Let's read verse 18 on. On the following day, Paul went
with us to James. Let's go back.
We'll start up this 15, then we get the better run up.
After those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.
Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us.
Remember, Paul is on his way back.
He's had his third missionary journey brought with him a
certain nation of Cyprus, an early disciple with whom we were
to lodge. And when we had come to
Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
That's the church in Jerusalem. On the following day, Paul went
in with us to James. That's James.
Remember the half or the the the son of Mary and Joseph.
And all the elders. Were present.
Whom he had. Greeted them, he told in detail
those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his
ministry. When they heard it, the church
there glorified the Lord and they said to him, you see,
brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed
and they are all zealous for the law, but they've been informed.
There's a, there's a, but you know, it's like, so it's great
to see you. Wonderful.
And then you. Get this, but you go, oh, here
we go. And all that your blood.
Pressure drops, you know, because you know, oh, it's
coming. But they have been informed
about you that you. Teach all the Jews who are among
the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to
circumcise the children, or to walk according to the customs.
What then? What shall we do?
The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that
you've come. They'll know that you're here.
Therefore, do what we. Tell you here's.
This is what we come up with. We have 4 men who have taken a
vow. It's the Nazarite vow.
Take them and be purified with them.
You, you, you go through the Nazarite.
Vow as well. That's the cutting of the hair.
Pay their expenses, Paul, we want.
You to sponsor them. You.
Finance them during this period that they take the vow you look
after whatever. They need and the.
Sacrifices that they'll need. To make at the end of the vow.
So that they may shave their heads, and that all may know
that those things of which they were informed concerning you are
nothing but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the
law concerning the Gentiles who believe we've written and
decided that they should observe no such synthy, except they
should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from
blood eating things that haven't been bled properly, and from
things strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Then Paul took the men on the next day, having been purified
with him, and he entered the temple to announce.
The expiration. Or the completion of the days of
purification, the end of the Nazarite vow, at which time and
offering should be made for each one of them.
And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from
Asia, from Turkey, a new crew arrive.
They've lobbed in Jerusalem. This is that posse.
Remember, wherever Paul goes. He's got people after him.
And they arrive. Seeing Paul in the temple
stirred up the whole. Crowd and laid.
Hands on him, they grab him. Crying out, men of Israel.
Help. This man who?
Teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law.
And this place, and furthermore, he's brought Greeks into the
temple, has defiled. This holy place.
For they had. Previously seen Trophemus the
Ephesian with him in the city. Whom?
Notice they suppose that Paul brought into.
The temple he hadn't. And all.
The city was disturbed. And the people ran together.
Jerusalem's not that big, so it just turns on.
They grab Paul, they drag him out of the.
Temple immediately the doors were shut on him now as they
were noticed they're not just having.
An argument. Notice as.
They were seeking. To kill him.
They're going to beat him to. Death beat him to death.
Mob violence. News came to the commander of.
The Garrison that all Jerusalem was an uproar at the Temple
Mount. Just too opposite was the
Garrison of the Roman soldiers. And he immediately took soldiers
and the centurions and ran. Down to them.
When they saw the commander and the Roman soldiers, they stopped
beating Paul. So they were into him.
He was dying. Gonna die and the commander came
near, took Paul, commanded him to be bound, that Paul's
arrested. He's wrapped in chains.
Remember, he'd just gone to finish the Nazarite vow.
He. Asked who he was and what he had
done, and some of the multitude cried 1.
Thing and some another. So it's just rebels.
He did this, now he did this and he's done this as well.
So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult,
he commanded him that's Paul be taken to the barracks adjacent
to the temple when he reached the stairs.
He had to be carried. So the soldiers had to grab
Paul. Paul wasn't the big guy
according to history. Grab me, they carry.
He's like a mash mosh pit and he's got him over, he said.
And they're carrying Paul upstairs because the crab would
try grab him and punch him and spit on him.
And do all these sorts of things.
Such was the violence of the mob for the multitude of the people.
Followed after crying out away with him.
That doesn't mean oh take him away.
Take him away. That means kill him.
That his poor was about to be LED into the barracks, he said
to the commander, May I speak to you?
He replied, You can speak Greek, are you not?
Notice this. Aren't you the Egyptian who some
time ago stirred up a? Rebellion and LED the 4000
assassins out in the wilderness it's like.
What? Paul said.
I'm a Jew from Tarsus Cilicia, a citizen, a Roman.
No mean. City and I implore you permit.
Me to speak to the people. So when he had given him
permission, Paul stood on the stairs, motioned with his hand
to the people. When there was a great silence,
he spoke to them. In the Hebrew language.
And we stopped. There Wednesday, we continue.
The title of this morning's message is disentangled.
Disentangled in the dictionary means to release.
From entanglement or confusion. So the Apostle Paul's arrival in
Jerusalem, it started. Well.
He met with the elders. Of the church, including James.
Paul then gave a detailed account of his three missionary
travels and the results. The church had been planted,
souls had been saved, had been wonderful.
All throughout Asia, Greece, Macedonia.
And they were growing, and now these churches were planting
other churches. Themselves and sending.
Out missionaries among the Gentile nations.
And when? Paul told this in verse 19.
They. Greeted him and when they.
Heard all that Paul had done. They heard it, it says they.
Glorify the Lord, they went. Oh man, praise the Lord, that's.
Awesome, Paul, but. There were rumours, there's
rumours. Paul.
Some aren't happy with you. Where's this come from?
You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are have
believed, and they're all zealous, but they have been.
Informed about that you teach all the Jews.
Who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they
ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according
to the customs? What?
Then what shall we do? Let's.
Do something about this. Let's calm the schism now, Paul.
Hadn't done any of those things. Paul had told them about
salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul had reference now that.
All those things now that you're saved in Christ, all the rituals
and laws that. They had to do aren't necessary
for salvation. Now Paul still lived the Jewish
life. He was carrying out the Nazarite
vow. Peter and John, remember,
continued to pray. Just as all the Jews had done.
It was. Very Hebrew, but it it's about
salvation. Paul was saying it's
circumcision has nothing to do with salvation and they had
twisted all this rumours. Circulated.
Then you're teaching to forsake Moses.
No, he wasn't also to forsake. The Law of Moses?
No, Paul. Still adhered to the law and the
temple, but nothing to do with salvation.
Not to circumcise the children. Paul was just.
Saying circumcision doesn't save you.
So they came up with what should we do?
Let's do something. So the solution to appease the
problem of the rumours and our rumours.
No truth to them, The elders asked Paul to sponsor 4 men who
would undergo the Nazarite. Vow.
Everyone will see then, that you support the law of.
Moses. Oh, look.
Oh, he's part of the Nazarite. Now, oh, all this other stuff
must be nonsense. And we won't add anything more
to the Gentiles. They just stay the same.
Don't worship idols. Don't eat anything that's been.
Strangled and no fornication. And so Paul did that.
He goes to the temple and the offering is about to be made for
each of them as they've finished the.
Period. But Paul's actions would not
dampen the underlying. Schism of the Legalist.
Jews, the ones who had arrived from Turkey.
They hated Paul. And they had seen Paul in the
temple, and they accused him of taking a fellow.
Called Trophemus. From Ephesus because they'd seen
Paul and. Trophemus in the marketplace in.
Town and they just said. Well, obviously he's taken this
guy into into the temple as well.
He. Hadn't done that at all.
He'd only. Taken the the four men.
That are part of the Nazarite vow he was there to complete.
The sacrifices. So again lies.
And it was this posse of Jews that had come from.
Turkey that brought this assumption, having seen Paul
with Trophymus in the city. And it blew up.
Things got loud and they. Do in the Middle East, there's
nothing. Quiet in the Middle East heavens
going to be pretty. Rowdy, I think, if you're.
Kind of like the. Silent, quiet type.
Yeah, then. You're going to have to.
Change it a little. Everything in Israel.
Is. Loud, loud and so.
The commotion, it just blew up and he got.
Worse and then the. Whole of Jerusalem heard there's
a riot going on at the temple, all run there.
There's this guy and he's been doing this and they're all and
they're trying to kill this guy. Paul.
Paul has been. Grabbed like a rag doll.
Punched. Kicked.
Scratched and they're trying to. Beat him to death.
They locked the doors on the temple as though are seeking to.
Kill him, the commander. Of the Garrison of Jerusalem.
Heard Claudius. Lyceus.
We get his name. It's given to us in Acts 2326.
He hears what's going on, runs down from the Garrison with his
troops, waves into the mob. Violence.
And they grab Paul. And they chain him up.
He's the innocent guy cuffing. Imagine on the ground cuff
chains, chains around his feet, around his hands.
This guy's just gone to the. Temple.
What's this? Man done and.
The multitude, some cried out one thing and some another.
Verse 34 So they couldn't ascertain the truth because of
the tumult. And so he commanded, Let's take
him to the barracks, as they'll take him to the barracks that
people want to. Kill him.
Kelly the Roman. Soldiers, as I said, had to
literally hoist Paul, and he wasn't a big guy.
I think he's about 5253 above the raging.
Angry, angry mob who's still. Striking out at Paul and get him
to the stairs leading to the Garrison.
And Paul, in the midst of this frenzied physical tumult, speaks
to the commander. In Greek, Greek was the
language. Of the intellects and.
He grabbed the commanders. And he said you speak.
Greek. Wow, this is not some dumb guy,
this is a learned man and the Roman.
Guy. Says to him, the commander,
you're the Egyptian guy stirred up a rebellion.
You lead 4000. Assassins in the wilderness.
Talk about like you're Rambo. Paul's just this little guy and
he's gone to the temple and now he's accused of being the chief
assassin of 4000 assassins, and he's an Egyptian.
Talk about it. How far wrong can you be?
Paul says. This is a massive
misunderstanding. You know, no one likes to be
misunderstood. Church bulletins often, and I
know I make a lot of mistakes. Church bulletins are classic
places of things. Written being misunderstood.
Let me. Read you actually.
Some church bulletin notifications don't.
Let worry kill you. Let the church help.
Remember in prayer the many who are.
Sick of our church and community.
For those of you who have children and don't.
Know it. We have a nursery downstairs.
Weight Watchers. Will meet at 7:00 PM at the
First Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double
doors at the side entrance. Thursday night potluck supper,
prayer and medication to follow. 8 new choir robes are currently.
Needed due to the addition of several new members and to the
deterioration of some older ones.
The. Senior Choir invites any member
of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir at the
evening service. Tonight the sermon topic will be
What as Hell? Come early and listen to our
choir. Practise there's there's a lot
more being misunderstood May. Cause us to be annoyed.
That's not what I said, that's not who I am, and it seems
unfair. Doesn't it when you're
misunderstood? It often leaves you with a
feeling of. Helplessness.
What's going on here? Even at times, hopelessness.
Well, they've said I've done this and I.
Haven't done anything like that at all.
Being misunderstood can build resentment.
If allowed, we can grow. Bitter as well for Paul and
Jerusalem. He was misunderstood that he was
teaching against the Law of Moses.
No, he wasn't. He just said the law can't save
you. The law has a.
Purpose for. Paul and Jerusalem, they said he
was defiling the temple, no. He wasn't.
He hadn't taken any gentile in there.
For Paul and Jerusalem, even the Romans misunderstood who Paul
was. Said you're that Egyptian
assassin ahead of 4000 other. Assassins, I mean, that is.
Radically wild Paul had nothing. To do with any of.
This. He just gone to Jerusalem.
Remember, this is the end of the third missionary.
Journey, he's going to say. Hey guys, this is what's been
happening. I'm on my way.
To Jerusalem I. Want to be in?
Jerusalem. Now what do?
You and I, as believers today do.
How should? We deal.
With being misunderstood as Christians, I'm going to give
you 3 points. Today 1 being misunderstood is
going to happen being. Misunderstood is going to
happen. It's going to happen in your
marriage. It's going to happen in a.
Parent child relationship. It's going to happen in
everything. If you desire to have.
Any kind of meaningful relationship with Christ or
connection with people meaningful know this you.
Will at some time be. Misunderstood.
A parent says to the child. I don't want you doing this.
Oh, you don't want me to do it? You never want me to have fun.
No, I just don't. Want you to kill yourself?
Isn't it husband? And wife says something, the guy
who all these years been married to his wife, and he gives her
the. Crust at the end.
You always give me the crust. I don't want the crust.
Never wanted but you just. Hand me the crust all the time.
He says no, no, actually the crust is.
I think it's the best bit of the bread and I've always given it
to you. First oh, however.
If you meander through life just going with the flow,
surrendering to the majority and populist opinion if you.
Avoid. Saying anything or doing
anything of substance. Having an opinion, Speaking of
your faith. You'll never have to deal with
being misunderstood because you just agree.
What do you think? Oh yeah, that's all right.
Oh, yeah. OK.
Dad, can we? Yeah, that's all right.
Mom, can we? Yeah, just go ahead.
All the other parents. Oh OK then.
But if you look to follow Christ to be obedient to His Word.
To be different to the. Mob the majority crowd you.
Will be misunderstood. You being at church today.
People in your family will. Misunderstand you being here
today, What do you have to go to church for?
What's that for? You going tonight?
What's that mean? What's all this stuff?
Let me give you some examples of people who have misunderstood.
Noah He. And his entire family spent.
Years. Labouring and preaching Bible.
Tells us at least 120 building an ark, a giant boat the.
World in which they. Live to do this.
Was worse than. Our world today.
It was totally depraved, God said of the world at the time
that Noah did this. Genesis 65 and the Lord saw that
the wickedness of man. Was great on the.
Earth. All the earth.
And that every intent. Of the thoughts of his heart.
Was only evil continually, that's how bad it was.
But no. Other Bible tells us.
Was a just man Genesis. Says that Bible says he was a
man who walked with God, and the Bible tells us four times in
Genesis. Speaking of Noah, that Noah.
Did all that God? Commanded him.
What a great life. That's why he's one of my
heroes. I.
Can't wait to meet Noah. So glad that.
One of our. Grandkids is called Noah.
There's another kid here. Called Noah.
There's a couple of other Noahs. I like that.
It's a great night. I can't wait to meet Noah.
Noah. Was a preacher of righteousness.
To a. World that was ungodly.
But everyone else? Literally everyone else around.
Him paid no heed. To Noah's preaching, his warning
of the judgement to come, as Jesus tells us looking.
Back to Noah. Speaking of the time of the
second. Coming in Matthew 20. 4 But as
the days of Noah were, and Jesus.
Gives us. Insight on what was happening.
As people, as as Noah was building the ark with his
family, he tells us, so also will be the coming of the Son of
Man. For as in the days.
Before the flood, Jesus tells us what was going on.
They were eating and drinking, marrying, giving and marriage.
Until the. Day that Noah entered the.
Ark and did not know until the flood came and took them.
All away. You know, when I drive to
church, I always see people walking.
And people going to the coffee shop and thinking, I'm thinking
that's exactly the same day things will be happening when
the rapture occurs. People were just.
Down the beach, Golf Club, having their coffee and millions
of people will disappear. How often?
Noah would have been asked. Hey, why are you building this
boat at the middle of nowhere? There's no sails, nowhere for.
Oars. He would have been continually
mocked with his entire family. His three sons.
Curly Larian MO for each. Time he would have warned of the
coming flood and they said you're just an.
Idiot. It's crazy.
And they just went about their business.
See, that's the worst thing. You can do with God.
Is just ignore him. That's a disgrace.
To me, that's blasphemous to ignore that Jesus.
Christ died on the cross. Let's go about my business.
I mean, really. Son of God dies, suffers and
dies, and he just. Who cares?
Anyway, let's have a coffee. Noah was misunderstood by
everybody else in the world except.
His family, because he was. Actually trying to save them.
That's why he preached 120 years.
He could have said, you know what, I'm done with you.
Go ahead and just. Don't answer them, boys.
Just keep. Them Hammond soaring, putting
things. Not not saying a.
Word No. It says he was a preacher of
righteousness. He was warning them of the flood
to come. The Ark can take people.
They misunderstood him. And there's Moses.
Well, he. Expected the enslaved, beaten
Hebrews. And Egypt to know.
God and send him to lead them out of their.
Slavery, didn't he? This was God's purpose for His
life. And so in Exodus chapter 2 verse
14, Moses goes in there. And what did the?
Hebrews say to him. Who made you a Prince?
Who made you a judge? Over us.
What did Moses do? Moses fled from the face of
Pharaoh. Dwelt on the land of many and
he. Took off.
Then there's Joseph. He was.
Absolutely hated by his half. Brothers, he was misunderstood.
By his parents, Jacob and Rachel.
Remember, he has a dream. And his brothers and all the
their, their, their she's. Bowing down and then later on he
has another dream and dad says you're kidding me.
You're. Like, oh, we're going to bow
down to you. Is that what you're?
Saying how misunderstood these were.
Dreams that God gave Joseph. Joseph didn't say.
Hey, this is what I think should happen.
He was just telling them the dreams that God gave him.
Yet even though Joseph lived. An exemplary.
Life before the Lord. One of absolute integrity and.
Purity. Yet Potiphar, his boss, sided.
With his. Wife Potiphar's wife.
When she accused Joseph of rape. Joseph took off, remember.
Joseph, though innocent. Ends up in prison.
Did anyone not misunderstand this exceptional godly man
called Joseph? No one knew.
Just what he was. He was a man of God.
Then there's. The Old Testament prophets.
The Bible tells us all. When they came, Jeremiah,
Isaiah, they were ignored, they were criticised.
They were. Hated even.
Killed as enemies of Israel. Jesus tells a parable about
that, doesn't he? They each were misunderstood as
they were only sent. By God, by God's love for the
people of Israel to. Try and turn the people.
'S hearts back to repent. Come back to God.
But people misunderstood everything the Prophet said.
They just said every. Time they say something.
Something. 'S bad, negative, they just kill
them. Then it's John the.
Baptist and misunderstood was he?
Hailed as a. Prophet by the masses.
And treated. As a madman by the religious
leaders, he's just crazy. These guys, the way he dresses,
what he eats, he. Lives in the wilderness, man.
Who is he? Yet he was the godly.
One, he was the. One chosen by God to.
Prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
According to Jesus, He is the greatest of all the prophets of
of Israel. You see misunderstanding, I want
to tell you. This you need to note this.
Misunderstanding is going to happen.
You are going to be misunderstood.
Oh. Great.
And what happened today at church?
I just, there was a misunderstanding, I think.
Second point. You'll see where I'm going the
reasons for being misunderstood. Are unpredictable.
Unpredictable for Paul. I mean, it was lies he.
Hadn't done any of this. It was slander.
Those from Turkey, this lied. Straight out lied they were.
Innuendos he he took this guy into the into the temple.
Falsehoods, outright hatred. Kill him.
That's not like let's have a discussion.
Now, are you doing these things? Let's just kill him.
The reasons why? You and I are misunderstood.
Why Paul was misunderstood? All lie here this you're.
Not going to like this. It's the truth beyond our
control. I'm going to say that again the
reason why we are misunderstood all.
Lie beyond our control. Did you get that?
Note that. The causes are too numerous.
I mean Paul being accused of an assassin.
That's just laughable. You're an Egyptian assassin.
And too diverse to count. In addition, when
misunderstandings occur, as they did to Paul and the others,
there is. Little we can do.
Oh, this is man. This.
Is well, that's great learning. There's little that we can.
Do to resolve them we. Just let us down the.
Rabbit hole no end. Paul will try in addition.
The majority of them, however. Of misunderstandings.
The truth of the matter? Could be fixed.
In a matter of minutes, couldn't I with a simple?
Face to face, but this can happen.
Only. Of course.
If the other party. Wants this or is even.
Willing to listen or Keith? Why tell us this?
I'm just confused, what can we do?
Then we can only. Be responsible to communicate
clearly. This is what I've said.
This is what I've done. Paul would say that God is my
witness. Doesn't matter what you say.
But listen, and this is. The part you need to know the.
Response of others how they. Respond.
It's not up to you. Note that doesn't matter what
they do say, carry on their response.
Is not up to you. You need to write that down.
The response of others is not up to you.
Once we each. Recognise our helplessness in.
These situations that in. Itself is a massive step.
To being disentangled. What do you mean?
With so many things and emotions.
That at present control us and weigh us down because we've been
misunderstood in. The book of Hebrews, chapter 12,
verse one, The writer of Hebrews, who I believe is Paul
doesn't matter, said this. Therefore we also and he writes
Hebrews Chapter 11 is the whole of faith.
All those who live by faith die for their faith.
Therefore, we also since. We are surrounded by so.
Great. A cloud of witnesses and
notices. Hebrews 12 says let.
Us, this is what we can do. Let us lay aside.
Every weight. And then there's a
differentiation. And the sin.
So it's not sin. But things that weigh us down,
the weight and the. Sin.
Now what do they do? They easily ensnare.
Us we get. Trapped, tangled up with and.
Let us run this. Is what we are to do with
endurance the race that is set before us?
How? Take our eyes off the
misunderstanding looking under. Jesus, the author and.
Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before?
Him endured the cross. The greatest travesty in
history. Despising the shame and has.
Sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, then it says
in verse. 3-4 Consider him. Think about what he's done.
Who endured such hostility? Which he need not deserve from.
Sinners against. Himself it was personal lest.
You become weary how? And discouraged where?
In your soul, it's the danger. So because you've been.
Being misunderstood and you want.
Or what they shouldn't say there or how come they've said then
I'll get that, I'll sort that out.
I need to speak to them. I.
Get got to get this sorted out. And what happens is you get
entangled and ensnared and it becomes danger to your soul
instead of you running the race and looking at to the Lord.
And this is where many people in church today, they've come in
and they've come in and they're entangled, she said.
He said dad said mum said the boss said it's danger for
consider him who endured. Such hostility from sinners.
Against himself, Jesus was innocent.
By the way, wasn't. He lest beware.
The warning You become weary, and that's where.
A lot of people were just tired of.
I know what they but I just just wears me out.
But they got away. With this that they said this.
I need to have my peace with them.
Sort them out. And you become discouraged
where? In your soul the deepest.
Part of you, it's called in a turmoil.
That's why so many people. Are in a in a turmoil.
Because they're angry against them.
I've done. Funerals.
I remember 2 specifically. Whereas I was.
Walking in the final part. To the service.
The Sons of. Two of the deceased.
Men different funerals, son each did two different funerals.
Said I hated my father. If anyone says anything good
about him today, they're lying. Whisper that in my ears.
I'm just about to start the service.
Then I'm thinking as the. Eulogies are going on.
Where's the sun? In a turmoil, just raging
hatred. The dad's dead.
Dad can't. They can't fix anything.
You can't go. Hey Dad, I want to.
Talk to you. He's dead.
You can't respond yet this person who is alive is still
entangled with a dead. Person.
Note that you see our. Choices, and these are matters
of choice. Let us lay aside.
You got a choice so often you know people.
Don't like it? But So what?
You got to grow. Up, you know.
We're, we're too mature, immature, the writer of Hebrews
earlier said. I'd like to tell you more stuff.
Give me some meat and veggies and stuff but.
You know, I just got to keep telling you about.
Baby stuff all the time because you just won't grow up, Paul
said to the. Church in Corinth, you're just
carnal, just arguing about stuff.
Oh, where of Apollos? Where of Paul?
Oh, I'll where of Peter? What's this stuff got to do
with? Anything.
You see, our choices are not always between right and wrong.
But can be the difference? Between a.
Hindrance and a help. This recognition of not solving
most misunderstandings, not chasing.
Them down relentlessly. Then gives.
You what? Permission to step away?
OK, don't do anything more about that.
Step away. To leave the matter where God's
hands. That's where they should be, not
your hands. You can't fix anything.
I can't even fix a hole. In the wall.
Hannah will tell you how good a wonderful.
I should have been a surgeon, I know because I'm not a handyman
in an eastern land. A woman repeated a bit of
gospel. About a neighbour.
And within a short time, the whole town.
Knew the. Story The slandered person was
deeply hurt by what the woman had said, and most unhappy.
But then the lady. Responsible for spreading the
rumour. Learned that it was completely
untrue. So she went to a wise old sage
to find out how she could repair the damage she'd caused.
I said this I'm snacks not true after listening to her problem,
he said. Go.
To the marketplace, Buy a chicken, have it killed, then on
your way home, pluck its feathers out one by one and drop
them along the path. The surprise by this unusual
advice? The woman did as she was told.
Chicken gave sacrifice for that the next.
Day she saw the sage. Again and.
Said she had completed his tasks.
I've done what you said, the sage then told the woman.
Now go over your path. Track, backtrack, collect all
those. Feathers and bring them back to
me. So the lady.
Followed her path back, but to a.
Dismay. The wind had blown.
All the feathers away. After searching all day long,
she returned with only two or three.
In a hand. This is all I have.
And the sage said. You see, said the old wise man,
It is easy to drop them, but impossible to bring them.
All back. Likewise.
It does not take much. To spread a false rumour.
But you can. Never completely undo the wrong.
So we've looked at being misunderstood.
It's going to happen. We've looked at the reasons.
Why there? Are many and unpredictable and.
Thirdly, so how are? We to react.
To being misunderstood again. It's a matter of.
Choice too many people seek. Prayer when the answer is.
Will do the right thing. Oh yeah, but.
I I don't want to do I know what the.
Bible says but. No, no.
Just do the right thing. So it's a matter of.
Choice one. Some work themselves, and people
usually do it in three ways. Some work.
Themselves into a frenzy. Trying to get the other.
Person or party? To hear and then.
Acknowledge the truth if you've ever worked in government and I.
Have I've worked in the health department, the education
department and the Police Department.
And man, these days, when someone or.
He said this, she said this, and they have this.
Hole. And now we're going to.
Have this, we're going to have another meeting about that.
They're offended, they're off or they're on stress leave.
You know this. Person's off and.
They're on stress. Well, I'm going on stress leave.
Because they're on stress leave. No, I didn't.
Say that they said this. And it goes on and on and and
and and all the wise. Ones get.
Together and and and just. Stir.
The mess. Some shout.
Some. Plead.
Repeat themselves endlessly and chronically.
Live in an. Anguished desperation to be.
Cleared and heard I'm not coming back to work until she.
Says he says, well, they change. Well, he's gone.
Or I'm out of here. You got to move me.
Shift me. And it becomes the centre.
Of their lives. I've.
Seen that in people. Their whole focus, they're so
bitter. Whilst others turn inward,
retreat to a sulkish existence, determined to play the life of a
martyr. Whilst internally the endless
flowing. Acid of bitterness just pumps
and pumps through their heart. And they burn within.
Both these ways are wrong responses.
So what's the biblical? Response one.
To extend an invitation to discuss the matter and to
continue serving the Lord, Bible tells us that in Matthew 18.
Your brother on here. Let's try it.
And get another one. They want it well.
OK. Secondly, to finally acknowledge
this, we cannot. Live or.
Change another person's life and how they live.
I want I want you to hear this to.
Finally. Acknowledge we cannot live or.
Change another person's life. How they live.
You can't. You can't.
Do that and many of you are trying.
It doesn't work. You can't.
Change me, I can't change you. So we accept.
And here's the good thing to do We.
Accept the helplessness. Well, that's.
That's it and. Then what do we do?
We pray for God's grace and His strength to go on.
Lord, let me move on. And to allow and here's what.
You've got to do God to handle this personal difficulty.
And if it. Raises its head.
Give it to him again. Raises its head.
Give it to him again. But spend or waste, no more
energy trying to solve it. You got that?
Stop trying to solve it. Can't Romans chapter 12 verse
18? Paul says if it is possible, so
in some cases. It's not possible as far as it
depends on you. Live at peace with everyone.
Some people you just can't. They're a prickly pair.
You see, behind all this, Ephesians 612, we wrestle not
against. Flesh and blood behind.
All this we're in a spiritual world.
We're spiritual beings. We're children of God behind.
All this. Satan seeks to detour.
Our lives, our passion, our. Energy, our joy and he seeks.
To bring emotional distraction to.
Us so as to affect. Our walk.
With God. They come to church.
They're just angry. Just I can't.
I can't. Can't do Mother's Day.
I can't do Father's Day. I.
Can't do certain things because. Memories that I have connections
and I'm not judging in the regard to that, but The thing is
you're building the. Trap yourself for yourself.
You're. Wrapping the chains around
yourself. And Satan's gone.
Good job. I've got you chained.
You just keep. Holding onto the chains because
you won't give permission. To move on and you are otherwise
forever distracted. In your life trying to.
Rectify being misunderstood Paul Cos.
No, no, I want a council now. Bring, get, let's have a
council. Bring this.
Bring, bring, bring the elders again.
Let's let's have this out. I'm I'm having my say.
You've heard people say that, and that's how.
Churches get split. I want my say in the matter.
Now it's what God says. My opinion and your opinion
don't count what you think. What I think don't count.
It's what the Bible says. That's what counts if.
God tells me to do. Such and such.
Then I need to do that Noah if he just.
Reacted like most people do. He would never have completed
the ark. I'm not building this ark.
This is too hard, you know. It's just I'm not doing it.
Everyone reckons I'm mad. Moses, he would have just.
Stayed in the desert burning Bush.
I don't care. If there's a burning Bush.
I'm not going back down to those people.
I'm not going down to those people.
They told me to get out of here. Who made you Prince who?
Made you water over us. Joseph, he would have just
lived. If he got.
Out of gaol as a. Bitter ex con.
Brothers, family, mum, dad, gaol.
Prison. Didn't deserve any of that.
Why should I? Why should I change?
Not going to get me. Anywhere bitter ex con for.
The rest of his life. John.
Who's this? Who's this guy?
I mean, I'm preaching, preaching here and people are coming to
see me. Oh, I'm a holy man.
But instead, for Noah, it was to finish.
The Ark Why the? Flood was coming.
I've got family. I've got.
Kids, I've got wife. For Moses it.
Was the joy to head. Into the direction of.
Of the promised land with. God in front of him.
Hey, this is awesome. This is why I'm here.
For Joseph, resting in gaol. The door will open soon.
And I I know God will use me. He was going.
To end up Prime Minister of Egypt.
Why God has given me dreams? About this he gave me.
Dreams about this. And for John, John the.
Baptist, he would preach repentance.
Knowing Messiah has come, I don't need to baptise you.
You should. Baptise me he must.
Increase and I must decrease. That's the same.
For all of us. So the question is we.
Close it today. God the Holy Spirit wants to
meddle into your. Lives today, will you?
Today allow God to have now your.
Full attention. Or are you going to carry on
fighting? I was misunderstood.
My dad, my mum, my brother, my sister, my boss, my coach.
This. You can carry on just fighting
and you'll be entangled forever. Will you give up trying to set
things right and leave it with God?
Will you leave it? With God will you?
Finally, cast off those. Cares those and they are.
Hurtful misunderstandings. You think Paul was enjoying
being beaten to death? You think Paul was enjoying
being accused of lying about the word of God?
You think, Paul? Just thought oh this is OK and
now I'm. Accused of an assassin.
They could kill me. You think Paul went, oh, this is
just great. No, on Wednesday, Paul gets up
and what does he talk about? He talks about his relationship
with Christ, because none of that stuff matters.
He doesn't go back over any of the.
Stuff. I'm not an Egyptian assassin.
I never said this about circumcision.
I never did any of that. No, he says.
Let me tell you what happened to me.
I was on. The road to Damascus and Jesus.
Christ met changed my life. We finally cast off those cares,
those hurtful misunderstandings, and put them before His throne
and cast them at His feet. You can do it today.
It's your choice. You can be disentangled today.
You can be free. And instead you can take.
Up your cross. And deny.
Yourself deny your rights, disentanglement,
misunderstanding and follow. Him you can deny yourself.
Give God your wounds. Give God your revenge.
Give God your stubborn pride. You can stop all this.
Now, so that now. You can walk with freedom and
the surrender of Paul, who in Romans Chapter 9 would write of
the people. Who wanted to kill him and beat
him up? I speak.
The truth in Christ. I'm not lying.
Paul says my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit.
I have great sorrow not over what they.
Said these people, they're idiots.
And unseaching anguish in my heart.
Because the way they treated me. No hear.
What he says, For I could wish that I myself were cursed and
cut off from Christ for the sake of my people.
Wow, those of my own race, the people of Israel who
misunderstood me. Let's pray.
Father, today we pray that we leave at your.
Feet today and walk out of this. Building chains, blocks, wounds.
Situations that have controlled. Us angered us.
We're not doing dealing with them anymore.
We want to be free. We want to be free to live.
A life and serve you that our minds make no peace.
And that we can just. Share the love of the Gospel
with others. Just like Paul.
This we pray you do. Miraculously in our hearts.
Today we ask this in Jesus. Name.
Amen. Just to know you, you must be
his friend, my friend.