Strength To Carry On

Introduction

Love of rollercoasters - common start of a long hill.

Click, click, click, click - all the way up, slowly. Creates tension.

For thrill seekers, the tension is enjoyable. For others, it creates anxiety.

Life can be like that, the click, click, click, click of days heading into difficulties.

All are in a battle. And sometimes we know the battle is coming. Tension builds.

Even in our church life, the situation we are in today, click, click, click, click...

We knew heading into this it would be a challenge. Coming weeks will be a battle.

But, we do not go into the battle afraid, but confident in the end result. God is sovereign.

Was Paul disobeying the Spirit?

Over an over Paul is told to not go! (v. 4)

And it was according to the Spirit that it was told.

Prophetic words - this is what awaits you.

Paul chose to do what we would consider to be foolish.

Yet, God was clear to Paul that this is where he was to go.

Jesus knew as well. God sin’t focused on your comfort - sometimes obedience calls for hardship.

He knew even before He came to earth that He would suffer immensely.

Yet, Jesus understood clearly that this is where He was to go.

God’s desire for you - to be holy.

God is more concerned with your holiness than your happiness.

But, we realize that in being in obedient - we find greatest meaning in life.

God’s plan isn’t always going to make sense to us in the short term. Or in this life.

But, we trust Him, even when we cannot or do not understand.

What difference did prayer make?

v. 6. In times of distress, they turned to prayer.

Throughout the Old and New Testament, a common theme - turn to prayer.

The example for us today - we are to be a people of prayer.

One advantage of prayer:

Unity in heart.

Ever felt alone? The response of some in quarantine cities or states.

But, sometimes when we are all together, we still can feel alone.

Prayer brings us unity in the church. Praying with and for one another.

Reminds of our finite nature.

We pray out of a heart of humility - when we realize that we can’t do something.

And, consequently, it reminds us that God is higher than us!

The way that prayer sanctifies us.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me and then I change things.” - Oswald Chambers

Bible.

Matthew 6:5 ESV

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Luke 18:1 ESV

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Ephesians 6:17–18 ESV

and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6 ESV

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

Why is there tension between obedience and prudence?

Paul knew… Yet, he chose to go anyway.

Spirit telling Paul (v. 4) vs Let the will of the Lord be done (v. 14)

Spirit telling Paul (v. 4) vs Let the will of the Lord be done (v. 14)

Spirit telling Paul (v. 4) vs Let the will of the Lord be done (v. 14)

Paul’s experience of persecution in different cities.

Other times

Sometimes he fled, sometimes he stayed.

Gathering or not?

Do we have faith that God is going to take care of us? Yes.

Do we also seek to follow the wisest course of actions? Yes.

Wise as serpents - Gentle as doves.

Ultimately, we must realize that we are the church. Even when we are separate.

Tuesday night as we met, we experienced this tension.

Yet, as we spent time in prayer, there was a peace which existed in spite of a difficult decision.

This ties into Paul’s prayer life. He was listening.

Encourage you, during this challenging time, to increase your prayer life.

Where were Paul’s companions?

We…We…We… Paul was never alone.

Luke and others, who were some of those urging him not to go (v. 14).

Yet, when it was time to go…they were with him.

Christian Community has always been at the heart of Eastwood.

Conclusion

Something we must work extra hard at doing / maintaining.

Conclusion

Maintaining normal rhythms of church life.

Text

Speak especially to our Sunday school classes: Be Intentional.

If we can help you by setting up a group on our church’s facebook page, just for your class.

Getting you contact information.

And for everyone, call or text five people a day.

Conclusion

Paul’s appearance: "A man small in size, bald-headed, bandy-legged, well-built, with eyebrows meeting, rather long-nosed, full of grace. For sometimes he seemed like a man, and sometimes he had the countenance of an angel.”

Not a glamorous physical appearance!

It was the body of a man who had faced adversity and persecution, but had been faithful.

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Did you notice the spiritual appearance?

Full of grace. He had the countenance of an angel.

Paul was a guy who knew how to persevere, where to find the strength to carry on.