Acts 21:1-6
~10 min read
TRANSCRIPT
NOTE: Apologies for the incomplete transcript. The start of the sermon was not recorded and thus the transcript is also incomplete.
I. His Conviction of the Purpose
(Missing recording)
II. His Conviction of the Spirit’s Leading
“…through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Notice Paul said he “purposed in the spirit”, next Acts 20:22. Acts 20:22, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there”. It does not mean that Paul did not know that there would be persecution at Jerusalem, but it means he did not know in exact detail what would happen there. Again, he said, “I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem”. But most importantly, if you look two verses down, Acts 20:24. Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Perhaps this is the most important part because Paul said that nothing could stop him, not even losing his life at Jerusalem. He knew there would be persecution at Jerusalem, but even losing his life would not stop him because it was a ministry he had received from the Lord Jesus. So testifying the gospel of the grace of God at Jerusalem was a ministry given to him by the Lord Jesus. So how could the Holy Spirit stop Paul from doing something that the Lord Jesus had commanded him? That is impossible.
Now back to verse 4 of our text. Okay, verse 4 of our text. So what does this phrase mean, the believers, “who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem"? Scripture will not contradict scripture. So as we reconcile all these verses, we know that the believers at Tyre were told by the Holy Spirit about the persecution at Jerusalem. Through the Holy Spirit, they foresaw the suffering Paul would have to endure at Jerusalem. They told Paul about what the Holy Spirit had told them and they tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem. In fact, even his own friends, his missionary team including Luke the writer of Acts, when they all knew about the prophecy that Paul would suffer persecution at Jerusalem, what did they do? They naturally tried to dissuade him. If you look at verse 12, verse 12 tells us, "And when we heard these things, both we,” —Luke included— “and they of that place, besought him” —Paul— “not to go up to Jerusalem." So to understand verse 4, the best way is that the Holy Spirit revealed to the believers at Tyre that Paul would face persecution at Jerusalem. They told him what the Holy Spirit had told them, and they tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem. So that is what it means. So there's no contradiction. The Holy Spirit will never contradict Himself. Neither will the Holy Spirit contradict our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Take a moment and consider what Paul had gone through. The Holy Spirit had repeatedly told the Apostle Paul that there would be persecution waiting for him at Jerusalem. And now again, through the believers at Tyre, they were told that Paul would face persecution, and they told Paul about it and even tried to dissuade him out of good will. But yet Paul was still adamant to go there. Why? Because the Holy Spirit was leading him. The same time the Holy Spirit was revealing to him what would happen at Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit was also leading him along the way. Just as God reveals to us through His Word that in this world there will be tribulation, right? In this world, there will be persecution. There will be troubles. There will be afflictions. Jesus Himself said, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." Indeed, God has revealed to us that there will be tribulation. By the same time, He is leading us along the way. Tonight, if your medical report reveals that you have only weeks or months to live or you have received a devastating news that your child may be taken away from you, isn't it true that if God has revealed this information to you, He has allowed this information to be announced to you? At the same time, He will also be leading you along the way so that you will be able to press on, persevere, be strengthened in the faith, and do the right thing with conviction. Some of us may say, "Well, the doctors are the ones who revealed my medical report to me. God could have taken you home without anyone informing you." But if God allows you to know, He choose to reveal it to you. At the same time, He will also be leading you along the way.
So my friends, whatever devastating news we may receive, whether pertaining to our lives, our health, our children, our family, do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. If God has allowed it to be revealed to us, He will also lead us along the way. Most certainly, He will. Our God is a faithful God. The same way He has revealed to the Apostle Paul repeatedly there will be persecution at Jerusalem, there will be persecution at Jerusalem, and Paul purposed in his heart still to go to Jerusalem. And today, through the believers at Tyre, God revealed once again there would be persecution, and they tried to stop him, dissuade him out of good will. But Paul was adamant to go because the Holy Spirit that reveals to him also is leading him along the way. How amazing that is our God. That is the wonderworking of the Holy Spirit.
After spending a week of fellowship and ministry at Tyre, it was time for Paul and his team to leave. Look at verse 5, “And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.” Isn't it amazing that just within one week, the believers at Tyre had become so close and devoted to Paul and his missionary team? Again, surely this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, there will be no such strong spiritual bond as they accompanied Paul and his team until they reached the shore, the place where the ship was. All of a sudden, that place became the prayer meeting, so to speak. All of them, the men, their wives, their children, they knelt down together and prayed. Can you see that?
Oftentimes we only think of the prayer meeting as in a designated place at a designated time? Like in our church, it will be here every Friday, 8:00 p.m. That is our prayer meeting. Well, it is true. This is the time whereby we have set aside for the people to come together and pray, our Friday prayer meeting. But actually, anytime is a good time for a prayer meeting to take place. Whenever and wherever there's a need, two or three of us can gather together. If possible, even more, better so. And we can have a prayer meeting. Even in your own families, whenever and wherever there is a need. When your mom or dad is in the hospital, you can gather your children together, call on the Lord in a family prayer meeting. I believe at this time, the Gan's family, the children of Sister Molly Gan, will be gathering together not just on Friday but perhaps every day. They will come together to pray for their beloved mother and grandmother, right? Anytime is a good time for us to have a prayer meeting. It need not be a Friday prayer meeting. Obviously, it's good for us to come and set aside a designated time, designated place to pray. But whenever there's a need, wherever we can, two or three, if not even more, we can have a prayer meeting. So on the shore, they gathered together, knelt down, and prayed. The believers knew in their hearts that Paul would be facing persecution at Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit had revealed it to them. Yet the Apostle Paul was still adamant to go. So they knew that it must be God's will. So what could they do in such a time like this? They could pray. So the men, being the leaders at home, leaders in the church, gathered all their wives, their children, they knelt down and prayed together.
Finally, verse 6, “And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.” It was as if the prayer meeting had ended. So as the prayer meeting had ended, Paul and his team went on board the ship, and the believers returned home. What an amazing way to end this passage. The prayer meeting comes to an end. They separated. Paul went on board. The believers went home. We will end our message here, and we will come back again next week for the second part of “The Believer's Conviction”.
So remember these two points: his conviction of the purpose. There's a purpose. Again, it is not without purpose. It is not inconsequential or insignificant. There are reasons why Paul would do what he was doing. With this purpose in his heart, and he was convicted of this purpose that God has placed in his heart. And the second thing is the Spirit was leading him. The Spirit of God reveals to him. At the same time, the Spirit of God also leads him along the way. So for all of us, as God reveals to us information, as God allows things to be announced to us, to be declared to us, things that we know, do not be afraid. He who is in control of all things, He will also lead you all the way. That is our God.
Before we go into our prayer items, I would like to just update about Sister Molly before I close with a word of prayer. Sister Molly has been transferred from Box Hill Hospital to Wantirna Health Palliative Care. So she has been there for a couple of days already. Children are there every day to see her, and she is managing, I would say, the best she can. Physically she's weak, but spiritually she is strong. And she is always telling me that she wants to go home to be with the Lord. She's ready to go home to be with the Lord. Indeed, our dear sister is happy to go home. I have to tell her that it is the Lord's timing. I have to tell her that God's timing is perfect. His purpose, His will, His time is always perfect. And this morning, I just shared with her, "For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain." So praise the Lord. Our sister is doing the best she can. She's strong. And continue to pray for her and the family that they would be strong as well. Okay, and also pray for Joyce and the baby that God's grace and peace will be showered upon them abundantly. Okay, let us close with a word of prayer, and then I'll pass the time to Deacon Adrian.
Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for this time that we can consider this portion of scriptures. Indeed, thou hast taught us nothing happens without a purpose. Even in our lives, in the things we do, the reason why we do certain things, the decision we make, why we worship, why we serve, why we give, why we are not afraid. It is all because of our convictions and our convictions are built and based on the Word of God. And we live our lives according to our convictions. Thou hast also placed in our hearts purposes. Thou hast called us to do different things, and we know why we do those things that Thou hast called us. We serve with a purpose and we are focused on the purpose like the Apostle Paul. Oh Lord, help us not to lose focus but always to remember we don't just serve aimlessly but we serve with a purpose. We live our lives with a purpose, and we also live our convictions because of the Spirit's leading. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as believers because without the Spirit of God, then we do not belong to Jesus Christ. But as believers, we have the Holy Spirit, and we know that nothing happens by chance nor coincidence. Everything is by thy appointment, and if Thou would reveal to us, Thou would allow information to be known to us, to be declared to us, to be— Thou has a purpose. The Holy Spirit will also lead us along the way, and we know that we are not afraid because the Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith, will help us to press on and persevere and help us to fight a good fight of faith, finish the course and keep the faith. So help us, oh Lord, to be like the Apostle Paul. And as we learn about the believer's conviction, we want also to apply it into our lives. So continue to teach us through Thy infallible and inerrant Word that we may rightly apply the word of truth into our lives. We give Thee thanks, and we pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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