Christian Heritage ChurchChristian Heritage Church

Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To MeIndeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me(Psalm 16:6b)(Psalm 16:6b)

Dual CitizenshipDual Citizenship

• Release OrderedRelease Ordered

• Release RefusedRelease Refused

• Rights of CitizenshipRights of Citizenship

• Relationship to GovernmentRelationship to Government

• Reasons to RejoiceReasons to Rejoice

• Exercising our Rights as Exercising our Rights as U.S. citizens – David E. U.S. citizens – David E. Smith, E.D. Smith, E.D. Illinois Family Illinois Family InstituteInstitute

Release OrderedRelease Ordered

• Acts 16:35-36Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." And the policemen, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you Therefore come magistrates have sent to release you Therefore come out now and go in peace." out now and go in peace."

• Why were they now willing to release them?Why were they now willing to release them?• EarthquakeEarthquake• Jailer’s reportJailer’s report• Their own conscienceTheir own conscience• They wanted to quietly get rid of the problemThey wanted to quietly get rid of the problem

Release RefusedRelease Refused• Acts 16:37

But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." them come themselves and bring us out."

• They were publicly mistreated and now if they are privately They were publicly mistreated and now if they are privately released – people may think the mistreatment was justifiedreleased – people may think the mistreatment was justified

• It could cause harm to the Gospel of ChristIt could cause harm to the Gospel of Christ

• Satan would love it if all Christians would secretly or quietly Satan would love it if all Christians would secretly or quietly walk away from all public confrontationswalk away from all public confrontations

• They would not go away secretly, but wanted the truth to be They would not go away secretly, but wanted the truth to be made known publiclymade known publicly

• This can offer great opportunity to testify to the truth and preach This can offer great opportunity to testify to the truth and preach the Gospelthe Gospel

Rights of CitizenshipRights of Citizenship

• Acts 16:38Acts 16:38The policemen reported these words to the chief The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romansthat they were Romans

• The magistrates should be afraidThe magistrates should be afraid

• We should not be ignorant of the law or our rightsWe should not be ignorant of the law or our rights

• We should respect and submit to civil authority yet We should respect and submit to civil authority yet fully exercise our rights as citizensfully exercise our rights as citizens

Relationship to GovernmentRelationship to Government

• Acts 16:39Acts 16:39And they came and appealed to them, and And they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. begging them to leave the city.

• They were cordial and not vindictive toward They were cordial and not vindictive toward authorities – even when wrongedauthorities – even when wronged

• They did not play politicsThey did not play politics

• They were identified with the TruthThey were identified with the Truth

Paul on Trial in Jerusalem Acts 22Paul on Trial in Jerusalem Acts 22• A conspiracy to murder Paul Acts 23 - Paul Moved to CaesareaA conspiracy to murder Paul Acts 23 - Paul Moved to Caesarea

• Paul Before Felix Acts 24 - But some days later Felix arrived with Paul Before Felix Acts 24 - But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened …frightened …

• Paul Before Festus Acts 25 – Paul appeals to CaesarPaul Before Festus Acts 25 – Paul appeals to Caesar

• Paul Before Agrippa Acts 26 – You almost persuade me to become Paul Before Agrippa Acts 26 – You almost persuade me to become a Christiana Christian

• Paul is sent to Rome Acts 27 – Shipwrecked on MaltaPaul is sent to Rome Acts 27 – Shipwrecked on Malta

• Paul Arrives at Rome Acts 28 - And he stayed two full years in his Paul Arrives at Rome Acts 28 - And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. unhindered.

Reasons to RejoiceReasons to Rejoice

• Acts 16:40Acts 16:40They went out of the prison and entered the house of They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.encouraged them and departed.

• Because Paul and Silas exercised their rights as Because Paul and Silas exercised their rights as Roman citizens, the cause of Christ triumphed in the Roman citizens, the cause of Christ triumphed in the midst of persecution and mistreatmentmidst of persecution and mistreatment

• The church of Philippi could now grow unhindered by The church of Philippi could now grow unhindered by the civil authorities.the civil authorities.

• And it did just thatAnd it did just that

Exercising our Rights Exercising our Rights

David E. Smith, Exec. DirectorDavid E. Smith, Exec. Director

Illinois Family InstituteIllinois Family Institute

www.illinoisfamily.orgwww.illinoisfamily.org

Phone: (708) 781-9328 Phone: (708) 781-9328 Fax: (708) 781-9376Fax: (708) 781-9376

Dual CitizenshipDual Citizenship

• Am I taking Am I taking advantage of my advantage of my rights as a U.S. rights as a U.S. Citizen or am I Citizen or am I content to quietly content to quietly walk away from walk away from injustice?injustice?