Acts 20- My Life for the Gospel

Acting on the Word

One of the Key words to Ministry that is of God and is Spirit led- is encouragement -

The Same word that is used for Paul encouraging the believers is the same word used in John 16:7

John 16:7 NLT

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

The Advocate is the Helper- to call alongside

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Comfort, Comforter, Comfortless

5. parakletos (παράκλητος, 3875), lit., “called to one’s side,” i.e., to one’s aid, is primarily a verbal adjective, and suggests the capability or adaptability for giving aid.

Ministry of the Spirit is an encouraging ministry

His name is comforter or Counselor

The work of the Spirit is comforting- The ministry of the SPirit is a ministry of encouragement

Acts 20:1–2 NLT

When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece,

Encourage- the Verb

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Beseech

1. parakaleo (παρακαλέω, 3870), the most frequent word with this meaning, lit. denotes “to call to one’s side,” hence, “to call to one’s aid.”

it is to comfort or exhort

it propels you to keep on keeping on

It encourages you stand

Ephesians 6:10–13 NLT

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Having Done everything you can- KEEP STANDING!

YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT!

AS YOU STAND ON THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT, AND CONTINUE TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT, I PROPHESY THAT THIS WILL BE YOUR YEAR OF VICTORY!

God is for you- He is helping you!

Psalm 121:1–2 NLT

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

I want you to Leave here today encourage because God is For you!

GOD IS WORKING IT TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM!

DO YOU LOVE HIM!

2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

Do you know how to strengthen yourself in the Lord?

When you come to Church I encourage you in the Spirit and in Faith-

And when you are here you probably feel like you can stick it to the devil,

Like you can storm hell with a water pistol

Like every demon better get out of your way because you person on fire

But did you know that you can encourage yourself in the Lord

1 Samuel 30:6 ESV

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

It was when David strengthened Himself in the Lord, that He received the word to Go and get everything back that was stolen

1 Samuel 30:7–8 NLT

Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”

If you are gonna be a person of the Spirit, you are gonna encourage yourself and others

If your life is gonna matter for the Gospel you are going to be someone who encourages

Acts 20:24 NLT

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

If your life is going to count for the the Gospel and for Jesus you will be someone who encourages

Facing difficult times-

Psalm 34:19 NLT

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

How do you look at the trial and troubles you face?

James 1:2–4 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Paul has been given a word of knowledge of what lies ahead of Him as He continues to walk by the Spirit

Acts 20:18–24 NLT

When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

There are believers right now who know that if they confess Jesus is Lord before man they will suffer in the physical and possibly Die!

Just this past week 70 Hero’s of the faith were beheaded in the Congo because of their FAITH

Right now they are right at the altar of God

But I want you to know that we can go through the valley of shadow of Death know that God is still our Good Shepherd

Your Job is to steward the Word of God in your life-

Acts 20:25–32 NLT

“And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.