Law and Order
Slide:
Acts 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
NKJV
The Lord tells Paul,
Do not be afraid.
Intro:
There’s two ingredients needed for a successful society.
Law and Order.
1. Law
You need the Law to determine right from wrong.
2. Order
You need someone to discipline to those who do wrong.
Physical world laws are easy to see.
Gravity always works.
Water is always wet.
Chiefs are always looking to next year.
Spiritual world/The world you and I live in.
That world can be a scary place.
Right is not always right.
Wrong is not always.
The new word is tolerance.
The world doesn’t need tolerance.
The world doesn’t need love.
The world needs law and order.
Title Message:
Slide: “Law and Order
Illustration:
Have you seen the TV series, “Law and Order”?
· Crime series
· Set in New York
· First half show Detectives investigate crimes/apprehend…
· Law part of the show.
· Shifts to courts
· Prosecute the accused.
· Some cases are simple. Black and white.
· Some are challenging/complicated.
· Plea bargaining. To determine guilt of innocence.
Sometimes the guilty go free
Innocent are convicted.
Sticky question;
What happens when the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
We see the guilty go free.
What about when the innocent are punished.
Let’s see if The Punishment Fit the Crime.
Slide:
Acts 18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
NKJV
Gallio/Proconsul of Achaia.
Gallio / Roman official, governor. Not Jewish
Roman law took precedent over Jewish law.
The unbelieving Jews.
Brought Paul to the judgement seat.
A place where you are judged.
And Paul was prepared to defend himself.
Slide:
Acts 18:13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.
NKJV
Interesting how God works.
Paul / Roman citizen / prepared to defend himself / against Romans.
Turns out that Romans were defending Him.
Illustration;
Sued over selling house/title company didn’t clear. I was innocent.
Wrote letter to God. You know what’s right/your will be done.
I like what v. 14
If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews there would be reason why I should bear with you.
Slide
Acts 18:15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.”
NKJV
Words and names.
I don’t think he’s saying trivial matters.
Illustration;
Depending on who’s speaking them words can mean a lot.
When a women say’s…
Fine;
This is the word we use at the end of any argument that we feel we are right about but need to shut you up. NEVER use fine to describe how a woman looks. This will cause you to have one of those arguments.
Five Minutes’
This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so I feel that it's an even trade.
Nothing;
This means something and you should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. "Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes" and end with the word "Fine".
Words and names can be very funny/or deadly
Illustration;
Megan Meier
· Oct 16th, 2006 she hanged herself.
· Some kids and adult created this fake profile.
· Made friends with Megan.
· Began to send cruel messages. Talk about her.
· Calling her fat/slut posting things on the internet.
· Spreading gossip.
· Megan was so upset/words/hanged herself.
Use your words wisely. You on Bema seat.
Slide:
Acts 18:16 And he drove them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
NKJV
What happened to “Law and Order”?
The Jewish community in Corinth furious w/Paul
One minute their at the judgement seat/looking justice.
All out riot! Beating Sosthenes
Remember Crispus was leader of synagogue. Got saved.
Sosthones new ruler/led the charge against Paul.
The world, Roman Empire.
Turned their back on Jews.
Turned their back on Jesus.
Turned their back on everything contrary to their laws/order.
All the time Paul continues to press on. Not be afraid.
Slide:
Acts 18: 18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow.
19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
NKJV
Paul, Priscilla and Aquilla leave Corinth on a ship.
· Cenchrea, a tiny island 50 mile SE of Corinth.
Taken a vow.
Not to shave his head/sometimes as long as a year.
· Ephesus was another 50 miles.
· Where he left Priscilla and Aquilla (Continue teaching ministry)
Here’s where it get exciting!
Parallel life of Paul, along with Jesus, along with you and I.
Key verses
Slide:
Acts 18:20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent,
21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
NKJV
Stay longer but he said no.
There’s something bigger / Paul’s life.
Bigger / Antioch.
Paul continue to press on. Share the gospel
Paul sailed on to Caesarea, 300 miles south, then traveled on to Jerusalem.
Slide:
Acts 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
23 After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
NKJV
Paul greeted the church/Jerusalem.
Went to Antioch reported what he had done.
Go back to key verses.
They wanted him to stay longer.
v.20 did not consent.
v. 21 I must keep the coming feast but I will return.
There’s something bigger/the abundant life.
When Christ told his disciples He must leave.
They didn’t understand.
It is better for you that I leave but I will return.
Paul had to suffer.
Jesus had to suffer.
Both of them had to suffer
But did the Punishment Fit the? Crime
Sticky question?
Does The Punishment Fit the Crime?
· Case of Megan Meier
· Verdict, Innocent
· The Punishment
· Crime: Looking for a friend.
· Case of Paul the Apostle
· Verdict, Innocent
· Punishment
Crime: Sharing the Good news.
· Jesus
· Verdict, Innocent
· Punishment:Death on the cross.
· Crime; Love