Paul Before Agrippa - Part 5

They can snuff out the Christian testimony by passing some contrary law. No law, no seal of the government can replace Jesus in the grave. Now he is risen.

All power is given unto him. But we don't take it. We look at our little coin or our little banknote and we read the figure on it.

Oh, this note says thousand rupees. This greenback says hundred dollars. And we produce it.

And we will not be shortchanged. If anybody dares give you only a fraction of it, you pick up a fight. Hey, I didn't give you a twenty.

I gave you a fifty. Where's my money? What? The print of the government press. Says fifty.

And you believe it. And you will fight for it. My dear friend, how is it we treat God's promise so cheaply? Here, in the missionary experience of St. Paul, he did not treat the promises of God lightly.

Turn to Acts chapter twenty. 21st verse. Testifying both, I taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22nd verse. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that she did. She shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

In other words, Oh, when Paul was asked, Where are you going? Well, I'm going to this next city. And who is there to receive you? Have you got a nice hotel room? Have you got a nice hotel room? Oh, I'm going to be receiving bonds. Hey, Paul, how do you know that? The Holy Spirit told me.

He says, bonds and afflictions abide me. They are not just going to be strange occurrences. They are going to be constantly with me.

They will abide me. Now, dear friends, I don't know how many of us will follow Jesus on those terms. You know, we like everything laid out nicely, pleasantly.

We like everything laid out nicely, right in the love and smooth ride. As long as we have a big Bible to show under our arm. See, I'm a great missionary.

Look at my bag is full with a heavy Bible. My dear friends, there is a lot of vanity which surrounds modern Christianity. Everything must be set up.

Everything must be fine. Let me tell you. I never looked for it.

Never looked for it. I never looked for it. When I went into certain places, there was nothing.

No work, nobody to receive me. I remember the day I arrived in London as a young man. I had never been in London before.

Somebody said, where are you going? Some place in North London, I had to find it. London is a place of great distance. London is a place of great distance.

Somebody said, where is your evening's appointment? Oh, it was in Central London, all the way back into Central London. I was ignorant of the distances, and the time consumed in the journey. I got to that place and left my suitcases.

I got to that place and left my suitcases.