Sermon #1326[1]                                          Miscellaneous Notes

 

          Title:            “After The Way Which They

   Call Heresy So Worship

   I The God Of My Fathers!”

          Text:            Acts 24:14-16

          Reading:      Acts 22:1-23

          Subject:       Paul’s Confession Before Felix

          Date:            Sunday Morning - September 27, 1999

          Tape #         U-86 

          Introduction:

 

·        Paul’s Arrest at Jerusalem

 

·        Standing before Felix. The Roman Governor of Judea

 

·        The Accusation (vv. 5-6)

 

Acts 24:5-6  For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: (6) Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

 

·        The Assembled Crowd

- The High Priest

- Tertulian

- The Pharisees

- The Sadducees

- The Scribes

 

·        Paul’s Response (vv. 14-16)

 

Acts 24:14-16  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: (15) And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (16) And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

 

I.      THE WAY - (Pro. 14:12; 16:25)

 

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

A.  A Way - Broad Gate - Wide Way

B. The Way - Strait Gate - Narrow Way

 

II.   WHICH THEY CALL HERESY…”

 

III. SO WORSHIP I.”

 

·       WORSHIP

 

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

 

IV. THE GOD OF MY FATHERS.”

 

A.  Not My Physical Fathers but My Spiritual Fathers (Phil. 3:1-11).

 

Philippians 3:4-11  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

B. The God

 

1.     Sovereign (Psa. 115:3; 135:6).

2.     Holy (Isa. 6). “Holy and reverend is his name.”

3.     Justice (Ezek. 18:20).

4.     Gracious (Ex. 33).

 

V.  BELIEVING ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS

 

          That is to say, Believing all things which in all the Scriptures. I bow to the Word of God.

 

VI. AND HAVE HOPE TOWARD GOD…” (v. 15).

 

Acts 24:15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

 

          In face of eternity, in the face of the resurrection of the dead, in the face of Divine judgment, I have hope toward God because I worship him…

 

A.  As a sinner

 

I am convinced of my sin (John 16:8-11; Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Rom. 5:12; Rom. 3:9-18).

 

John 16:8-11  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

 

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

Psalms 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

Psalms 58:3  The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

 

Romans 3:9-18  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

Illustration: The Publican

 

B. As a sinner chosen of God (2 Thess. 2:13-14; Gal. 1:15-16).

 

Galatians 1:15-16  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

C. As a sinner redeemed, atoned for, purchased and made righteous by the blood of God’s own dear Son. As a sinner trusting Christ alone for acceptance with God (Gal. 2:20-21).

 

Galatians 2:20-21  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

 

D. As a sinner raised from the dead, sought out, called, and saved by the irresistible grace and power of God the Holy Spirit (Psa. 65:4; Eph. 2:1-4, 7-8).

 

Psalms 65:4  Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

 

Ephesians 2:1-4  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

 

Ephesians 2:7-8  That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

Illustrations:        Lazarus

                             The Aborted Infant

The Valley of Dry Bones

 

E.  As a sinner sealed, preserved, and kept in the way by the power and grace of God - “Who are kept.” “Never perish!” “Keep through Thine own name!”

 

·        Kept in My Surety’s Hands

·        Kept in The Shepherd’s Hands

·        Kept in The Father’s Hands

 

VII. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (v. 16).

 

A.   Toward God

 

·        Trusting His Son (Col. 2:6).

·        Seeking His Will

·        Seeking His Honor

·        Serving His People!

 

B. Toward Men.”

 

·        Living in honesty

·        Showing mercy!

 

Application:

 

          How about you? Who do you worship?

 

1 Kings 18:21  And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.

 

AMEN.



[1] Preached at Dingess, WV 9/25/98 – Cherokee, NC 10-20-98