Steve Webb: He can use you no matter what.
This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from
Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. My name
is Steve Webb and I'm your OG Godcaster. It's gospel Saturday
and our reading will be Acts 25 and 26. The website is
Lifespringmedia.com. and contact information will be at the end
of the show in case you want to say anything to me that you've
already read. Let's pray. Our gracious heavenly Father, we
thank You for Your Word. We thank You, Lord, for telling us
about yourself in your words so that we can know your heart. I
pray, Lord, that as we read today, you would teach us touch
our minds touch our hearts. We pray this in Jesus name, amen.
Okay, are you ready? Let's begin.
Acts chapter 25. Three days after Festus arrived
intercessory. To take over his new responsibilities. He left
for Jerusalem, where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders
met with him and made their accusations against Paul. They
asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem,
planning to ambush and kill him on the way. But Festus replied
that Paul was at Surya and he himself would be returning there
soon. So he said, those of you in authority can return with me.
If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations
about eight or 10 days later, Festus return to assessor Ria.
and on the following day, he took his seat in court and
ordered that Paul be brought in. When Paul arrived, the Jewish
leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious
accusations they couldn't prove. Paul denied the charges. I am
not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the temple or
the Roman government. He said, Then Festus wanting to please
the Jews asked him, Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and
stand trial before me there? But Paul replied, No, this is the
official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know
very well, I'm not guilty of harming the Jews. If I've done
something worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if I am
innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to
kill me. I appealed to Caesar Festus conferred with his
advisors and then replied, very well, you have appealed to
Caesar and to Caesar you will go. A few days later, King
Agrippa arrived with his sister Bernice to pay their respects to
Festus. During their stay of several days, Festus discussed
Paul's case with the king. There was a prisoner here he told him
whose case was left for me by feelings. When I was in
Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders press charges
against him and asked me to condemn him. I pointed out to
them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial,
they must be given an opportunity to confront their
accusers and defend themselves. When his accusers came here for
the trial. I didn't delay. I called the case the very next
day in order to Paul brought in, but the accusations made against
him were at any of the crimes I expected. Instead, it was
something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who
Paul insists is still alive. I was at a loss to know how to
investigate these things. So I asked him whether he would be
willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. But Paul
appealed to have his case decided by the emperor, so I
ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to
send him to Caesar. I'd like to hear the man myself a grip have
said and Festus replied, You will tomorrow. So the next day
Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp
accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city.
Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. Then Festus said,
King Agrippa, and all who are here, this is the man whose
death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in
Jerusalem. But in my opinion, he has done nothing deserving
death. However, since he appealed his case to the
Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome. But what shall I
write the Emperor, for there is no clear charge against him. So
I have brought him here before all of you, and especially you
King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have
something to write, for it makes no sense to send a prisoner to
the Emperor without specifying the charges against him.
Acts 26. Then Agrippa said to Paul, you may speak in your
defense, so Paul gesturing with his hand started his defense. I
am fortunate King Agrippa that you are the one hearing my
defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish
leaders. For I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and
controversies. Now please listen to me patiently. As the Jewish
leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training
from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.
If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member
of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. And now
I'm on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God's
promise made to our ancestors. In fact, that is why the 12
tribes of Israel zealously worship God, night and day, and
they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accused
me for having this hope. Why does it seem incredible to any
of you that God can raise the dead? I used to believe that I
ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of
Jesus, the Nazarene. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem.
Authorised by the leading priests, I caused many believers
there to be sent to prison, and I cast my vote against them when
they were condemned to death. Many times I had them punished
in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently
opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign
cities. One day, I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with
the authority and commission of the leading priests. About noon,
Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from Heaven
brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all
fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to
fight against my will. Who are you, Lord, I asked. and the Lord
replied, I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting. Now get to
your feet, for I have appeared to you to appoint you as my
servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me and tell
them what I will show you in the future. and I will rescue you
from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending
you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so that they may
turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,
then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and
be given a place among God's people who are set apart by
faith in me. and so King Agrippa I obeyed that vision from
heaven. I preached first to those in Damascus, then in
Jerusalem, and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles
that all must repent of their sins and turn to God and prove
they have changed by the good things they do. Some Jews
arrested me in the temple for preaching this and they tried to
kill me. But God has protected me right up to this present time
so I can testify to everyone from the least to the greatest.
I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would
happen, that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise
from the dead, and in this way, announce God's light to Jews and
Gentiles alike. Suddenly fester. shouted Paul, you're insane. Too
much study has made you crazy. But Paul replied, I am not
insane, most excellent Festus what I am saying is the sober
truth. and King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak
boldly for I am sure these events are all familiar to him,
for they were not done in a corner. King Agrippa Do you
believe the prophets? I know you do. Agrippa interrupted him. Do
you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?
Paul replied, whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you
and everyone here in this audience might become the same
as I am, except for these chains. Then the king, the
governor, Bernice and all the others stood and left. As they
went out, they talked it over and agreed. This man hasn't done
anything to deserve death or imprisonment, and Agrippa said
to Festus, he could have been set free if he hadn't appealed
to Caesar.
In Paul's opening statement, he established his credentials to
Agrippa and everybody else who was listening Agrippa was a
convert to Judaism, and who therefore knew better than most
other Roman authorities the Jewish laws and customs. Paul
explains that not only is he a Jew, but that he's a highly
educated Jew from a sect that is known as being very strict or
conservative, as we might say today. and not only was he from
such a sect, he adhered to its teachings. He then explained
that he used to persecute Christians and even encouraged
and participated in the execution of Christians,
believing that this was a right and proper thing to do. and then
Jesus stepped into his life in a way that Paul could not deny.
Paul literally saw the light and then forth, his life was forever
changed. God chose this man among all others to take the
message of the Good News to the Gentiles. What do we learn from
this? We learned that it doesn't matter what your background is,
God can reach down and save you and he can use you no matter
what. Paul was the least likely candidate for man's perspective,
to be the one to carry the message to the Gentiles, let
alone the Jews, but God had other plans. So what are his
plans for you? They're probably completely different than you
could have ever imagined. One thing I can recommend you do is
this. Ask the Lord to use you. In whatever way he sees fit. He
will take you up on your offer in some way, shape or manner.
He's always looking for willing hearts. You have thoughts or
questions, let me hear from you send a Boostagram or call the
Lifespring family hotline or go to the comments page or write an
email. Tomorrow we'll be epistle Sunday and our reading will be
the book of Jude.
Music: We'd come to you before everybody comes.
Steve Webb: On Wednesdays episode, Psalms 146 through 148,
the God who can be trusted. After the commentary, I asked
this question, how have you found God to be worthy of
praise? Well, in response to that this call came in on the
Lifespring family hotline.
LeeAnn Webb: Good morning, everyone is LeeAnn. Just calling
to give a word about the faithfulness of God to our
lives. He has been faithful to me in so many ways. Number one,
he provided me with a fabulous husband that I would not have
ever dreamt I could have. and he's taken care of our family
through the years. If there was a need, he always made sure it
was taken care of. and he took care of our son in his deathly
illness, and brought him through that gave him good doctors to
make him have a good life again. and he's always provided in the
fact that our boys have had good spouses who love their children
and love them, and have given them good relationships. and
just the relationship that Steve and I have, and in the fact that
we've got this great life, big family. and he's blessed us in
so many ways. It's been amazing. and I'm grateful to God for
that. Have a great day everyone.
Steve Webb: That was of course the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, and yes,
God has been so faithful to us. Not that we've been without
struggles. Of course, we've had numerous times when life got
difficult, but we always knew that God was there and that he
is faithful. We didn't know how he was going to provide but he
always has, and often in the most unexpected ways. One of the
great lessons we have learned is that God works in the midst of
our struggles, difficulties and heartbreaks. Our heavenly Father
walks with us through those times, and uses them to
strengthen us to teach us and to bring us wisdom. He truly is
worthy of praise. So thank you, sweetheart for your call. Oh,
and I know this isn't Sunday when we normally have praise
reports, but this is sort of a special one that I just can't
wait to share with you. grandchild number six
granddaughter number four was born on Thursday, September 21
at 1218 in the morning. Her name is Juliet Grace Webb, and
everyone is doing well. Mommy Valerie had a much easier time
with this delivery than she did with Penny. Daddy Tim actually
did the delivery honors himself because the midwife didn't get
there in time. and big sister Penny already loves her new
little sister. I'll put some pictures on the show notes page
if you'd like to see them that Lifespringmedia.com/s13e357.
Music: As we all bow down before our God
Steve Webb: We have four associate producers today. James
in Norway came in with $100 with this note, "thanks for reading
the Bible with me this year. I look forward to exploring your
back catalogue over the coming months." And that's signed
"James in Norway." Well thank you James and thank you for
being a part of the Lifespring family it's been fun hearing
from you throughout this past season. God bless you James. and
anonymous came in with their weekly $33.33 cent donation.
Thank you anonymous God bless you. and Jørn Rune Reinertsen
came in with his monthly $20 donation. Thank you Jørn god
bless you as well. and Michael Haner came in with his weekly
$7.77 striper donation. Thank you Michael and God bless you
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Steve Webb: this is the last day to go to Lifespringmedia.com
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Tomorrow is Sunday. So we'll have a time of prayer together.
So if there's something you want to praise the Lord for, or if
there's anything you'd like the Lifespring family to pray for
you about? Be sure to let me know so I can share it on the
show.
I invite your comments and your questions. Here's how to get in
touch with me. Send to Boostagram using a modern
podcast app, or call the Lifespring family Hotline at
plus 1951732 at 511. Or for prayer requests and praises go
to prayer dot Lifespringmedia.com
prayer.lifespringmedia.com and if you have a comment or a
question for me, go to comment Lifespringmedia.com or send an
email to me at Steve at Lifespringmedia.com dot com.
The team is Sister Denise and Michael Haner. and Scott Snider
and Jason Paschall and sister Brittany. I would not have been
able to make it through the season without these guys. Thank
you so much. Jason Paschall did today's show our thanks to James
in Norway, anonymous yarn rune Reinertsen and Michael Haner,
for helping to make this episode a reality. and beloved, there
would be no point to me doing the show if you weren't there.
So thank you. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your
life. Until tomorrow may God bless you richly. My name is
Steve Webb. Bye
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