After five days of being in Herod's palace, the high priest, Ananias, the elders, and a lawyer named Tertullus arrived from Jerusalem to bring charges against Paul before the Roman governor of Caesarea, Felix. They accused Paul of being a ring leader of the Nazarene sect, stirring up riots among Jews all over the world, and desecrating the Jewish temple. But when Felix motioned Paul to speak, Paul told them he was not making any trouble in the temple, and all the accusations brought against him were unproven. However, Paul admitted before all of them that he worshipped God, a follower of the Way (the church of our Lord Jesus), believed in the Holy Scriptures: The Old Testament, and had a hope of the resurrection and judgment of the righteous and wicked. After Felix heard Paul's defense and was familiar with the Way, he concluded that the commander, Lysias, who took Paul out of the temple, had to come to Caesarea to testify as a witness of what happened in the temple. Felix then adjourned the proceedings and kept Paul in Caesarea under guard but with the freedom to see his friends and take care of his needs. (Acts 24:1-23).
The real problem that the religious Jews against Paul was preaching and teaching about salvation that could only come through faith in the Lord Jesus. They wanted to stop Paul from preaching about our Lord Jesus once and for all. However, they could not stop him because God was in control of Paul's life. Paul would keep on teaching and preaching until God said so. The world that we are living in is becoming more hostile to the gospel of our Lord Jesus. However, nothing can stop the church of the Lord Jesus Christ from spreading the gospel no matter what the world does because, ultimately, God is in control. Many politicians in our government try to stop or limit the influence of the Bible in schools and governmental facilities; however, nothing can overcome the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us be encouraged that our Lord Jesus Christ is in control no matter what this world does. We are secure in our Lord Jesus. The church of our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be the light of God's truth until He takes his church home from this world to be with Him in Heaven for eternity. Let us continue to have confidence in our God.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Do I believe that God is in control of this world? Can this world stop the church of our Lord Jesus from spreading the gospel? Where is my true security?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you are in control of this world. Nothing can stop your church from spreading the gospel, even through persecution. Please help me to not be discouraged, but help me to put my confidence in you. In your own timing, you will put everything back in order, and every knee will bow down before you and confess that you are the Lord of Lords and the king of Kings. May you give me the strength and wisdom I need to go through today's day. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.