When God Turns it Around, Part 2

Welcome to the sound of faith. I'm sure not thanking you for joining us today because we know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you like stories where God takes a series of misfortunes and satanic attacks against his children and boomerang them on the devil then you're going to like today's message when God turns it around. Paul had an irrepressible desire to go to Rome and in part to the Christians there a spiritual gift, but it took two years to prison terms to cruises one shipwreck with an island vacation before he got there when God turned it around. So Paul said don't you worry about me.

I know you love me. I know that you're concerned about me. I understand that but I want you to know that this like they been doing chores and obstructions in my way and it seemed my gaming distractions. Indeed, traction is way worry about God is working it all together for the good God is not a master plan. The devil don't know anything about everything is going to move this way he's going to move that way when he goes over the attack that when we hear that you worry about it.is going to turn it around, but I tell you around yesterday and so Paul was rejoicing because he said all the things these things that you thought that would discourage me. I want you to know they don't discourage me one bit. So when they are telling him don't go to Jerusalem, don't go. He wouldn't hear no more of it. He said I'm going to Jerusalem. In spite of everything.

Why was he so bound and determined to go to Jerusalem to get to go to Jerusalem. He was not interested in going to Jerusalem interested in going to Rome that he was going to one way or another. He was going around going to Rome another no matter what happened. Jerusalem was still going around about and raised from the dead. So you know that wasn't even there. He knew that he was going to roll to get Jerusalem was already on row doing order to get home somewhere you want to go down to Florida and you want to go down there education and get up like it's straight through. Don't go somewhere else you want to let us change for two hours so you can get to your destination you like to do that, but you can get straight through flights where you want to go and do that made Jerusalem and even when he got to find out that he was another ticket and ticket was going to be to layover layover to pay to not before he got home he was going to go to the Melita and have a great month layover, but was more like he was everything was going to get around.

Yesterday was because he knew what he was going to go to Rome. Let's look at Romans the first chapter were good here now to Paul's now I want to take my word for it. I want to hear Paul's now birthday, he said. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all and your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. What a testimony meeting with Paul would hear the stories about the faith of the Christians in Rome. Just let back firing his heart.

He had to get there. CK did not plant the churches in Rome, churches in Greece and Turkey, and Asia minor letters that we read all the other ones. Corinthians in Thessalonica and flipping the clock in the Ephesians plaintiff those churches plant the one it wrong to get there to get there because there was well and that means throughout the entire Roman Empire and that was a huge empire, and so is your faith is everywhere, for God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his son no other way to serve in that with Stacy mention of you are always in my prayers.

Now he is praying for them, but he's also praying for himself, but he's requested because he says making request by me. What did he say by any means I want you to remember that by me now and lead.

I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God, to come unto you so he says, for I long to see you.

I want to impart a spiritual get them paraphrasing I want to impart a spiritual gift unto you, fruit amongst all the other Gentile churches, but amongst you, but I want to come and get some Christians do. I just got there 15 let's drop down there so hard to say you don't want to say it like that you send me some I need you understand because really make it up here so I need to preach the gospel to you and all Rome. So Paul clearly has an agenda was in the next day weeks month years. He's going to get to room sink or swim.

He's going to get around and made up his mind and I think he must've had a promise from God.

Going to Rome, I promise. Paul, you're going to Rome: down just you know just cool down a little bit you're going to Rome. We got some other things to take care of first few more adventures you have to do before you get there, but he said is much in me I am ready to preach the gospel at Rome.

I am going to get there. And this is what he said if by any means. Did he say that, he saw it. All I can tell you is watch what you pray for when you think God watch out what you pray for. I just want you to do not just watch out what you pray because by any means I get to Rome and make it my request anything without his face telling God I want to go to Rome. I want to go to Rome to get there and preach to the Christians there and he had a fervent desire and when you got a fervent desire nothing nothing is going to stop you.

And when coming your way next thing to be absolutely opposite to what you pray like there's no way now I can come to pass because this is totally opposite of what I pray you're going to believe that God is going to turn it around and so Paul said I would end up in Rome but does get there.

I got to go to Jerusalem first directly want to go in the Jerusalem is in the opposite direction around, but this is the way that the Lord was going to take him. So we have to go to Jerusalem and I will start paraphrasing because I know that you always been good good Bible student read acts 20 2122 to 345.617 and said Apple when I paraphrase you living right on the same page with me were just going to go right along. You already know it.

Amen.

So he said it by any means so they got the hottest ticket they got to Jerusalem. At first they were received very warmly by the brethren, and also by the elders, including James, who was the brother of Jesus, the half-brother Jesus was the pastor of the church of Jerusalem and they were not there and they asked Paul they said Paul we want ask you to do something I favor. We would like for you to take a bow of her purification with some other of the brothers were going to take this with the Jewish thing, take a special balance I think was for seven days.

I don't have a fast debate.

It included shaving their heads, and no special prayers and sacrifice during that time, he said, would you be willing to do that to show all the brethren, that you are not coming in here trying to tear down all their Jewish customs and trying to rip father Jewish cultural way would you be willing to do that is approved is not what you're doing, you're doing and you're saying is do not force the Jewish customs want to the Gentiles to be saved when they never kept them in the first place saved, then it doesn't even say you if you want to do it will save you. But if you like your little faith in your little things, but you can't force on the Gentiles and tell them to do that to be say and so, without, I'm still I'm still not you I'm still Hebrew. I still love my Jewish heritage is no problem to do that so he agreed to do it and he did it, but there were some that stirred up a rumor and they claim they lied and said the party taking a Gentile Greek into the holy Temple, which was against the law was against the word of God.

It was a lie. But you know people when they hear a rumor run with it before they ever check out the facts able and with somebody. Often they were and they don't even they hurt they said they saw Paul go in there with the great. It was a lie, but they took that rumor and they ran with it and the next thing you know the temple started quested.

This is what religion will do for you in a chance, himself, and they were beating to the point that somebody ran and got the room authority and they came and they got to take Paul their hands. Let's take Ellen that God is going on.

No other young screaming so they put in jail to save his life. Now you know the devil doesn't like you when you got to go to jail. To be safe you're really in a trauma test when it for you to be jail. Then, out of jail, so that kept them in their overnight everybody cool down and sleep next will bring allies trial, or so they thought the same thing happened all over again started screaming and yelling and Luke said they almost pull up all the pieces got stuck in jail and you are trying to figure out what this man must be what does this man done to deserve this country and that night, Paul's nephew overheard a conversation where it was told that there was a conspiracy of over 40 men who would come together in such hatred.

They said will not eat another bite of food until we kill Paul and save the boy heard that he went and told the authorities what they said. And so when the captain of the work. He knew that if he would try to bring about for trial. There would be line in ambush they were going to Kelly so what did he do I love. I just love you. Gotta love it. You have to love you read it so you already know right you that he called for 200 soldiers and he called for 200 atm and demand on horse to take one rather short younger athletic rabbi Caesarea entourage by an escort to what the Roman soldiers look like with all their armor and the red fuzzy stuff up here preacher I tell you he was a dangerous man. Yes he was. He was dangerous to the kingdom of darkness… They whisked them out of town any they took him to Rome, I asked you to stop talking to Caesarea Rome over the real Caesarea.

He ended up staying in jail in Caesarea for two years now you know that would have discouraged you don't you think you would've got discouraged, don't you think you would not start somewhere along the way but you know why he didn't want to digress for just a moment and back up and let you see one reason why he didn't get discouraged, we have to go back to ask. Gotta be around 21, 22, when they were still in Jerusalem the second night in jail before they took him away. He said the Lord stood by me Jesus Christ himself showed up in that prisons tell. He said the Lord stood by me and he said Paul got me in Jerusalem, you somebody say must somebody say must is important so testify of me in Rome when God know you're going to go through a long, long haul or you start seeing answers to your he is so wonderful. He is so good and so gracious.

He'll always give you something to hold onto. We only see I think.

Recorded I'm trying to think sincerely, I'm trying to think I can only think of three times and in some I'll correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm sure you already read the book of acts, but I can only think of about three times when Paul says that the Lord came, or an angel came specifically and spoke to him is not like it happened every day, same as getting been persecuted with going to jail things will happen to them continually, but the supernatural things didn't happen all the time. God doesn't always every day. Every day give you a dream and a prophecy in a word in confirmation an angel and a trumpet that day after day after day after a while you would shrivel up and be worthless when you really need when you can't take will give you word God gave the night and that Pres. Jerusalem and was a good word because when he went this language can or two years might've been many times when he asked me many times when it was that God by doing sit and hear you baby you gave me a call when you get what I should be charged up in this jail you he had that word from God. God said Paul be of good cheer, because just like you had faithfully testified in Jerusalem. You must, and when God says you must then you will when God says it's going to be going to be and I don't care how instead of going to Rome is going to Caesarea and from there he sat there for two years and one at one time or another he told so many times because when he first got there, Felix was the governor now Felix was a great, but he had knowledge of both Christianity and Judaism. Luke said he had more perfect knowledge of the way and whenever you see way back, referring to Christian, they were called the people of the way before they were called Christians perfect knowledge of the way. Not only that Felix was married to a woman named Drusilla and she wasn't Jewish.

In fact, her father was Herod the great bad guy that's another sermon real bad guy you know Saddam Hussein tight bad guy but she was Jewish, so he knew that Judaism and Christianity. So when his defense to him. Arguments between the accusers and understand the logic of what was to just call their call Paul back another time and another methadone of the sermon. But the readout tonight. Really good stuff about what just the whole Caesarea Park. Finally after two years was still there in jail, and Felix was just sit there until Rome yanked Felix out a new governor fast now when Festus got there and have a clue know anything about the Christians or that you know nothing.

So when I got to get there defense and I got another theology about Judaism and Christianity in the resurrection know what they were talking about thought they were all pretty know what to do with Paul to do something I've got to figure out what they only thing I know to do with back to Jerusalem and the trial there. Would you be willing will go back to your accusers will get all the people that know all the lawyers and will have a trial. Jerusalem will get this thing. Paul said are you crazy, go back to Jerusalem. I don't think so. He said I've been trying to get to Rome for two years appeal to Caesar appeal to Caesar until other things had been exhausted from the little district down Baltimore city's right to the Supreme Court. The appellate court and the other to the federal court don't like the court may take you before you finally get to the Supreme Court and then when your case still doesn't get before the Supreme Court to think about 100,000 cases a year come to they only choose about 100 they'll choose all, the only choose the one that they think are important. That will have something to say for the whole nation, you cannot appeal to the Supreme Court until you've gone through all the other avenues and when Festus said that go back to Jerusalem. Paul said this is my chance and wait on going around, get my suitcases out now appeal to Caesar and fastest way to say you will go and not to because when God is real target around to get you back to Jerusalem where you but what God you will you will work God you will go so they were finally going to get to go to Rome and he got tickets signed and sealed passageway. Only thing was it was on a boat was on the ship and now it wasn't exactly the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mary was on those other cruisers are that they have now. It wasn't exactly 1 of them. It was the ship were there were other prisoners.

They were all going to jail in Rome that he was still in handcuffs and still in shackles what he was going to Rome. He said these things don't move me to be worried about this now get on his nerves because I got to tell you. I thought about doing it… And real quick.

I forgot to come out here and try to preach to you in handcuffs all night and I realize that that would be nearly impossible because the one thing. One reason this lapel mic is because I got a preach with my hands to not even a Jew.

How many say amen and if you've ever seen a Jewish rabbi.

If you watch them only preach what they preach with their hands. Amen.

And so can you not trying to stand up and give us defense in time to preach with handcuffs on their little figures of speech that they used, they would say things like now on one Eric.but on the other hand, you join with Christ and you really need your hands to be ever preach like that. How many say amen. But Paul said I don't care about them in handcuffs in shackles.

i don't care about stinking with a bunch of criminals on here about preaching the gospel here from mandarin killing sheet right and every other ungodly thing you can think of but that doesn't move me. that doesn't upset me because i think god's going to work together for good that god's gonna target you will get upset i tell you what i can think of a lot of preachers today.

they can go first class dangling that god had everything first class, you know, somebody will out the red carpet, some i cannot like this arthur brown how many say amen hung in there with with apostle paul made it that these things don't bother me through these things before i preach the gospel. we went back to the scripture that we preach the gospel but what i like mine preach the gospel to give testimony on the gospel of grace, the gospel of grace and that only means grace for the sinner that he can send you from your sins, but that means greatest for the christian right who is in the way you feel weary and tired and weak that i can tell you something because not been there because one of the other few times that god ever spent personally that he played and nowhere was when he said that the flash.now know how would you like to get away, but my grace is sufficient for you to give you the grace that you need a lot of things that like in my life, places, things. when i was hard to learn the hard way by wasn't going on preaching and like i found out that they were good that god was working things together because i've been through some battles not been through some places that god will bring you the thinking about when you you can do it you're not strong enough here q. week for amen. i hope you're enjoying paul's journey to rome in our message when god turns it around, rome was the only new testament church that paul did not found any had a fervent desire to go there in part to them a spiritual gift. but first he wanted to go to jerusalem where he had many enemies who wanted him dead were willing to kill themselves. there were many mornings to paul not to go, but he was determined knowing god would allow him to get to rome eventually, but this began a two-year saga that was filled with beatings prison time at midnight escape shipwreck detour to an island in the winter and a poisonous snake bite. the first night. but what was meant for paul's demise, god turned it around and one of the great revivals of the new testament resulted on that pagan island. paul did make it to rome where he was imprisoned again in the dungeon cell of the emperor's palace shackled to a soldier day and night. now philip. he was paul's favorite church. he called them his joy and crown, and they were troubled when they heard he was in prison and wrote him of their concerns. paul's answer to, then swung on the hinge of one word rather, that is, instead of my being discouraged about being in this roman jail.

i'm rejoicing because what is happened to me has fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel.

first my shackles are known throughout the whole palace of rome, the capital of the world. everyone knows i'm in jail for christ, not crime. and secondly, many brethren who were shy about preaching the gospel are now bold to preach without fear. this is truly the boomerang principle of god. what satan attempts for our harm got turns around for our good and for the furtherance of his gospel and kingdom, to order when god turns it around on cd. send a love gift of at least $10 to help us with the cost of radio time request offer sk 117 sk 117 to sound the faith po box 1744, baltimore, md 21203 four. you may order online. it sounded faith.org you can also order mp3 order by mail request sk 117 send a minimum love gift of $10 to po box 1744, baltimore, md 21203. till next time. this is sure not saying they're not