With it, maybe, have you seen any answers to prayer over these past few days? We'll go into taking prayer requests, but is there any way that you've seen God maybe answer prayers that you had concerning the holidays or something around that nature? My kids made it home. Your kids made it home? made it to their home, too. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That's awesome. Pray for Miss Dot, her trip back from Georgia. I saw a little Ruthie. They were starting the treatments, but she was running around playing just like it's nothing. Oh, that's a good thing. A lot of come in, their treatment stuff, and then CFL. Okay Wow Wow Did you say the whole grab a whole crowd whole grab The whole crowd was 100 100 even or Well, two or three ones counted, and they all had different ones, so we don't know. OK. So there was just way too many to count. But my whole thing is 200, so half of them were there. OK. Your family is fulfilling their great commission. I mean, the commission, the garden. to be fruitful and multiply. That's awesome. Ruthie's treatments begin, or when? She's Okay. Thank you. We can pray for Tommy and Sally. They have COVID. That's what I'm led to believe. Yeah. Yes, he is. He is now has two eyes, but he is regaining the eyesight. He said it'll take up to four weeks, so I don't know where he is and, you know, the vision and the eye that was affected. Anyone else have a prayer? That's a love for us to pray. Update, how is your granddaughter doing at that camp? She's here. She'll go back Sunday, but she loves it. And she will be there till next August. And then, she doesn't know what she'll get. She likes what she's doing, but it's so far away. But she loves it, and she came in Sunday and will go back Sunday. And what about Brooke, Michael B.? Brooke? She's been back in America for quite a few months. She's been trying to get more funds to be able to get back to Israel, maybe much more long term. Oh yeah, she wants to try to get back there in January, but I don't know if that's going to happen yet. Andrew Call is needed. Yes. The surgery was performed, but is it acting up? No, it's good. Okay. Yeah, you're doing good. You looked fine on Tuesday. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, for full recovery. Andrew Call. Had a knee replacement. Pray for my mom. She is, when I say mom, I mean my birth mom. Her name is Lisa. She is here when you see her. Yeah, except I have two moms. So please pray for her and show her love and she's a great influence in my life. So. She'll be here till next Thursday, or a whole week from Thursday to Thursday. She got here the day after Christmas. And if you like Pastor Jordan, and we all do, you'd love his mom, too. Oh, yeah. She's great. Well, that's great. That's enough to get us started for prayer. Brother Rick, will you pray for us this morning? It's all right, just pray out for what you have in your noggin, that'll work. No pressure. It means your birth noggin. Dear Father, thank you for letting us come together today. after celebrating the birth of your son that you gave to us for our salvation and to be the light of the world. And we just want to lift up a few people, Tommy and Sally with the COVID and for the continued healing of Andrew Cole. And we want to also just thank you for all the safe travels that everyone experienced and good time that they got to spend with their relatives and family and friends that maybe they haven't seen in a while. And Lord, we also want to pray for the people that are trying to go out on the missionary journeys and to help in the camps, to help the people that are less fortunate. And we just want you to bless their work and their opportunities, Lord, to bring more people to yourself. And Lord, we just want to pray for All right, I invite you to turn hello Please turn to Acts 25. Acts 25. I've not yet brought the box home, but the box is here, and it's going home. As long as I can use it. Oh man. What Zanderman is going to do with a Hulk figure, I have no idea. That's fantastic. Oh great. Okay, so we're in Acts 25, but a little recap of last week leading into this week. Last week we saw how Felix was basically put in charge of figuring out what he was going to do with Paul. And we talked about how Christians throughout history have at times had what I refer to as handlers or people who exchange them or use them for their own purposes and their own devices. So we're going to find out that Paul here, surprise surprise, is actually going to trade hands. In other words, he'll be in the hands of one handler who his time in office will come to a close and he'll hand Paul off to another person coming into power. And it was surprise surprise that that person coming into power is not any better. So I hope that jogs your memory. But I've titled this message or this study, How to Honor God When the Court System Fails You. And it was hard for me to title that. No one really wants to even think those thoughts. How to honor God when the court system fails you. But let's be honest with each other that when the court system was established by God, it was doing quite well. But sin has had its effect on everything to include the court system. And so... When would you say it was established by God? uh... the the rule of law uh... probably uh... there's a lot of there's a lot of uh... charges to the book of leviticus how that you know god wants his justice conducted in the world so but uh... sin has really twisted things and the way that they are executed so I want to do a little bit of, we left off almost at the end of chapter 24, so we're going to read the last two verses in Acts 24. So we tried this last time, we're going to try it again. We're going to just take turns reading. And if you don't want to read, you can say pass, that's completely fine. So Colin, will you start us off with Acts 24, pick it up in verse 26, and then Lucille, you read verse 27. We'll just discuss those. He hoped also that money should have been given him, that he might loose him, wherefore he sent for him the offender, and communed with him. But after two years, Hosius, Festus, succeeded Felix, and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound, Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. Verse 26 describes, it goes behind the courtroom appearance into what's happening behind the scenes. And it shouldn't surprise you and me that things happen behind the courtroom Behind the doors the doors are closed things are happening back there that actually affect how justice is played out outside and Here we learn that Felix He actually has a habit of calling Paul to his chambers or whatever have you With the hopes that money would be given him by Paul Hey Paul And maybe he was so bold as to even say, even drop hints, you know, in their conversations. But from these verses, verse 27, how long is this going on for? How long has Paul been showing up and Felix is trying to give him a hint? Two years. Two years, Felix was like, hey Paul, come here, I'd like to talk to you. Under the pretense that he wants to hear him out. That's a lot of stinking weight. Yeah, it's not only a lot of stinking weight, it's a lot of temptation. To do what? For Paul. I mean, his freedom is who knows how many dollars away. Like, what's Felix waiting for? He's waiting for it starts with a B, ends with an I. What's the word I'm looking for? Bribe. Way to go. Way to go, Paul. You got it. That's the thing, though. Paul not only... That's a good question, Rick. Who's Paul supposed to get the money from? But I think because he has not been limited to receive help from his friends and to receive them visiting him, if I've got access to the outside world through my friends for two years, I can easily find the means to pay for my release. Um, great question, great question. Um, I would like to, uh, bring to mind, uh, a, a specific passage in Hebrews. Uh, so I'd like you to turn to Hebrews 11, and we're going to begin reading in verse 35. Uh, so Sharon, if you will, Hebrews 11, 35, and we're going to read to 38. So, Hebrews 11, 35, 36, 37, 38. Do you want me to read the whole thing? No, just the one verse, and then pass it off to Pastor Bill. Hebrews 11, verse 35. Oh, wait a minute. Did you say 35? OK. Yeah. Women received back their dad, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented. People of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and living in caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Okay, thank you. Thank you. I want to back it up to verse 35. And I really love the way your translation put it. Sharon, what translation do you have? I don't know. Oh, the NIV. So NIV. It says, refusing to be released in the NIV. Mine says, others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. So this idea that there was an opportunity for them to be delivered. There's an opportunity for you to get your freedom and all you have to do is make a few compromises to get it. Just make a few compromises and we can act like this never happened. We won't feed you to the lions, it'll be great. Or in our modern day and age, You can keep living. You can keep your job. Just make a few compromises. And they said no. And they said no because that they might obtain a better resurrection. So Paul is a smart man. We know he's smart. Probably one of the smartest men. And he's no dummy. He gets what Felix is up to. He says, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to do that because there will be a day when I stand before God. And I want to obtain a better resurrection. You see this in the Old Testament as well. Turn to Exodus 23. Exodus 23 verse 8. We'll begin reading in 6, Exodus 23, 6 through 8. So wherever we left off reading. Okay, we'll have Bonnie, would you like to read Exodus 23 verse 6 to get us started? Okay, thanks. We'll start in six and we'll go through to eight. Do not deny justice to poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge. I do not put an innocent wrongdoers person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see, and twists the words of the innocent. Okay, that's great. Thank you. Thank you. A bribe twists the words of the innocent. That's how your translation put it. Mine says, verse 8, and you shall not take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning, and perverts the words of the righteous. A bribe. If Paul were to have given it, would have perverted his own words. You know? So. So. What do you mean it would have perverted his own words? Well, He, through this trial, was saying, I'm innocent, I've done no wrong. However, if I put money in your hand and say, can I go free now? I've now perverted my testimony before you, because maybe I have done a little wrong, but I'm paying you for my freedom. How to honor God when the court system fails you? Your story doesn't change. If you have your appeal process, the way that you're conducting yourself in the courtroom and behind closed court doors doesn't change from one setting to another. You know, how to honor God when the court system fails you. Paul said, this is who I am when the trial is proceeding. Behind closed doors, behind the back room, just him and the judge. This is still who I am. It hasn't changed. So. a good little nugget from the end of Acts 24. Now Acts 25, Acts 25. Let's continue, Acts 25. So we're going to read the first section, Acts 25, 1 through 5. So if you're our next reader, I would love... Now Mephistos had come to the province, and for three days he went up to Caesarea, to Jerusalem. in the high priest and the chief men of the Jews and harmed him against Paul and they petitioned him. Therefore, he said, let those who have authority among you go down with him and choose the same to see if there is any fault in him. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. So who here in these verses has an axe to grind? Does that saying sound familiar? Does anyone know what to have an axe to grind means? The Jews. Okay, the Jews have an axe to grind. What does it mean to have an axe to grind, Paul? they're not pleased with Paul what he's been preaching. Yeah, I'm not going to forget the grievance that I have against you, Paul. And if I have to wait out Felix because we can't manipulate Felix, I will wait all the time that Felix is in office for the next guy. The next guy gets in office, I'll be there. So it's Festus' first day in office. He's kicking back. Just visited Jerusalem. Came down from Caesarea. Man, I love my new position. Knock on the door. Who's at the door? The chief priest and the chief Jews. And they're arguing for why Paul isn't fit to lift. And so it's he's fresh on the job and they think maybe I can get him for how many days did they try and Can convince him of their story. It's in verse 6 verse 6 More than 10 days Yep. Yep. Yep It says yep for 10 days Jewish Chiefs try to get Festus On their side or in their pocket And it's interesting that they attack Paul, they attack Paul on three different fronts. They attack Paul on three different fronts. And for that, we're gonna keep reading. So we're gonna read verses six through, let's read six through 11. Six through 11, okay? And when he had tarried among them more than 10 days, he went down into Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, commanded Paul to be brought. And when he had come, the Jews, who had come down from Jerusalem, stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself, neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all. Bethesda's wanting to do that you use a favor answer pollen said Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things? So Paul said I Am at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought to be judged to the Jews. I've done a wrong as You very well know We'll finish it we'll finish it for I for For if I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." So, um, this is, this is really sad. In verse 9, in verse 9, politics rears its ugly head. The Jews have politically manipulated Festus into asking their favor. Now I want you to understand or maybe appreciate how wicked the court system can actually be. It is not beyond reason that these chief Jews, the important leaders of Jerusalem, during those 10 days with Festus, that they were explaining the favors that they could do for each other. We know that they wanted Festus to do a favor for them, but it's highly likely That they said, these are the things we can do for you. Because we're important in this city. Well, I think where it's living, it talks about how strongly Paul feels about it, too, with the way he says, I feel the Caesar. What was left off in y'all's translations is the Caesar at this time was Nero. And that brings a whole other side to the story. That is exactly right. Brother Rick, and you know it that is completely given away that Festus is not neutral in this situation. I think sometimes we make the mistake of thinking, oh that judge is neutral in this situation. Festus isn't neutral in this situation. Look at verse 11. For if I am an offender or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying. But if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one, you could say, including you, Festus, can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar. So, something that honors God when the court system fails you is your wit and your will in the courtroom. If you're using it for God's ends. God has given us an ability to reason and given us an ability to think through and process and reflect and see how things are happening as they unfold. And Paul can clearly see how things are going. He can perceive, although he's been kept in Caesarea, he can clearly see that the Jews and Festus have already spoken. and that the situation is being manipulated, and that he's about to be a victim to their contortion of the legal system. And so he uses his will, which is God-given, and says, no, this is not right. I appeal to Caesar. And at that point in time, It's as if someone called HR. When someone calls HR, everything stops. You mean human resources, you're going to call them in? OK, that means I've got to back up, and I mean, I can't handle this situation anymore. Because he's appealed to Caesar, and because he's a Roman citizen, he has that right. He's willing to appeal to him. Yeah, yeah. Nero became famous for his persecution of Christians. And you know what's interesting? Look at verse 10. Look at verse 10. I love the way other translations put it. Do you have, if you have an ESV or an NIV, could you read verse 10? 25 verse 10. I'll answer. I am now standing before Caesar's court where I ought to be tried. I have not done anything wrong to the Jews as you yourself know very well. Paul says, I'm where I should be. I am not in Jerusalem. That's a fixed court. The verdict is already passed back there. I'm where I should be. This is Caesar's tribunal. I'll get a fair hearing here. And I'm not willing to go there because I know that's an unfair hearing there. What do they call it when the jury is already set against the defendant? When the jury has A bias? Yeah. When the jury has already developed biases for the defendant, they're like, you know, we need an unbiased jury. And there was no unbiased jury in Jerusalem. There was no unbiased court system in Jerusalem. This is not where I should be. And in fact, in order to make sure that I don't go somewhere where I will have an unfair advantage or I won't even be heard out, I'll go higher. I want to bring to mind Acts 27, so we're gonna flip forward a little bit, Acts 27, 24. So can my next reader read Acts 27, 24? Okay, so That's they're on a boat. They're on a voyage they're making their way and God says to Paul don't be afraid Paul You must be brought before Caesar And indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you." So, presumably, Paul stood before who? Caesar? Who was who? Rick named him. Nero. Paul stood before Nero. That even sounds intimidating to even think about, or scary to even think about. That Paul would say, I'm going to take this higher, knowing exactly who is there. And moreover, God would meet him on his journey, saying, don't be afraid. You are going to make it there. Can I read one thing? Yeah. 23 11 but the following night the Lord stood by him and said be a good cheer Paul for you have Testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome Yes, so so we So Paul that that's so good because that happens before this so Paul is doing the math and thinking through, maybe he's not, maybe he's just acting instinctively. But he knows Rome is in the picture for his life. He knows it's down the road. It's going to happen. Rome is going to happen. I just didn't expect to be standing before the guy who kills Christians. You say he did not? Well, maybe he didn't before that point in time. Maybe he thought, I'll make it to Rome, and then as this is unfolding, maybe it sets in. I will make it to Rome, standing before Nero. And isn't it wild that he didn't back out? There's something really deep there for all of us to think about. Like, if we know the end of the road is hard, usually you want to bail on the road sooner or later. You know what I mean? Because you don't want to get to the hard part at the end of the road. You know? And Paul's like, okay. This is going to get harder, but it's God's plan and I'll take it. I appeal to Caesar. Now, I want to talk about how justice. God actually reveals how he hoped justice would be conducted. And it's unfortunate that justice doesn't get conducted this way. But we're going to read a couple different places in the Bible where I believe God says, this is how I want justice to happen. So, I want you to turn to Ecclesiastes. Crazy place to find stories about justice. Ecclesiastes 8.11. Ecclesiastes 8.11. Ecclesiastes 8.11. And if you are our next reader, could you take it when you have it? Ecclesiastes 8.11. Thank you. Thank you so much. In this case, Ecclesiastes 8.11, Justice, or the execution of justice, is not carried out speedily. In other words, there's really no rush on getting a verdict. So it says, because there's no rush on getting a verdict, that the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil. Seems like it might be going further than that. since an evil work is not executed speedily. So it's a verdict would be nice, but the verdict being carried out would be nicer. This guy's at 20, 30, 40, 50 years. On death row. On death row, and they had their sentence commuted this week. Yeah. So now they just, they've already spent 20 years eating food that we buy. and enjoying warmth that we, the taxpayers, provide. And they get another 20 years, some of them, of free food, free warmth. And it's not their entitlement. They don't deserve it. They should die if they're on death row. That's what it says. So we're not just talking about a verdict. We're talking about the execution of the verdict, the sentence. So would you say that Would you say that a sentence or justice that takes a long time to be passed, would you say that that is still justice or a perversion of justice? It is a perversion of justice. The sentence was not executed with speed. Yeah, absolutely. It is a perversion of justice to drag things out in the courts. And he commuted like hundreds of death row. Yeah, we're talking about Joe Biden. Right. Just commuting. Just strike the pen. So, I mean, just- Anyways, it just talks, it's corrupt leadership. Yeah, and you know, it's difficult, but as Christians, we need to be all right saying that is perverse for you to treat justice that way. And then, you know, on the front side of it, bad. We have family in this church that had someone that was held for a solid year before a trial. Before a trial? Yeah. That is so wicked. Ridiculous. It happens on both ends of the year. It does. I wrote this down that the back and forth of the legal system is designed to find the cracks in the defense even if there are none. And to go back and forth like a wave between proceedings is to pervert justice. So let's drag this out. Maybe we can find ways to beat their defense. Remember, how long did Felix hold him? Two years. Two years. So we know that at least two years have gone by. I want you to turn to Amos 524, please. Amos 524 Ezekiel Daniel Amos Thank you Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Joel Amos, sorry 24 Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos all right is Amos 524 and our next reader if you will please Which verse? Amos 5 24. Let justice roll on like a river righteousness like a never failing stream. If you've got water and it's at the top of a hill and say for instance I got water in this cup right here and say for instance I were to Elevate this side of this table and I was to pour this water onto this table Where did the water gonna go? It's gonna roll down, right? And so God's saying Justice let justice roll down like water In other words don't stop it let it roll I And righteousness like a mighty stream. So, God loves speedy justice. To see this in action, turn to Revelation 20, verse 11, verses 11 and 12. Revelation 20, verses 11 and 12. And for our next readers, we can pick it up. Revelation 20, 11 and 12. Then I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened, And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. Okay, let's read all the way to 15, why not? So take verse 13, and then 14, and then 15. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades, the realm of the dead, surrendered the dead who were in them. And they were judged and sentenced, everyone according to their deeds. Then death and Hades, the realm of the dead, were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire, the eternal separation from God. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Okay, so how long does justice take in this situation? It's instant. It's instant. Books are opened. What are recorded in those books? Names in the Book of Life and the other books were actions and deeds, misdeeds and sins that were kept record of. And so there's no perversion of justice there because the record of the deeds has been kept. And rather simply, uh, justice is being executed. But, uh, the, the point is there isn't the defendant arguing his case. There isn't someone saying, well, I, you don't understand. There's none of that. There's none of that. Here's what you did. You know what's beautiful for believers in the room? The Book of Life is the most important book. There's a lot of stuff written about us that we wish wasn't there. But the name's in the Book of Life. If your name isn't here, come in here. Enter the rest has been prepared for you by my Father. So hallelujah, praise God that He has made room for us in His family with His justice, you know? Because justice was served on His Son. It's not as if you and I are trying to avoid justice. The punishment which we deserve was put on Him, that is Jesus. But now with that in mind, turn back to Acts. We left off in verse 12. Verse 12 said, Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, You have appealed to Caesar, to Caesar you shall go. And I'd love to read, I'd rather get out of verse, chapter 25, because in verse 25, in chapter 25, we're going to meet two people. I'm just going to introduce them to you, and then we're just going to read through it. We're going to read through the chapter. King Agrippa and Bernice are about to get introduced. They're wicked. Now how do I know that they're wicked? I don't actually know King Agrippa or Bernice. but I read up on them a little bit. It's a brother and a sister who are incestuously, they aren't married per se, but they're a couple. And they get invited, like they're the big shots, and truth is, they are the big shots, because King Agrippa is King Herod Agrippa II. So he's a big shot, he comes into town. But he is so wicked. So let's read about him. I'll begin in verse 13, and then we'll just take it through until we get to the end of the chapter. Verse 13. And after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus. Verse 14. And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in the bonds by Felix. About whom the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me when I was in Jerusalem asking for a judgment against him. I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers, and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. Therefore, when they had come together without any delay, the next day I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought in. When the accuser stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I suppose. Instead, they had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about one Jesus, a man who had died. But when Paul kept asserting and insisting over and over to be alive. Because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and there be judged concerning these matters. But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the emperor's decision, I ordered him to be held until I sent him to Caesar. And Agrippa said the fastest. I also would like to hear the man myself. Tomorrow, he said, you shall hear him. So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with Greg Pompf and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city. There's more to your verse. There's more to it. And Festus said, King Magrippa and all of these men about whom the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was not fit to live any longer. But when I found that he had committed nothing deserving of death, and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. I have nothing certain to write to my Lord concerning him. Therefore, I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King of Israel, so that after the examination has taken place, I may have something to write. Lord, it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner. and not with all to signify the crimes laid against him. Thank you. Thank you. So Paul is kind of like a zoo animal in a way. where King and Grandpa and Bernice just come look at this, look at this prisoner I have, and I want you and me to form an opinion about what we think about this guy. Because we're about to send him away, but we don't want to send him away without telling the person we're sending him to why we're sending him. So we want you to just be spectators and listen with us. So in comes this wicked couple. to just ask probing questions of Paul. And it's interesting, Paul, in his defense, verse 19 reads, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died whom Paul affirmed to be alive. So in the preamble before he brings in Bernice and King Agrippa, he says to them, this is what he's all about. He's all about this Jesus character. And I just want to pause for a minute and reflect on how beautiful it is that the wicked judge who knew he was on trial for his life, Festus, he knows full well this guy's on trial for his life. Festus knew these Jews want him dead. That guy who knows Paul's on trial for his life, in relaying the details of the trial that Bernice and Agrippa are about to watch, he says, but this Paul guy, He's all hung up on this character Jesus. And he says this Jesus is alive. And I just want to, I just want to share with you the testimony of two of my friends who have recently been in the courtroom. I'm sure many of you know exactly who I'm talking of. And it's been relayed to me that they've made it clear. This is why... We are good parents. This is why we are fit. This is why we have what a lot of people look at and they don't really understand it. It's because Jesus. Jesus is alive. He's affecting the way that we are doing our lives. And Paul here says he didn't try to hide Jesus. So how do you honor God when the court system fails you? Don't hide the Jesus who has made you different. And who may actually be the reason for which you are on trial. We don't know when persecution is coming to America in great extent. You know what I mean? It's here in little spits and spats. But it'll be here before long. And how do you honor God when the court system fails you? You don't hide the Jesus for whom you were on trial for. You say, that's, it's true. It's true. I am on trial because I believe Jesus is alive. And that's exactly what Paul did. And guess what? He knew the top rung was Nero. He knew that's where he's going. It's almost like he knew, I know I'm climbing the ladder right now. And I know what the top rung is. I'll just keep going. Keep trusting God. It seemed like he might have been climbing a ladder to where what we would deem Innocent might be deemed guilty and what we deem guilty might be deemed innocent Which would be the most concerning aspect of climbing that ladder is being judged as he's being judged He might very well consider himself to be an innocent man What what he deems innocent that they might very well consider to be a guilty man. That's right That's right That's right in there. They deem him guilty because They are not followers of Jesus Christ That was great, Mark. Thank you for that. On that note, we're going to close in prayer. Father in heaven, thank you for giving us a court system, even though that court system so often fails us. Thank you that the courtroom is another arena that You have given us to glorify Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for Paul's example. Thank You for the things we've learned from it. But God, if we are honest with You, it will take great courage to apply some of these things, if we should ever be in that case, ever be in that situation. So God, would you establish in our hearts and in our minds a conviction, a conviction that we will not change based upon the setting or the pressure around us, or the peering eyes that look into the courtroom, but we would be more concerned with your eyes which peer from heaven, and your spirit which resides within us, that we would seek to earn a better testimony at the resurrection. And let us be men and women of justice, who let justice roll, and let it come speedily. In Jesus' name, amen.