Our Purposeful God – Acts 25:1-27

Good morning church! A warm welcome in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to all who’ve joined us at the hall and online on Zoom today. Over the last month as our family has tried to settle down with our second child, it has been exciting and challenging at times.

And in different ways God has reminded us of how much we’ve missed and need fellowship and community life. We’ve been reminded how these are not just routine weekly spiritual activities, but God’s design to shepherd and care for our hearts.

And so we’re glad that we’re slowly getting back to our rhythms. This last Friday our whole family joined the Chandivali GC and it was great to not only introduce them to the newest member in our family but also resume gospel community life.

So that was a quick update from our family and now we’ll get straight into our text. As most of us might be aware, we have been going through a series titled God of Power from the book of Acts. And today we find ourselves in Acts 25 where the situation seems to be getting increasingly confusing and difficult for the apostle Paul. But before we go a

Imagine if all of us went to watch a play in one of the theaters in Mumbai (let’s say – Prithvi theater). While the play is going on, we are completely glued to the storyline because of how realistically the actors are playing their parts. In other words, it almost seems like the actors are solely responsible for running the show.

But what we don’t realize is in the background, behind the stage there is an extremely skilled director who is masterfully putting together all the pieces – sound, lights, script and even directing the actors on what expressions work best so that the storyline moves forward.

Similarly, what we see happening in Acts 25 on the surface seems like random events involving random people who are out to get Paul. But what we’ll look to discover today is how in the background there is our Sovereign God who is masterfully putting together all the pieces so that His redemptive purposes and His redemptive storyline moves forward. He is our Purposeful God. There is a divine purpose in all the mundane, insignificant details.

So how does this passage demonstrate that our God is Purposeful?

1. By God’s Protection (v1-5)

[1] Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. [2] And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, [3] asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. [4] Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. [5] “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

In v1 we are introduced to a person by the name of Festus. Now who is he? He was appointed to replace Felix as the Roman governor of Caesarea. This was the place where Paul was kept under house arrest without any formal charges for two years because Felix (who was a corrupt governor) wanted to do the Jews a favor. So between Acts 24 and Acts 25, two years had already passed. And Paul’s case was transferred to the next governor who was Porcius Festus.

And we see Festus get into action right from the get go. Within three days of taking charge, he goes to Jerusalem to meet the Jewish leaders possibly to develop a better working relationship with them. The Jewish leaders immediately ask for Paul to be sent to them for trial while secretly planning to assassinate Paul on the way. But Festus denies their request and instead invites them to Caesarea to begin a fresh trial.

Now on the surface this might seem like a mundane, insignificant discussion between the Jewish leaders and governor Festus but in the background, behind the scenes – there is our Sovereign Lord who was using an unbelieving Roman governor to protect Paul from harm.

I know for some of us, we may hear  this and ask “this seems kind of like a stretch. How can we come to the conclusion that a random insignificant, mundane denial of a request equals to God protecting Paul? Does God really work like that?”

When we turn to Matt 10:28-31, this is how Jesus addresses the topic of God’s sovereignty in the context of persecution:

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:28‭-‬31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[28] 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. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. [30] But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

It’s so interesting why Jesus would talk about sparrows because they were considered as the most insignificant among birds and yet none of them even fall to the ground apart from God’s will. And then Jesus says that the hairs on our head are numbered! What? If God cares for the most insignificant of birds, He definitely cares for and Sovereignly controls the lives of His people. Nothing is insignificant or mundane in the lives of His people. Not even a random conversation between Festus and the Jewish leaders.

2. By God’s Proclamation (v6-12)

[6] After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. [7] When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. [8] Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” [9] But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” [10] But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. [11] If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” [12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

When we look at a passage like this, what’s evident and plain to all is the political aspect – though Festus is the governor and has the last word in that place, he is still trying to appease the Jewish leaders by wishing to do them a favor with the hope of gaining some future benefits.

What’s also evident is the legal aspect – Jews come forward and make serious allegations without any proof. Paul makes his defense and when Festus indicates that he’s open to handing Paul over to the Jews to be tried in Jerusalem, Paul uses his legal recourse or right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. In our Indian system, it would be like appealing to Supreme Court.

So the political and legal aspects are pretty straight forward, but what if I told you that in the background, behind the scenes, in the backstage – our Sovereign Lord is masterfully using this situation to advance and push forward His storyline? Let’s look at a few passages from Acts to see if it helps us connect the dots:

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:15‭-‬16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[15] But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. [16] For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23:11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[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.”

What if God was using all this to bring the Gospel and put it before people who wouldn’t have had an opportunity to hear it any other way?

His ministry in Philippi or Thessalonica or Berea or Ephesus or Lystra or Iconium was fruitful and fulfilling for sure, but that wouldn’t have given him access to those who were ruling the land. So in God’s Sovereignty and wisdom – He assigned him a different mission field (kings and highest authorities) and a different pulpit (prison) so that through Paul’s words and His life He could demonstrate the power and provision of God’s grace in Jesus.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:12‭-‬13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, [13] so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[22] All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

3. By God’s Presence

As I tried placing myself in Paul’s shoes, I tried to imagine the atmosphere of hostility, threat, intimidation, imprisonment and accusations that he was surrounded by. And in all of this – it seems like he was doing it all alone. Unlike the Jewish leaders who have a group of lawyers and representatives, Paul was tasked to defend himself.

Let’s remember that this wasn’t an instant trial – this got stretched into at least two years where he was under house arrest without any formal charge or arrest warrant. And despite Paul being mentally tough, even for someone like him this whole experience would have broken him down. This is immense pressure and I kept wondering as to what explains his resilience?

And I think it’s because in reality He wasn’t left alone. His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was there with him every step of the way. When Jesus says in Matt 28:20 – I will be with you till the end of age – He means it literally.

After all the permanent presence of God was a result of the cross!

Jesus was forsaken and left alone on the cross when He bore our sins and our shame so that all who trusted Him would never experience being forsaken or left alone!

Which is why Paul could say this at the end of his life as he recounts the most lonely and anxious of moments that he went through:

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:16‭-‬18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[16] At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! [17] But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. [18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, as I close I just want to remind you that our God is a Purposeful God. Just like in Paul’s life, our Sovereign Lord has orchestrated and coordinated every single moment in our lives (many of which we actually assume to be mundane and insignificant).

Just for example think about your work context – I’m aware that many of us are dreading tomorrow which is Monday – just thinking about facing our boss or the pending task list is already giving you a headache. If you were given an option, you’d probably opt to run away and live on an island far away from your office.

And now I want us to remember that our God is a Purposeful God. There’s nothing mundane, ordinary and insignificant in our lives because God has given it a purpose. Now ask yourself these questions:

• In my work context, what are some ways in which I’ve seen God’s protection? Physical or Spiritual or Mental or Professional?
• In my work context, what are some ways in which I’ve seen God’s proclamation? How is He using me to bring the good news to people who wouldn’t otherwise ever get to hear about the Gospel?
• In my work context, what are some ways in which I’ve experienced God’s presence? How has God’s presence been made real to me in my work life?

Similarly, think of other contexts of home, church and recreation. There is a purpose to all of that.