Paul’s
Difficult & Wonderful Future
2014-05-25
Act 20:22-24
22 And
now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not
knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy
Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await
me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to
myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from
the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
More than half of this final message
to the elders is an autobiography.
· 18-21 Recounts past ministry as an example,
22-26 shows the future commitment model.
· We see a pattern: Serving Lord
involves willingness to sacrifice/suffer.
The past & present GENERAL warnings
prepared Paul for what awaited & assured him that whatever happened, God
was in it. Act 9:16, 16:6-9, 20:22-23
· Constrained: physical binding with chains,
cords, and fetters. It is also used figuratively to denote the powerful tie of marriage
bond. Rom 7:2; 1 Cor 7:27,39
o
Paul
realized he owed his life to God & therefore he joyfully gave his life to God.
· Paul’s spirit is willingly held
captive by the Holy Spirit to do will of God.
· Nothing could deter him, even
suffering and/or death, because Jesus is greater and worth more than life itself. Act 20:24, Phil 1:19-21, 1 Cor 9:24-27;
Phil 2:16; 2 Tim 4:7
o
If
the cause is greater than life itself, then this life won’t bind or control us.
§
i.e.
We will risk life and limb to save someone without concern for our own life.
· Additionally Christians are free to live/die
because of the future eternal life with Jesus Christ.
Paul’s priorities: He 1st
served God, then served others, lastly served himself.
o
Exact
reverse of our culture and the American way.
· Paul considered life worth "nothing"
unless it was used to serve and glorify God.
o
Faithfulness
to the call is more important than a comfortable life or life itself.
· Paul’s sold-out, single-minded desire:
was to FINISH the race WELL no matter cost.
o
That
cost was modeled & defined by Christ. Lk
9:23, 1
Cor 15:31, 2 Cor 4:10-11, Phil 2:8
“To
take up the Cross DAILY" did not mean to literally be crucified or bear
life's troubles.
- It meant to identify completely
with Jesus, and the Gospel, regardless of the cost
- Shame, rejection, persecution,
death & the hardest: deny self.
· Denying
oneself isn’t low self-esteem or giving up something.
- But rather, subjecting oneself
entirely to the lordship and resources of Christ, rejecting self-will,
self-centeredness & self-sufficiency. Rom 7:18 & 13:14, Phil 3:3
- Putting the
Lord & others before self….
- It’s being
Spirit-led not just being busy….looks like:
"follow"
present imperative: "(So) let him keep following Me".
An
Obedient life is just
as important as accurate doctrine.
- Although
imperfect obedience is inevitable, the basic desire & pattern
of life of a true
Christian is obedience to Lord. 1 Jn 2:6, Matt 7:21, John 8:31-32,
Rom 13:14; Phil 3:7-9
The Holy
Spirit enables us to obey, deny ourselves, & walk in the Spirit.
The Heart of serving God & following
Jesus is an overwhelming grasp of the worth of Christ.
· He is a priceless treasure that we sell
and/or set aside ALL in this life to obtain.
o
He
had incredible love toward the unlovable.
· What God requires for tomorrow is not
success in human ventures but faithfulness to him, & complete trust that the
unknown tomorrow is in God’s hands.
o
Whatever
easy or difficult thing comes our way…God is working in it.
§
Knowing
that brings great peace/freedom in this chaotic world.
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