ON TO JERUSALEM

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 26th day of January— TUESDAY— Happy Birthday to Mommy Elita Ebbah, Uncle Roland Lim and Pastor James Cauilan

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we were able to complete chapter 20 and Dr. Luke [the author], closed that chapter with the farewell message of Paul to the elders of the church in Ephesus— from that we learned two things:

KEEP WATCH OVER YOURSELVES AND BE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

Today we shall begin with chapter 21— in this chapter, Dr. Luke began with the accounts of their trip back to Jerusalem— from this point going forward you will see how severe they treated Paul— let’s altogether see for ourselves what actually happened and what can we learn from them— open your Bible to Acts 21:1-16

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 21:1-16

BOOK

Acts 21:1–16 NIV

1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. 7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 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 Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 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.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

WHAT: Paul’s trip back to Jerusalem— the disciples in Tyre dissuaded Paul from proceeding to Jerusalem— Prophet Agabus foretold them what awaits for Paul in Jerusalem—

WHERE: From Miletus they sailed to Cos— from Cos to Rhodes— then to Patara— from Patara they sailed to Phoenicia [400 miles 3-5 days voyage]— landed in Tyre where they stayed for seven days while their ship unload its cargo— from Tyre they sailed to Ptolemais where they stayed for a day before sailing to Caesarea where they stayed at Philip’s [evangelist] house

WHEN: 3rd Missionary journey of Paul [52-57AD]

WHO: Paul, Luke and their companions, Philip and his 4 unmarried daughters, Agabus and Mnason

WHY: Paul wants to go back to Jerusalem despite warnings and discouragements from the disciples

LOOK

THROUGH THE SPIRIT THEY URGED PAUL NOT TO GO ON TO JERUSALEM

The disciples in Tyre urged Paul not to go back to Jerusalem— Paul’s desire to go back to Jerusalem to report to his fellow Jewish the outcome of his work with the Gentiles— His priority was to unite Jew and Gentile in their faith in Christ

Paul has already been commanded by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem [Acts 2-:22]— rather than the Spirit giving contradictory messages, it may be that the believes know through the Spirit what will happen to Paul in Jerusalem, and they then worry about the dangers facing Paul there

IN THIS WAY THE JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM WILL BIND THE OWNER OF THIS BELT

And will hand him over to the Gentiles— remember that the Gentiles where Paul had been also persecuted Paul

WE AND THE PEOPLE THERE PLEADED WITH PAUL NOT TO GO UP TO JERUSALEM

Keep in mind this are also believers dissuading Paul from going to Jerusalem— they also have the Holy Spirit in them— my point is the distinction of what they feel from what the Holy Spirit has prompted them— emotions— they care for Paul— but listen to what Paul said to them...

I AM READY NOT ONLY TO BE BOUND, BUT ALSO TO DIE IN JERUSALEM FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS

Paul was so firm and determined— that despite of what awaits him in Jerusalem, no words from fellow believers were able to dissuade him— and so that’s when they said

THE LORD’S WILL BE DONE

Look how human emotions struggled with the Lord’s will here— the believers did nothing wrong dissuading Paul— they genuinely cared for him— they loved him!

What I can see from this short devotional study that we had today is...

TOOK

IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL, BUT ABOUT WHAT THE LORD IS TRYING TO FULFILL

BE FIRM WHEN YOU ARE CERTAIN WITH WHAT YOU HEAR FROM THE SPIRIT

SING

Agape Worship — Open the Eyes of My Heart