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by Sandy Shaw
Acts 23 and verse 1. Paul is on trial as a consequence of his ministry in Jerusalem and he looked straight at these 70 lawyers and said, "My brothers". He is so generous in his use of words. "I have fulfilled my duty to God - my conscience is clear - in the sight of God I am innocent and blameless." Ananias, the High Priest, commands those other so-called religious men to slap his face." What disgraceful behaviour.
Spiritual warfare is real. Many people just do not realise how real spiritual warfare is until warfare erupts and breaks out, and it can appear suddenly and from surprising directions. As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are wrestling against principalities and powers at time - persons without bodies.
Paul replies, "God will strike you - you are just a whitewashed wall." There can be times and situations when we have to employ this type of language - not very often - but occasionally it is essential. All your black sin has a thin covering - a veneer of superficial reality. They were doing just enough to hide what they were really like deep down - just enough to keep their hearts and motives invisible - until a man like Paul appears and walks onto the scene.
"Why do you judge me according to the law, and then give a command which is unlawful and illegal?"
Over these past weeks, we have seen people love Paul and continue to love Paul with the love of Jesus, and weep when they realised they would see him no more. We have also read of those who detested Paul, and who continued to detest him. There is no middle group. There never is. We too soon discover that.
Life in this world is not fair. In this life we do not get what is regarded as a fair deal - Jesus didn't. The innocent Jesus was led away at the hands of wicked men, and HE trusts everything to His Father. So must we. Accept that truth fast. Accept that reality as soon as you can. Come to terms with it - then, in certain situations, things might be easier for us to bear.
When it was brought to his attention that he was saying this against the High Priest, Paul replies, "Brothers, I did not realise that he was the High Priest, for it is written, 'Do not speak evil of the ruler of your people'."
Paul had been accused of teaching people not to pay attention to the teachings of Moses. Here he is quoting from Exodus - supporting the teaching of Moses and standing by it. But Paul did not expect such words to come from the mouth of a man who was in the position of being a ruler of the people of God. The position and the words did not match.
Our words - our conversation - our behaviour - reflect to whom we belong. People do listen. They do pay attention. Be careful as to what you say and the words you use in general conversation. Jesus taught us that one day we will be answerable for every idle or careless word we speak. Guard your tongue.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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