Amy Carmichael was born with brown eyes, but she wanted blue eyes. She would pray and pray for God to give her blue eyes – but He never did. Amy grew up to become a pioneering missionary in India. Amy used to say, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” She became involved in saving the lives of thousands of children from wicked practices. You see, these girls would be dedicated to the false gods and then “forced into prostitution to earn money for the priests” (see the link above). Without brown eyes, she would never have been able to rescue so many children from horrific lives. Her blue eyes would have stuck out in the sea of brown eyed natives. We must recognize that God is at work, even in the undesirable circumstances of life, to give us what we really need.
Paul is in a very “undesirable circumstance!” God leads Paul to engage with 2 power moves amid this spiritual battle.
The Power Move of QUESTIONS.
A question proves to be more powerful than demanding rights. (22:24-25)
Instead of accusations…
Instead of demanding things…
Instead of anger…
Paul gave a simple soft answer (Prov. 15:1; Jas. 1:19).
A father and son went fishing one day. After a couple hours out in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, “How does this boat float?” The father thought for a moment, then replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.”
The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father, “How do fish breath underwater?” Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know, son.”
A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?” Again, the father replied. “Don’t rightly know, son.”
Worried he was going to annoy his father, he says, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?” “Of course not son. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!” (Source: Unknown)
When we ask questions, we will reveal what the person truly knows! Are they merely repeating catch phrases they have heard from someone else? Are they simply a bully who talks loud and shows aggression, but they have no facts or grounded logic? Believers, when someone makes a bold move or claim, ask questions. “What do you mean by that? How did you come to that conclusion?” Do not let the one making the bold claim (i.e., the Bible is full of fables) make you disprove their claim. They made the claim, so they should prove it and defend it. This keeps you non-defensive and in the non-threatening “learner position.” As we have said before whether it is a witnessing opportunity or a conversation with your spouse: listen to understand before you listen to respond.
The Power Move of BACKGROUND:
A birth right proves to be more powerful than preferences. (22:25-30)
Let’s pause for an explanation of terms. Acts 22:25 uses the phrase “bound him with thongs.” The idea was to stretch him forward to prepare for the scourging. The word “thongs” is always used in the New Testament with the idea of “tying something.”
The same verse in Acts 22 uses the word “scourge.” According to Roman custom, Paul would have been stripped to the waist and tied with leather thongs to a column or whipping post (same as Jesus was). We should also note the order was given by a Roman soldier.
A bell buoy rings only during storms. The beating of the waves and wind bring out the music that is within it, so too do trials reveal what is inside a person. (Source: Bible Truths Illustrated, J. C. Ferdinand Pittman)
Notice that Paul doesn’t start yelling. Notice Paul doesn’t yell at the angry mob in bitterness. This question Paul asks reveals his call for justice without the ugliness of bitterness, resentment, anger, slander, or malice! God had prepared Paul for this time when He gave Paul his Roman citizenship years ago. God has prepared you for the path you are walking as well! The hard things, the undesirable things, and the good things from your background are all used to make you who you are today…they are all used to prepare you for what you will experience today.
Paul’s question was brief, but very powerful: “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman and uncondemned?” This question points to Paul’s birthright. This second power move, that points to his birthright, carries with it immense ability.
In Acts 16:37, Paul made this same charge. The heaviest charge Paul could make was ‘unlawful treatment as a Roman!’
Let’s consider an overview of Roman Rights:
1. Paul’s father was probably wealthy enough to purchase his Roman citizenship. Such a purchase would bring his father, and his family, commercial and personal privileges.
2. A Roman was exempt from degrading punishment, like scourging.
3. A Roman was exempt from public beatings.
4. A Roman was guaranteed a trial.
5. A Roman had the right to demand just treatment and protection.
6. Both 16:37 & 22:25 show a great a deal of injustice, even if he wasn’t a Roman citizen.
Paul points out the injustice with a mere question, knowing full well it was a very powerful question. For if a Roman had been wrongly treated, he could insist on a public apology by the local Roman government. This would:
Embarrass the Roman leaders
Bolster Paul’s efforts for the gospel
Put the Romans in a precarious position with a city in an uproar.
God gave Paul the tools he needed even (in his family heritage many years prior) for a time such as this! So, church of God, make a distinction between your needs and wants today!
1. We often want relief from physical struggles when we need to give God our heart.
2. We often want more money when we need greater dependence on God
3. We often want greater influence when we need greater relationship with God.
4. We often want increased comfort when we need increased spiritual strength.
We must recognize that God is at work, even in the undesirable circumstances of life, to give us what we really need. Trust God to give you what you really need.