Spirit-Empowered Wittinessing & Warning: Christ empowers you to cheerfully witness to the grace of God and warn of the consequnces of rejecting it to those who falsely accuse you.
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Dan Baumann
Dan Baumann
Dan Baumann graduated from Wheaton college in the early 1990’s. After graduation, he worked with an organization called Youth with a Mission. He eventually moved to Afghanistan as a volunteer eye worker at a hospital. He spent five years full time and four years part time as an administrator.
In 1997, he and a friend spent two weeks sharing the gospel in the heart of Iran. On the last day of their trip, as they were trying to exit the country, they were stopped at the border. The guards held the two men for six hours before they were falsely charged with espionage. Baumann and his friend were separated, given prison clothes, and tortured for the next nine weeks.
In my experience, nothing angers the heart more than to be accused of an injustice you did not do, especially when the consequences are severe, like imprisonment. Christians are promised by our King that we will suffer at the hands of evil mean. They will utter all kinds of evil against you and will falsely accuse you in order to stop you from preaching the gospel. The Iranian guards treated these men horribly not because they were spies, but because they were Christians.
Jesus has expectations for his people. He demands of us to love our enemies and to not return evil for evil. He demands that we trust him in times our trouble, showing the world that in Christ we are content in his justice, his restoration, and and his reconciliation.
Herbert Vander Lught once spoke of his father suffering an injustice during the time of the Great Depression. Vander Lught says,
“During the Great Depression, my father moved to a farm as a tenant. He signed a contract stating that he and the owner would share equally in the proceeds from milk and crops. In the fall, however, the landlord wouldn’t give us our share of the money from the wheat crop. Dad’s appeals to him accomplished nothing, so he consulted a Christian lawyer.
Reading the fine print in the contract, the lawyer advised my father that he could take no legal action. The landowner was unethical, but he had been clever enough to keep out of trouble. Rather humorously, the lawyer said, “Mr. Vander Lught, you have three choices. You can kill the crook and get yourself in deep trouble. You can cheat him and become like him. Or you can take the wrong and let God take care of you and him.”
The Christian Lawyer’s advise touches on what Paul will show us this morning in Acts 24.
Christ empowers you to cheerfully witness to the grace of God and warn of the consequences of rejecting it to those who falsely accuse you.
Christ empowers you to cheerfully witness to the grace of God and warn of the consequences of rejecting it to those who falsely accuse you.
Jesus expects his people to respond to injustice with the same heart and attitude as he did. For writer of Hebrews says Jesus approached the cross, the greatest injustice of all, with joy knowing in the end God would raise him from the dead and save sinners.
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Paul will offer us three truths this morning to help us respond to injustice in a Christ-honoring manner. Truth number 1.
Christian, people who hate Jesus you will falsely accuse you (Acts 24:1-9)
Christian, people who hate Jesus you will falsely accuse you (Acts 24:1-9)
Francis De Sales once said, “There was never an angry man that thought his anger unjust.” I believe that describes the Jews who were intent on ridding the world of Paul. Their hatred of Paul reaches back to Chapter 23 when they made an oath to neither drink or eat until they successfully killed Paul (Acts 23:12-15). Their plot was discovered by Paul’s nephew and revealed to one of the Centurions (Acts 23:16-22). Paul is the moved from Jerusalem under the cloak of night and brought to Felix’s house in order to judge whether Paul is guilty or innocent (Acts 23:23-35).
In Acts 24:1-9, the Jewish elders higher a Roman lawyer, Tertullus, to argue their case before Felix. In the first couple of verses, he gives Felix a few common cordial greetings, but the tries to argue that Paul is a ringleader to a dangerous sect of the Nazarenes.
The first false accusation is accusing Paul of being the leader of a terrorists group, a sect. Tertullus is referring to what Paul calls the “Way” in Acts 24:14. The “Way” refers to Christianity. Paul referred to the Christians as the “Way” in Acts 9:2. The name stems from what Jesus taught his disciples in John 14:6, when he said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Tertullus argues that Paul and this sect is trying to undermine the tranquility of Roman rule by stirring up trouble with the Jews. Paul is an agitator, a cancer to society, and needs to be put to death.
Secondly, he trumps up some bogus charges that would cause Felix to raise an eye brow at Paul. He falsely accuses Paul of defiling the temple (Acts 24:6). The charge is that Paul brought Gentiles into the inner courtyard of the temple. Paul did no such thing, but in fact purified himself and the others he was with as he fulfilled his vow. Tertullus was trying to get Felix to see that Paul’s purpose was to stir up strife with the Jews. Felix would be concerned with anyone who would disturb the peace, especially the Jews because they were known to riot.
The Jews agree with Tertullus (Acts 24:9). They hated Paul. They hated him because he once was one of them and is now proclaiming Jesus to both Jew and Gentile. He preached God’s salvation through Christ alone in the temple. In their eyes, their anger and hatred is just, even though in the eyes of God their accusations of Paul are false.
Dan Baumann was in a foreign country that is known for its hostility to Christianity. In 1997, it was not in Iran’s best interests, from a Human Rights perspective, to imprison two Christian men. That would be bad for their political ties to western countries. Espionage, however, is a much more serious crime that is respected globally. In their mind set, it was ok to lie about the espionage in order to deal with the real matter; the spread Christianity. And Christians, in their thinking, were a religious terrorists sect that was aiming to destroy Islam. In their heart of hearts, heir anger, their hatred, and their false accusations were just.
Jesus says that any disciple of his who lives in the kingdom of God now, living their life with the aim to make much of Jesus, will suffer false accusations.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
People are going to revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on the account of Jesus. Some of these people will be your own family.
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.
He goes onto say
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
Almost 25 years later, at least half of America’s population would be ok with ridding this country of Christianity, much like Iran. It is now conceivable that your lost friends, neighbors, and family members will turn you over to authorities falsely accusing of all kinds of evil because you love Jesus. The question for you this morning is “Is the testimony of your love for Jesus relevant enough to your friends, family, and neighbors for them to offended?” Do you share the gospel with them? Do you show your community that Jesus is king of your life? The injustice we endure is for Jesus’s sake. Does the world know you are committed to Jesus, his sovereignty, His rule, and His kingdom?
Christian, you can cheerfully witness to the grace of God to those who falsely accuse you (Acts 24:10-21)
Christian, you can cheerfully witness to the grace of God to those who falsely accuse you (Acts 24:10-21)
Dan Baumann says that he was beaten everyday by the same guard. It got to be routine. One day, God challenged Dan to love the man who was beating him.
He said, “Dan. Ask me what I think about this man.”
Dan replied, “Okay God. What do you think of this man?”
God opened Dan’s eyes, showing him how He saw this man. He began to speak about how much he loved this man from the beginning and how much he loved his family.
“Love this man,” He said.
Dan Baumann followed the lead of Paul in our text. Paul did not respond to the false accusations as an opportunity to hate or justify himself. He saw it as a sovereign opportunity to wittiness to the grace of God, cheerfully.
In verse 10, Felix gives Paul the floor to defend himself. Paul skips some of the common court greetings of flattery and says that he is happy to make his defense before Felix.
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
The adverb “Cheerfully” describes a state of being encouraged. Paul’s heart was happy, pleased to be where he was, confident that the truth would win the day. One of the phrase that is common in Acts is “and he was filled with the Spirit.” Though it is not specifically in our text, the filling of the Spirit permeates through the entire book of Acts. The Spirit empowered Paul to be content with his circumstances so that he could focus on what was important, making much of Jesus before Felix with the hope that Felix would come to Christ.
Seeing Paul here reminds me of how he encouraged the Philippian church. While in imprison for sharing his faith, and continuing to share the gospel with the emperors guards, he says
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Your reasonableness can also be translated gentleness. While you are falsely put in prison for loving Jesus, be gentle toward your captures. He goes on to say
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
While you are falsely accused of evil and handed over to the authorities, lean into Jesus for your strength and be content with where he has placed you at time. Jesus is the power behind your gentleness. Jesus is the source of your contentment when you know without a doubt you are not a religious terrorist or threat to society.
Dan Baumann did something remarkable when he was in prison. Jesus changed his heart to love the guard who beat him. One day, as he was getting beat, he stood up and said, “If you are going to beat me for the rest of my life, let’s become friends.” He put out his hand and said, “What is your name.” Dan Baumann chose to be gentle. How? How are you gentle with someone who hates you? The power of Christ being was source of contentment. Gentleness was the fruit of his contentment.
This truth applies across the board of your life. When your spouse commits and injustice, or your kids come at you without having all the facts, or your boss is insolent, or your neighbor unruly, you can be gentle. You don’t have to claim your right to fight. You can be a peacemaker if Christ is your contentment.
In Paul’s defense, he witnesses to the grace of God. First, he clears up the truth about his arrest. Living in the truth is the grace of God. Paul says, “Look, I’ve only been here twelve days. There is no way I could’ve rally up a rebellion. Second of all, he and the Jews agree on more than they disagree.
But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
We both worship according to the law and the Prophets, and we both agree there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. Furthermore, there is no evidence that he desecrated the temple. The real issues the Jews have with Paul is Jesus, specifically the resurrection that Jesus promises.
Paul sums up why he is on trial.
other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’ ”
There are two aspects of Paul’s teaching of the resurrection that they take issue. First, Paul rightly asserts that Christ died and arose from the dead. One of Paul’s best arguments for the resurrection is found in 1 Corinthians 15. he says
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul asserts that Jesus did not stay in the grave, but in fact was seen by over 500 people, including Paul. Paul is the odd duck in this account because the Jews know Paul never laid eyes on Jesus when he was alive. Paul testifies that he saw the risen Lord on the road to Damascus as he was going to persecute Christians. When Paul preached the gospel, he told people Jesus was alive and well and that he personally saw him, and the Jews took issue with that because they killed Jesus; not accepting him as God’s Messiah.
Secondly, the Jews did not appreciate Paul telling people that eternal life was given only those who have accepted by faith the risen Jesus. Paul explains that everyone who is in Christ Jesus will be made alive.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
Paul was arrested because he taught the people that in Adam all die. That is,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
and that
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
You must believe in the resurrected Jesus. If you believe God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and resurrected in the second resurrection. You will have eternal life with a new resurrected, glorified body, that will be able to live in heaven for all eternity. This is grace of God.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Paul wittinesses to the grace of God when he cheerfully tells those who falsely accuse them that they can have eternal life in the resurrected Christ Jesus.
Your Christ-honoring gentleness that comes from contentment in the resurrected Jesus, can make all the difference in the heart of those who falsely accuse you. When Dan Baumann put out his hand as a gesture of friendship, the guard looked confused. At first, he did not know what to do. Then, he looked around, and shook Dan’s hand, and said, “My name is Razok. I would very much like to become friends with you.” An extraordinary, Christ-honoring act of love, opened the door of his enemies heart to potentially receive the love of God in Christ Jesus. That is how you wittiness the grace of God, church.
Christian, you can urgently warn of the consequences of rejecting God’s grace to those who falsely accuse you (Acts 24:15; 21).
Christian, you can urgently warn of the consequences of rejecting God’s grace to those who falsely accuse you (Acts 24:15; 21).
As Paul witnesses to the grace of God, he also warns of the consequence of rejecting God’s grace in Jesus Christ. You catch this in
After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
Some days after Paul appeared the first time, he was summoned a second time to stand before Felix’s wife Drusilla. He wanted Paul to talk about faith in Jesus Christ. Paul reasons with them, meaning he does apologetics-defending the faith. He reasons about righteousness, our lack of it and need of Jesus’s righteousness. He reasons about self-control and the coming judgement. Paul warns Felix and Drusilla that everyone who rejects Jesus will suffer the second death-judgement.
The second death is described in
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Jesus describes those who reject him saying,
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Paul describes those who reject God’s grace as those who are utterly away from God’s grace and love.
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Jesus once again says of those who reject Him
and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And he says that it is God who will put you there
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
The gospel is clear.
Hell is the consequence for everyone who rejects the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Hell is the consequence for everyone who rejects the grace of God in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
We are living in the last days. Jesus has told us that we will suffer at the hands of evil men; some of them being your friends and family. They will believe they are doing the right thing, convinced you are a religious fanatic. If you are living in Christ, obeying his word, living in His kingdom now, then their accusations will find no truth. You will be falsely accused. You may loose your property. You might even be imprisoned. How you respond matters to God and His kingdom.
You are empowered to respond to injustice for Jesus sake with gentleness that comes from being content in Christ’s resurrected sovereignty. He has promised to never leave or forsake you (Matthew 28:20). He has given you His Spirit to empower you to do the impossible. Dan Baumann was able to love his enemies because he was first love by Jesus and empowered by him to love the way he loved His enemies on the cross. Jesus loved you while you were his enemy. He died for you while you commited injustice against him. He did not abandon you while your sin pounded the nails into his hands and feet. He treated you with kindness and was gentle with you. He commands you to do the same.