Introduction

There is no big surprise as in our study through the book of Acts we come to chapter 26 and Paul is still facing a Roman tribunal. Really, chapter 26 just begins with a continuation of Paul’s tribunal before the new Roman Governor of Judea, Festus.

Remember where we are at. Paul has now been heard by Festus and he doesn’t find any fault with Paul, but wants Paul to go back to Jerusalem to settle this matter with the Jews. Paul, knowing this is a death sentence, as a Roman citizen, invokes his right to appeal to Caesar, in this case Nero.

Festus now faces the difficulty of what to write to Caesar is the reason for Paul’s appeal since there are no real charges to accuse him of. Meanwhile, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice have come with all their pomp and circumstance to welcome Festus as the Governor. This offers Festus the opportunity to have King Agrippa hear Paul’s testimony and hopefully offer some reason to give Caesar for Paul’s appeal.

Acts chapter 26 then for the most part just holds another account, not differing really from other accounts of Paul’s testimony to include his conversion story.

Now, while these hold some interest for the reader, the text becomes a little more difficult to find where it councils us on our walk. More difficult to find, but that doesn’t mean the lessons are not there.

This morning, I want us to really just drill down to one verse out of Paul’s entire testimony. A verse that comes really in the middle of him telling of his conversion on the road to Damascus as he is confronted by Jesus.

Before we get to that verse though, if you are a disciple of Christ let me ask you one simple question.

What is your calling from Christ as his disciple?

Obviously, the answer to that simple question is not always so simple to narrow down.

We might say our calling is to be obedient. Maybe we would say to be faithful. Others might say to love God and their neighbor. Still others might say to utilize the talents they have been give.

In truth, all of these could be legitimate answers.

I think if you want a solid answer, our scripture reading this morning holds a pretty clear one.

A Disciples Call: A disciple is called by Christ to both pray for and be one of the laborers going into the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).

I have shared a couple of different times recently that not every disciple is called to be an evangelist, preacher, pastor, or teacher.

I have also shared that our living testimony must include our verbal testimony at times. As disciples we are never called to just live in or walk by the Spirit. We are called to do these things, but that is not the end of our testimony.

The fruit of the Spirit may be our living testimony, but the harvest comes through our verbal testimony.

Peter puts it this way:

1 Peter 3:15: ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

We need to recognize this when reading Acts chapter 26. Paul is not giving his testimony to King Agrippa, Festus, Felix, or anyone else as an evangelist or an Apostle. He is making a defense to anyone who asks for his hope. He is giving his testimony as nothing more than a disciple of Christ as he has been called to do.

If the scene we see in Acts 26 replaced Paul with my name or your name, it should read the same. A few different facts in our portion of the story, but still our testimony of Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit has led Paul directly to this moment in time where he might have this opportunity. He can take it and deal with the outcome, or he can shirk it and still there will be an outcome to deal with, both on earth and in heaven.

What is our number one fear in doing exactly what Paul does here?

It’s actually not our health, wealth, or freedom, although at times we may factor these in.

The #1 reason is we are fearful and apprehensive we might not know enough. We think to ourselves, “what if they ask me something I can’t answer?” or “what if I forget or miss something important?”

Now, I want us to recognize, this does not fall under the admonition of James that “not all should be teachers” (James 3:1). This is not an evangelist, a preacher, a pastor or teacher. This is a laborer sharing their own personal reason for their hope in Christ Jesus.

Yet still we find it so difficult. Trust me, you are not alone if you feel this way. In fact, you are in the overwhelming majority.

What if I could give you just one place in the New Testament to go to help you with this? Instead of having to remember many different books, chapters, and verses, what if there was just one place?

Maybe that didn’t convince all of you. Let me make it even easier. What if I could give you just one verse in the entire New Testament, would that help?

Whether you memorized it, put it in your phone or tablet, or wrote it on a notecard and put it in your wallet or purse, you would just need one verse in the whole New Testament to evangelize through your living testimony and the sharing of your hope.

Good News! That verse is in our text today. Let me share it first, and then let’s break it down just a little bit.

First, let me give you the background for this verse. Paul is sharing his conversion story on the road to Damascus. Jesus is talking to him and is telling him he has delivered him and is now sending him to the Jews and Gentiles for a purpose. Then Jesus says this as the reason for why he is sending him:

Acts 26:18: ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Let’s break that down just a little to understand how this one verse carries our entire verbal testimony and the whole Gospel message.

1. Conviction – “to open their eyes”
   1. This is the starting point for every disciple of Christ.
   2. There is no need for a savior until you open your eyes and see the need.
   3. We must go from being blind to our sinful nature to eyes wide open to our unworthiness.
   4. Let’s just call this “HEARING & BELIEVING”
2. Illumination – “so that they may turn from darkness to light”
   1. Once my eyes are opened, I can see the light more clearly.
   2. The light of Christ illuminates the level or depths of my unworthiness.
   3. This causes me to change, to turn from how I have always been to who He wants me to be.
   4. Let’s just call this “REPENTANCE”
3. Conversion – “and from the power of Satan to God”
   1. Eyes opened, light coming in, I recognize I am either on God’s side or Satan’s, there is no neutrality.
   2. This drives me whether metaphorically or in reality to my knees.
   3. I can now clearly see I need Jesus as the Lord of my life.
   4. Let’s just call this “CONFESSION”

4. Justification – “that they may receive forgiveness of sins”
   1. Now that my eyes are opened, a change of heart has occurred, and I have made Christ my Lord, my obedience to Him should not be in question.
   2. In fact, I want my old self to be gone. I want the old me to die. I want to bury that person and take on a new identity, an identity in Christ that offers me a completely new life.
   3. So, I bury the old life, join with Christ, and begin a new life.
   4. Let’s call this “BAPTISM”
5. Sanctification – “and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
   1. I still have a major problem. This walk is difficult even though I have a new identity.
   2. I need help on this journey.
   3. I need the Spirit of God and the Body of Christ.
   4. Let’s call this “WALK A NEW WALK.” Or receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and being added to the Church.

Brothers and sisters, that’s one verse. Certainly, I could connect other verses and passages and concepts to that, but that moves into teaching and pastoring, or teaching and preaching. We have already defined that the majority of us recognize that is not something we feel good at or comfortable with.

However, with just one verse I have been able to defend the reason for the hope I have. I didn’t have to tell someone they have no hope. I didn’t have to explain the doctrines and traditions of the church. I don’t have to convince them to agree if they disagree. My living testimony has opened an opportunity by where the Spirit has led me to share a defense of my hope in Jesus Christ. ONE VERSE – THAT’S ALL I NEED!

Now, before we close this out let me share one other verse. Up to now everything I have said in this sermon has been for the disciple of Jesus Christ.

The truth is not all of here or listening are disciples of Jesus Christ. Some don’t claim to be and others in a crowd of this size it’s safe to say may be pretending to be.

For all of you who are not a true disciple let me share one other verse from our text this morning.

Acts 26:32: ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Let me now ask you who are not either a disciple or a true disciple a simple question as well.

What is keeping you from being set free?

Let me share the two most common factors that keep people from accepting freedom in Christ.

1. The World.
   1. Simply put the things of this world are appealing to you more than Christ is.
   2. This means your eyes are not yet truly open.
   3. Maybe what’s blinding you is a fleshly vice.
      1. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, sexual immorality, and on and on we could go.
   4. Maybe what’s blinding you is something you don’t realize is still a vice
      1. Pride, fame, fortune, politics, hobbies, work, family.
   5. Satan offers a vice for all of us. Each vice is tailored to our own sinful nature. Anything he can use to keep us from accepting and being obedient to Christ Jesus.

Maybe Satan has not enticed you with these things. Let me give you one more category we can be slave to.

2. Religiosity
   1. Maybe you sit here this morning very proud of how none of those things have you in their grasp. In fact, your very proud of how hard you have worked to push those types of things aside and make things for the most part right in your religious life.
   2. The hard work has included picking or sticking to the just right religious group. The right church within that group. Taking time on the right days to be at that church.
   3. Instead of being caught in a vice like others you wonder quietly to yourself why they can’t fix themselves like you have. After all, if you can work this hard at it and accomplish it, they could as well.
   4. The cold hard truth is you are no freer than the worldly people are.

Closing: Freedom In Christ

See, Satan doesn’t just use everything outside religion to entice us. He uses everything in this world including religion to entice us.

He convinces us that to love God means we must work hard enough to please him, to make ourselves worthy of His love. We must do this because God is vengeful and angry when we mess up, don’t understand, or don’t have it all together. We appease His anger and vengeful nature with our morality and good works.

Satan doesn’t care whether he keeps you in the world and out of that seat or in the seat but still worldly. What he never wants is you to open your eyes to the freeing blood of Jesus Christ.

Prayer / Invitation