DIVIDE AND CONQUER

October 29

Bible Reading: Acts 23:6-10

Acts 23:6, “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’”

Metaphorically speaking, he was in the Lion’s den.  These lions were not tame and had the evil smarts to do him much harm.  He’s got no lawyer to defend him, no friend in the council to intervene.  The council had long been working to rid the earth of his message.  They plotted against Jesus until they successfully put Him on that cross.  In the beginnings of the church, they’d done all they could to silence Peter and John.  Paul had previously worked with the council, gaining from them letters with which he could imprison Christians (Acts 22:5).  But now he is a traitor to their cause, and on the front lines of another.  He was God’s man enjoined in a good fight.  His cause was the gospel.  His Lord was the Risen Savior!  He was led and empowered by the Spirit, who gave him insight in what to say and do.

The council was made up of men from two different religious sects. The Sadducees were the aristocrats, the party of the rich and high priestly families.  They held charge over the temple and its services.  Materialistic in their outlook, they did not believe in life after death or any reward or punishment beyond this life.  They were politicians, wanting nothing to threaten their position or wealth, hence their opposition to Jesus and His followers.  The Pharisees exercised greater control over the general population via the synagogues.  They believed the way to God was through obedience to the law.  And that’s what they taught and held over the population.  They had little interest in politics.  They differed from the Sadducees in that they did believe in the supernatural and the resurrection.  They opposed Jesus and his followers because they refused to be bound by their teachings. 

The one thing that worked to unite these two divergent groups was their common hatred for Jesus.  However, they weren’t truly united because their underlying beliefs were so contrary.  Paul used that to his advantage.  He had a message.  That message was and is the great message of hope for us all.  It’s the message that the church preached from its beginning.  It’s the message Paul had taken to faraway places in his three missionary journeys.  It was his trump card, and he pulled it out.  “It is with respect and the resurrection of the dead that I’m on trial” (Acts 23:6).  In that, he lofted a spiritual bomb into the room.  For the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not.  And an eruption of dissension arose between the two groups.  The dissension escalated into violence until the tribune had to take Paul by force away to the barracks.  The trial ended with no conviction, and Paul lived on to fight his good fight.  Truth be told, he was on trial for his refusal to abandon that very same gospel message he chose to proclaim to the council.  But his cause was just and even the gates of hell could not and will not prevail against the Lord’s promise (Matthew 16:18).

Amidst the chaos found in this world, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead endures as the preeminent message of hope for those who believe.

FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Chorus:
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er ev’ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield. [Chorus]

To him who overcomes the foe
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame;
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night
In Jesus’ conq’ring name. [Chorus]

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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