Get Ready

Acts 22:22

“The crowd listened to Paul until he said this.  Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!  He’s not fit to live!”

I am proud that I was born in Texas. Why? Because Texas is one of the only states that was its own county and being a Texan has some bravado attached to it.  I am sure other people born in other states have the same chest out expressions about where they were born.  The point is that where you were born is a big deal.  It gives you some roots about your background whether they are wanted or not.  Take the ones born into slavery or an abusive family, you may not have the same bravado, but the roots still exist.  

Paul was born in a Roman province of Cilicia in a town named Tarsus. This is key to his survival in Jerusalem.  He was raised in Jerusalem and was a Pharisee of Pharisees, a teacher of the law.  While in Jerusalem, Paul visited the temple and some of the Jews from his home town recognized him.  They spread the news that Paul was bringing Greeks into the temple, defiling the temple in Asia.  The one time I would think you don’t need this kind of attention it happens and from your hometown crowd. 

Fast forward, Paul gets into a bunch of trouble with the Sanhedrin who are made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees.   The Sadducees were the lawyers while the Pharisees were teachers of the law and believed in angels and spirits.  Paul, being a Pharisee, plays this card and the Sanhedrin goes into an uproar.  The Roman guard takes Paul out, fearing for his life, and brings him to be flogged. Just as the flogging was going to start, Paul asked if it was legal to do this to a Roman citizen who was not charged with anything.  The flogging stops and Paul is taken away.  If it were not for his Roman citizenship, Paul would have been flogged and most likely killed that day.  Sometimes your roots save you.  

In the middle of action we don’t always think wisely.  I have said this before but one does not always rise to the occasion but often falls to the level of their training.  Paul, having been around the block in many other towns while running for his life, learned how to be cool under pressure.  It was this calm that got him out of a certain death situation.  If you are Christian, you are bought and paid for.  Christ died for you!  You are not your own but rather a bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and your assignment is to do the will of the Father.  Your training ground gets tougher every day because Christ wants you to be ready in season and out of season, ready to defend the faith. 

You put on the armor of God in Ephesians, not only to protect you from the fiery darts of the evil one but also to kick some devil butt.  To take back the ground that the enemy has stolen.  Paul was ready when the time came and he used the quick wit that God gave him.  Your past is not a thorn or a blemish, but rather something God can use.  After a football game back in the day, my pads and uniform were super dirty but I felt great because the pads protected me and I also used them to dish out some punishment that I could not have done if I did not have them on.  The Holy Spirit is your football pads for life.  Every bit of equipment given, every past lesson, every shortcoming, every issue, all of it is part of your uniform God is using for His Kingdom.  Suit up and get on the field, it is time to dish it out!  Don’t sit on the sidelines with your helmet off wondering when you will play.  Put it on and get ready, tell the coach to put you in.