Words for the Weary

Introduction

When I was racing mountain bikes…a challenge of endurance.

Often you wanted to know just how much longer you had to go.

And the people holding out the cups of water for you, and the encouragement they would give.

It was what was so helpful when you were getting close to the end and was just so weary.

Certainly, Paul was weary. Two years in chains. Various trials. Defending himself. Limited ministry.

Finally, free from his cell and heading to Rome. Anticipation of the conclusion of this period.

But, in spite of this pseudo-freedom he would experience, he knew he still needed support.

Paul and his companions would need some words for the weary.

As we consider where we are. It is understandable why we would feel weary.

Corona. Racial injustice. Political divide. And all the subsets of those.

Major decisions weigh heavily on every person and on every family in this room and who can hear my voice.

Maybe today, you could just use some words for your weary soul.

Don’t Travel Alone

Be Bear Aware.

Some on our traveling - signs everywhere at the national parks.

Bring bear spray. Stay far away. Back away slowly. Play dead (in rehearsal?). Don’t travel alone.

Paul understood this well.

“We” - Luke enters back in and travels with Paul (often when traveling over water).

He also had Aristarchus with him.

Two brothers that would travel with him.

You know Paul was encouraged by them.

It is helpful to have people travel with you.

Building community - having people close enough to identify when you are struggling, people who will be there.

Let me challenge you - be the type of person that would get that phone call. Cares and will do something.

This requires you letting people in, which can be difficult. Some people are like floppy books, some are like diaries.

Be intentional to build relationships, pour into other people, lay the foundation before laying expectations.

Satan loves it when a Christian tries to go it alone. Makes for easy pickings.

Work to build a tribe.

Find Time to Encourage

Julius, who was the centurion overseeing Paul and the other prisoners, allows Paul to go out on his own.

Clearly, Julius knew the reputation and character of Paul in a short time.

What did Paul do with this temporary freedom?

He didn’t run for it. He didn’t go gorge himself on some freshly fried fish.

Instead, he sought out other believers to encourage them.

In the few hours he had, he chose to spend it with believers and to encourage them.

The most fulfilling thing that he could have done!

In our busy, strained world, do you find time to encourage?

The frightening thing that social media can (and for many has) become.

And the time that is spent on it! Screen time reports on Sunday mornings!

And most of that time is spent causing division!

What if we took that time to encourage?

Something that has stuck with me about being a peacemaker rather than a peacekeeper.

Don’t cause problems, solve problems.

Challenging in today’s culture.

If we are going to be a peacemaker, we have to listen to other people.

What we generally do, prepare our points for when they take a breath.

Instead, actually seek to understand their point of view. Try to internalize their argument where you could support it.

This doesn’t mean you have to agree with it, but can you understand it?

Then we are more likely to be able to encourage them.

Don’t Believe Everything You See

They came to a place called “Fair Havens,” which was anything but!

This was not going to be a good city to stay in. Not favorable winds, ports, or a place to winter!

You can read the sign all you want, but that isn’t going to make it true! Misleading!

Conspiracy starved culture??

Where in the world did this come from?

Something I’ve been wrestling with over the past six months.

People are desperate to see the worst in people or they want to believe the bizarre.

From Scripture to Politics to Health, people long to believe the outlandish.

I think this is a lens issue. What guides your perspective?

I think when we keep our faith as our primary lens, it will help other things to come into focus.

When faith is your primary lens, everything else will come into focus.

It allows us to think critically about things.

Critical doesn’t mean that you hate things… movie critics love movies!

When can love politics, but still be critical thinkers when it comes to policies and politicians.

Somewhere along the way, we have thought it was okay to dismiss discernment.

Matthew 10:16 ESV

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

This denotes a high level of understanding. Be smart.

Just because the Facebook post says “Fair Havens” you don’t have to harbour your boat there.

Have Godly Advisers

These waters were familiar to Paul. He had traveled across them several times in previous years.

He knew when these waters would become dangerous.

According to James Smith in his book The Voyages and Shipwreck of St. Paul -

September 14th

November 11th

Starting Sept. 14th it would be dangerous and impossible after Nov. 11th.

The Fast (Yom Kippur) had already passed, which is late Sept or early Oct.

Paul knew! And he advised them to not go.

Acts 27:11 ESV

But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.

So they pressed on towards Phoenix. Modern Phineka Bay. Now tilted (6th C. earthquake), but looked perfect before.

Two ports, tall enough to shield from winter winds, larger city with more to do.

The centurion, who was in charge, only heard what he wanted to hear.

He would not listen to godly reason because his own heart had already blinded them.

And what about the heart? Should we follow it?

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

When you follow your heart, especially having rejected godly advice, you end up in destruction.

Humbling ourselves to allow people to speak into our lives.

Not easy. Not popular. But, Christianity never has been the easy or popular choice.

Conclusion

“The struggle is real.”

What used to be a joke, now is a reality.

Fatigue, stress, and anger are too common.

Even in the church. In spite of our being filled with the Holy Spirit, we aren’t exempt.

But, God has given us direction, words for the weary.

Don’t travel alone.

Find time for encouragement.

Don’t believe everything that you see.

Have godly advisers.

1 - Write down traveling companions. Identify them and have a conversation with them.

2 - Just once a week, make a call or social media post or text message or letter to compliment someone.

3 - When you are exposed to new information, seek the research.

4 - Find a person who you will give permission to speak any truth into your life.