Click the "Sermons" button for access to hundreds more messages and
PowerPoint Presentations!
Use the controls, below, just like you would a VCR. Click the "Play"
arrow to begin. This page must remain open to continue listening. To browse the internet while you listen, open a new browser window by clicking on "File", then "New", then "Window".
Click here to vote for this sermon. [A new window will open.
Scroll to the bottom of the new page to enter your
vote. Then close the page to return to this page.]
If you appreciate this sermon ministry
then help spread the Word and recommend it to others by casting your vote.
23:1 “earnestly” = He’s looking them
straight in the eyes, not ashamed, not afraid, and not about to back down.
Paul used to be a member of their number…and now they consider him to be a
turncoat…a traitor. There’s nothing this group would like more than to
execute him. Yet he stands before them cool, calm, and collected.
To escape criticism: say nothing, do
nothing, be nothing!
There is no way to live the Christian
life in our modern society today and not be criticized. But we can have
confidence in criticism and peace in persecution. How?
I. We have to be
morally clean
v. 1 “good conscience”
Conscience is that inner voice which accuses
us when we do wrong. It’s an alarm that sounds within warning us ahead of
time, too. But be careful, as we said last time, because…
1. It can be defiled
2. It can be seared
3. It can be evil
We cannot avoid
persecution and criticism, but we don’t have to be affected by it.
I was badmouthed on the radio this morning because of what I said on TV
Friday night…but it doesn’t bother me…why not?
Ill.--Sailors have noted that winds can be
blowing in one direction, and iceburgs moving in the opposite direction.
How does this happen? 9/10th’s of the iceburg is below the
surface, so the ocean currents are in control…the little bit above the
surface is not affected by the winds.
Our convictions…our roots need to run
so deep in our lives that we are steered by the current of absolute truth,
God’s Word.
We’ll never amount to
much if we allow ourselves to worryso much
about what others think.
Ill.—the first steamboat trip from NYC to
Albany was a very short trip, but took 32 hours. Most of the people laughed
and criticized, but the inventor did not give up or back down, because he
knew in his heart he was up to something good.
Automobiles: when they first came out they
were usually passed on the streets by horses and buggies.
First electric light bulb: when first
demonstrated, they had to have an oil lamp on to see it because it was so
dim.
First airplane flight: only stayed in the
air for 59 seconds.
That’s what Paul was like. When he got
saved, he got forgiven, and got a new outlook…that led to a clean
conscience, and he operated on principle, not acc’d to the winds of public
opinion. He didn’t take a poll or go w/ the majority…he went w/ the good
conscience of being morally clean!
So, make
sure you’re right, first…then, don’t be moved by the winds of
criticism.
One guy couldn’t get anything done because he
was so afraid of criticism:
Making a journey w/ grandson by donkey…only
had 1 donkey, but had to go a ways thru 5 villages to get home.
He put the boy on the donkey and walked along
beside. The 1st village criticized, saying, “look at that
healthy young boy, making that old man walk.”
He couldn’t take the criticism, so he
switched places w/ the boy.
2nd village criticized, “look at
that…a healthy, grown man makin’ a little boy walk.”
He couldn’t take it, so they both got
on the donkey.
3rd village said, “that’s animal
abuse…2 of them on that one little donkey”
So, they both started walking.
4th village said, “can you believe
it, 2 people walking when they have a perfectly good donkey…you’d think one
of them would have sense enough to get on and ride!”
He had enough, so guess what he did.
Came to 5th village, and what did
the people see? The boy was walking, the man was walking, and they were
carrying the donkey!
Moral: you’re gonna be criticized, so make
sure you’re right, and then take your stand!
II. We have to be
theologically clear
v. 6 Paul knew w/out doubt that
Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. You can’t argue w/ that…you can’t
convince me Christianity is wrong after that fact!
If a man has walked out of a grave, then He
had power over death, and you have to deal w/ that! That cannot be lightly
glossed over…and no one can be neutral about it!
If Christ is still in the grave, then
Christianity doesn’t really matter, but if He came out of the grave, then
nothing else matters!
Only 4 opinions you can
have about Christ:
·He was a
legend—a myth passed down thru
the years. But even the university professors don’t hold onto that one
anymore, because there’s simply too much historical evidence today that He
lived. And this council Paul stood before didn’t hold this position,
because most of them had seen Jesus themselves. They helped put Him to
death. They had heard the stories about His miracles and teachings.
·He was a
lunatic—He claimed to be God because He was crazy. Or, He just thought He was
God, like David Koresh, “the wacko from Waco.”
·He was a
liar—bold faced deception. He
claimed to be God, but knew He wasn’t…claimed could rise from the dead,
knowing He couldn’t…said He was only way to Heaven, knowing it wasn’t
true…Well, let’s think about that one: everyone says He was a good man,
just not God…but if a man makes these kind of false claims, is he a good
man? No!
·He is
LORD!
A. Christianity disturbs plenty
B.
Christianity divides many
v. 7
v. 10
The world calls out for peace, and the
ecumenical movement says let’s not divide, let’s be at peace. But Jesus
said,
Matthew 10:34-38
Think not that I am come to send peace on
earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. [35] For I am come to set a
man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and
the daughter in law against her mother in law. [36] And a man's foes shall
be they of his own household. [37] He that loveth father or mother more than
me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is
not worthy of me. [38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after
me, is not worthy of me.
This isn’t saying believers would reject
their families…it’s usually the other way around. Anyone know of any
instances of this? Share…
Jesus did not come to blend everything
together, but to separate right from wrong, truth from error, and light from
darkness.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We need to decide if we believe that or not.
If it’s wrong, we should run from Jesus, and if right, we should run to
Jesus!
Let’s be theologically clear!
Disturbs plenty, divides many…
C. Christianity delivers any
Paul knew that the very thing that caused his
persecution is the thing that gave him peace! And God gets great glory when
we choose Him, and cling to the truth, no matter what anyone else may say!
To have peace in persecution, and confidence
in criticism:
We have to be morally clean, theologically
clear…
III. We will be
personally comforted
v. 11 God didn’t dispatch an angel
when His man was under attack, He showed up personally to stand by him. He
put His arms around him and encouraged him. God is never closer to us than
when we suffer.
Everyone in the room has had some great
personal tragedy, and, if you let Him, God will personally comfort you, and
you’ll know more than ever He’s real, and it’s all true, and no one can
convince you otherwise.
Confidence in
Criticism
Acts 23:1-11
I. We have to be morally
c__________v. 1
We cannot avoid persecution and
criticism, but we don’t have to be a______________ by
it
We’ll never amount to much if we
allow ourselves to w________ about what others
t________
Make sure you’re r________,
first…then, don’t be moved by the winds of criticism
II. We have to be theologically
c________v. 6
Only 4 opinions you can have about
Christ:
·He was a l__________
·He was a l____________
·He was a l______
·He is L______!
A. Christianity
d______________ plenty
B. Christianity
d____________ many v. 7, v. 10, Matt. 10:34-38, John 14:6
C. Christianity
d______________ any
III. We will be personally
c________________v. 11
Help keep this service free by
recommending it using:
