From Acts to Revelation
Part 56 – Paul Says
Goodbye
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
This
week, we will see Paul;
1)
Travel
alone for time with the Lord, to hear from the Holy Spirit
2)
Discover
that he is on a one way journey, led by the Holy Spirit.
3)
Say
Goodbye to the Elders of Ephesus
SCRIPTURE
REFERENCE
Acts
20:13-27
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos,
where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because
he was going there on foot. 14 When
he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and
arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the
following day arrived at Miletus.16 Paul
had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of
Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the
day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the
church. 18 When
they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with
you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I
served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of
severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not
hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught
you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both
Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have
faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to
Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only
know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships
are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my
only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus
has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about
preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you
today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to
proclaim to you the whole will of God.
a. We see
that Paul begins his journey by traveling twenty miles on foot, alone.
i.
This is more than likely so he can spend
time alone with the Lord, and to hear from the Holy Spirit on what he was to
do, and where he was to go.
ii.
We too, need to listen to the Holy Spirit
when we have decisions to make.
a.
Paul, as many others, have to make time in their lives for the Lord
b.
Because they know, they cannot move forward
without it!
iii. Paul
knew, his life was not his own, and he could not make decisions without knowing
what the Lord wanted from him.
b. After
his walk, he met up with Luke and the others to travel by boat.
i. Remember, it is Luke who is recording this account.
c. We see
from the scripture that he traveled from Assos
to Mitylene, then to Chios, and Samos where they rested in Trogyllium
for a night. Then they traveled to Miletus,
and sailed past Ephesus.
i.
We are told he did not want to spend any
time in Asia (Ephesus)
a.
Paul and his companions were moving quickly
from place to place.
ii.
Perhaps he did not want to see the Elder's in Ephesus because he knew how difficult
it would be for him to leave again, with his journey ahead, and the troubles
and tribulations he was about to face.
iii. So he
passed Ephesus by 30 miles, then sent a messenger asking the Elders to come see
him.
d.
The scriptures tell us in verse 16, that
Paul “hasted, to be at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost.”
II.
PAUL CALLS ON THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS
a. It was
here in Miletus, 30 miles from Ephesus, he called on the Elders in Ephesus to
come see him.
i.
The Holy Spirit must have revealed to Paul,
and warned him of the upcoming difficulties he will face on this trip, and it
is almost as if he is in a hurry because he wants to keep from backing down
because of what is to come.
ii.
Like a old bandage, knowing the pain ahead
of pulling off, you jerk it as quickly as possible.
b. When
they arrive (3-4 days after sending the messenger)
i.
Paul speaks with them
III. PAUL
SAYS GOODBYE TO THEM
a. Paul
Reminds them of the beginning of the church in Ephesus
i.
You
know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came
into the province of Asia.
ii.
I
served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of
severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
iii. You know that I have not hesitated to
preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly
and from house to house.
iv.
I have
declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in
repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
b. Paul
then talks about his upcoming journey
i.
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to
Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
ii.
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns
me that prison and hardships are facing me.
iii. However, I
consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the
race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of
testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
c. Paul
then Says goodbye to the Elders
i. Now I know that
none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever
see me again.
iii. For I have not
hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Next week we will look at the final
words and instructions that Paul leaves to the elder's before he travels to
Jerusalem.
CONCLUSION
Ø We need
to spend some time alone with the Lord to see where the Holy Spirit wants to
lead us.
Ø We need
to know that whatever God has planned for us, He will give us the means,
strength and courage to accomplish it.
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