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Courage under fire
Acts 21:1-23:35
Big Idea: Be courageous and stand firm in the face of adversity
1. Introduction
Acts is a great book.
We see how God starts his church.
We see the Gospel going out.
And we’ve seen great speeches Acts 2. Like the Apostle Peter’s great speech.
“Repent and be baptized every one of you” We’ve seen great teaching.
The other week we Paul taught us about the role of elders and leadership in Acts 20, it’s loving God’s people, godliness and speaking the Gospel, not shrinking back.
Today – long passage – thanks Laura - it’s a great story.
This morning we’re not plumbing the depths of theology.
We’re going to understand the story.
This great story of what God does through the Apostle Paul.
God wants us grow in Gospel courage.
He wants to challenge us, to ask ourselves hard questions – are you courageous for Jesus?
Does the Gospel change everything for you?
This morning, can I say, it’s easy to get lost.
It’s a big passage.
So please have your Bible open.
I’ll be skating through the passage.
2. Paul will suffer in Jerusalem (21:1-14)
Now Paul had been on 3 missionary trips.
He’s preached the Gospel to the known world at the time.
Churches have started, many have come to faith.
Jews and even Gentiles.
God’s great mission to make disciples of all nations – from Jerusalem to all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8.
It’s been happening.
God does what he says.
That’s ended.
No more missionary trips.
Now, Paul’s going to Jerusalem.
That’s where God wants him.
And here in the town of Caesarea, this is close to Jerusalem there’s a prophet named Agabus.
He comes up to Paul and grabs his belt.
Gee if someone grabbed my belt – there may be more than a few stern words.
Agabus ties the belt around his own hands and feet.
And he says this is what they will do to you Paul when you get to Jerusalem.
They are going to tie you up and hand you over to the Romans.
Paul’s friends freak out.
They beg him.
Don’t do it Paul.
Don’t go to Jerusalem.
Please.
And it makes sense right.
Why would you deliberately go into danger?
But look at Paul’s response.
This is courage chapter 21 verse 13
acts 21:13
How’s that make you feel?
You ready to die and be imprisoned for the name of the Lord Jesus?
I feel conflicted.
Part of me goes, I want to be courageous like that.
Take me wherever Lord.
I’m willing to die for you.
cue William Wallace in Braveheart fighting for Scotland.
What a great soundtrack.
I’ll die for my Lord and Saviour Jesus.
But on the other hand, I just feel guilty.
Do you know what I mean?
I’m uncomfortable.
Makes me think how little give up for Jesus.
How I am so often mild, so silent, sluggish.
I struggle so hard to put up with a bit of ridicule.
Paul goes, tie me up like an animal, I don’t care.
The Gospel is what’s most important.
We need to work through this don’t we? What’s going in your heart?
Is the Gospel of Jesus your first priority?
Make no mistake, Paul is ready to die for Jesus.
Everyone knows this.
His friends can’t persuade him they say let the will of the Lord be done.
3. A surprising response (21:15-26)
But actually, what happens next is a surprising response.
He gets to Jerusalem.
And the brothers, James and the other elders the Christians well they receive him gladly.
It’s positive.
They’re happy to see him.
They have heard what Paul’s been doing.
They are excited that non Jews have become Christians.
And Paul gives money from the Gentiles.
They are all excited.
But then straight away James raises a problem.
We need to understand the background to this problem.
See, the church in Jersualem were Jewish.
Like pretty much 100% Jewish.
They still lived like Jews.
Wrap your head around this.
We think in a modern way.
Jews in this this camp.
Christians in this camp.
Very distinct.
Actually, at that time, everyone in Jerusalem was a Jew.
The difference was Christians believed Jesus was the Messiah.
But the Christian still lived like a Jew.
They went to the Temple, kept the law.
But when they went to the temple they worshipped Jesus.
They knew Jesus paid the price for their sins, not the lamb on the altar anymore.
And they knew they weren’t saved by keeping the law.
But these Jewish Christians had heard things about Paul.
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