Christian Heritage Church

1. Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)

2. Dual Citizenship • Release Ordered • Release Refused • Rights of Citizenship • Relationship to Government • Reasons to Rejoice • Exercising our Rights as U.S. citizens – David E. Smith, E.D. Illinois Family Institute

3. Release Ordered • Acts 16:35-36Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you Therefore come out now and go in peace." • Why were they now willing to release them? • Earthquake • Jailer’s report • Their own conscience • They wanted to quietly get rid of the problem

4. Release Refused • Acts 16:37But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." • They were publicly mistreated and now if they are privately released – people may think the mistreatment was justified • It could cause harm to the Gospel of Christ • Satan would love it if all Christians would secretly or quietly walk away from all public confrontations • They would not go away secretly, but wanted the truth to be made known publicly • This can offer great opportunity to testify to the truth and preach the Gospel

5. Rights of Citizenship • Acts 16:38The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans • The magistrates should be afraid • We should not be ignorant of the law or our rights • We should respect and submit to civil authority yet fully exercise our rights as citizens

6. Relationship to Government • Acts 16:39And they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. • They were cordial and not vindictive toward authorities – even when wronged • They did not play politics • They were identified with the Truth

7. Paul on Trial in Jerusalem Acts 22 A conspiracy to murder Paul Acts 23 - Paul Moved to Caesarea 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 him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened … Paul Before Festus Acts 25 – Paul appeals to Caesar Paul Before Agrippa Acts 26 – You almost persuade me to become a Christian Paul is sent to Rome Acts 27 – Shipwrecked on Malta 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, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

8. Reasons to Rejoice Acts 16:40They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Because Paul and Silas exercised their rights as Roman citizens, the cause of Christ triumphed in the midst of persecution and mistreatment The church of Philippi could now grow unhindered by the civil authorities. And it did just that

9. Exercising our Rights David E. Smith, Exec. Director Illinois Family Institute www.illinoisfamily.org Phone: (708) 781-9328 Fax: (708) 781-9376

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