Last week we saw Paul standing before the Sanhedrin to give a defense of his life.

It was a group that he himself belonged to decades earlier before meeting Jesus Christ.

review

Then he was Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of the Church.

But now he is Paul the apostle, Prisoner of the Lord.

Then he was Saul the murderer of Christians.

But now he is Paul the minister of Christ.

review

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

(Acts 23:6 KJV)

Within the Sanhedrin was two sects of Judaism which held to diametrically opposed theological positions.

Paul understood this and used the deep seated discord between two religious parties to further his defense of the truth.

key observation

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. {8} For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

(Acts 23:7-9 KJV)

{9} And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Amazing!

The Pharisees now come to Paul's defense.

When they find out he is a Pharisee, they rally around him to defend him.

At this point Paul's life is in so much danger again that the Roman captain reaches in and saves him from the angry Sanhedrin.

Paul has now been before the Sanhedrin, and upon his removal he will find himself before Jesus.

note well

But before we go there we should take the time to note something about this group called the Sanhedrin -

Jesus had stood trial before the Sanhedrin, and so had His Apostles; and now Paul had witnessed to them.

crucial observation

What great opportunities this group of men had, and yet they would not believe!

You know there are those who say that they can not believe, when in reality they simply will not believe.

crucial observation

(Acts 23:11 KJV)

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

A few years after Paul’s conversion, when Paul’s life was in danger in Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to him in the temple and told him what to do.

Paul recounted that event in Chapter 22.

key insight

(Acts 22:17-21 KJV)

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; {18} And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

…. {21} And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

On another occasion, when Paul was dis-couraged in Corinth and contemplated going elsewhere, Jesus appeared to him and encouraged him to stay.

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(Acts 18:9-11 KJV)

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: {10} For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. {11} And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Now, when Paul was at another critical moment of His ministry – perhaps one of the lowest points in his ministry, Jesus appeared once again to encourage and instruct him.

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Paul would later receive encouragement during the storm en-route to Rome.

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(Acts 27:23-24 NKJV)

"For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, {24} "saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'

Paul would also receive encouragement while on trial before Caesar.

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(2 Tim 4:16-17 NKJV)

At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. {17} But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.

Jesus said:

(Mat 28:20 KJV) ... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

note well

You are NEVER out of the Lord’s sight and care.

Jesus will draw near to you to comfort, encour-age and strengthen you.

key point

REMEMBER Jesus with the two disciples on the first Easter Sunday.

Jesus drew near to these two that were so down and dejected.

He SPOKE to them and by the time He left their hearts were BURNING with Zeal and Hope.

key point

The Lord’s message to Paul was one of COURAGE.

“Be of good cheer!” simply means “Take courage!”

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Jesus often spoke these words during His earthly ministry.

He spoke them to the palsied man (Matt. 9:2) and to the woman who suffered with the hemorrhage (Matt. 9:22).

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He shouted them to the disciples in the storm (Matt. 14:27), and repeated them in the Upper Room (John 16:33).

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TAKE COURAGE!

The Lord is with YOU and will see YOU through.

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It was also a message of COMMENDATION.

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When you read the account of Paul’s days in Jerusalem, you get the impression that everything Paul did failed miserably.

His attempt to win over the Jews only cause a riot in the temple, and his witness before the Sanhedrin left the council in confusion.

But the Lord was pleased with Paul’s testimony, and that’s ALL that really counts.

He commended him for the witness he had given, even though that witness had not been received.

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The Lord rewarded Paul, NOT for the way they responded, but for the fact that he delivered the message.

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Finally, it was a message of CONFIDENCE.

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Paul would go to Rome!

This had been Paul’s desire for a LONG time (Acts 19:21; Rom. 15:22-29).

But events in Jerusalem had made it look as though that desire would not be fulfilled.

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This was indeed a TIMELY WORD from the Lord.

It would provide Paul with radical encourage-ment in the DIFFICULT weeks that followed.

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It provided the encouragement that would sustain him when leaders lied about him, when fanatics tried to kill him, and when government officials ignored him.

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REMEMBER JOSPEPH

The ONLY thing he had to hang on to when he was - thrown into a pit -sold into Egypt as a slave - falsely accused and imprisoned

Were the promises that God had given to him as a 17 year old boy and the presence of the Lord - And the Lord was with Joseph

God is WITH YOU

He is STANDING BY YOU in ALL of your circumstances.

It does NOT matter if He FEELS near or not.

crucial application #1

It is not enough to SAY we believe this - we have to take by faith and then LIVE as though it is true

The Just shall live by faith

Again - Joseph

crucial application #1

God wants to speak

TO YOU in a way that is timely.

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Are you in the place of hearing from Him?

Do you have a time when you turn a listening ear towards Him?

Sundays, Mondays?

Morning Devotional?

Small Groups?

crucial application #2

God wants to speak

THROUGH YOUin a way that is timely.

crucial application #3

God might speak to you in the morning and while He is ministering TO you, He is also giving to you a TIMELY WORD for someone else.

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The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know what to say to all these weary ones. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.

(Isa 50:4 NLT)

I can not tell you how many times Valerie is able to minister to a friend out what the Lord had been ministering to her in her “Bible Bus” readings.

example

I was sharing this once and a sister in the Lord came up to me and said

“Richard that is so true and it makes me think of how we as moms need to hear from the Lord every day to have a word for our children.”

example

By the way – Your low point might be the very point at which God has your attention!

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What is it going to take for you and I to be found in the place of receiving that TIMELY WORD from the Lord?

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An earlier night to make way for an earlier morning?

A “fast-food” dinner to get to an evening study?

Perhaps just sacrifice?