Journey To Jerusalem Series

SERIES: “LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH”

TEXT: ACTS 21:1-36

TITLE: “JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM: A Lesson on the Will of God”

INTRODUCTION: A. When Courtney was 3 or 4 years old, we made a trip to King’s

Island. There was a children’s ride that looked like a locomotive. The

track it traveled wound through some trees and curved around a pretty

long path. Brandon would have been 8 or 9 and he rode along with

her.

As the ride started, Courtney turned around to us and yelled, “See

ya later. We’re goin’ on a journey!”

--Although the locomotive traveled along the track for quite awhile, it

ended back where it started.

1. There are a lot of people who believe they are actually going

somewhere but their life is actually a dead-end.

2. We either journey in this life in a way that follows God’s will or we

journey outside of God’s will.

a. One way leads us to abundant life here on earth and everlasting

life in heaven

b. The other leads to confusion and unfulfillment here on earth and

to eternal punishment in hell.

c. Prov. 14:12 – “There is a way that seems right to a man but in the

end it leads to death.”

B. About 2000 years ago, approximately 20 years before Paul made his

final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus Christ made His final journey to

Jerusalem.

--We remember and celebrate that event on a day we call Palm Sunday

1. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of the colt of a donkey to the

cheers of the people who laid their coats and palm branches down for

Him to ride over

--much like our “red carpet treatment”

2. They all shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name

of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David!

Hosanna in the highest!”

3. The next time Jesus heard the crowd, they were shouting, “Crucify

Him! Crucify Him!”

C. Paul’s final trip to Jerusalem paralleled Jesus’ in several ways:

1. Jesus was knew the purpose for His life

--Paul also knew the purpose for his life

2. Jesus knew what would happen when He went to Jerusalem

--Paul also knew what would happen when he went to Jerusalem

3. Jesus followed the will of His Father

--Paul also followed the will of the Father

D. Acts 21:1-36 – “After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put

out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes

and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,

went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the

south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship

was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with

them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to

Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our

way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out

of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying good-

by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. We

continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we

greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next

day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the

evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who

prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet

named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took

Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, The Holy

Spirit says, In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of

this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ When we heard this,

we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I

am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the

name of the Lord Jesus.’ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave

up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’ After this, we got ready and

went up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea

accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we

were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of The next day Paul

and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present.

Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the

Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised