The Obvious Inevitable

When Paul got a word from the Lord he asked no questions and followed the Lord and did not let others dissuade him for doing so. In Acts 21 Paul is headed for Jerusalem and along the way he gets some warnings from those who had the gift of prophecy. The following scripture in Acts 21 shows what he was having to deal with along the way to Jerusalem. Acts 21: 1After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. 2 There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. 3 We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.

4 We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem. 5 When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, 6 and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home. 7 The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed for one day. 8 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. 10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea.11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

To set the scene, I think it is important to reference how Paul has been living his life on his missionary journeys. First, he committed his LIFE to follow Jesus and preach this message of salvation found in a faith relationship with Jesus. Paul has been beaten, rejected by religious leaders, stoned to death, whipped, and kicked out of every synagogue on his journey to this point. Paul wanted to go to Asia, but God told him not to, so he didn't go then. Paul has a man come to him in a vision telling him to "come over and help us," so he goes to Macedonia. God tells him to avoid going to Ephesus, a church he dearly loved, and go straight to Jerusalem. What does he do? He goes straight to Jerusalem. Now, he has people filled with the Holy Spirit warning him what will happen if he goes to Jerusalem, But he is so focused on going there that he keeps on track to go to Jerusalem. If anything is true, Paul will indeed follow the leading of the Lord no matter what lies ahead of him.

Those who were believers warned him all along the way that he should not go to Jerusalem, but the Holy Spirit "trumped" what they wanted, so he continued to trust God. In verse 10, Paul gets an object lesson from a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy. Acts 21: 10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea.11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. What did Paul do after this man showed what would happen to him? Paul replied to all this in Acts 21: 13, But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

This thinking by Paul is not new; it is a continuation of his thinking when he wrote to the church in Philippi in Philippians 1:21. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. The man lives what he preaches to the surprise of no one! Paul is going to Jerusalem, no matter the cost. Why? Once again, God spoke, and Paul listened to and followed Jesus. From the time Jesus intervened in Paul's life direction and changed him, Paul has followed the Holy Spirit no matter what the Holy Spirit said. That is the true meaning of "being on mission!"

What is the "mission" of the church? Is the church following that mission as led by the Holy Spirit? In Matthew 16:18, we see the empowerment of the church when Jesus says Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock, I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. We see also the purpose of the church and what kind of power Jesus has given to those in the church in Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Are we focused or easily distracted by programs, trends, and other eye candy? If so, what will it take to get back on mission? Stay tuned to my next blog, and I will share what God's word says we are to do to get back on the mission God has given us. It is obvious and inevitable what must be done. The question is, "Are We Willing?"

Vesselogical Out,

David Warren