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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, February 28, 1980
Page 3
that is precisely what God's Church is doing today. We are NOT fighting
against the State of California. We are DEFENDING God's Church, God's
Work, and God's ministers--not attacking or fighting against the State.
Now continue the Apostle Paul's experience being attacked by dis
believing Jews and Roman Government authorities:
The unbelieving Jews listened a while, then set up a loud tumult,
shouting, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that
he should live." The chief Roman captains ordered Paul brought into the
castle, and bound with thongs [Acts 22:22-25].
They were preparing to beat him with stripes. Instead of so meekly
SUBMITTING as enemies of God's Work today think the Church ought to do,
Paul said to the Centurian standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge
a man that is a Roman, and uncondernned?"
[verse 25.} The State of
California was-trying to TAKE POSSESSION of Church property, and Church
management--firing Christ's chosen Apostle and the Treasurer, and
appointing Wayne Cole (whom we know now was in on the conspiracy several
weeks before January 3, 1979) as Chief Officer of the Church under the
Receiver. We DEFENDED the Church and its property, as PAUL DEFENDED HIM
SELF WHEN FALSELY ACCUSED! Continue:
Next morning, they allowed Paul to face his accusers. Now Acts 23.
Paul now used strategy to divide his accusers, DEFENDING himself and the
WORK OF GOD. Some of the Jews were Pharisees, some Sadducees. The
Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, but Pharisees did. Paul
cried out, in this Roman Court, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the
son of a Pharisee: Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called
in question" [verse
6] .
Immediately this stirred a dissention between the Sadducees and
Pharisees, and Paul's accusers WERE DIVIDED! Incidentally, OUR accusers
in this civil lawsuit today are now pretty well divided among themselves!
Men filled with malice, resentment and bitterness do not make good bed
fellows!
The Pharisees then cried out that they found no evil in Paul. The
chief Roman Captain, fearing for Paul's safety in the fight between
Pharisees and Sadducees, commanded the Roman soldiers to take Paul from
these fighting Jews and take him to the castle. That night Christ spoke
to Paul to be of good cheer--there was much more for him to do. Paul
learned of a conspiracy of Jews to kill him the next day. Paul got word
to the Chief Captain [verses 16-17].
Then the Chief Captain of the Roman army called two centurians (over
200 soldiers) and 200 spearmen and horses, and by night Paul was sped to
Felix,the Roman Governor. Governor Felix insisted Paul face his accusers,
who were commanded to come to Caesarea.
Now Acts 24. After five days Ananias the high priest and Jewish
elders appeared before Felix, Paul facing them. They accused Paul of
sedition against Rome, plainly showing that Paul was preaching the KINGDOM
OF GOD.
Felix delayed judgment. Our courts today give us delay after delay.
Paul was delayed there two years.
Then one Festus was sent to take over
the Governorship.