From Confusion to Conviction
Acts 21-22
The Hobbit Goes to Mirkwood Forest
“Do not leave the path! If you do, you will lose your way, and you will never find it again.”
Today I want to help you lift your head above the canopy.
“What would you do if you believed Hell were real?”
“What would you do if you believed Heaven were real?”
Today I want you to lift your head above the canopy and catch a glimpse of Jesus and then come back down with conviction in your heart to go the right direction:
To follow Jesus with CONVICTION in a world of CONFUSION.
THE CHRISTIAN HAS CONVICTION IN A WORLD OF CONFUSION.
Acts 21:4–5
And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:11–14
And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
[12] When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem…
[Paul pushes back]
“Let the will of the Lord be done.”
GOD’S CALLING CAN BE CONFUSING
Prophetic Insight is a thing.
Christianity is more spiritual and mysterious than you thought.
You should seek the Lord in prayer.
There is sometimes confusion among these genuine Christians.
The Holy Spirit was revealing Paul’s coming suffering, but they assumed it wasn’t His calling.
Even Christians get it wrong.
This emphasizes the need for careful consideration of God’s calling of your life and obedience in each season.
1 Thessalonians 5:19–21
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, [21] but test everything; hold fast what is good.
Possible Good Examples:
You should start a church
You should marry
You should move
Common Bad Examples:
You should divorce
Have an abortion
Create a faction in the church
Quit your job and move to the woods in Alaska
Share gossip masked as a prayer request
Hide your sin struggles
Can’t always trust “I have PEACE about it…”
Red flag sometimes.
Aligns with God’s Word
Church Leadership Verifies
Wise Counsel Agrees
Flows From Regenerate Desires
Is Confirmed Through Prayer
Produces Good Fruit
Bible Podcast Episode!
LIVE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Listen carefully to what God is saying.
We need to live for an audience of One.
But while the Christians are slightly confused about God’s specific will for Paul, the religious Jews miss it altogether!
THE CONFUSION OF RELIGION
Acts 21:34–36
Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
They really thought they were serving God’s purposes.
Regeneration VS. Religion
Duty vs. Delight
Christo-centrism.
Say Jesus!
A vulgar pastor: Philip Anthony Mitchell
Paul is attacked by the religious and they drag him before the irreligious.
THE CONFUSION OF THE PAGAN
Acts 21:38–40
“Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”
The Roman Tribune starts at a place of confusion.
Paul tries to lead him to Christ.
There are times when people from the world just genuinely aren’t sure what’s true.
We want to see more skeptics become saints by asking honest questions.
THE CLARITY OF OUR TESTIMONY
Acts 22:3–21
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
[4] I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, [5] as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
You’re never too far gone for the grace of Christ.
[6] “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.
[7] And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
[8] And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
[9] Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
[10] And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’
[11] And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
Have you had an encounter with Jesus?
It may not look like this.
But today Jesus is speaking to you.
Jesus Reveals Himself
The Man in White
[12] “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there…
[He was welcomed by a Jew; this points to Jewish acceptance to his Jewish persecutors.]
[13] came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ …
‘you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
[16] And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’”
WHY WAIT?
You should be baptized today!
The Gospel.
Paul receives eyesight.
There is clarity in Jesus.
[17] “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance
[18] and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
[Paul says this because he was responsible for Stephen’s death.]
[21] And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
Paul’s point: His ministry to Gentiles is valid because he’s sent by Jesus.
Paul’s secondary point: His hearers would believe in Jesus.
THERE IS A POWER TO TESTIMONY!
When was the last time you shared your testimony?
QUESTIONS
What about this world has left you in confusion?
What questions are you asking? They are answered in Christ.
What holds you back from confessing Jesus?