Latest / Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation / Acts 25 & 26: Paul on Trial | Full Meditation
Transcript
- 0:14Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:18Pastor Robert Young: Here we put aside all distractions to enter into God's presence and to hear from God better and to allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ.
- 0:33Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
- 0:42Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to the podcast, or if you are not a believer, then I'd like to suggest that you check out episode 164 that talks about the who, what, and the why of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
- 1:01Pastor Robert Young: If you're not filled with the Holy Spirit, then this process will not apply to you.
- 1:10Pastor Robert Young: In fact, our whole podcast only applies to those who have repented, confessed, and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- 1:22Pastor Robert Young: If you haven't done this, then reach out to me with the link in the description box below.
- 1:29Pastor Robert Young: I can help you with the process of becoming a believer in Christ Jesus, and you too can experience the joy of living for God.
- 1:40Pastor Robert Young: If you suffer from severe anxiety, depression, or trauma, psychotic episodes, or if you're in active addiction, then please consult your physician before beginning this or any meditation practice.
- 2:00Pastor Robert Young: While is put on trial.
- 2:17Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
- 2:44Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin by repeating the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms chapter 51, verses 1 through 4, where it says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitudes of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
- 3:16Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
- 3:25Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Acts chapter 25 and 26, let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
- 3:44Pastor Robert Young: First, we're going to take a deep breath in for a count of seven, then we're going to hold the breath for a count of four, and then we're going to slowly release for a count of seven.
- 3:57Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin.
- 3:59Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the exercise.
- 4:13Pastor Robert Young: Take a breath for a count of seven.
- 4:16Pastor Robert Young: Hold a breath for a count of four.
- 4:20Pastor Robert Young: Now slowly release for a count of seven.
- 4:25Pastor Robert Young: Now let's prepare our bodies by releasing any tension with muscle relaxation exercises.
- 4:43Pastor Robert Young: We're going to simply tense each muscle group for about three seconds and then release the muscle.
- 4:52Pastor Robert Young: And as always, I say don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
- 4:58Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
- 5:01Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three.
- 5:06Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:09Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to our hamstrings, quads, and glutes.
- 5:14Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
- 5:17Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:20Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the abdominals, chest, and back area.
- 5:26Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
- 5:28Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:32Pastor Robert Young: And last, let's move to the arms and the shoulders.
- 5:36Pastor Robert Young: Let's lightly tense for three seconds.
- 5:40Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:44Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to enter into worship by repeating psalms where it says, Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
- 6:05Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
- 6:08Pastor Robert Young: Come before him with joyful songs.
- 6:12Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to lift up our voice and praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who is worthy of all honor and glory, by repeating Psalms chapter eight, verse nine, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
- 6:38Pastor Robert Young: Now that we've prepared our mind, our bodies, and our spirit, let's begin to examine and reflect on chapters, Acts chapters twenty-five and twenty six.
- 7:02Pastor Robert Young: Acts twenty-five and twenty-six trace Paul's final defense before Rome and Jewish authorities.
- 7:12Pastor Robert Young: It shows God's protection, Paul's clarity, and the unstoppable advance of the gospel even through legal trials.
- 7:22Pastor Robert Young: These chapters show Paul appealing to Caesar, confronting false accusations and giving his most polished, spirit-filled testimony before King Agrippa.
- 7:36Pastor Robert Young: We see Paul has been in prison in Caesarea for two years.
- 7:45Pastor Robert Young: When Festus became the new governor, Jewish leaders immediately tried to have Paul transforced to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him.
- 7:58Pastor Robert Young: Festus refuses and holds the trial in Caesarea.
- 8:02Pastor Robert Young: The Jews present unprovable accusations.
- 8:07Pastor Robert Young: Paul denies wrongdoing, and Festus, wanting to please the Jews, suggests moving the trial to Jerusalem.
- 8:17Pastor Robert Young: Paul refuses and appears, appeals to Caesar, exercising his right as a Roman citizen.
- 8:26Pastor Robert Young: This very appeal becomes the turning point that sends Paul toward Rome, fulfilling God's promise in Acts 23, verse 11.
- 8:37Pastor Robert Young: Festus later consults King Agrippa, admitting he cannot identify any real crime Paul has committed.
- 8:48Pastor Robert Young: Agrippa and Bernice arrive and request to hear Paul.
- 8:54Pastor Robert Young: Paul delivers a masterful structured defense, his upbringing as a Pharisee, his zeal in persecuting Christians, his encounter with the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road, his commission to preach to Jews and Gentiles, and his message rooted in the Old Testament's hope of resurrection.
- 9:19Pastor Robert Young: Festus interrupts, calling Paul insane, but Paul responds calmly.
- 9:28Pastor Robert Young: Agrippa admits Paul has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment and famously says, You almost persuaded me to become a Christian.
- 9:40Pastor Robert Young: Agrippa concludes Paul could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.
- 9:49Pastor Robert Young: Friends, this is a lot to take in, but let's take five minutes to reflect on the following question.
- 10:06Pastor Robert Young: Where is God inviting you to share your story with boldness?
- 10:14Pastor Robert Young: Even in places where you feel misunderstood, judged, or pressured.
- 10:20Pastor Robert Young: Repeat this affirmation now and throughout your day: God strengthens me to speak with clarity, to stand with courage, and trust his direction.
- 15:33Pastor Robert Young: Even when the path leads through trials.
- 15:37Pastor Robert Young: Again, God strengthens me to speak with clarity, to stand with courage, and trust his direction, even when the path leads through trials.
- 15:51Pastor Robert Young: Lord God, Give me the same confidence to stand firm, the same clarity to speak truth, and the same trust to follow your leading, even when the road is difficult.
- 16:23Pastor Robert Young: Protect me from fear, strengthen me in trials, and Lord, use my testimony to reveal your grace and power, for Christ' sake, Amen.