Paul’s Missionary Dilemma Around Turkey Series

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 32

Paul’s missionary dilemma around Turkey

Acts 21:1-14

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”

-- Last week, we completed our exploration of Paul’s 3 years in Ephesus

-- CH: Would Seasons be a place that only desires to know and share Jesus?

-- Only you and I can determine that – but to do so we must obey what God says

- Today, let’s explore a great choice that Paul faces in his ministry …

-- Does he obey God, or does he obey what the church is wanting him to do?

-- See: How about when the church is convinced they are hearing from God, too?

- Read Acts 21:1-14 / Pray

- FACT: Paul feels called/directed to go to Jerusalem

-- Even in the face of everyone opposing him – he knew his mission

-- One might read at this chapter and wonder if Paul is not “listening to reason”

- OBSERVE: One thing we know – is after this (don’t miss this):

-- Paul is no longer involved in worldwide missionary work …

-- His witness is limited to only national leaders and those who sought him out

- Why? Because he soon becomes a physical prisoner for Christ … he is …

-- Captive to the calling, but, because of the calling he is compelled to obey!

- Need us to remember & understand this: Paul loved the Jewish people!

-- They were his own people, and he wanted them to know what he knew

-- How much? He would even risk his own salvation for them to know Jesus!

-- Romans 9:1-3, “With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.”

- Confronted time and time again by believers urging him not to go …

-- He faces (what I think many face today) when it comes to obeying God

- TR: 5 things for us to focus our thoughts on (discuss over our 2 points)

Point 1 – Paul’s journey and spiritual struggles

1. Paul’s journey is across a land that is rich in history (vv1-3)

-- It was truly a land that he could make a home, that had place for his work

Coos: A commercial and trading island on a major shipping route

-- Famous medical school here, temple of Aesculapius (Greek god of medicine)

-- Birthplace of Hippocrates (Greek physician) and Appelles (Greek painter)

Rhodes: known as the Island of Roses; located at entrance to Aegean Sea

-- Critical to shipping in the area; university dedicated to speech/oratory

-- Very populous town with a growing population to be ministered to

Patara: Located at the mouth of the Xanthus River; commercial city

-- Major shipping location to the Mediterranean Sea; lots of traffic in and out

Cyprus: Corner of the Med Sea; copper mines and shipbuilding industries

-- City plagued with sins of the flesh, center of worship of Venus (goddess of love)

-- Known for immorality and depravity and evil that had gripped its people

Tyre: One of the most famous ports of the ancient world; had two harbors

-- Major city for trade of all services and goods across the region; huge population

-- Denounced by the prophets because of its self-centeredness & worldliness

- APP: See this: Paul could serve in a target rich (sin-filled) environment!

-- BIG: Sometimes the easy road is not the right choice for God’s servant!

2. Paul’s struggle is between a Spirit-filled church & his own calling (vv4-6)

- Anytime a spirit-filled church speaks, the messenger of God has to listen

-- The fearful warnings from the church was bound to put a great pressure on Paul

-- He knew his calling, but the people sensed/heard he was in grave danger!

- Fact: this was a small church (they had to search to find them, “found” v4)

-- Yet, it was a church filled with the presence, worship, and power of God

-- Why? Because they were able to tell Paul (via prophecy) what was ahead!

-- Greek: dia tou Pneumatos; through the Spirit

- They believed the word they had for him was a prohibition (forbidding him)

• But he received it as informational, wisdom to factor into his journey

• The picture here is that Paul – the great Paul – is torn between 2 positions

• He’s torn between: listening to a spirit-filled church and listening to God

• The church felt they heard from God, and of course so did Paul … so …