Preparing for Your Future
Acts 21:1-15
Intro: We live in a world where the future seems less and less certain with each crisis and tragedy that happens. We have people all around us reminding us of the things that could go wrong. Gas prices could soar even higher. The economy could collapse. The local mill could close down. Social Security could fail. Terrorists could carry out a nuclear attack on the U.S. Hillary could get elected. The bad news just goes on and on. I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of potential woes. On top of that, we have numerous personal problems that could blow up in our face at anytime. Something bad might happen to one of our family members. Our marriage might fall apart. Our past might catch up with us. We might lose everything we’ve been working toward.
-So how do we prepare ourselves for what seems like an uncertain future? Some go into hiding or seclusion. Some prepare bomb shelters and keep an emergency stock of food and water. Others tuck away enough cash to get them through a tough time. Some make themselves as independent as possible from electricity, water, and other things that might be disrupted by a natural disaster or other calamity. Some of these things aren’t bad ideas. In fact there are some practical ways to prepare for future catastrophes that just make good sense.
-But as we walk with the Lord and learn to trust Him with our future, how can we prepare ourselves for what lies ahead? We’re going to talk about that today as we look at the life of Paul. He was warned that some bad days were ahead of him, but he was also assured of God’s promise that He would be with Him no matter what came his way. That is really the main truth I’d like us to consider today.
Prop: Our preparation for the future must be based on God’s loving presence and the good plan He has for our lives.
Interrogative: Having said that, what role does God play in preparing us for the future?
TS: Let’s look at a few principles that are evident in our text today.
I. God Often Uses Fellow Believers to Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:1-4)
1 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. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 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. 4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
-Paul and his companions spent a week with the believers / disciples at Tyre. Bible scholars tell us that Paul was probably sailing on a large freighter. Part of the rationale for this is the fact that they stayed there 7 days, which is about how long it might take to unload a large freight ship by hand. The Greek present participle for the word, unloading, leads one to believe that it took a period of time to unload the ship.
-Regardless, Paul had 7 precious days to spend with the believers in Tyre, which is located in modern Lebanon. We don’t know much about this church, but church history tells us that after the time of the apostles, the church at Tyre became an important center for the Christian faith. This appears to be a fulfillment of Psalm 87:4, which lists Tyre as one of the cities that will know God in the future. How did the gospel get to Tyre? Well, the first wave probably came after the Day of Pentecost in the year of Christ’s death and resurrection. Thousands of Jews journeyed to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost, and it is likely that some Jews or proselytes from Tyre were there and received the gospel, and took it back home. However, the 2nd wave probably came after Stephen was killed by the Sanhedrin and a great persecution arose. Acts 11:19 says, “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.” Phoenicia is modern day Lebanon, where Tyre was located. So, the church at Tyre seemed to be pretty well established by the time Paul sailed in.
-Well, as Paul spends 7 days with these believers, he probably teaches them and encourages them to keep living their lives for Jesus – just as he did in all the churches he visited. But these believers did not just sit passively while Paul did all the ministering. No, some of them were hearing from the Lord as well. The HS had revealed to them that Paul was going to face some problems in Jerusalem. So, being the normal human beings they were, they warned Paul not to go there. If you can avoid problems, do so.
-What I want to point out from these verses is that any of us can hear from God – if we are willing to listen. Now sometimes we hear from the Lord, but we aren’t quite sure what to do with it – just like these Christians. They got the basic message right (Paul will have trouble in Jerusalem). But they did not understand that the sufferings that were ahead for Paul were okay. Perhaps the HS revealed these things to them so they would pray more fervently for Paul and the gospel would have greater impact.
-The point is that God does use fellow believers to help prepare us for the things that are yet to come.
-TS: How else does God prepare us for the future?
II. God Invented Prayer to Help Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:5)
5 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.
-No doubt this was not the first time Paul had prayed with these people during his 7 days there. They probably had some awesome times of prayer and intercession together as they called on the Lord for His leadership and guidance.
-Prayer is a gift that was God’s idea. We can call on Him from our hearts, and somehow, He hears us and responds to our cry. Prayer brings us before God’s throne of grace, as the writer of Hebrews says: “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
-Prayer changes us, and it changes our life situations. It does not change God because God is unchanging, and always wants to help us. Prayer helps us get to know God. Prayer is how we talk to the Lord and listen to what He is saying to us. Prayer is what keeps our relationship with God fresh and up-to-date.
-So, as we look toward an uncertain future, not knowing what might happen in this volatile world we live in, let’s use this tool God has given us. Use it to get to know God better. Use it so that God can better prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead.
-TS: Well, this next point is similar to the first one, but has its own uniqueness.
III. God Raises Up Prophetic Voices to Prepare Us for the Future (Acts 21:6-12)
6 After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. 7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 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.’" 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
-In spite of many wanna-be prophets and those wanting to draw attention to themselves, there are many prophets today who really do hear from the Lord. And like the people of Tyre, sometimes the problem is not in the message, it is in what we do with it, and how we interpret it.
-As Paul was staying at Philip’s house, we are not told what the four prophetesses might have heard from God or what they may have spoken to Paul. V.9 simply says they prophesied. However, we can read what Agabus had to say. God’s word to Paul through Agabus was not out of line with what God had been telling Paul. Look back a few verses to Acts 20:22-23: "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.”
-So, the HS was urging Paul to go to Jerusalem, but He also warned him both personally and through disciples and prophets that he would be imprisoned and handed over to the Gentiles. I don’t believe the HS was warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Rather, he was preparing Paul for what was ahead. What was Paul’s response to facing trials and imprisonment? Acts 20:24: I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
-Paul was ready to do whatever it took to share the good news about Jesus with the people God was leading him to. In Acts 9:15, the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man [Saul or Paul] is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. Paul knew what God was calling him to do, and he went willing to lay his life down. The HS gave Paul at least 2 specific warnings to prepare him for the trials ahead.
-God will sometimes speak to us about the future. He may speak to us through Scripture or during times of prayer, or he may even speak through someone else, as they use the gift of prophecy that He gives. Far from fortune-telling, which is very unbiblical, this is one way God prepares us for what lies ahead.
-TS: Well, as Paul’s example shows us, personal safety is not the most important thing. God may want to do something far bigger than just keeping us safe. There may be some of us here who will face a life or death situation for the sake of the good news. There is ultimately only one thing that should determine how we approach the future.
IV. God Wants His Will to Guide Us Toward our Future (Acts 21:13-15)
13 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." 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord’s will be done." 15 After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
-It appears that even Luke joined in, trying to persuade Paul to avoid Jerusalem, but to no avail. Why? Because Paul had heard from God, and he knew where God’s will was taking him.
-There are times when we really wrestle with this issue of finding God’s will for our lives. Lord, please show me Your will. What do You want me to do? Several years ago I was in turmoil over what God wanted me to do with my life. I would pray and ask the Lord to show me, but would never get any clear direction. At some point in time, I began to realize that God was able to take care of the bigger picture. I was never that great with strategy anyway. I began to understand that if I would walk with the Lord today, and live according to His will for me today, then the long-term will of the Lord would take care of itself.
-Now I don’t mean that we shouldn’t ask God for specific direction or greater revelation. But if we live each day in the center of God’s will, then we will find ourselves in the center of His bigger plan for our lives. He will open doors and provide opportunities for us at the right times so that we will continue to fulfill His purpose for our lives.
-Proverbs 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
-It comes down to saying, “Lord, whatever You want. I’m willing.” Sound familiar? That’s what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, before going to the cross: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39). We might pray, “Lord, I’m not sure I really want to go through all the problems and pain. Please find another way. Yet, not what I want, but what You want.”
Conclusion: In closing, I hope that is your prayer, as you look toward an unknown, sometimes unpredictable future. God is using your fellow Christian brothers and sisters to prepare you for the future. God wants you to prepare for the future through prayer, staying connected to Him. God may give people prophetic insight to better prepare you for your future. Ultimately, God wants you to face your future with His will as the single most important factor. If you will include God in all your future hopes, dreams, and plans, He will lead you and guide you to the place you need to be. And the end of that road leads right into His arms. That makes it all worth it! As we pray, let’s commit ourselves to following God’s plan for our lives, no matter where the road takes us. It’s the only way we want to go.
