Courageous Obedience

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME

Good Morning CrossPointe

Today we will be in

Studying through books of the Bible

This is our preference

2 ways to study through a book of the bible:

Verse by Verse

Themes (larger sections, key ideas)

The various Lead Pastors across the 7 CrossPointe churches that are partnering together decided to do a hybrid of these 2 methods when we initially sat down together to formulate the breakdown for our study.

This is why we have skipped some sections

This is why the pre-produced study guide does not always line up, such as this week, when I decided to focus on chapter 21 rather than 22.

In hindsight, I’m not particularly crazy about this hybrid format.

My preference is to either go through a book verse by book.

AND I think there can also be a time and place to understand the big picture overview of a book

BUT typically, my preference is going to be for us to go through books verse by verse.

Post-Easter: Eccelssiastes

August: Stand-Alone Series

September: Sermon on the Mount, verse by verse

CONNECTION

Like I said, today we will be in , the reason i wanted to spend some time here is because we see something very interesting that helps address a question I often receive, “How do I discern the will of God?”

Have you ever asked Christians friends for advise only to receive different ‘words of wisdom.”

Have you ever felt convicted to do one thing, yet Christian friends said you should do something else?

In this passage, Paul is going to face that very situation.

THEN, I want to walk through the consequences of his decision by giving a broad overview of the following 4 chapters.

PRAY

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

PAUL GOING TO JERUSALEM

[19:21] “Paul resolved in his spirit to head to Jerusalem”

[20:22-24] “I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen, except that the Holy Spirit says imprisonment and afflictions await me.”

Paul was convicted/convinced that God was leading him to Jerusalem - even though he had a good idea that he was going to suffer.

READ

CHRISTIAN FRIENDS DON’T WANT HIM TO GO

They were seemingly being led by the Spirit of God to instruct Paul not to go to Jerusalem

[21:4] “And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem

[21:10] Agabus, a prophet said that the Jews would arrest Paul and he would be handed over to the Gentiles.

[21:8] Philip, the evangelist, had four daughters who prophesied and though we don’t know what they said it is implied that they too spoke about the dangers awaiting Paul in Jerusalem.

WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT SENDING MIXED MESSAGES?

Is God telling Paul one thing and the other disciples another thing?

Is either Paul or the other believers not hearing God correctly? Why the difference?

WHAT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTUALLY SAYING TO EACH?

To Paul

Go to Jerusalem - [20:22-24]

You will face afflictions and imprisonment

INFORMATION vs. INTERPRETATION: I must go, the gospel is more valuable then my own life

To The Others

You will be bond and imprisoned

INTERPRETATION: Don’t go, we don’t want to lose you. This can’t be God’s will for your life.

PAUL’S RESPONSE

[21:13] What are you doing?\, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but event to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

“Breaking my heart...”

“I’m ready… I know what awaits me and I’m ready...”

Friends response: “let the will of the Lord be done.”

I imagine there was a tone to these words....

In the end, Paul had a clear conviction that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem, even though he knew it wasn’t going to end well.

HOW DO WE DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD? 4 Councils

WORD

says, “All Scripture is inspired by God-Breated and is profitable for teaching, for correction, for reproof, for training in righteousness that the men of God may be fully equipped for every good work.”

My Bible here has 1167 pages of instruction and this says that every word is useful. 31,102 verses in the Bible. 66 Books...

IILUSTRATION:

Here’s how I’ve heard people justify their poor decisions...

Up for a promotion at work that includes a pay raise - BUT you just need to tweek the numbers a bit (it’s a small lie)

People will say

They deserve it

God wants me to be happy right

God wants me to take care of my family

I’ll be able to give more to the church.

In this case, God’s will is easy to discern

PRACTICAL

Concordance - look up a specific word

Bible by YouVersion - look up a specific word, reading plans, audio Bible in different translations

ESV here at church

NLT for english as a second language.

Streetlights App - NT being read with

PRAY/ HOLY SPIRIT

The WORD is fine for things that are obvious. - don’t lie or steal, etc.

What about when work asks you to move. What is best for the family? The Bible doesn’t say explicitly if I should take one job or another, or buy a home in this neighborhood or that one.

What do we do then…?

PRAY

“Do not be conformed to the world in this way it goes about those decision, but have you mind so renewed by this word that you discern which of those things would accord best with that is here.”

We need our hearts and minds in submission to God so that our desires and decisions flow out of a dependency on God.

PRACTICAL

A - ADORATION (A prayer of prayer)

C - CONFESSION (prayer should include our sins. When we adore God in all his splendor we become increasingly aware of our own sinfulness.

T - THANKS (prayers of thanksgiving, remembering the grace and mercy and answered prayers we have already received)

S - SUPPLICATION (prayers of petition and requests)

CONSCIENCE

Peace in our hearts and minds

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God...”

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There’s a danger here...

This list is in priority order, meaning, God’s word is the foundation, then prayer to have our hearts and minds conformed to God’s desire. Then...

ILLUSTRATION:

When Kirsten and I first came back from serving in the Middle East…

ADVISORS

Christian brothers and sisters can be an encouragement and a source of wisdom and care.

Young men, look around the room and see those who are well ahead of you in life. They’re been through your stage of life. They’ve made wise and unwise decisions along the way that they can share with you.

FEW CAUTIONS:

Be Wise (Faithful Christians)

Be Selective (Limited the number of voices)

Look for people who point you to God’s Word

WHAT NOW?

Right decision

Easy Life

“Safest place is in the center of God’s will...”

Is this true?

Depends on how we mean it?

Intentional disobeying God - not safe

Obeying God does not mean everything works out.

You may not get that promotion

You may be walking into danger

DEPENDING ON GOD’S SUFFICIENCY

Obedience is not the absence of fear but the presence of faith. Paul knew that hardships awaited him yet he responded with obedience. The believers heard that hardships that awaited Paul and assumed it must not be the will of God.

Does our theology of God allow room him to call us in a direction that includes sufferings? If so, are we willing to walk by faith in courageous obedience.

ILLUSTRATION:One of my favorite stories is of a man by the name of John G. Paton. He was born in Scotland in 1824. At the age of 33, he and his wife Mary, sailed off to the New Hebrides islands.

It is important though to know that just 19 years prior some missionaries had landed on these islands and were immediately killed and eaten by cannibals.

John was also a successful pastor for the past 10 years before he felt called to leave.

One of the older elders was furious about John wanting to leave and shouted, “THE CANNIBALS! YOU WILL BE EATEN BY CANNIBALS!

John Paton responded, “Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid to in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.”

I love his courage and his faith

By the time the ship landed on the Island of Tanna, his wife was 6 months pregnant. Less than a month after their son was born Mary died of illnesses and two weeks later his son also died.

I’d love to tell you more of his story but let’s get back to Paul

OUTLINE OF THE COMING CHAPTERS

[21:17 - 23:34] Within 7 Days of Arriving in Jerusalem

Paul goes to the temple mount where Jews riot against Paul

Paul is beaten and arrested (21:27-36) and he gives a defense among the Jews (21:37-22:21).

Paul announces that he is a roman citizen (22:21-29) and speaks before the religious council and intentional creates division between the Pharisees and the Sadducess (22:30 23:11).

The Jews plot to kill Paul but the Tribunal intervenes (23:12 - 22).

The romans gather 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen to transfer Paul to Cesarea in the middle of the night (23:23-34).

[24:1-21] After waiting in Cesarea for 5 days for his accusers to arrive, Paul gives his defense to Felix.

[24:22 - 25:27] Two years Paul is lightly imprisoned

[24:22-27] Felix will visit often with his wife but really just wanted a bribe.

[25:1-12] Festus takes over after Paul dies. Paul appeals to Ceasar

[25:13-27] Agrippa comes to Cesarea

All this covers 4 chapters to bring you up to speed for next week. Everybody jokes that I give them the long passages so in my competitiveness I had to try and cover 5 chapters this morning.

CONCLUSION

In closing this morning...

Discerning God’s Will - sometimes we wait until we are faced with the big decisions in life. I found this often when I was working with teams or young adults. In many respects, they were fine to do their own thing - until a major decision came across their path - then they sought God for his direction.

Seek God everyday:

Through his word

Do you need help?

In Prayer, Allowing your Heart and Mind to be shaped by God and his Word.

In Fellowship

Remember, we don’t seek God so that everything will go right in our life.

We seek God because he is worthy

We seek God to live in submission to his will for our lives

Let’s Pray