WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:12.480 This podcast is brought to you by Grand Parkway Baptist Church, helping people to know, enjoy, and glorify God. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:18.000 For more information about Grand Parkway, visit Grandparkway.org. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:20.480 Amen. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.039 Let's pray together, Church. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:28.239 Father, we thank you, Lord, for your goodness and love to us. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.760 Indeed, you are the good shepherd who leads us on. 00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:38.000 Lord, we pray, Lord, that as we turn our eyes to your word, may we behold you. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:41.119 May you give us a vision of who you are. 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:46.000 And may you be for us the joy that we need here this morning. 00:00:46.240 --> 00:00:49.439 And so, Lord, show us Christ this morning. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:53.200 Remind us of all of who we are in Him. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:01:04.159 And help us, Lord, to see the life that you are calling for us to live with your church on mission for the glory of God and for the good of your people. 00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:07.920 We pray all this in the precious name of Christ. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:08.799 Amen. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:09.439 Amen. 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:10.640 You may be seated. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.519 Well, it's good to see you all here this morning. 00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:21.760 If you're visiting with us, my name is Julian Solis, and I'm the spiritual formation pastor here at Grant Parkway. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:26.400 And uh we are so thankful for you all here worshiping the Lord with us. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:30.000 And I'm also thankful for something else as well. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:32.079 I am very thankful for the weather. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:32.959 Amen. 00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:33.840 Amen. 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:34.640 Amen. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.439 I'm also thankful that some of you stopped melting. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:40.000 And so I'm glad that you are all here in one piece. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:45.680 And so we've had some hot days, but praise God for the weather that we have here this morning. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.159 I'm also thankful to open God's word with you. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:51.920 And if you have a copy of God's word, go to Acts 21. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:57.760 Acts 21, and we're going to be in the first 16 verses in Acts 21. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:02:07.120 Many of you know that we've been walking through the book of Acts, and we have been journeying along all throughout what God has been doing in the early church. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:14.000 And as we find ourselves in the second half, we have the Apostle Paul, who's become a focal point. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:20.719 And so we have been journeying along with Paul and with the missionary team that has been accompanying him. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:27.280 And we find ourselves here in Acts 21, verses 1 through 16. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:44.159 And as you are finding your place there, I want to remind you of a story that some of you may know, and some of you may be new to this story, but back in 1956, there were five missionaries who wanted to take the gospel to Ecuador. 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:48.960 And these five missionaries, they devoted themselves to Christ. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:03:04.080 They studied God's word, they did their time in seminary and whatnot, and they took their families, their wives and their children, and they moved to Ecuador so that they can bring the gospel to people who have not yet heard of the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:09.360 And while they were there, they came across a tribe called the Waidoni tribe. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:16.319 And as they were ministering to these people, they started to make connection and they started to provide assistance for them. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:25.199 And then all of a sudden, one tragic day, these five young men, they lost their lives to this tribe. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:33.439 There were some men in that tribe who had speared these five men and they became martyrs for the faith. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:42.000 Well, Life magazine, they had picked up on that story, and they had brought that story to America's attention. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:53.599 And all of a sudden, we were all captivated by these young men who had all of their lives ahead of them, who have given themselves for the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:59.280 It makes us scratch our head and makes us ask why would somebody do that? 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:08.479 Why would somebody so young go live in such a dangerous place, take their families, and go move there so they can tell somebody about Jesus Christ? 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:21.680 Well, there was one missionary, and his name was Jim Elliott, and he had one of the most inspiring quotes that we not only have for foreign missions, but I believe for Christian living. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:23.920 And he pins this down in his journal. 00:04:24.079 --> 00:04:32.319 He says, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:34.480 Let me say that one more time. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:41.519 He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:48.879 That's why he gave his life to Christ and to missions and to seeing the gospel even to dangerous places. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:54.959 But I want to tell you in the same way, the Apostle Paul, he captures for us the same heart. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.240 And we're going to see that in the text here this morning. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:19.120 And my hope and my prayer is that for us as a church, that we would live on mission for the Lord, that we would continue to live on mission for the Lord, so that we would have the same pleasure of living for Christ and proclaiming him wherever he sends us, even when it's dangerous to do so. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:31.680 So as we look at God's word together, we want to see what it looks like for us as a church to live on mission, who to do it with, how to do it, and who to do it for. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:38.480 So let's read together in Acts 21, as we pick up here in verse 1 in our story. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.680 The word of God reads as follows. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:50.399 And when he had parted from them and set sail, we came by straight course to Kos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Peter. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:56.000 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:02.480 So we have some of the details of all that's going on, but then notice in verse three where they come to next. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:11.839 When we had come inside of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for their ship was to unload its cargo. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:16.560 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:21.120 And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:25.680 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:32.079 And they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:38.079 And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:43.439 Then we went on aboard the ship, and they returned home. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:52.240 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemaeus, and we greeted the brothers, and stayed with them for one day. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:07:00.879 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.319 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:10.240 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabas came down from Judea. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:26.800 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, this is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:35.040 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.040 How does Paul respond? 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:43.040 In verse 13, then Paul answered, What are you doing? 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:54.720 Weeping and breaking my heart, for I am ready not only to be imprisoned, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:08:02.480 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, Let the will of the Lord be done. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:16.560 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem, and some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Nathan of Cyprus, an early disciple with whom we should lodge. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.879 This is the reading of God's word. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.040 Now here's uh what I want to do today. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:28.160 I want to show you three things from this text that I believe will help us as a church as we seek to live on mission together. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:31.040 There's three things I think to take note of here. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:40.399 And here's the first thing I want you to see is that you are to live on mission selflessly with your church. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.960 You are to live on mission selflessly with your church. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:56.240 You might remember from last week that Paul and the missionary team they leave Ephesus and they had a tearful goodbye because Paul was telling them, listen, this is the last time you're gonna see my face. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:03.840 And in the same way that we saw in our text, they knelt down and prayed with the church, and then they continue on their voyage. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.360 And where is Paul headed? 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.120 He's heading to Jerusalem. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:12.639 He's looking to go there because the Lord has called for him to testify of Christ there in Jerusalem. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:24.159 And along the way, Luke gives us here all the details of all the pit stops that they're making and all that's taking place on their last journey, their third journey before Jerusalem. 00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:30.559 And I have a graph for us here that you can kind of see and have a little mental picture of where Paul is journeying. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:38.799 Here in this section, we have the last bit of the story of what happens on Paul's third missionary journey. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:46.559 And something that's interesting that we see, for example, in verse one, we see the pronoun we used a lot. 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:53.440 The author says, when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by straight course to cos. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:58.000 When we had come inside of Cyprus, we set sail. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:01.120 We 16 times the author uses the word we. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.919 This is unlike the first half of Acts. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:10.240 Luke, who's the author, he's writing and giving us a detailed account of all that God was doing with the apostles. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:15.519 But here in the second half of Acts, he's incorporating himself into the story. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:24.480 And that's because the author, he is journeying along with Paul, with that missionary team, as they're taking the gospel everywhere they go. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:35.679 What y'all want you to see is this one, God is at work in leading the apostles and these teams to spread the gospel everywhere the Lord has called. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:42.399 Remember, Jesus himself says in the beginning of Acts that you're gonna go to Jerusalem and there you're gonna receive the Holy Spirit. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:49.360 And from Jerusalem, the gospel is gonna go forth to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.480 And that's what God is doing in this second half in the book of Acts. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:11:00.240 He's using the Apostle Paul, he's using this missionary team, and he's taking the gospel everywhere that the Lord has calls and is strategic. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:04.240 The Lord is leading them on, telling them which place to go next. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:08.960 Here, Luke says, This is our voyage. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.960 This is where we went. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:17.200 And something to capture here is what's interesting is that Paul is rolling with the team. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:30.480 He has a team of people, and they are for us an example of what a church is to be about on mission together for the glory of God and for the good of the lost, that they would hear of the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:33.679 And so this team, sometimes they would go ahead of Paul. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:40.240 And as Paul uh comes to them and goes to where they're at, they're proclaiming the gospel. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:57.440 They're establishing churches, they're ministering to churches, sometimes to the churches that they've established, sometimes to others whom the other apostles established, but all together this team is set on mission for the glory of God, to proclaim Christ, to bring encouragement to others. 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:06.720 They are an incredible, an example for us of what it means to give your life to something, to be devoted to something in selfless, Christ-like love. 00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.080 And that's what they're doing. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:15.679 They're devoting their lives to Christ, who first devoted his life to them, who gave up his life so they would have life. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:20.320 And now take that message of life to all who would hear it. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:22.960 That is a team that's on mission. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:28.000 It just reminded me uh when I was younger, um, I was playing baseball. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:36.320 And I'm not talking college or anything, I'm talking about Pee-wee League, but uh I remember playing baseball, and uh, I just remember one year we just had a great team. 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:37.919 I mean, the team was stacked. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:43.440 And I come from a small town just down the road here, um south of Wharton, a place called Bowling. 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:45.759 And I remember playing baseball there. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.600 And so once you knew which team you're on, you know everyone else is gonna be on those other teams. 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:52.159 You know, because everybody, you know, small town and whatnot. 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:55.039 And I'm like, oh man, we're gonna kill these guys. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:56.559 This is gonna be great. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:01.279 But that team, you know that it takes more than just good players, you need good coaching. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:13.360 Thankfully, we had great coaching, and we were all dedicated and part of a special team to win that first place trophy, which still sits on my grandmother's, you know, you know, uh room there. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:37.200 But but all of us know what it's like to be part of something special and to work together on something special, whether it be on a team or at work or on a project or as a family, there's something wonderful about having a sense of purpose and significance and being a part of something great as you accomplish something great together. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:44.240 How much more is this team, this missionary team, who's living for the glory of God? 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:56.080 How much more should we feel that as a church as we set our eyes on the mission and ministry before us as we look to proclaim Christ together as well? 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:03.519 This is what it must have felt like for this team living for gospel ministering to being glory to Christ. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:16.799 But living on mission, it involves a selfless dedication to Christ, doing ministry with your church, but it also involves selfless ministry to one another. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:23.840 Living on mission involves uh mission to your church, not only with your church, but to your church. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.759 We see this in verses three through six. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:28.799 Look again at what uh verses three through six say. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:31.200 Notice who is being served here. 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:39.120 Luke records for us uh the voyage and where they stop next, but then they land at Tyre in verse three. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:49.759 And there the ship was going to unload its cargo, and so they needed they needed to stay somewhere for seven days, and so they sought out the disciples there in Tyre, the church of Tyre. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.879 And having sought them out, they stayed with them. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:15:03.519 And through the spirit, notice how they served Paul and this team, they prophesied and they told Paul of what was to happen in Jerusalem. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:06.639 They also gave him counsel, they were telling him to not go. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:11.440 You see, their concern and their love for the apostle Paul here. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:24.000 But then I love in verse 5 that sweet moment again, as after those seven days were over, they accompanied him back to the ship and they went with their wives and with their children. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:36.960 And you have this beautiful scene that they're on the beach, they got on their knees and they were seeking the Lord, the Lord's will, and the Lord's goodness for them as they would continue to go on their voyage toward Jerusalem. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:41.440 But what do we see with those disciples there entire? 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:48.399 You can imagine them providing hospitality and service and company to the Apostle Paul and to this missionary team. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:53.919 You see them using their spiritual gifts to help and to build up and to minister to Paul. 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:59.519 You see them praying for them, giving counsel to them, showing the love of Christ to them. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:17.679 In the same way, we want to be a church that utilizes our spiritual gifts, that shows hospitality to one another, to use our gifts so that we can build up each other so that we can further one another on in the mission that the Lord has called us to serve together in. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:24.960 Paul, he's not saying, Hey, I'm an apostle, I don't need you to minister to me, or hey, don't be all up in my business or anything. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:25.679 No, no, no. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:27.679 He he lets them in. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:33.120 He avails himself to their ministry, he lets them serve the team. 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:38.000 He's he's all about all that God has for him through the body of Christ. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.799 And what an example that we have for us. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.519 And the question I have for you, church family, is do you see yourself in that way? 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:51.279 Do you see yourself gifted by the Spirit to serve your church family? 00:16:51.519 --> 00:17:03.519 Gifted by the Spirit to show the love of Christ to one another so that you may encourage one another and to spur each other on in all of the goodness that the Lord has for you and for this church. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:10.000 There's a uh company down here in Stafford that uh manufactures safety relief valves. 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:21.200 And uh this company, they were a great company at one time, but then they started to have some problems in the warehouse, things got chaotic there. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:30.319 And in the office, which was right there next to the warehouse, people weren't really working together, and things were a little a mess. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:37.680 But then they hired a new GM, and that GM he comes in there and he says, okay, guys, here's what we need to do. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:44.400 If we're gonna be a successful company, then we have to serve one another better. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:49.039 Because the healthier that we are as a team, the better that we can be for our customers. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:54.160 Our customers are expecting our product, they want a good product, and they want it on time. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:59.839 So, from the top down, here's what we're gonna do: we're gonna serve one another, beginning with me. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:09.839 In that GM, he helped build a culture of service so that they could serve the line who would produce a good product and get it out on time to their customers. 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:15.759 That businessman knew what it took in order for them to be effective in the mission they had. 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:21.839 Now, listen, church family, if people in the business world get that, how much more should we get that? 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:34.000 We cannot be the kind of church that we need to be to be effective for the name of Jesus unless we get healthy and get better at serving one another, unless we get good at doing community well. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:45.519 Because the more that we serve each other, build each other up, use our giftedness in the body of Christ, the better that we can be in being effective in our mission for Christ and for his namesake and for his glory. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:49.599 And by the way, that's what's going to be attractive for a world looking in. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:19:16.160 The way that you and I love one another, serve each other, the same way that you see here, prayerfully, you would see in us a church that is hospitable, a church that voluntarily shares and gives, that's all in on the mission of God with our resources and with our time, showcasing vulnerability, allowing us to speak into one another's lives, having difficult conversations about difficult decisions. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:21.519 That's what we see here that the church is doing here entire, for example. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:30.799 But if we're going to be a church that is going to be healthy in our mission, we need to be healthy in our ministry to one another. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:34.160 We need a display of substantial community. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:38.880 My encouragement for you here today is to lean into community. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:45.279 Everywhere that you have an opportunity to be a part of community here at Grant Parkway, lean into it. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:47.759 Not just be present, but be all in. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:53.440 And let the Lord use you and use others to minister to you as well. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:20:05.440 The third thing I want us to see here is that living on mission, it means living your life selflessly for the name of Jesus, for the name of Jesus. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:11.119 We want to live selflessly like Christ, sacrificially like Christ, with our church and to our church. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.480 But why do we do it? 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.160 Who do we do this for? 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:19.039 We want to do it for the name of our Lord, the name of Jesus. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:20.559 Look at verse 7. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:25.920 In verse 7, we see that the apostle Paul and the team, they lead higher. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:30.079 And then we see that they go to Ptolemaeus, they stay there a day. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:36.880 Again, the disciples there, they're serving uh the apostle and the team there, the apostle Paul. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:39.200 You see that theme all throughout. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:45.200 But then they come to Caesarea and they stay with Philip, the evangelist there. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:48.640 And we have a little commentary about who this Philip is. 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.440 He's one of the seven, one of the seven who? 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:55.200 He's one of the seven deacons from Acts chapter six. 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:06.319 He's also the same Philip who was the evangelist from Acts chapter eight, the one who ministered to the Ethiopian eunuch and then was teleported out and brought to another city. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:08.319 So this is that Philip. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:20.559 And what else is interesting is that we're told that he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied, which is interesting because what I think about is what if you were the guy who wanted to marry one of those girls? 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:30.079 What if you were the guy and you're like bragging about how great your dad was, and then one of those girls were like, Yeah, well, my dad he evangelized and it was teleported, you know? 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:40.880 Or uh what if you were, you know, you had this great proposal idea and it was gonna be all secretive, and you were gonna go and it was gonna just be awesome, and then you proposed, and she said, I knew you were gonna do that. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:43.039 Um I'm a prophet, you know. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:48.559 But it wasn't these women who prophesied to Paul. 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:54.240 If they did, it wasn't recorded, but we see in verse 9 that there was another person who comes down from Judea. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:59.119 His name is Agabas, and he's the one who provides Paul with an interesting prophecy. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:04.480 He dropped It like the prophets from the Old Testament in the way that they would do it. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:09.519 But he takes Paul's belt and he binds his own hands and his feet. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:16.640 And he says, The person whose belt this is, this is what he's gonna be like in Jerusalem. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:20.400 The Jews are gonna bind him and he's gonna be handed over to the Gentiles. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:26.000 Agabus, he just drops this prophecy bomb in front of everybody there. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:37.039 And naturally, the missionary team and also the disciples there in Caesarea, their love, their love and concern for Paul, they're saying, Paul, don't go to Jerusalem. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:40.720 If danger awaits you, don't go to Jerusalem. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.359 If you're gonna be in prison there, don't go to Jerusalem. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.279 The disciples at Tyre said that. 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:50.160 Now the disciples here in Caesarea, they're they're they're they're telling us, they're telling you, don't go. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:23:00.400 Logically, if you're a missionary and God has called you to go and take the gospel everywhere you go, why would you go to Jerusalem and be imprisoned? 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:04.640 That doesn't seem like it'd be in keeping with God's will for your life. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:07.200 They're telling Paul, don't go, don't go. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.920 They're trying to reason with him logically. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:26.000 But what they forget, or maybe what they didn't see, is that the Holy Spirit has been at work in Paul's life, leading him and telling him that his destiny is to go to Jerusalem and to testify there. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:34.960 See, in the mysterious and wonderful plan of God, in the sovereignty of God, God intends Paul to go to Jerusalem and to make Christ known there. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:38.640 We see this, for example, in Acts 19.21. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:52.559 In Acts 19, 21, it says, Now after these events, Paul resolved in the spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.720 He resolved in the spirit, capital S. 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:58.960 The Holy Spirit is at work, leading him to want to go to Jerusalem. 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:04.480 But then in chapter 20, in verses 22 to 24, our text last week, we see this again as well. 00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:19.119 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:31.279 Here at this time, the Holy Spirit is letting him know that you are going to be going to Jerusalem, and I don't know what's going to happen there, except for that I know that everywhere I go, imprisonment and afflictions await me. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:41.759 But now in chapter 21, the Spirit, through the prophecy of these disciples, it's becoming more and more clear what exactly is going to happen to him when he goes to Jerusalem. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.960 That imprisonment does await him. 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.640 And guess what? 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:51.440 That imprisonment, that suffering, that hardship, it's not outside of the will of God. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:59.519 In fact, the Holy Spirit is going to confirm his leading in Paul's life when we get to chapter 23. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:02.480 I just want to give you just a preview for that next text. 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:19.839 But in chapter 23 and verse 11, it says, the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:24.240 The Lord will be the one who would lead Paul to Jerusalem. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.839 And Paul's imprisonment wasn't outside of the will of God. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:36.480 And the Spirit is encouraging Paul and saying, hey, be courageous, take courage, Paul, because as I brought you here, I'm also going to take you to Rome. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:40.799 The Lord, in his sovereignty, in his plans, he knows what he's doing. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:46.160 He's leading Paul on in all that he has for the Apostle Paul and that missionary team. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:52.400 And so, Paul, if you think about it, he knows how to organize and live his life. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:56.559 He doesn't organize and live his life for pleasure. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:26:01.279 He doesn't organize and lead his life to recklessly head into harm's way. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:03.279 No, he lives his life. 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:14.559 He organizes his life after the will of God, realizing that even when suffering and pain and difficulty come his own way, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm outside the will of God. 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:22.720 But I can courageously live for what the Lord has for me, trusting that this is going to be for God's glory and for the good of God's people. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:25.440 That smells like Jesus Christ to me. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:31.440 That's exactly what the Lord intends to do in and through Paul, in and through God's people. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:40.160 And if you think about it, the Apostle Paul, he was to be an example, not just for the church then and there, but for the church here in us, right now, today. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:44.720 He's an example for us, reflection for us of Jesus Christ. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:51.039 And I think Luke, he's intentionally showing us the parallels that we have between Jesus and Paul. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:54.559 And just got this graph, the real quick, quick graph I wanted to show you. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:56.799 Jesus himself, and this is all from Luke. 00:26:56.880 --> 00:26:58.000 This is his first volume. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:03.680 The author Luke, who wrote Acts and Luke, Jesus, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:06.480 Paul resolves in his spirit to go to Jerusalem. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:11.279 Jesus, he begins his journey and he takes his apostles with him. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:15.039 Paul, he begins his journey and he's accompanied by a team. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.319 But guess what? 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:21.599 The apostles, the disciples of Jesus, they didn't understand what was going on. 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:23.519 Why are you going to Jerusalem, Jesus? 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:27.599 Why do you want to intend intentionally go where they're going to do harm to you? 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.279 They didn't get it, they didn't understand. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:35.359 In fact, Peter tries to dissuade Jesus in the same way Paul's missionary team. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.720 They're like, Paul, what are you doing? 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:39.200 We don't understand your decision making here. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:43.039 And they tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:46.480 But the Lord knew what he was doing with the Apostle Paul. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:50.240 And he knew what he was doing through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:28:00.319 That suffering was not outside the will of God for them, but it was through the suffering that the Lord would use those works for the good of his people. 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:11.359 Paul was a unique example for us, and it teaches us that sometimes when we choose to follow Christ, it brings difficulty. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:13.680 It brings suffering. 00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:19.519 Imprisonment, if you think about it though, it didn't stop or it didn't hinder Paul's ministry. 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:25.839 In fact, when you read the book of Philippians, Paul says, listen, I'm not ashamed of what's happening to me. 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:32.240 Because with my imprisonment, it's bringing courage to other people to go and share and make much of Christ. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:40.559 And so he can embrace his change, knowing that the Lord is using it for people to take courage themselves and to go and be bold for Christ. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:52.240 And if we didn't have Paul's imprisonment, we probably wouldn't have the letters that we have in the New Testament, the letter, the prison epistles, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, the letter to Philemon. 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:56.400 The Lord was not wasting Paul's imprisonment, but he was using it. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:29:00.480 He was using it in ways that are bigger than our comprehension. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.960 But I know what you're thinking because I was thinking the same thing. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:07.680 When I read, for example, verse 13, when Paul responds here, let's just read it again real quick. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.920 Paul saying, What are you doing? 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:12.160 Breaking my heart, weeping for me. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:15.359 They're all crying and making this sad moment. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:17.039 And Paul's like, What are you doing? 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:24.799 Listen, I am ready not only to be imprisoned, but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:27.440 But even to die for his name's sake. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:31.359 And you were probably thinking, but what I'm thinking when I first read that. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:35.920 God just shattering all my little suburban sensibilities. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:40.480 Because I thought God wants to make me happy and safe. 00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:45.119 That's how I treat myself, that's how I treat my kids when they when my kids go to church. 00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.640 I asked, did you have fun? 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.839 Did you have fun today? 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:50.000 I mean, I don't know why do we always ask our kids that? 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.640 Did you have fun? 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.839 Oh, yeah, I want you to go do this. 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.480 Was it fun? 00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:56.960 You know, but following Jesus, don't get me wrong, is a lot of fun in that. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:01.680 We should be having fun and joy, but it's not always safe. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.680 It's not always safe. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:06.319 Go ahead tomorrow when you go to work. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:10.799 Start telling people about Christ and see how popular you'll be the next day. 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:16.160 Proclaiming Christ, following Christ, not always safe, not always fun. 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:25.839 But boy, there is sure an assurance to know that you are living in the will of God, following the likeness of your Savior who's given up his life for you. 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:30.240 Sometimes we must endure the cross for the joy that's set before us. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:32.000 But how did the team respond? 00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:34.960 What did the team do in their response? 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:42.880 After they realized in verse 14 that they could not persuade Paul, they stopped and they entrusted this decision to the Lord. 00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:44.160 And what did they say? 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:47.920 Let the will of the Lord be done. 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.240 Let the will of the Lord be done. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:53.200 They entrusted themselves to the Lord. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:55.200 And then what happened in verse 15? 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:59.599 After these days we got ready and we went to Jerusalem. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:02.400 The whole missionary team, they accompanied Paul. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:05.440 They said, Okay, this is what we're doing, this is where we're going. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:08.799 And you can see right here, these were the these are the ride or die homies. 00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.960 These are the guys who are like, all right, let's go. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:13.200 This is God's will for us. 00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:17.279 And so they make their way to Jerusalem. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:23.200 And as we wind down here, church, I just want to ask you, what if we believed this? 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.960 What if we believed God's word today? 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:33.440 What if we believed that this is what it means for us to live on mission with our church, to our church, for the name of Christ? 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:37.359 How would that change who we are as a church family? 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:45.519 Maybe it would mean that we would leave behind us the passing pleasures which never satisfy. 00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:49.680 Maybe it would allow us to love the Lord Jesus more. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:57.440 Maybe it would give us a grander vision of what it means to live our lives for Christ's namesake. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:32:01.759 If we really believed this, maybe we would become more hospitable. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:04.079 Maybe we would lean into community. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:23.920 Maybe we would be ready to jump at the opportunities that we have as a church, the many opportunities we have to make known Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who became man, took our place, died for us, forgave our sins, so that we would have life and life abundantly. 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:36.000 This text helps us see that that abundant life is not always outside of suffering, because abundant life is following Christ no matter what comes our way. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:44.400 I want to come back to that original story of those five missionaries that gave their life in Ecuador. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:48.240 You would think that that would be the end of the story. 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:51.279 You would think evil has won. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:58.000 Here, these people came to give their lives so that people would know Jesus and they they killed the messenger. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:00.480 But the story doesn't stop there. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:03.279 I have this uh picture for you to see. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:07.359 These are the the wives and the children that were left behind. 00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:14.559 These are the widows and the orphans that uh that became widows and orphans when they lost those men. 00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:17.119 But you know what these women did? 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:19.920 They continued as missionaries. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:30.079 In fact, two of the five, they stayed in Ecuador ministering not only to the people of Ecuador, but to that tribe where their husbands had just died. 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:45.200 Jim Elliott, his wife Elizabeth, uh, they had a daughter together, her name uh was Valerie, and she actually goes and she lives in the tribe with them to bring them the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:55.519 And I remember watching the documentary and she's telling the story, and she's saying, Yeah, and then Jim's parents and my parents, they were asking me, What are you doing? 00:33:56.079 --> 00:33:59.039 And every parent in here is thinking the same thing, what are you doing? 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:03.279 Why would you want to go to that place, to that village? 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:11.679 But something was compelling her to live beyond what logic was telling her. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:18.159 And that is, these people need Jesus Christ, they need to hear of the good news of the Lord. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:25.199 And I'm here to use my vulnerability, to use my opportunity to go and do just that. 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:32.159 See, these women, they were friends of the tribe, and those tribal men, they would not take violence against women or the children. 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:37.360 And so they, as they came into the tribe, they allowed them and permitted them to stay. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:47.440 And that was the means by which those men began to have their hearts broken and melted and be open and receptive to the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:50.960 But what compels missionaries like that? 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:58.800 What compels the apostle Paul to say things like the way he does in verse 13? 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:17.280 It's the resurrected Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who is alive forevermore, who sits and reigns on the throne of heaven, and who gives us to be a part of something special as a church, as a team, to live on mission for his namesake, for his glory. 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:26.719 And I want to tell you, friends, he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:27.840 You pray with me. 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:48.320 And Father, we think about you and your glory and your sovereignty, and your ways are so far beyond us. 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:52.800 Your plans are so great and so beyond us. 00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:57.199 And yet, Lord, you've given to us your word. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:02.960 You've given us texts like this one here in Acts 21. 00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:12.159 And Father, I pray, Lord, that your word would break up our hard hearts and make them follow ground. 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:30.159 And Father, I pray that you would begin to have your way in us, that you would continue to lead us on, that we would live for the glory of Christ and for the good of one another and for the good of lost who need to hear the gospel of Jesus. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:46.400 So, Father, while we live in a world which would distract us from this high calling, this great and admirable calling, we pray, Lord, that we would lock our eyes on you and be reminded of our cause of church. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:59.199 That along the way, Lord, that we would give ourselves to the sweet community that is the pleasure and right of all Christians everywhere, and that, Father, we would enjoy deep community as we serve each other. 00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:07.039 And as we do, Lord, grant us grace to live on mission for your namesake. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:16.639 Just to give you some opportunity to further reflect on how the Lord wants to move in your life. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:20.480 We have some questions for your consideration on the screen. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:31.599 Will you continue in just a moment of mental worship and begin asking the Lord how he wants to further move in your hearts, that you would take your next step? 00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:33.440 Just take a minute to do that. 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:36.960 Amen. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:39.519 Father, we thank you, Lord, for your goodness and love to us. 00:37:39.599 --> 00:37:48.880 And so, Father, we pray, Lord, that we would learn what it means to walk in your design, to be a part of a church that lives on mission. 00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:52.960 And so, Lord, we pray that you would be glorified in and through us. 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:56.880 And that, Lord, we would make much of your great name. 00:37:57.119 --> 00:38:00.559 And we pray all this in the precious name of Christ. 00:38:00.800 --> 00:38:03.440 And God's people said, Amen. 00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:07.360 We have a few announcements for you, so if you could turn your attention to the screen. 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:26.000 Our desire is to provide opportunities for you to meet, connect, and grow with other people who are in the same life stage as you. 00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:41.119 These new classes will all be using the Gospel Project Curriculum for adults, which is the same curriculum that our preschool children and the bridge ministries use, so you have built-in opportunities for spiritual conversations with your kids each Sunday. 00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:47.920 Due to God's provision, progress, and presence, our church is experiencing steady numerical growth. 00:38:48.159 --> 00:38:52.079 This growth now requires an expansion of our physical space. 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:58.719 It's time to enlarge our children's building to accommodate preschool children's and the bridge ministries. 00:38:58.880 --> 00:39:02.159 The cost for this expansion is$2.6 million. 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:07.599 And to help fund it, we are holding a special hilarious Sunday offering on October 6th. 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:12.320 We are asking everyone to pray, listen, and give whatever God leads you to. 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:18.159 This offering is in addition to your regular tithe, going above and beyond to support the project. 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:21.519 Every penny collected will go directly towards the expansion. 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:29.519 On October 13th, we'll share the results of the Hilarious Sunday offering and outline the next steps for meeting our growing needs. 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:33.519 Here's an important message about this year's men's weekend. 00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:36.239 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:40.000 Tribulation, distress, persecution, peril, sword? 00:39:40.159 --> 00:39:44.480 No! Nothing else in all creation can separate us from the love of God. 00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:52.400 Attention, men, we are thrilled to tell you about our men's weekend coming up on October 18th and 19th. 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:56.800 You may be thinking, I've got a lot to do and probably much better options. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:40:10.079 But I would argue that you have no better options than to get closer to your Saviors, closer to churchmen, and understand better yourself, the Bible, and those you should be relating to as Christ would relate to them. 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:14.000 On October 18th and 19th, Chuck Land will be our guest speaker. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:17.119 So make sure you plan to join us right here on our campus. 00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:20.559 To register, go to grandparkway.org/slash events. 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:26.480 All right. 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:28.800