How many persons have been moved to serve the Lord on some mission field only to become discouraged by warnings of difficult conditions and then return home without finishing the task? Remember Paul’s purpose statement about his life; “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” (Acts 20:24). What is your “if only” that governs and gives purpose to your life? In chapter 21, Paul begins his journey to Jerusalem. Not even the warnings of the Holy Spirit that suffering lay ahead could stop this devoted servant or divert him from the burden laid upon his heart. Was Paul being disobedient to the Spirit? In the light of chapter 16:1-6 where he was clearly sensitive and obedient to the Spirit, I do not think so. Paul accepted the warnings and calculated them into his plan, but remained unmoved from his plan. Consider this attitude as you study this section of Acts. Acts 21:1-16. Paul and those with him start their journey to Jerusalem in spite of warnings. The believers __________ to the will of the Lord. Acts 21:17-26. The missionary team is received by the church at Jerusalem. On hearing the things God had done among the Gentiles, “they glorified God”. Acts 21:27-36. Jews from Asia stirred up the whole crowd with an intent to kill Paul. He was arrested and brought into the barracks while a mob cried out, “Away with him!” Acts 21:37-40. Undaunted by the opposition, Paul uses his Jewish background to ask permission to “speak to the people”. This becomes a great illustration of a missionary who continually seeks opportunities to speak the gospel even though circumstances may be very contrary. This mindset comes from a strong personal relationship with the Author of Salvation and the Spirit of Truth.
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This devoted missionary to Africa slowly starved to death. Yet this was the way he faced it: “My prayer is that the Lord my God may be glorified in me whatever it may be, by life or death, and that He will…raise up and send forth other laborers into this harvest, that His name may be magnified, and His kingdom enlarged, in the salvation of multitudes from among the inhabitants of this land.” These are the words of a man willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of reaching the unreached with the gospel message and asking God to use others beyond his life-span to fulfill the commission given us by the Lord. Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 124. This is the last time Paul is directly interacting with a local church and its leadership before the long journey to Rome, but in the remainder of chapter 20, there are critical principles lived out by Paul that deserve and require close attention. I will break down the verses in this section into smaller bits than they appear in the manual to make it easier to absorb. If you are in any role of leadership, I urge you to study this section with intensity. If these principles were applied to churches today, leadership would look much different and become more effective in their mission. While every believer is responsible for their own walk with the Lord, God has ordained godly leaders to model this walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 20:17. In Miletus, Paul sent for the Ephesian church elders to come to him. He may have sensed this was the last opportunity he would have to invest in their development. Acts 20:18-27. Paul recounts how he served among them; “with all humility, and with fears and with trials…and did not shrink from declaring…anything that was ___________.” Even though he knew what “affliction awaited” him, he did “not count his life of any value nor as precious to” himself. Paul only wanted to “finish his course and the ministry [he] received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the ________ of the grace of God.” Acts 20:28-31. In these verses Paul lays out clear instructions for the elders that must be applied to all church leadership:
Acts 20:33-38. Paul points again to his motive for serving and personal acts of helping the weak. How careful we must be in discipling leadership, not just with instruction, but with a witness in our personal lives in public and private. If no one has invested in this way into your life, I urge you to find a true “Paul” who will equip you with these key principles so you can pass them on effectively to your “Timothy”. Regarding his work among the Indians, Richard Williams said, “I have felt – come life, come death – God’s will would be my choice. Should anything prevent my ever adding to this, let all my beloved ones at home rest assured that I am happy beyond expression, and would not have changed situations with any man living. Let them be assured…that the hope of glory, the hope laid up for me in heaven, filled my whole heart with joy and gladness, and that for me to live is Christ, to die is gain: the I can say, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Philippians 1:23).” Richard Williams had caught the vision by comparing his life with all its hardships to what results in eternal reward. What measurement are you using to evaluate your life? Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 124. In this section of Acts, Paul plans to visit Rome, but how he gets there is an unforeseen journey. After leaving the elders in Ephesus, Paul goes to Jerusalem where, after his arrest, he eventually appeals to Caesar. This takes him to Rome where he preaches the gospel with all boldness and without hindrance. As we go through these chapters, consider carefully how he left the church in Ephesus and the key principles that he used to leave behind a strong biblical church. These principles are the hallmark of a successful model that can be used any time and in any culture. Is there any reason why they should not be used today? Acts 19:21-41. The Holy Spirit directs Paul’s travels and his helpers are sent out into Macedonia to multiply the ministry. As he travels, Paul confronts the worship of false gods and “persuaded and turned away a great many people.” It is little wonder that such boldness arouses opposition. Acts 20:1-6. After Paul left Ephesus, he went through Macedonia and gave the disciples “much _________________”. This characteristic in Paul’s method establishes churches so they will reproduce rapidly. Acts 20:-16. The church at Troas gathered to _______ _______ at which time Paul spoke at length. Eutychus falls into a “deep sleep” and “fell down from the third story. Paul went down…and taking him in his arms said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” The church is comforted by the power of God in His servant. As you work through these precious chapters, consider that all these events are working together for the expansion of the gospel and planting churches because Paul is consistent in his method. He never remained in one place longer than it took to evangelize, plant a church, and get it established. “Why is my soul disquieted within me? Things may turn out better than I expect. Everything is known to God, and God cares.” Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 119.
Incomplete teaching that leaves out essential truths is confusing to the hearers and can lead to weakness in churches so they accept false doctrines. As Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds some disciples, he asked questions to determine where they were in their faith and understanding. For those on the mission field, this type of discernment is critical so we help believers build on a biblical foundation.
Acts 19:1-10. God gave Paul discernment as to the spiritual condition of disciples at Ephesus and he taught them how the Holy Spirit had come. “When Paul laid his hands on them, the ____ _____ came upon them” (19:6). He then _______ reasoned in the synagogue and “persuaded them about the kingdom of God.” Acts 19:11-20. Extraordinary miracles were done by Paul so that “fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Many of those who were now believers came confessing …so the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” We must never underestimate what God will do when His truth is taught in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesus became another strong church, but it began through corrective ministry. Paul instructed Timothy to “preach…reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). Grace and truth work hand-in-hand (John 1:14, 17) in Jesus' ministry and it must in ours. “Death is a glorious event to one going to Jesus.”Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 119.
Corinth is Paul’s next stop; a city that became at this time a commercial hub in Southern Greece, with a population of between 80,000 to 100,000 people. It held the reputation of moral corruption and slave trade. In these conditions, Paul finds Aquila and Priscilla who were also tentmakers. They will become strategic partners in ministry with Paul. Some of the best allies we have in ministry are those who work for their own support and are powerfully used by God to advance the gospel to the unreached. Acts 18:1-17 – As before, Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sunday and many believed and were baptized. Though reviled by the Jews, “the Lord said to Paul…___ ____ ___ _______, but go on speaking and do not be silent.” Paul stayed in Corinth a year and a half to establish the church. Acts 18:18-23 – As we have seen with others, Paul mentors Aquila and Priscilla by taking them with him to Cenchrea, Ephesus, Caesarea and Antioch. Through this the disciples are _____________. Acts 18:24-28 – This effective method of Paul equips Aquila and Priscilla to assist another disciple (Apollos) to become even more powerful in the use of the Scriptures. If we are going to be effective in spreading the gospel, planting churches and establishing them in the faith, we must follow Paul’s multiplication method by investing into others and be willing to go out of sight. This requires our confidence in the Holy Spirit’s work as we move on. “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”Smith, Oswald J., The Challenge of Missions, page 118-119.
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