Acts 22 (2) Born Free Pastor Tony Raker 5/25/2014 Slide 2 Acts
22:17-29 English Standard Version (ESV) 17 When I had returned to
Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18
and saw him saying to me,Make haste and get out of Jerusalem
quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me. 19
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after
another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And
when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was
standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those
who killed him. 21 And he said to me, Go, for I will send you far
away to the Gentiles. Paul and the Roman Tribune 22 Up to this word
they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, Away
with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to
live. 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks
and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be
brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by
flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this.
25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips,[a] Paul said
to the centurion who was standing by, Is it lawful for you to flog
a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? 26 When the centurion
heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, What are you
about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen. 27 So the tribune
came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? And he
said, Yes. 28 The tribune answered, I bought this citizenship for a
large sum. Paul said, But I am a citizen by birth. 29 So those who
were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the
tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman
citizen and that he had bound him. Slide 3 Slide 4 Paul was the
perfect candidate to bring the Jewish Messiah to the Gentile
people. In their minds, the gentiles werent under Abrahams promise,
they werent the chosen people, and this man dared to proclaim that
God told him to go and preach to them? The very idea was absolute
blasphemy. Paul was saved from prison that day because he was born
free. As Paul demonstrates here in Acts, it is important to know
what your rights are both earthly and spiritual. Slide 5 Acts 22:28
The tribune answered, I bought this citizenship for a large sum.
Paul said, But I am a citizen by birth. "I say the truth in Christ,
I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart"
(Romans 9:1-3). Isaiah 64:6 our efforts, accomplishments, money and
power here on earth are as filthy rags when compared to Gods riches
in glory. Moses was adopted into the royal family in Egypt. He had
what I call the four Ps: power, prestige, prominence, and position.
Slide 6 Jacob was born into one of the most wealthy and prestigious
lines in Israels history. He had stolen his birthright from his
brother and all of the power that was entailed therein. Samuel was
Israels greatest Judge, but first he was a servant, cleaning the
temple when he was called. David was destined to become the King of
Israel, but he received his calling while tending sheep. Peter, the
spokesman for the 12 Disciples, the man who received 3,000 converts
after preaching one sermon was out on a boat catching fish when
Aaron came and told him about Jesus. But in fact, they were born
free the day they accepted their call from God. And make no
mistake, at this very moment there is a call of God upon your life.
Slide 7 Citizenship Rights We have the right to call upon the name
of the Lord We have the right to be forgiven of our sins We have
the right to sing praises unto God We have the right to lay hands
on the sick and believe that God will heal them We have the right
to every promise given in the bible. We have the right to call upon
Christ through whom we can do all things as He strengthens us We
have the right to claim God as our refuge and strength, a very
presence help in trouble. We have the right to wait upon the LORD
who shall renew our strength; mount up with wings as eagles; run,
and not be weary; walk, and not faint. We have the right to delight
ourselves in the LORD; and He shall give us the desires of our
heart. We have the right to commit our way unto the LORD; trust in
him; and He will bring it to pass. We have the right to the peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, keeping our hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus. We have the right to come to Him and He
will give us rest We have the right to ask, and it shall be given
us; seek, and we will find; knock, and it will be opened unto us.
We have the right to believe, knowing all things are possible to we
who believe We have the right to seek the LORD and not want for any
good thing. Slide 8 Every promise in the Book is mine! Every
chapter, every verse, every line. I am standing on His Word divine,
Every promise in the Book is mine. This is Pauls message: to be in
And. to be of service to God Remember Acts 18:5-6 ? When Silas and
Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word,
testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they
opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to
them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I
will go to the Gentiles. Beloved, dont think God wont move on! I
bought this citizenship for a large sum. Paul said, But I am a
citizen by birth Slide 9 And it is free to all who but believe!
Slide 10 Conclusion Have you obtained the free gift of Jesus
Christ? Dear Lord JesusI know I am a sinnerI know I am in need of a
saviorI confess my sin to youI ask, because of the blood you shed,
to forgive me of my sin and cleanse my heartI accept you as my Lord
and Saviorhelp me to live for you from this day forwardin Jesus
name, Amen. Dear Lord Jesusthank you for my salvationhelp me to be
a better servantI commit my life to your serviceI ask for light,
direction and strengthmake me a useful toolsensitive to the leading
of the Holy Spiritresponsive and open to every good workfor the
advancement of Your Kingdom.in Christs name, Amen. Slide 11 Slide
12 See the back table, then see Rob. Robs angel!
