Salem Church
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Promises at Work
Locations & Times
Clove Lakes Campus
634 Clove Rd, Staten Island, NY 10310, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 9:45 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
October 6, 2024
Lead Pastors
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Promises at Work
Acts 22:30-23:22
"But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have
lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you
revile God's high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great
clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor
drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have
informed me of these things.”Acts 22:30-23:22
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
3 Promises we see come to pass for Paul in Acts 22 & 23
I. The Promise of His Grace
It’s not about you! It’s not about me! It’s God’s grace at work that forgives us and changes us from the inside out in a beautiful ongoing process. Even Paul wasn’t perfect and needed the grace of God.
“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Acts 23:3
Compared to Christ’s response:
“But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”Mark 14:61-62
You and I are a work in progress and He’s not done yet!
“But he said to me, “My grace is suf icient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”2 Corinthians 12:9
“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”1 Corinthians 15:9-10
The Promise of His Grace is still the same today!
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
II. The Promise of His Presence
Here’s where we see the Promise of God’s Presence at work!
“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”Acts 23:11
No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There's no other friend so kind as he;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,
O how much he cared for me.
All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me,
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed his strong and loving arms about me,
And he led me in the way I ought to go.
When you are in Christ, God has promised that you are never alone!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:20
Feel like God is distant? Jesus said:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
Discouraged or overwhelmed? God says:
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Feel afraid? The Lord says: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”Isaiah 41:10
So like Paul, believe the promise of God, and take courage!
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
III. The Promise of His Faithfulness
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”Proverbs 30:5
We don’t know how He will do it, but...
Every Promise God Makes, He keeps!
Probably 20+ years prior to what we’re looking at here God had made this
declaration about Paul: “...he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”Acts 9: 15-16
Even toward the end of Paul’s life, he is confident in the faithfulness of God, and sees His hand through all of it.
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”2 Timothy 4:16-18
Trust in the promises of God. He is trustworthy and never fails!
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”Hebrews 10:23
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works."Psalm 145:13
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved...”Acts 16:31a
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities
● The Bible Exposition Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (1996)
● ESV Study Bible – Crossway (2008)
● New American Commentary - Acts – John Polhill (1992)
● Acts: The Church Afire - R.K. Hughes (1996)
● The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church, & the World - John Stott (1994)
● Acts - K.O. Gangel (1998)
● The Acts of the Apostles - William Barclay (1976)
● Acts: Bible Study Commentary - F.F. Bruce (2017)
● Acts for Everyone Pt 2 - Chapters 13-28 - N.T. Wright (2008)
● Acts - The MacArthur New Testament Commentary - John MacArthur (1996)
Lead Pastors
Unstoppable Kingdom
Globally: Promises at Work
Acts 22:30-23:22
"But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have
lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you
revile God's high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great
clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor
drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have
informed me of these things.”Acts 22:30-23:22
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
3 Promises we see come to pass for Paul in Acts 22 & 23
I. The Promise of His Grace
It’s not about you! It’s not about me! It’s God’s grace at work that forgives us and changes us from the inside out in a beautiful ongoing process. Even Paul wasn’t perfect and needed the grace of God.
“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Acts 23:3
Compared to Christ’s response:
“But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”Mark 14:61-62
You and I are a work in progress and He’s not done yet!
“But he said to me, “My grace is suf icient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”2 Corinthians 12:9
“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”1 Corinthians 15:9-10
The Promise of His Grace is still the same today!
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
II. The Promise of His Presence
Here’s where we see the Promise of God’s Presence at work!
“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”Acts 23:11
No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There's no other friend so kind as he;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,
O how much he cared for me.
All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me,
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed his strong and loving arms about me,
And he led me in the way I ought to go.
When you are in Christ, God has promised that you are never alone!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:20
Feel like God is distant? Jesus said:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
Discouraged or overwhelmed? God says:
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Feel afraid? The Lord says: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”Isaiah 41:10
So like Paul, believe the promise of God, and take courage!
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
III. The Promise of His Faithfulness
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”Proverbs 30:5
We don’t know how He will do it, but...
Every Promise God Makes, He keeps!
Probably 20+ years prior to what we’re looking at here God had made this
declaration about Paul: “...he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”Acts 9: 15-16
Even toward the end of Paul’s life, he is confident in the faithfulness of God, and sees His hand through all of it.
“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”2 Timothy 4:16-18
Trust in the promises of God. He is trustworthy and never fails!
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”Hebrews 10:23
"Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works."Psalm 145:13
Main Idea: The Unstoppable Kingdom is grounded on the promises of God.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved...”Acts 16:31a
Sources and Further Reading Opportunities
● The Bible Exposition Commentary – Warren Wiersbe (1996)
● ESV Study Bible – Crossway (2008)
● New American Commentary - Acts – John Polhill (1992)
● Acts: The Church Afire - R.K. Hughes (1996)
● The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church, & the World - John Stott (1994)
● Acts - K.O. Gangel (1998)
● The Acts of the Apostles - William Barclay (1976)
● Acts: Bible Study Commentary - F.F. Bruce (2017)
● Acts for Everyone Pt 2 - Chapters 13-28 - N.T. Wright (2008)
● Acts - The MacArthur New Testament Commentary - John MacArthur (1996)
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