God raises the dead

Acts 26:4-12
It is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
The central issue is tells it to the kings. The central issue is resurrection - ' Why does it seem incredible to you that God should raise the dead?
Paul was same as other Jews before he met Jesus Christ.
Why?
Paul confessed his fault before he met Christ, in order to prove what he believed is right.
What I have changed after I trusted in the Lord? Yes I did, but need continue to do more better.
Like Paul I have accepted the grace from the Lord and experience the great power from God, so I will witness the honor of the Lord.
How?
Show the grace of God and continue witness the power and love of the Lord.

Christian is the citizen of the kingdom of Heaven

Acts 25:23-26:3
It is unreasonable to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him. Festus described about Paul before the audience and king Agrippa.
Paul said : I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies."
Festus is satisfied Paul has committed no crime, so what charge can he write in his letter to the emperor about the prisoner he is sending to Rome.
Once again Paul is called to speak in his own defense.
Why?
Faced to the great people and his accusers and the King Agrippa. Paul stood firm and spoke faithfully about why he was here and what happened in his life.
Once more is a good opportunity to witness the glory of Jesus Christ.
To be a son of the Lord we do not afraid any pressure or challenge from the world. For God is with us when we are walking on God's way.
How?
We are the people of the kingdom of the Heaven, we are the children of the Lord.

To be a blameless Christian

Acts 25:13-22
Festus knew that Jews did not charged Paul any of the crimes he expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion ad about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself."
When King Agrippa comes to pay his respects to the new governor. Paul's case is put to him. This is Agrippa II, son of the Herod of Acts 12:1, great-grandson of the Herod the Great,  Bernice, his sister and acting wife, crowned an inglorious(光榮) career by becoming mistress(情婦) to the emperors Vespasian and Titus.
Why?
Luke described detail of the speaking among Festus and Aprippa. For Paul has not guilt in Rome's law. Paul should be released. But those governor listened to the Jews and did not follow the justice.
The view point of Christian in the world should be clean and follow the law and a man with love and blameless.
How?
Can I be a good Christian like Paul?

美好的靈性

美好的靈性
10/16/2016           台南聖教會        高敏智牧師
但以理書 6:1-5

1. 大利烏隨心所願，立一百二十個總督，治理通國。
2. 又在他們以上立總長三人（但以理在其中），使總督在他們三人面前回覆事務，免得王受虧損。
3. 因這但以理有美好的靈性，所以顯然超乎其餘的總長和總督，王又想立他治理通國。
4. 那時，總長和總督尋找但以理誤國的把柄，為要參他；只是找不著他的錯誤過失，因他忠心辦事，毫無錯誤過失。
5. 那些人便說：我們要找參這但以理的把柄，除非在他神的律法中就尋不著。

前言：
    美好的靈性可以學
   來到主前，也就像活石，建造成為靈宮
   提後3:5 有敬虔的外貌，卻背了敬虔的實意；這等人你要躲開

太15:8 這百姓用嘴唇尊敬我，心卻遠離我
83歲老醫師強風出診只為他的眼，屏基醫師 揪感心！這是美好的靈性

思想：
   1.這奧祕的事就在夜間異象中給但以理顯明，但以理便稱頌天上的神
  2.在你國中有一人，他裡頭有聖神的靈，你父在世的日子，這人心中光明，又有聰明智慧，好像神的智慧。你父尼布甲尼撒王，就是王的父，立他為術士、用法術的，和迦勒底人，並觀兆的領袖。
在他裡頭有美好的靈性，又有知識聰明，能圓夢，釋謎語，解疑惑。這人名叫但以理，尼布甲尼撒王又稱他為伯提沙撒，現在可以召他來，他必解明這意思

大綱：

1.有美好靈性

   但以理生命爭戰的日記1)巨像被擊碎的解惑 2)三朋友的火爐奇遇 3)巨樹被砍倒的警告 4)指頭上在壁上寫字的字 5)獅子坑的生命見證

 顯然 超過其餘總長和總督

    但以理不以王的膳和王所飲的酒玷污自己

    但以理在巴比倫被滅後，卻被瑪代波斯立為總長

大烏利王隨心所願立一百二十個總督，治理通國。又在他們以上立總長三人（但以理在其中），使總督在他們三人面前回覆事務，免得王受虧損

2. 因忠心辦事，毫無過失，故找不到他的把柄。

你對神的執著，竟是人唯一能攻擊你的重點。

 但也是神，唯一要看你的重點

神面前沒有第一，第二項，盡心，盡性，盡意愛主，神要的是忠心，超越體制外的忠心

詩篇14:2 

這樣的人不要想從主那裡得著什麼。

心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見

3.單純敬拜神的執著，致成為被拿的藉口。

   你所常事奉的神，他必救你。

   你所常事奉的神，能救你脫離獅子坑嗎？

   誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了

挑戰：

現在我降旨曉諭我所統轄的全國人民，要在但以理的神面前，戰兢恐懼。

因為他是永遠長存的活神，他的國永不敗壞；他的權柄永存無極！

To Caesar you will go!

Acts 25:6-12
Paul said If I am guilt of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!
After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"
Paul has offended against neither Jewish nor Roman law. But he has more hope of justice from the Emperor Nero than from the Sanhedrin!
Why?
(Acts 23:11)The Lord had said to Paul "You are going to be my witness in Rome" and Paul wanted justice from the Emperor Nero. Rome citizen has the right to appeal to Emperor Nero.
Paul did not forget the word from the Lord, so when he was under prisoner and faced those people in Caesarea for two years, Paul did not give up the hope to be a witness of the Lord.
How?
Do not forget the mission God gives to me no matter what situation I am!

God is keep working

Acts 24:24-25:5
As Paul discoursed on righteousness,self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
He later returns with Drusilla, a Jewess, daughter of Herod. his third wife and the likely source of his information about 'the Way'. Paul's talk of 'justice and self-control and future judgment' is too near the bone for this pair, especially as Felix was hoping for a fat bribe from his prisoner.
Two years pass, and Felix is succeeded by Procius Festus (He was not governor for ling, dying in AD 62). His attempt to curry favor(幫助) with the Jews compels Paul to appeal to Caesar.
Why?
The governor became the protector of Paul, and Paul could talk gospel before the governor. Although Paul was in prisoner but he had some freedom to preach gospel.
God make everything happen to approach God's goal. Something are worse to men but it may good to those who trust in the Lord.
How?
Even under pressure and worse situation God is keep working, so I should be encouraged and follow God's way honestly.

Gospel only

Acts 24:17-23
Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’
Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
His only 'crime' concerns his belief in resurrection. Felix adjourns(休會,順延) the case, giving Paul limited freedom.
Why?
The kernel of the gospel is the resurrection of the dead, so Paul focused on this issue when he was being charged. Actually Paul did not disturb any violent or stir any crowd publicly.
Talk the gospel with courage in right places.
Because Paul talked about the resurrection of the dead so he could not be released but under control of governor.
How?
Let learn from Paul to preach gospel at anywhere and anytime.