we want what we want, when we want it the way 00:05:45.180 --> 00:05:46.200 we want it. 00:05:46.580 --> 00:05:53.440 And we're a generation of instant gratification and we're always looking about how do how do I accomplish things? 00:05:53.450 --> 00:05:55.970 Well, but improve it to do it even faster. 00:05:57.440 --> 00:06:04.620 And so for Paul being in prison, all these couple of years, he you can't help but think in his mind like, God, is this really what's best. 00:06:04.760 --> 00:06:09.500 I could be out in the world somewhere and traveling and continue to proclaim the gospel and why? 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:15.300 Why is it you have me in this season in a prison when you know where I am, what I'm going through? 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:19.360 And so for Paul, this became a season of patience. 00:06:21.140 --> 00:06:28.140 And in fact, when you think about patience in terms of Scripture, you'll see in your notes this morning, you've got a definition I'll 00:06:28.140 --> 00:06:29.040 give you in just a moment. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:33.180 But just below that definition of patience, you have all these references I've given you. 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:38.520 We're not going to be able to look at all those, but these different references you can go look at later if you would like. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:44.620 On the importance of patience and what that means for us as God's people. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:51.400 I mean, we know that in Galatians chapter five, the Bible clearly tells us that it's a fruit of the spirit. 00:06:52.460 --> 00:06:59.450 Meaning that when you're surrendered to the Lord, one of the fruits that should be made known about your life is a fruit of patience. 00:07:00.340 --> 00:07:07.640 Now, if I'm being honest and reading the fruit of the spirit, if you just had to rank your favorites to your least favorite, I would probably venture 00:07:07.640 --> 00:07:14.320 to say nearly everyone, if not all of us, would say, I'm going to put patients at the bottom, if not the last, right? 00:07:14.320 --> 00:07:16.640 Because we look at what the fruit of the spirit is. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:24.160 I mean, they're all wonderful words love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, 00:07:24.220 --> 00:07:28.920 self-control, faithfulness, longsuffering, kindness. 00:07:29.020 --> 00:07:30.960 Like those are all fruits of the spirit. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:34.220 Those all sound like wonderful things except for patience. 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:42.120 Now, I happen to think that when it comes to patience, if someone prays for you to have patience, that's the only time where God's 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:44.220 like, I don't care if you punch them, you can punch them right now. 00:07:44.260 --> 00:07:44.680 Right. 00:07:44.680 --> 00:07:45.480 Like patience. 00:07:45.580 --> 00:07:50.590 Because we know that if someone's praying for patience for you, by the way, I'm not going to do that to you today. 00:07:51.080 --> 00:07:55.880 But if someone prays for patience for you, what they're really asking is for hardship. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:08:00.070 Because the only way we really learn anything is people, is to go through adversity. 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:07.780 And when someone's praying for you to learn patience, what they're saying is give them some challenges, God, so they can examine just whether 00:08:07.780 --> 00:08:12.300 or not they're walking in the spirit of patience, your fruit. 00:08:12.400 --> 00:08:19.440 And so patience is not something as people, we readily look for and long for because we want what we want, 00:08:19.440 --> 00:08:20.500 when we want it. 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:28.660 But when we talk about the idea of spiritual patience or biblical patience, godly patience, we. 00:08:28.820 --> 00:08:34.400 We recognize that what makes patience so important is that it's this place of our. 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:36.900 In our lives where we acknowledge that God. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:41.960 It's not about my will, but your will being done. 00:08:43.260 --> 00:08:50.460 It's this place in our lives where we finally surrendered ourselves and what we want to, what it is that he 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:57.600 desires and we're willing to walk in light of that, really, to get to 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:00.920 a place like that, you have to see that one God is good. 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:06.780 And while you see he's good, you've also got to be willing to submit yourself to it. 00:09:07.800 --> 00:09:13.740 And it's only until we begin to recognize the goodness of God that invites our heart into embrace him. 00:09:13.760 --> 00:09:16.880 Because up until that point, we're going to be challenged with God. 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:20.140 Can I really trust you and God? 00:09:20.140 --> 00:09:22.540 Do you have my best interest in mind? 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:29.200 Because you could be a Lord of all things, but if you're not good, I don't know that I want to give my heart over to you. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.780 I might want to hold on to that, but. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:33.180 But I really see the goodness of who you are. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:41.020 And then I'm willing to submit to that I'm able to walk in the fruit of patience and being made known 00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:41.720 in our life. 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:43.660 So we talk about patience. 00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:44.220 Let me give you a definition. 00:09:44.680 --> 00:09:45.520 What is it that we mean? 00:09:45.520 --> 00:09:49.440 And by the way, as we look at this definition, I want you to know this is the way we're going to do this today. 00:09:49.900 --> 00:09:52.320 I'm going to share a few verses with you. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:58.260 And we're going to just share all the points up front of what this sermon is about. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:01.360 How do we find patience before we actually look at Acts chapter 25? 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:05.640 Because I want you to see how this works itself out in the Apostle Paul's life. 00:10:05.760 --> 00:10:08.660 But when we talk about patience, what does that mean for us? 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:09.980 Well, patience is this. 00:10:10.840 --> 00:10:18.400 Patience is the spirit produced ability to endure difficult people, difficult circumstances and delayed outcomes 00:10:18.400 --> 00:10:22.870 without losing faith, love and self-control. 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:24.200 Patience. 00:10:24.300 --> 00:10:27.820 Let me say it again is the spirit produced ability to endure difficult people? 00:10:27.880 --> 00:10:34.980 How many of you specifically thought of somebody difficult circumstances and delayed outcome without losing faith, 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:37.050 love or self control? 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:43.300 I mean, what we're saying is living a life surrendered to Jesus, seeing the fruit of that because. 00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:50.140 Because this is the primary reason for which we've been created in the Lord is just to walk with him. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:57.740 And we think about God's will for our lives oftentimes as individuals, one of the reasons that we might even grow impatient, we think about, 00:10:58.280 --> 00:11:00.060 following after Jesus. 00:11:00.060 --> 00:11:02.300 Sometimes we think in our lives, well, here I am. 00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:05.590 I exist here because God wants me to accomplish certain things. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:12.640 And all of a sudden as a believer, when you're not accomplishing those things, even when you might try to pretend like it's godly, you start to grow impatient and 00:11:12.640 --> 00:11:14.420 the spirit of the Lord is not in that. 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:18.000 When you when you strive to accomplish things in your power rather than his. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:25.040 Because sometimes we could live under the facade that the reason for which I am created is to accomplish certain things because God needs 00:11:25.040 --> 00:11:31.280 me and I want us to know that is a farce in your Christian understanding, right? 00:11:31.280 --> 00:11:33.670 Certainly when you follow Jesus, you'll do things. 00:11:34.500 --> 00:11:38.070 But the primary reason for which God has created you is not about accomplishing things. 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:43.920 And one of the things we like to remind ourselves as a church, like our heart's desire for you. 00:11:43.920 --> 00:11:49.260 This morning is really built on one foundation that you would know Christ. 00:11:49.260 --> 00:11:52.780 Not just intellectually, but that you would have a relationship with the Lord. 00:11:52.780 --> 00:11:56.930 Because the primary reason for which God has created you is not about accomplishing tasks. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:12:00.260 The primary reason for which God has created you is to have a relationship with him. 00:12:00.280 --> 00:12:03.550 Because through that relationship, you're going to glorify God with your life. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:07.380 God has created you for his glory, right? 00:12:07.380 --> 00:12:13.460 And so it's through that relationship with the Lord then that you live an intentional and purposeful, purposeful life. 00:12:13.520 --> 00:12:20.560 Like you will accomplish things, but don't live under the facade of the idea that God needs you to do anything because God is 00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:23.200 completely capable of doing everything on his own. 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:27.830 And so therefore, the reason for which he has created you is to find yourself in him. 00:12:28.900 --> 00:12:34.740 And the idea of patience is really helping us examine, is my life really given over to him? 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:41.800 By the way, the definition of patience, when you really look at it in the Greek, it means this you are long tempered. 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:50.400 So if anyone's ever called you short tempered or quick tempered, that's their nicer way of saying you're really impatient. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.310 And for us, it becomes this marker of examining man. 00:12:55.640 --> 00:12:57.900 Is my life really given over to the Lord? 00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:59.580 What does that look like? 00:12:59.580 --> 00:12:59.760 How? 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:02.320 How do I find patience? 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:07.700 Well, when you think about patience playing out in your life, let me just tell you a few things that patience isn't. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:14.320 Because sometimes we can put the label of patience on something that might look godly, when in fact it's not so. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:22.840 So when we think about patience, some of the things that the patience is not patience is not passive indifference. 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:28.120 It's this not this place where you're like, well, I can't really do anything anyway, so who cares, right? 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:28.840 Just checking out. 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.560 It's not it's not passive indifference. 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:33.640 It's not pretending that things don't bother you. 00:13:34.760 --> 00:13:39.360 Patience is not never confronting things that are wrong. 00:13:40.140 --> 00:13:42.390 I mean, Jesus called you to be a light in darkness. 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:50.440 And so there's a way that we live in this world to honor him, but patiently letting the Spirit of God work things 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:54.590 out rather than us trying to be the Holy Spirit in this world. 00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:55.880 So. 00:13:56.020 --> 00:14:03.660 So what does it look like for me to honor the Lord not to be this passive indifference or not 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:07.560 to pretend like things don't bother me or never confront things wrong. 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:09.620 But rather, patience is more like this. 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:12.420 It's enduring difficulties without giving up. 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:19.800 Or it can be said that patience is bearing with difficult people without exploding. 00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:28.600 Or maybe patience is waiting on God's timing without resentment, or 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:33.080 it's restraining anger when provoked. 00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:36.840 Can I tell you when you know you're going to preach a sermon on patience. 00:14:38.640 --> 00:14:42.300 It doesn't make for an easier week, right? 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:45.190 God, what does it look like to honor you even first service this morning? 00:14:46.520 --> 00:14:48.950 Very second row up here at the front. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.480 It was my mom, my dad, my kids. 00:14:53.020 --> 00:14:57.500 And I don't know if my bride was in here or not, but you think to yourself, I don't want to be a hypocrite, right? 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:01.460 Like, what does it look like to live this out? 00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:02.260 It's a good examination. 00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.780 How do I find patience? 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.980 Let me let me give you point number one in your notes. 00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.540 Number one is this. 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:19.980 Start with remembering God's patience towards you, remembering God's patience towards 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.420 you. 00:15:21.640 --> 00:15:25.040 It's easier to give when you've received. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:31.260 And sometimes as people, we forget just how gracious God's been to us. 00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:39.600 And so when we're reminded of how kind and gracious the Lord has been to us, it makes it easier for us 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.540 to be the same towards others. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:45.680 And in fact, one might call you hypocritical if you're not. 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:53.070 When you think about the Apostle Paul's life and as you look at Acts chapter 25, maybe we could ask the question, how. 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:57.720 How would you be after two years of sitting in prison? 00:15:59.320 --> 00:15:59.530 You know what? 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:02.020 What would stir within your heart? 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:07.590 Would people look at you in that moment and be like, he's a person or she's a person of patience? 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:17.340 What is it about the apostle Paul that in this moment he was able to rest in the Lord? 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:21.470 It wasn't what he wanted, but it was what the Lord wanted. 00:16:22.640 --> 00:16:23.960 And so how was Paul able to do this? 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:27.220 When you think about the conversion of his life in Acts chapter nine. 00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:30.840 It just demonstrates us the grace of God. 00:16:30.880 --> 00:16:35.970 It says, falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 00:16:36.180 --> 00:16:38.320 And he said, who are you, Lord? 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.510 And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 00:16:41.760 --> 00:16:48.780 You know, one of the things I told us that I really find endearing about this passage is it really warms our heart and the goodness of who Christ is 00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:49.500 towards us. 00:16:49.520 --> 00:16:56.580 And that when Paul is going to persecute the church, Jesus sees this directly as persecution against him, 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:00.060 that to hurt his bride is to hurt him. 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.620 It's an affront to the Lord. 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:01.900 That's. 00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:04.900 That's how much Jesus cares about his people. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:07.619 But here you are watching the Apostle Paul's life. 00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:12.230 And if you remember anything about Paul before he came to know the Lord, he was a persecutor of Christians. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:20.359 He was a murderer of Christians, and God and his justice and his holiness was completely within his right 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:23.280 to execute judgment against Paul immediately. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.940 But that's not what Paul experiences, and that's not what the Lord does. 00:17:29.080 --> 00:17:34.080 God extends his grace and forgiveness to Paul that radically transforms his life. 00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:36.440 And it's the same for you and for me. 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.960 There's what God owes you, which you do not want. 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:45.440 But then there's what God gives you by the grace of the cross, which we all need. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:53.720 And when you begin to understand exactly what the Lord has done for your life, it makes you incredibly patient 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:58.750 to those around you, because the patience in which God has extended towards you. 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:06.520 In fact, to give you another verse in the book of Peter, Peter is writing to a persecuted church, and the persecuted church is somewhat frustrated 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:11.540 and looking at the promises of God while they're going through the challenges in this world. 00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:15.750 And the question in their mind is like, Lord, we know that you're going to return. 00:18:15.780 --> 00:18:18.140 You promised to come and establish your kingdom fully. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:21.360 And here we are, stuck in the in-between where you came and proclaim your kingdom. 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:23.000 And you introduced that to us. 00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:26.650 But Lord, we want you back on your throne, ruling and reigning and in its fullness. 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:28.350 So, Lord Jesus, return quickly. 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.780 Don't you see what we're going through? 00:18:29.880 --> 00:18:31.620 God, don't you know the adversity that we're in? 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.850 God, why aren't you here? 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.520 Didn't you promise this to us? 00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:35.800 Have you forgotten your promises? 00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:37.190 Or you're not going to be faithful to us? 00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:40.560 They're going through all that challenges, all those challenges in that season. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:42.500 And then Peter writes this in second Peter three. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:47.370 He says, the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promises as some count slowness. 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:55.580 So don't look at this as a delay in God fulfilling, but rather what he's doing is being patient toward you, not willing that any should perish, but 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:57.300 that all should come to repentance. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:05.230 And what he's teaching us is something about the first coming of the Lord and the second coming of the Lord and the first coming of Christ. 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:09.440 He came as a humble servant king, giving his life for you and for me. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:12.150 He stood in our place what we deserved. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.780 He paid the price so that we could find freedom in him. 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:23.020 At his Second coming, he's going to return as a warrior king, executing justice against sin 00:19:23.020 --> 00:19:24.700 and darkness in this world. 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.750 And those that oppose will be under his judgment. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:35.760 And so what he's saying in the delay of his coming is that he's giving us opportunity to see the sweetness of who he is and the forgiveness that he 00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:39.280 offers, so that not only we find forgiveness, but hope in the Lord. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:47.320 And so the understanding, remembering God's patience towards you becomes critical for us in learning then what it means to live 00:19:47.320 --> 00:19:50.560 in light of that we ourselves would be a patient people. 00:19:52.260 --> 00:19:56.580 Number two then remember God's plan for your life. 00:19:58.520 --> 00:20:00.300 Remember God's plan for your life. 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.000 Acts chapter nine verse 15. 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.400 God says this of Paul. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:10.460 But the Lord said to him, go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine. 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:17.420 We talked about how special this is for us as God's people to know that we are chosen in the Lord. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:22.430 That here here's the Apostle Paul, that God particularly calls him out, says he is chosen. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:27.090 I think how special that is for Paul that he would be chosen. 00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:30.450 It reminds us again of really what God's will is for us. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.140 That certainly will do things. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.990 But God's primary will for us is that we would belong to him. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:39.880 We're created for relationship that in that relationship we would then glorify God with our lives. 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:45.500 That's the reason for which God has created us, that we would have the intimacy of walking with God both now and forever. 00:20:45.620 --> 00:20:48.500 And here's Paul with that special calling he's chosen. 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:55.640 And we've talked about that word together, that it's not exclusive to Paul, but that word chosen just belongs to God's people, that we 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:57.000 are all a chosen people. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:04.180 It tells us in Second Peter chapter two and verse 5 to 9, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood belonging to 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.340 the Lord. 00:21:05.820 --> 00:21:13.020 So this idea of being chosen is recognizing the value of that intimate relationship that you have in Christ because of what Christ 00:21:13.020 --> 00:21:14.170 has done for you. 00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:21.960 And he goes on to say with Paul that he's a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.200 children of Israel. 00:21:24.340 --> 00:21:28.880 So this calling on Paul's life is one of representing the Lord wherever he goes. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:36.220 And it's the same for you that you are this connection between heaven and earth, light in the midst of darkness, the greatness 00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:43.320 of a, of a greater King and a greater ruler, and the brokenness of this earthly kingdom to represent who 00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.760 God is. 00:21:43.820 --> 00:21:50.730 Now with Paul, it tells them that tells them that he's going to go specifically to represent not only to the Gentiles, but among the leaders among the Gentiles. 00:21:51.280 --> 00:21:54.370 So Paul has a very particular calling on his life. 00:21:55.100 --> 00:22:01.600 But you can imagine, as Paul's going through the challenges of this world, he might think to himself, But God, are you really going to fulfill that? 00:22:03.900 --> 00:22:07.580 God, I'm in prison for two years now. 00:22:08.800 --> 00:22:10.700 I thought you wanted me to go before the Kings. 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:18.880 You can imagine the challenge in Paul's soul and thinking about his relationship with the Lord and God. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.080 Are you in this and do you belong? 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:23.450 And, God does something interesting. 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:29.160 In Acts 23, just before Paul was taken into prison, because he knows as any of us would. 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:33.060 And the challenges we go through in life, we sometimes get disoriented in that. 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:35.270 And we come back to square one and asking the questions. 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:40.820 God, in light of all of this, who am I before you and where are you? 00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:48.380 And so knowing Paul is going to go through this season, where he's going to spend two years in prison in Caesarea and another two years in prison in Rome, like 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:55.680 God tells him in Acts 23, the first night after his imprisonment there, it says the following night the Lord stood by him and said, take 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:02.800 courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also 00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:03.840 in Rome. 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:11.740 And Paul is at a place where he can't control that outcome, but the only thing he can do is wait on the Lord. 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:17.520 Remember God's plan for your life. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:27.280 Acts chapter one verse six says this he who began a good work in your life will bring it to 00:23:27.280 --> 00:23:28.180 completion. 00:23:30.760 --> 00:23:38.320 You know, when I said Acts chapter one, excuse me, Philippians chapter one, verse six, Paul says that, when Paul writes the book of Philippians, 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:46.340 if you remember, Paul writes it during this imprisonment period, he writes an epistle on joy from 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:48.720 prison during this time period. 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:54.440 And it's as he's waiting patiently in the Lord that he reminds us. 00:23:55.940 --> 00:24:03.140 And don't lose sight of what God's promised you, because what he's promised, he will bring 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.840 it to completion. 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.680 And why would Paul write such a word? 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.360 Because he knows. 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:16.440 And the challenges of our lives that we build with anxiety, and we grow concerned not only in our 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:23.760 relationship with the Lord, but trying to force how the Spirit of God desires to work, and the forcing 00:24:23.760 --> 00:24:28.990 of that we lose sight of the resting in a good God who is over us. 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.740 So we think about what is it? 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.340 How do I find patience? 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:36.620 Remembering God's patience towards you, remembering God's plan for your life. 00:24:36.800 --> 00:24:39.160 And then number three, trusting in God's timing. 00:24:41.780 --> 00:24:47.960 God, I know you're going to work it out because you said you will, and I know you care about me. 00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:51.570 And the way that I know that very easily is the cross. 00:24:52.760 --> 00:24:55.440 I mean, you've given everything that I could belong to you. 00:24:56.520 --> 00:24:56.620 So. 00:24:56.720 --> 00:25:03.800 So in the midst of my circumstance, I need to learn what it means to just trust in you, not 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:07.530 because it's about my will being accomplished, but your will being done. 00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:15.600 And when frustration builds and things don't work out the way that I want, when I just want to insert myself and slam that pedal forward rather 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:20.720 than do that, God, I just want to walk in rhythm to the way your spirit desires to move. 00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:23.520 And you see this with the Apostle Paul learning that timing. 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:26.500 I mean, Acts 24, verse 27, we just read it a minute ago. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:28.260 He spent two years in prison. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.880 God, what does it look like for me in the seasons of waiting? 00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:42.620 Sometimes we can get so anxious that we just fail to recognize, maybe more than anything, what God wants to do is just take that 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:44.260 time to strengthen me and him. 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:52.920 To spend time in His Word, to grow a little deeper so that for the next season of my life, I 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.610 can walk stronger. 00:25:55.760 --> 00:26:04.340 And the greatness of who the Lord is so he can bring me to this last point, number four in your notes, and we'll look at 25 quickly so 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:09.140 that you can honor God and bless others in every season. 00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:16.820 To honor God and bless others in every season. 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:21.540 You know, patience is not merely just waiting longer. 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:26.160 It is about trusting God and loving people while you wait. 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:35.000 And sometimes the only thing that we can do is just simply obey. 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:35.280 Today. 00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:38.600 In fact, maybe I should just say all the time. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:42.500 The one thing that you can do is just simply obey. 00:26:42.540 --> 00:26:42.780 Today. 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:50.920 We don't have the power over tomorrow, but the one thing that we can do today is just find out in 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:55.840 the midst of where God has me engaging in life, or how do I honor you? 00:26:57.320 --> 00:27:02.720 What does it look like with the day at hand to faithfully honor you in my life? 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:11.460 Paul's circumstances had been dragging on for two years, and rather than just simply waiting for other people 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:17.540 to change, Paul just continues to honor the Lord and bless those around him as he can. 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:25.680 Sometimes it can grow incredibly frustrating, which we're going to see in a moment where Paul, in prison for two years was under the rule 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.450 of Felix. 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:33.760 And you think at the end of Felix's leadership that once he's out of that political position, Felix might think 00:27:33.760 --> 00:27:38.840 to himself, I know Paul was in us, and I just kept him in jail because I didn't want the Jews to get angry. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:43.020 And I didn't want to get back to Rome, that I couldn't control the region I was in charge of. 00:27:43.020 --> 00:27:44.210 So I just left him there. 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:50.860 So Paul must have been thinking his mind, well, now that Felix is going out and he doesn't have to appease anybody anymore, of course he's going to release me. 00:27:50.860 --> 00:27:51.980 He knows I'm innocent. 00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:54.320 And all of a sudden, Felix steps out of office and. 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:56.530 And that new leader steps in, and Paul's still in prison. 00:27:57.620 --> 00:28:03.460 How incredibly frustrating, sometimes irritating to think about representing the Lord to other people. 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:10.680 And when people don't always want to hear the greatness of who the Lord is, we just want to get frustrated by that and just kind of toss people 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:13.200 aside and be like, oh, you think you're done with me? 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.220 Well, I'm done with you. 00:28:15.320 --> 00:28:20.940 But when you read passages like Matthew chapter nine, you remember how Jesus was rejected by his own people. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:24.070 And in Matthew nine and verse 36, Jesus said it like this. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:32.160 But when he saw the multitude, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered like 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:35.260 sheep, having no shepherd. 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:40.060 Jesus incredibly patient, even those who maligned him. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.040 And the same with Paul. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:44.560 And you see it in Acts 25. 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:46.240 Let me just go through this quickly. 00:28:46.260 --> 00:28:51.100 I just, I want to I want you to see how in Paul's life, discovering the richness of who the Lord is. 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:58.480 It just helps him in every season and even in this season, to continue to honor God despite finding himself in circumstances that he can't, he can't 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.260 completely control. 00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:02.100 And so here he is, patiently moving through this time period. 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:07.530 But Acts 25, verse one now, three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:09.640 So new leader Festus. 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:15.840 He knows that this area is dominated by the Jewish people, so he wants to have a good influence and good relationship with them. 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:18.080 So the first thing he does is he goes straight to Jerusalem. 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:25.900 And so from Caesarea, there he goes in verse two, it says, and the chief priests and the principal men of Judea laid out their case against Paul. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:33.350 And they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul, that he summoned him to Jerusalem because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:39.310 And Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:42.060 So I appreciate this about Festus. 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:45.880 It's known of Festus that he was a he was a more honoring leader than than Felix. 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:52.340 We talked about last week, but Festus knows that Paul is being imprisoned in Caesarea and there was a reason he was moved from Jerusalem. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:55.460 And so Festus could have easily said, oh, it would make you happy. 00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:58.000 And me and my new position, I could please you by sending you. 00:29:58.040 --> 00:29:58.240 Paul. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.340 Let me just send them to you. 00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.860 But he knows better than that. 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.100 And he. 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:07.800 He wants to go back to Caesarea to hear Paul's case that still not come to a conclusion. 00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:13.840 But here's one of the things that's interesting is it's been a couple of years since Paul was first arrested. 00:30:13.840 --> 00:30:17.480 And remember, two years ago, they were so angry with Paul, they wanted to kill him. 00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:22.000 And now two years have passed and their hearts are still hardened to Paul. 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:25.100 They still want to kill the apostle Paul. 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:33.380 I mean, how difficult that must be for Paul to just know that this trial is dragging on and nothing's changed. 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:40.680 The ill intent that the people have before him, how difficult that must be in and of himself to just want to try to be a loving, God 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:42.120 honoring person in response. 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:48.820 And it becomes an impossibility in our own self, according to our own will, unless our heart is surrendered to the Lord. 00:30:50.780 --> 00:30:58.280 And so, Paul, moving forward in this moment, in verse six, it goes on and says, after he stayed among them, talking about Festus, not 00:30:58.280 --> 00:31:01.260 more than 8 or 10 days, he went down to Caesarea. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:05.280 The next day he took a seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 00:31:05.900 --> 00:31:12.950 When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many in serious charges against him that they could not prove. 00:31:13.520 --> 00:31:18.290 Paul argued his defense, neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar. 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:19.940 Have I committed any offense. 00:31:20.380 --> 00:31:23.480 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked. 00:31:23.520 --> 00:31:25.880 Said to Paul, do you wish to go to Jerusalem, and there be. 00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:28.360 Be tried on these charges before me? 00:31:28.600 --> 00:31:30.600 Paul had been an idiot to say, yes, but. 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:33.980 But he asked the question, and you understand the reason why Festus would do such a thing? 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:37.030 Because he's a new leader and this is a political position. 00:31:37.260 --> 00:31:38.350 He's trying to play the politics. 00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:40.140 He doesn't want Rome to find out. 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:42.940 He can't control the Jewish people and making him angry. 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:45.660 But Festus knows that Paul's innocent. 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:51.620 But just to release Paul was going to create problems among the Jewish people and for him would create problems with Rome. 00:31:52.680 --> 00:31:59.190 And even still, the people have had two years to bring a better plan to bring charges against Paul. 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:04.620 But yet even after two years, they still couldn't bring charges that would find Paul guilty. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:08.900 Could you imagine how frustrated Paul would be over and over again? 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:14.000 Brought on trial again and again, having to defend himself in the same way. 00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:18.360 All that while thinking everyone knows I'm innocent. 00:32:19.560 --> 00:32:20.600 But yet here I am. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:24.960 I mean, how patient could any of us be in that situation? 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:33.560 But Paul and surrendering to the Lord, he's just he can't control the outcome, but he can be faithful to where he 00:32:33.560 --> 00:32:36.680 is today, obeying the Lord and honoring him. 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:38.210 And it goes on in verse ten. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:43.340 But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, when where I ought to be tried to the Jews. 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:46.080 I have done no wrong, as you yourselves know very well. 00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:46.220 If. 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:52.470 If, then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. 00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:54.060 But if there is nothing to. 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:58.240 To their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. 00:32:58.260 --> 00:32:59.420 I appeal to Caesar. 00:32:59.520 --> 00:33:04.560 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered to Caesar, you have appealed to Caesar. 00:33:04.560 --> 00:33:05.280 You shall go. 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:12.180 Now when some days had passed a grip of the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.620 For Festus. 00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:20.700 This was very much a welcoming moment to have Agrippa, because Agrippa was one that ruled over the Jewish people as well, and he had ruled long enough and 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:22.110 he understood Jewish customs. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.680 And so Festus knew. 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:27.470 I can't release Paul because it would upset the Jewish people. 00:33:27.560 --> 00:33:28.360 It would create an uprising. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:30.360 Rome would find out, I would lose my position. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:32.410 And so that's not a good thing to go. 00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.680 I don't want to leave Paul in prison because he's innocent. 00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:38.710 But Paul's appealed to Caesar, and if I send him to Caesar, I'm a new leader. 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:45.610 And that would be so irritating to Caesar to just send someone right off the bat showing I have no control and I don't know how to rule. 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:48.700 And so if I'm going to send somebody, I need to have a reason for it. 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:52.900 And if one person can help me, it's got to be Agrippa because he understands these people. 00:33:53.020 --> 00:33:57.700 And he's been a leader long enough that if I can sign his name to this, it's going to help me with Caesar. 00:33:57.740 --> 00:34:05.090 So Festus, he's playing the political game, and now Paul finds himself in the midst of this, and you see how far the political game goes. 00:34:05.100 --> 00:34:08.380 When you read further in verse 20, I'll read two more slides and be done. 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:12.060 But he says, be being at a loss how to investigate these questions. 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:14.920 I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem. 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:18.520 This is Festus talking and be tried there regarding them. 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:25.690 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar. 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:30.300 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would like to hear the man myself tomorrow. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:32.949 He said, he, you will hear him. 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:36.199 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp. 00:34:36.560 --> 00:34:38.219 I don't think I've ever entered a room like that. 00:34:38.320 --> 00:34:39.219 I want to try it one day. 00:34:39.520 --> 00:34:41.719 Come in with some great pomp, and they. 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.699 They entered the. 00:34:42.900 --> 00:34:45.050 It's a new TikTok thing we're going to do here. 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:50.260 And they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. 00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:52.199 I should probably look up that word before I do that. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:56.320 And then all at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 00:34:56.780 --> 00:35:00.110 Festus said, King Agrippa and all who were present with us. 00:35:00.120 --> 00:35:07.140 You see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live 00:35:07.140 --> 00:35:07.920 any longer. 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:10.510 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. 00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:14.740 And as he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 00:35:15.040 --> 00:35:18.310 But I have nothing definite to write to my Lord about him. 00:35:18.360 --> 00:35:23.100 Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa. 00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:27.200 So after we have examined him, I may have something to write for. 00:35:27.220 --> 00:35:29.900 It seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner to. 00:35:30.080 --> 00:35:31.800 To indicate the charges against him. 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:36.290 We'll look at next week everything that Paul presents in terms of Christianity before Agrippa. 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:41.220 But I want you to see that the real interest here isn't about the truth. 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:46.410 The real interest here is about themselves in regards to Agrippa and Festus. 00:35:47.080 --> 00:35:54.340 That when Bernice and Agrippa come into this moment, not only are they getting all the accolades of their appearance here and playing this political 00:35:54.340 --> 00:36:01.340 game, but they also know that Paul has a tremendous following in an uprising, and that there's going to be a large gathering for this proceeding to even 00:36:01.340 --> 00:36:02.150 be heard. 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:09.600 And so it gives them more opportunity to be in the limelight that they themselves know they're not going to ultimately reach a conclusion, but it's just going to add to the theatrics and 00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:11.960 that's what they're attracted to. 00:36:12.080 --> 00:36:15.260 And so for Paul, he becomes a game in their life. 00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:19.240 But ultimately, more than anything, he gets to glorify God. 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:27.400 And so when you think about the importance of this passage, what is Acts 25, even teaching us as God's people, it's 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:32.100 the significance of walking patiently in the Lord in every season of life. 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:40.800 Because regardless of what the Jewish people decide, and regardless of what Agrippa or Festus may decide on what Paul presents, no 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:45.470 matter what, Paul gets to do one thing and that is honor Jesus and everything. 00:36:46.780 --> 00:36:50.360 He gets to walk faithfully with the Lord in every season of life. 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:56.160 And guys, can I tell you, regardless of the earthly results you might achieve in this world. 00:36:57.480 --> 00:37:03.340 No matter if millions of people come to know Jesus through you, or no one comes to know Jesus through you. 00:37:04.560 --> 00:37:08.440 God's desire for your life is just to honor him in everything that you do. 00:37:09.600 --> 00:37:11.060 And in so doing, it's a. 00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:18.620 It's a life well lived, but that life can't be lived in an honoring way to the Lord, lest patience 00:37:18.620 --> 00:37:19.540 be a part of it. 00:37:21.260 --> 00:37:26.000 Rather than trusting in my will, God, I've seen that you're good. 00:37:27.180 --> 00:37:29.040 And Lord, I know that you love me. 00:37:30.500 --> 00:37:34.220 And so more than anything, I just want to trust in you. 00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:37.200 Lord, help me to rest in you. 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:44.600 I may not be able to control all of the weight that the world might try to throw on my shoulders, and to be honest, I don't want to. 00:37:44.680 --> 00:37:45.420 And I don't have to. 00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:50.540 Because, Lord, I know you see me and Lord, you've numbered my days. 00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:58.340 So rather than carry that worry, the one thing that I do want to do is walk faithfully with you right now. 00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:06.680 So rather than wait for someone else to change God, I just want my heart to continue to change in your presence. 00:38:08.160 --> 00:38:08.880 Lord help me. 00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:16.010 Maybe one of the ways that we could compare this to our lives is through the image of a butterfly. 00:38:16.580 --> 00:38:17.630 So I'll close with this. 00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:27.280 There's a story of a man who was walking along the trail, and he had one of those incredible moments of life where he sees a cocoon, and 00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:34.400 he recognizes that it was at that particular moment that the butterfly inside was beginning to move in order to 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.140 break free. 00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:39.020 And so the man started to watch this moment in nature. 00:38:39.020 --> 00:38:41.420 And he was mesmerized by it. 00:38:41.520 --> 00:38:47.820 But after a few moments had passed, he realized that this butterfly was struggling to break free from the cocoon. 00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:51.440 And he started to wonder if it was even going to be successful. 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:55.530 And in that struggle, he decided, you know what? 00:38:55.720 --> 00:38:56.920 I'm going to help this butterfly. 00:38:57.960 --> 00:39:02.880 So he goes over to the cocoon and he pulls out his pocket knife, and he cuts a slit along the cocoon. 00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:07.270 And sure enough, the butterfly pops out and climbs up on the branch. 00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:13.440 And the man decided, I'm going to be here and just watch as it as it takes its first flight into the world. 00:39:14.160 --> 00:39:19.800 And so the man stands there for a while, but he started to realize that this butterfly isn't going to fly. 00:39:20.940 --> 00:39:22.120 And the man disappointed left. 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:31.560 But come to find out, as scientists have studied butterflies, they've recognized that one of the most critical moments of 00:39:31.560 --> 00:39:38.980 the life of the butterfly happens in the very beginning, when it struggles to break free from the cocoon, because 00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:45.980 it's in that fight and struggle that the Lord created that moment in such a way that was that was the moment 00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:52.060 that pushed fluid appropriately through the butterfly's wings so that the butterfly could fly. 00:39:53.120 --> 00:40:00.140 In a moment where this man thought he was helping this butterfly escape, the challenges that it was experiencing ultimately 00:40:00.140 --> 00:40:01.980 led to its demise. 00:40:03.600 --> 00:40:10.680 Because I would argue the same thing with the challenges that we go through in life, sometimes our prayer is, God, take 00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.820 this challenge away. 00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:20.600 But what we learn is that sometimes those adversities that we go through are the very things the Lord uses to give strength 00:40:20.600 --> 00:40:23.560 to our wings so that we can learn to fly. 00:40:25.060 --> 00:40:32.180 Now, in saying that, I want you to know, I'm not telling you that every difficult thing that you go through in life 00:40:32.180 --> 00:40:38.780 is God saying to you have to go through this in order to be able to be a beautiful butterfly, right? 00:40:39.700 --> 00:40:42.260 I'm not God, and I'm not trying to predict your life. 00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:50.040 But what I am saying is every season that we go through in life is an opportunity for us to learn. 00:40:50.120 --> 00:40:51.340 What am I trusting in? 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:54.440 I can't control the outcome of everything. 00:40:55.100 --> 00:40:57.840 And in fact, to do so would be to play the role of God. 00:40:59.020 --> 00:41:06.240 But the one thing I can do is trust in the goodness of God who loves me, who promise he'll bring everything 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:07.960 to completion in him. 00:41:09.220 --> 00:41:16.320 And if I'm surrendered to that Lord, rather than live my life according to my will, I want to live my life according 00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:17.260 to his will. 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.220 God help me. 00:41:20.660 --> 00:41:21.800 Help me trust in you. 00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:25.540 Help me see the richness of who you are. 00:41:26.500 --> 00:41:27.380 I know you love me. 00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:30.810 And the way we all see that is through the cross of Christ. 00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:34.900 In a place where God gave everything that we could be free in him.