Introduction:
A. How many of you like the story “The Little Engine that Could”?
1. The Little Engine That Could is an illustrated children’s book that was first published in the United States in 1930.
2. The story is used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work.
3. The story is about a long train that must be pulled over a high mountain.
a. Larger engines are asked to pull the train, but for various reasons they refused.
b. The request was finally sent to a small engine, who agreed to try.
c. The engine succeeded, pulling the train over the mountain while repeating: “I-think-I-can.”
B. You might remember that when Syracuse University Football Coach, Greg Robinson was fired in December of 2008 with two games left in the season, he became a bit of a laughingstock, because in a press conference after being fired, he read the children’s story, The Little Engine that Could, in order to illustrate that he still thought he could turn around the program.
1. He said that the job was not yet finished, and just like the little engine that could, he and the football program were still moving slowly up the mountain.
C. While many made fun of him, his mindset was certainly right.
1. Our attitude and mindset make such a difference.
2. I’ve often said that attitude equals altitude – how we think will determine how high we can go.
3. Henry Ford said: “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you are right.”
D. Let’s consider the difference between hindrances and obstacles.
1. Although they are similar in meaning and are often used as synonyms, I want to use them to represent two different kinds of challenges we face in life.
2. As nouns the difference between hindrance and obstacle is that hindrance is something which hinders: something that holds back or causes problems with something else; while an obstacle is something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress.
3. The distinction that I want to make is:
a. An obstacle is physical – it is a physical reality
b. A hindrance is mental – it is our mental response to a physical reality – it is the condition of my heart and spirit that makes obstacles insurmountable.
4. For instance: An obstacle might be a hurdle on a running track – it is a physical reality – it has a specific height and challenge to it.
a. A hindrance, however, might be the fact that I don’t think I can jump over the hurdle.
5. The one is a real, physical reality, whereas the other is only as real as we make it in our minds.
E. Today, as we bring our study of the life of Paul to a conclusion, I want us to take to heart the lesson that Paul had lived an unhindered life and that Paul had had an unhindered ministry.
1. But I want us to wrestle with an important distinction: does the fact that Paul had an unhindered life and ministry mean that he had a life and ministry with no obstacles and challenges?
2. Absolutely not! If you think that is the case, you haven’t been paying close attention during our sermon series.
3. Paul faced all kinds of obstacles and challenges, including all kinds of persecution and beatings, and opposition, and physical suffering, even a shipwreck and imprisonments.
4. If he had all those obstacles, then how can I say he had an unhindered life and ministry?
5. It all comes back to attitude and mindset – Paul learned how to serve unhindered in the midst of all the obstacles and challenges.
6. Let’s see how this lesson is illustrated and magnified in the final years of Paul’s life.
I. The Story
A. Last week, you will recall, we left Paul on the island of Malta.
1. He and his companions were on their way to Rome, where Paul was scheduled to stand trial before Caesar.
2. Unfortunately, they found themselves in a hurricane and for two weeks the storm took them far off course on the Mediterranean sea.
3. Thankfully, God was in control, and through an angel, God promised that everyone on board would be safe if they stayed with the ship until it would run aground on an island – Malta.
4. The Bible tells us that the islanders showed them unusual kindness, and that they honored them in many ways, and when it was time to set sail again, they furnished the supplies needed.
B. We pick up the story in Acts 28:11: 11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
1. We learn that they were stranded on Malta for 3 months – they had to wait for winter to pass.
2. Don’t you love the detail that Luke gives us?
a. The last ship they will travel on is another Alexandrian ship – this one had the figureheads of twin gods.
3. Let’s look at a map and trace the final leg of their journey to Rome.
a. From Malta they sailed up to Syracuse – I always get a kick out of the fact that Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible!
b. From Syracuse they went to Rhegium and then Puteoli.
c. Then they met brothers who traveled down from Rome and met Paul at Appius and Three Taverns – that must have been a hopping place!
4. Notice Paul’s reaction to seeing brothers in Christ – thanksgiving and encouragement.
5. Finally, they reached Rome – months after they had left Caesarea – maybe 5 or 6 months.
6. And where did Paul stay in Rome? A prison? No, he got his own place and was under house arrest – I will have more to say about that in a few minutes.
C. Let’s read the conclusion of the story as revealed in Acts: 17 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar - not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and
they will listen!”
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. So a few days after arriving in Rome, Paul called for a meeting with the Jewish leaders.
a. Paul shared his story with them only to discover that they had not heard about his situation.
b. Paul then shared the gospel with them and told them about his calling and ministry.
c. Like many of the Jewish audiences Paul had spoken to over the years, they listened with interest until he brought up the Gentiles, then they were ready to leave.
2. What do you think about the way Luke finished the story of Acts?
a. Do you think it strange that Luke would just leave it like this, with Paul under house arrest, waiting for two years for a chance to appear before Caesar?
b. Do you long for a grand climax where Paul addresses the ruler of the Roman Empire?
c. It’s kind of anti-climactic, isn’t it? Was Paul set free, or was he convicted?
3. Over the years, Christians and scholars have questioned why Luke ends the story there.
a. Some have said that perhaps Luke wrote Luke and Acts as a defense of Paul to be used at his trial before Caesar.
b. Others have thought that Luke ended at that point in Paul’s history, but planned on picking up the story in a third volume that was never written.
c. Although we might not know all the reasons why Luke ended the story here, we can be sure that he did it for a reason, and that it is just the way the Spirit wanted him to leave it.
4. Let’s look more closely at the very last verse: Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. The old NIV did not do a bad job with that translation, but because of readability, the NIV didn’t allow the last word in the Greek to be the last word in English.
b. The new NIV did and most more literal translations, like the ESV, have allowed the last word in Greek to be the last word in English.
c. What is the very last word in the very last verse in the book of Acts? Unhindered!
d. κηρύσσων τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ διδάσκων τὰ περὶ
proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning
τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ πάσης παρρησίας ἀκωλύτως
the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness unhindered.
e. Those last two words are no coincidence.
f. I have no doubt that Luke intentionally chose to end his account of the Acts with the good news about Jesus being proclaimed with boldness and without hindrance.
g. Maybe it is perfectly fitting that Paul was under house arrest, bound by circumstances out of his control, and yet he was still fulfilling his responsibility to tell others about Jesus.
h. And maybe that is a fitting conclusion because it challenges us, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, to tell the good news boldly, and unhindered.
D. Before we move into more application and conclusion, let’s spend a minute on what we know about the end of Paul’s life as recorded in different sources.
1. It appears that Paul was released after he appeared before Caesar.
a. Some believe it was during this period that Paul made his much dreamed-of trip to Spain.
b. We know that Paul met up with Titus in Crete, and that he enjoyed the gracious company of Philemon and Onesimus, and most significantly, he was reunited with Timothy at Ephesus.
c. Sweet words and warm embraces must have accompanied their reunions.
2. Unfortunately, Paul’s freedom lasted only a few short years.
a. Sooner than most might have expected, Paul was arrested at Troas and dragged back to Rome in chains, landing on the cold floor of a Roman dungeon.
3. In that lonely dungeon, the prisoner named Paul spent his last hours, during which he wrote some of the most tender words ever penned to his young ministerial apprentice, Timothy.
a. Only those who have experienced the dull passing of time on death row know firsthand what it’s like to await certain death by execution.
b. No wonder Paul wrote to Timothy saying “make every effort to come before winter.”
c. No one wants to die alone, even those most sure of heaven, not even the great apostle Paul.
d. We don’t know if Timothy made it before winter, but we know that Paul was virtually alone – only Dr. Luke was nearby – the once-faithful Demas had abandoned Paul, drawn by the world.
e. Deserted, shackled, yet still undaunted, Paul remained strong to the final day of his life.
4. In the final chapter of his second letter to Timothy, Paul wrote, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” (2 Tim. 4:6)
a. Maybe he heard the soldier’s boots coming down the stairs to his cell, when he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
5. Evidence suggests that Paul was beheaded by the Romans under Nero, sometime around May or June of 68 A.D. Nero himself died by suicide on June 9th of the same year.
a. In that brutal moment when Paul was beheaded, the soul of the great apostle was immediately set free.
b. His spirit soared into the heavens – being made absent from the body, he was at last, at home with the Lord (just as he had written about in 2 Cor. 5).
II. The Application
A. As we have seen throughout this entire series, Paul is a great example for us to follow.
1. Numerous times in his writings, he challenged us all to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ.
2. We will be blessed in this world and in the next if we follow Paul’s example.
3. Although we might conclude this sermon and series by pointing to all the ways we should follow Paul’s example, I don’t want to do that today.
4. Rather, I want to encourage us to finish by focusing on this one last example – the way Paul lived an unhindered life and had an unhindered ministry.
5. Let me remind us to keep in mind that by unhindered I don’t mean unencumbered – I’m not talking about having no obstacles or challenges or troubles – I’m talking about being unhindered in spite of obstacles and challenges and troubles.
B. I believe Paul armed himself with two attitudes that helped him to be truly unhindered.
1. The two attitudes were contentment and commitment.
C. First of all, Paul’s life and ministry were unhindered because of Paul’s attitude of contentment.
1. Paul wrote the book of Philippians during his two year house arrest in Rome.
a. He did not write that book while sipping ice tea through a straw on some quiet Aegean beach, nor while basking in the warm sun of the Italian alps.
b. Rather, he wrote this letter while confined in a rented house chained to a Roman soldier.
2. Nevertheless, the letter bubbles over with joy and rejoicing – not because his circumstances are so great, but because his relationship with God and his resulting attitude are so good.
3. In chapter 4, we read these well-known verses: 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:10-13)
4. Did you notice that two times in two verses, Paul said, “I have learned to be content…”?
a. Contentment doesn’t come naturally, rather it is something that must be learned.
b. Contentment was something that Paul had to learn and to cultivate.
5. Through the power of Christ, Paul had learned how to encounter a broad spectrum of stressful and painful situations without letting circumstances impact him negatively.
a. With God’s help, Paul learned how to sustain an excellent attitude of contentment.
b. That contentment allowed him to rise above his circumstances and live beyond them.
6. Ultimately, Paul’s contentment came from trusting God.
a. Paul knew that he belonged to God, was loved by God, and that God had him where he wanted him and would provide for him and work through him whatever the situation.
b. That takes practice, but it is so important that we learn that kind of contentment.
7. Life is hard and we will often find ourselves in situations that are far less than ideal.
a. Life can be difficult and frustrating and painfully unbearable.
b. The great temptation for us when life is like that is to allow circumstances to embitter us.
c. When that happens, we allow doom and gloom to characterize our outlook.
d. Unfortunately, when we live like that for a long time, it becomes a habit, and we can’t imagine being able to think any other way.
8. But the good news is: if a man like Paul could live beyond his awful circumstances, so can we.
a. But Christ must become our central focus, and He alone can empower us and teach us to live above and beyond our circumstances.
b. When we are armed with the right attitude, our external circumstances may not change, but deep within us we will change, we will be at peace, and we will have joy and find strength.
D. Second, Paul’s life and ministry were unhindered because of his attitude of commitment.
1. Paul’s primary commitment in life was serving and glorifying God.
a. That commitment instilled in Paul great determination and perseverance.
2. Determination is defined as: a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult.
a. That kind of commitment and determination is clearly seen as Paul endured and overcame all kinds of persecution and obstacles to continue to spread the good news of Jesus.
3. When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he shared with them some of his travel plans, “I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” (1 Cor. 16:7-8)
a. For most of us, those two things: a great door has opened and many who oppose me, would not go hand in hand, but for Paul they certainly did.
b. He was so committed and determined to accomplish God’s mission that even opposition and challenges were viewed as opportunities.
4. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he shared this positive development: Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (Phil. 1:12-14)
5. Paul’s attitude of commitment and determination caused him to just keep on serving God any way he could, no matter what the circumstances.
a. While Paul was chained to Roman soldiers, they were a captive audience.
6. Another, more recent example, of determination to overcome obstacles is Joni Eareckson Tada.
a. Joni has been paralyzed from her shoulders down since diving into shallow water at 18 years of age - that happened in 1967, almost 50 years ago.
b. After struggling through two years of rehabilitation and lots of anger, depression, suicidal thoughts and religious doubts, she made peace with God and committed her life to God.
c. Joni learned how to write and paint by holding the pen and brush with her teeth.
d. Since then she has written over 40 books, recorded several musical albums, starred in an autobiographical movie of her life, has a radio program and founded a Christian organization that advocates for the disabled community.
e. How’s that for determination and commitment! She puts me to shame!
f. She’s a great example of the difference between hindrances and obstacles.
g. We give way too much power to the obstacles in our lives and not enough power to God!
7. Let me share one more example.
a. In Chuck Colson’s book, The Body, he tells the story of Myrtie Howell.
b. Myrtie was a deeply Christian lady, but she had lived a tough life from the start.
c. Her family was very poor, so when she was 10 she was forced to quit school to go to work in a steel mill for 10 cents a day.
d. She got married at 17, but five years later, her husband was killed in an accident.
e. So, at that point she had to go back to work to support herself and her 3 kids.
f. Many years later, her declining health forced her to move into an old, high rise nursing home for those who couldn’t afford anything better.
g. Within a couple of weeks of moving there her youngest son, the baby of the family, died.
h. As you can imagine, sitting in that room, Myrtie fell into a deep depression.
i. As she recalls, she prayed, “Lord, what more can I do for you? I’ve lost everything that ever meant something to me. And now I’m stuck in this dark, dreary room. I have nothing left to live for! I want to die! I’ve had enough of this prison. Take me home!”
j. But God wasn’t ready to take Myrtie home.
k. She said that God spoke to her in a way that was unmistakable. She sensed God saying, “Write to prisoners.”
l. Well, she didn’t exactly know what that meant, but she set out to learn. She wrote a letter and sent it to an Atlanta Penitentiary.
m. Her first letter said, “Dear inmate. I am a grandmother who loves and cares for you. I am willing to be a friend. If you’d like to hear from me, write me. I will answer every letter you write. A Christian friend, Grandmother Howell.”
n. When the letter arrived at the prison, it was given to the chaplain. He sent her the names of 8 prisoners she could write to. Later she got more names from Prison Fellowship.
o. Soon she was writing letters to up to 40 inmates a day from all over the United States.
p. Myrtie later said, “I thought my life was over, but these past few years have been the most fulfilling years of my life!”
q. Simply by a change in attitude, Myrtie went from hindered to unhindered.
8. If we, like the apostle Paul and others, will develop the attitudes of contentment and commitment, then we too can have an unhindered life and ministry.
a. And then our lives will be worthy of following as we follow Christ.
Resources:
Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit, by Charles Swindoll, Word Publishing, 2002, Chapters 21 & 22.
The Unhindered Good News, Sermon by Tim Bond, SermonCentral.com
Advancing Without Hindrance, Sermon by Joseph Smith, SermonCentral.com
