PRaP 9-6-2005

"Trials of Paul"

The Lord put me in Acts this morning. Where Paul was put on trial before
Felix and then Festus and then Agrippa. What that must have been like.
Repeating the same thing over and over again in your defense. I don't know
about you but that would get somewhat frustrating to me. Falsely accused
of defiling the temple and for preaching the truth about Jesus Christ.
Would make a lot of us go into the "Why?" syndrome pretty quick. You could
ask yourself, why would God allow Paul a mighty servant of God to suffer
in this way? And then to appeal your case to Caesar as God instructs only
to find out later that you could have been released. I don't think they
actually told Paul that but I know it says in Scripture that Agrippa found
no reason to hold him but since he appealed to Caesar to Caesar he must go.
And then to go through all the storms and the shipwreck and the snake bite
and and and. Could be disheartening to us if we had to go through such
horrendous things. One thing Paul said that put my heart to rest is that
he was content in whatever his circumstance. He knew that God was in
complete control of everything that he was going through. Here is the
answer to the question of "Why?". God allowed Paul to go through what he
went through. So that we could learn that no matter the circumstance we are
in now, number one it could be worse, and most importantly God knows and is
in control of all situations. Nothing happens to you without it passing in
front of God first. There are lessons in every trial you go through. Be
it perseverance, love, patience, kindness, or any of the other fruits of
the Spirit. If nothing is happening in your life I ask are you doing
anything? If you are doing God's will and nothing is happening to you,
Praise God and hang on to your hat because it will happen. It is also
clear in scripture that IT doesn't like it when we are doing work for God
and will do everything in his power to steal, kill, and destroy you. I
have been told by may people that you greatness is measured by your misery.
Well if this is true I need to get some sun glasses because my future is so
bright I need to wear shades. Are there sun glasses in your future? I
pray so. Not that I pray you have misery but I pray you are in God's will
during that time.

PRaP Acts 23- the end of Acts