An Exemplary Life Series

Good morning!

LET US PRAY:

Our Almighty and eternal God, we bow down in worship and acknowledge you as our Lord, the one and only true God. Forgive us for the times we have gone astray and into idolatry, going after the seen and unseen things of this world. Enlighten us and bring us back to you. Keep us humble and teachable, and help us seek you with all our heart, our mind and our strength.

We pray for the many who are struggling today, around the world, because of the pandemic and other hardships, may they experience your mercy and grace. Touch the wounded and the sick with your healing grace. Strengthen the weak and hurting, let them find in you their needed refuge and strength. Help those who are worried about their future and their needs find their hope in you.

May the truth of your Word shines through and let all who are misled and lost find their way back to you. Turn their hearts back to you, Lord.

Grant us a thirst for Your Word and a desire to hear from you. Bless us with your truth today. This we pray, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Let’s read Acts 20:1-3 FROM EPHESUS TO MACEDONIA AND GREECE

1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.

After the uproar in Ephesus (Acts 19), Paul felt it was time to move on.

• He has planned to go to Jerusalem, after passing through Macedonia and Achaia (19:21).

• We can see on the MAP he went westward from Ephesus to Macedonia and Greece, revisiting the places he had covered on his second trip.

• When he finally reached Greece (Corinth), he stayed there for three months.

Luke skimmed through this part of the journey with just a few lines but we know from Paul’s letters this trip would have taken over two years.

• Along the way, Paul stayed to speak “many words of encouragement to the people” (v.2) before he ended at Corinth.

• We can understand more about the context of this trip by reading Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

• He wrote 1 Corinthians (AD54-55) from Ephesus, and then 2 Corinthians (AD55-56) from Macedonia.

We see Paul’s dedication to the work of God. I like to highlight three aspects today:

His Undying PERSEVERANCE in the Ministry

Paul was undaunted by the many persecutions and hardships.

While he was in Macedonia, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and mentioned about the hardships that he faced in the province of Asia and Macedonia.

• 2 Cor 1:8-11 8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

• 2 Cor 7:5-7 5For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn-conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Titus, coming from Corinth, rejoined Paul in Macedonia, possibly in Philippi, and updated him of the situation in Corinth.

• While he was in Ephesus, Paul was very concerned about the many issues that have arisen in the Corinth church and he wrote them 1 Corinthians.

• He was longing to see Titus at Troas to get an update of the situation but Titus did not come. So when they met in Philippi, Paul was very comforted.

• Titus brought the good news that the divisions and quarrels in the church have largely quieted down. This was the emotional burden that Paul carries.

• In response, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and had Titus hand-deliver it to them.