- Acts 22
- glossophobia: fear of public speaking
- higher percentage of people have this than fear of death
- but the church has greater fear of speaking the Gospel to others
- “Christ-glossophobia”
- we need to be challenged on what it means to speak for Christ and speak the truth
To take the stand for Jesus with unwavering confidence, I need to:
- Make a personal connection (1-5)
- Paul tells them he was once like them
- Gamaliel was highest rabbi
- “the Way” was derogatory term used towards Christians back then
- trying to relate as Jew, but even at deeper level of all being human sinners
- the reality that we all need a saviour and all equal at foot of the cross
- let your past be daily motivation to change who you are and speak the truth
- don’t let your experiences go to waste; God will use you life experience and walk as bridge to connect with those who need to be saved
- Describe the painful confrontation (6-11)
- Paul was very specific in the details of his testimony to the Jewish crowd
- blazing light brings to mind Shekhina glory of God
- “who are you lord?” directed to God, the response “I am Jesus” is offensive to Jews
- the reality of Jesus reveals how far away from where we are supposed to be
- humiliating when we think we were on the right path and revealed we’re NOT
- always painful to see out sin exposed and receive revelation of what we’ve done to Christ
- but God’s grace allow this painful confrontation
- “what shall I do, Lord?”
- the key is how we respond to the confrontation
- are you willing to ask God to expose your sin?
- are you willing to get help?
- are you willing to do things God’s way?
- path to reconciliation often painful, but required and rewarding
- Paul was very specific in the details of his testimony to the Jewish crowd
- Explain the radical conversion (12-16)
- when God confronts you, it’s always to change you
- the blindness is symbolic to the spiritual blindness
- v13-14: receiving spiritual sight
- confidence not just emotional, but objective experience and reality
- you don’t feel forgiven…you are forgiven!
- you don’t feel saved…you are saved!
- every conversion can be classified as radical
- your salvation itself is miraculous and radical regardless of how your story may be
- 2 Cor 5:20-21
- v16: calling on His name cleanses of sins (i.e. by faith alone)
- Applying because of the Gospel:
- don’t live in the shame of your past, but in the wonder of His grace
- don’t shy away from past, use it to give hope to sinners
- Phil 3
- humble and confidence in the Lord
- no matter how dark or recent the sin, God has saved you
- don’t live for things of the past, but with new purpose!
- live for the fame and glory of Jesus
- v16: if you’ve heard, why wait? run to Jesus!
- Obey the clear calling (17-21)
- often we think of our plan rather than God’s plan and mission
- we need to see God is moving us in a different direction than our own
- wherever we are, we are on mission!
- Embrace the true confidence (22-30)
- Paul insinuates his Roman citizenship rather than insists
- shows he is still willing to suffer and die for Christ
- asserting his Roman rights and rightly leveraging the law
- represent the Gospel while defending your rights
- we are called to stay the course
- faithfulness is not quick fix to circumstances or manipulating God, it is confidence in the Lord, rather than the results
- God is our true confidence; our strong refuge (Prov 18:10)
- take the stand for Jesus in confidence because one day you’ll stand before the Judge of all creation
- Paul insinuates his Roman citizenship rather than insists