We talked last Sunday about all the encouragement Paul was always giving believers. So much one time (Acts 20), that he caused someone to fall asleep and fall out of a window to their death; where by the power of the Holy Spirit Paul raised the lad to life again. What did he talk about all night long we wondered?
Well we soon find out, without a doubt, in Luke's next chapter (Acts 21), that Paul's encouragement came from the Holy Spirit. It had to! Because even when Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, he never once showed fear or doubt, even though it was revealed to him that he would not see his friends again AND his friends provided the complete opposite of encouragement for his calling. Talk about an overflowing cup! Paul can encourage all night long AND be obedient even until death (mind you without human support). Sound like someone familiar? Does Jesus ring a bell. No wonder why Paul could follow in Jesus' footsteps; Paul was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit every step of God's will for his life.
May we do likewise. Not only listen for our calling, but be obedient to that calling, while drawing on the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and sharing that encouragement with others.
In Acts 21:19-22 Paul states, "I have served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."
He goes on to say in verse 25, "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom with ever see me again."
Then in verse 38 Luke tells us "What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again."
Have any of you ever lost a close friend or family member, and it literally pained you to think you would never see that person face to face here on earth again? That's what Paul's friends are experiencing here. Except that Paul hasn't died yet. Can you imagine the kind of pressure he felt to stick around and not follow through with going to Jerusalem? Immense pressure I can imagine. Paul however, did not succumb to the pressure or let his emotions get the best of him. He was encouraged by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. And a short journey it was not. He didn't just take a jet plane there, which would have cut down on the time spent thinking about Jerusalem, as well as the people Paul came into contact with on his way there.
Luke says in Acts 21:3-5 "We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way."
Have you ever had someone tell you, "don't go" or "don't do this, I have a bad feeling about it?" What happens to you? I usually get a bad feeling about it too. But Paul didn't. At least he didn't show it. He was encouraged by Jesus' Holy Spirit to keep on going. And just when discouraging words weren't enough, visually Paul was shown someone's prophesy. Remember when we talked last week about a pseudo hell, with heaters going in a dark room with eerie noises. The best part about this representation of hell: it wasn't real...you could leave the room at any time! Is it too late for Paul to do the same?
"After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, 'The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, 'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done'" (Acts 21:10-14).
Paul still being on his journey to Jerusalem, could have stopped and turned around at any moment. But he didn't. Even after grieving, urging, and pleading from his friends, Paul would not be dissuaded. Obviously Paul didn't draw on his friends for encouragement to follow God's will for his life. And although I'm not Paul, after trying my very best to place myself in his shoes, I'm almost positive Paul couldn't draw on himself for encouragement to follow God's will for his life either. I will tell you exactly who I believe Paul was getting his encouragement from: Jesus' Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus went through an almost identical situation.
As read in the gospels, Jesus also predicted His death, and the events leading up to it. As soon as the disciples realized who He really was, "the Christ, the Son of the living God...Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 'Never Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to You!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling a block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:16-24)
Jesus also had a calling, a purpose. And unlike Paul, He did know the outcome. He also knew that anything that stood in the way of God's plan for His life, was a flaming arrow from the evil one, serving to dissuade and distract Jesus from focusing on God. Also unlike Paul, Jesus was perfect; He spent 40 days being tempted in the desert by Satan, who failed miserably. As we've said before, no we don't have Jesus walking with us as the disciples did. We have something even better! We have Jesus' Holy Spirit living in us! Like Paul, let us call on Jesus for encouragement. He has more wisdom and power than we could ever imagine.
Because if you thought Paul's journey to Jerusalem was inspiring, listen to his reaction once in Jerusalem. The Jews seized Paul, lied about him, beat him, arrested him, chained him, shouted at him, and questioned him. Let's be real. What would your response be to being treated that way? Me not being any angry person would probably cave and cry. Paul: he didn't get angry and he definitely didn't let his emotions get the best of him.
"As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, 'May I say something to you? Do you speak Greek?' he replied. 'Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the desert some time ago?' Paul answered, 'I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.' Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 'Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.'" (Acts 21:37-Acts 22:1)
Does Paul's calm and collected response sound familiar? Jesus had much the same response.
Jesus replied "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him...The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, 'This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus. 'Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.' 'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"
Both Paul and Jesus told the truth because it's the easiest thing to remember. Just this morning Craig preached out of Philippians 4, a letter written by Paul when he is later sitting in prison. He said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know Paul really believed that because it was seen in his life: how he went through trial after trial, sometimes with his only encouragement being the Holy Spirit. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit is the only encouragement we need. And "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my (Paul's) joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)
Paul's calling came from the Father, his path from Jesus, and his encouragement from the Holy Spirit. Where does yours come from? Because lets be honest, we all have moments when we try to force our own will, take our own path, and provide our own encouragement. But the reality is, there is more peace, joy, and hope in life when we call upon the Lord for help.
No comments:
Post a Comment