TITLE: STAYING THE COURSE
SCRIPTURE: ACTS 20:24
I am honored to be here in this church as you celebrate the 98th year of God’s Grace and Favor upon the Love Joy Victory Temple COGIC. You are a pillar in this community as well as this City and we thank God for you. I honor the Angel of this House, my friend and brother, Elder Lee White, his beautiful Wife, the Officers and Members of this branch of Zion.
We have had a glorious time this afternoon in Worship and Celebration. Now it is time for the Main Course. In keeping with your selected theme I call your attention to ACTS 20:24. I will lift your theme as our major thought this afternoon “Stay the Course.” I have always believed in my 35 years of ministry if a Church has prayed and been led by the Holy Spirit to a text and thought, the same Holy Spirit will touch the Preacher to expound upon the theme during the preaching moment. I must also admit I am excited to expound upon this one verse because this Verse is full of hidden treasure. Since you rested your Hat on this one Verse, I too will Press my Claim on this one verse as well.
Our text today finds the Apostle Paul on his way to Jerusalem. He is well aware of the animosity of the Jews toward him, and quite uncertain what his future will hold once he arrives. One would expect him to be very nervous and apprehensive about returning, but Paul has a quiet calmness about him. It is evident although Paul is unsure what his future holds, he is confident in the one who holds his future.
As he made his way to Jerusalem, Paul called for the Elders of Ephesus to meet him in MILETUS. He had served the church in Ephesus for about three years and remained fond of those who were there. Before departing for Jerusalem, Paul desired to speak with the elders one last time. He wanted to share his heart and encourage them in the faith. He longed to tell them the importance of Stay the Course.
I have come to the conclusion the greatest adventure any person will ever experience is to LIVE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. There is more EXCITEMENT - MORE THRILL - MORE JOY - ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT - IN A LIFE THAT IS LIVED TOTALLY FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST than anything else I know.
• It is greater than the challenge of a mountain climber
• It is more exhilarating than the life of an athlete
• It is filled with more courage and opportunity than the life of a heroic soldier
To live for the Lord Jesus Christ just puts a little extra kick in your life that you can't find in any other way. Have you ever wondered why we study so much about Paul and the Bible? One of the reasons we do is the Bible teaches that Paul was given by God as an example of what the Christian is intended to be. So, when you read about Paul you see a man who has determined to live totally for the Lord Jesus Christ. A man who understood the importance and the value of Stay the Course.
I cannot remember a time in my life I was not in the Church having given my life to Christ and baptized at a very early age. My Father and Father-in-law were both Pastors; that is all I knew growing up was the Church. Having been in ministry for 35 years this year, I don’t know what I would do without the Church in my life. That’s how Christianity should be in our lives.
• I learned how to get along with others – in the Church
• I learned how to date – in the Church
• I learned how to be a young man – in the Church
• I learned the value of Respect – in the Church
• I learned when I became a man to put away childish things – in the Church
• I learned how to be a better Husband and Father – in the Church
• I learned the value of Work - in the Church
• I learned the value of Staying the Course – in the Church
My brothers and sisters, living for the Lord should be a wonderful journey for us. Paul’s life is a great example of that Journey. One day on the Damascus Road, Jesus confronted him in his sin. Paul repented of his sin, opened his heart to the Lord Jesus, and at that point in time life became a great adventure for him.
• It became like a race and he said -- "I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS"
• Life, for him, became a battle -- He said, "I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT"
• Life, for him, became a sacred trust and he said -- "I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED WITH THE PRECIOUS TREASURE OF THE GOSPEL. AND MY JOB IS TO DEPOSIT THAT SACRED COMMITMENT INTO THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF EVERY PERSON WITH WHOM I COME IN CONTACT”
Paul, the great man that he was, shows us what it means to be totally 100% dedicated, all out for the Lord Jesus Christ. In these words which Paul speaks to the people recorded in our text for examination -
• He lays bare his heart
• He is aware of the fact he is on his way to the city of Jerusalem
• There is an atmosphere of uncertainty about his journey
• His circumstances were rather complicated
As I read – studied – prayed – about this selected passage of Scripture, I discovered a man who possessed unshakable confidence in the face of undeniable uncertainty.
• He refused to allow the difficulties of life to dictate his existence
• Paul remained committed to the work he had been called to perform
The questions we are confronted with this afternoon --
• What allowed Paul to possess such confidence?
• How did he face his struggles with indisputable peace?
• We find the answers right here in the text
• Through his own admission we will find Paul’s life had been shaped by the Gospel
• He was able to endure because he was focused on the Gospel
Just like Paul, clearly we all face adversity in our lives. The sad reality is many in the Church today don’t experience the same outcome as Paul.
• We fall out with one another
• We stop giving and supporting our Church
• We criticize the Pastor and other Church leaders
• We leave the Church and join somewhere else or leave the Church entirely
• We stop speaking to one another
What made Paul so different from us?
• We are Saved just like he was
• We have all had our own Damascus Road Experience with the Lord
• What did Paul know that we seem to struggle with today as Believers?
• We have been Baptized in the Lord just like Paul had been
• Why did he experience such Success in his Christian walk with the Lord?
• Why don’t we experience the same Success in our Christian walk today?
• Why do we have such struggles with Adversities we encounter?
I believe Paul would tell us today that few ever realize our commitment to the gospel is a source of strength and victory. Those who live their lives committed to the Gospel will enjoy a PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING and VICTORY in Christ our Lord. Let me help you understand what this entails according to PHILIPPIANS 4:7 “AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.”
The peace that comes from being in a right relationship with God is not the peace of this world. The world’s peace depends on having favorable circumstances –
• If things are going well, then we feel peaceful
• When things go awry, the peace quickly dissipates
• Jesus made the distinction between His peace and the world’s vacillating peace in ST. JOHN 14:27 “PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES”
• God’s supernatural peace surpasses natural understanding
Sometimes our peace crumbles because we’ve placed our trust in PEOPLE - JOBS - THE JUSTICE SYSTEM - ECONOMY, or anything except completely in God. Watching your world crumble around you brings to light where you’ve really placed your peace.
• God doesn’t need us to be robots that mindlessly follow after Him
• He longs for His people to boldly trust in His loving hands over our lives even when it seems like all is lost
• Begin to trust God on the smaller issues so that you can build a strong trust relationship with Him that will restore your peace
That is why Paul was able to open this verse by saying – “BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME, NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF, SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.” Having spoken of the difficulties he had endured, along with an uncertain future, Paul affirmed the confidence he had obtained while serving the Lord. I am sure you will agree with me that is a powerful opening remark – “BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME.” Paul is saying, No matter what is going on around me or to me, I am not moved by it.
• I don’t quit the Church
• I don’t fall out with my Church family
• I don’t come to Church with an attitude
• None of these things going on around me or to me Move me at all
• Paul is proclaiming that he is – STAYING THE COURSE
Such faith could not have been found among the world. Paul knew he would likely endure bondage and physical suffering, and yet he refused to be defeated.
• His life was anchored in Christ through the Gospel
• He was settled in his faith and certain the Lord would provide
• The difficulties of life would not dictate his commitment to the Lord
Paul said the KEY IS BEING ANCHORED IN THE GOSPEL. We like to sing that Old Spiritual –
--I SHALL NOT, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED, I SHALL NOT, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED, JUST LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATERS, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED. If we are not anchored in the Gospel –
• The first sign of trouble – We Flee
• The first time someone in the Church talks about us – We Run
• The first time we don’t get the Position or Title we seek – We are Out of There
• We are anchored in the Wrong Thing
• Our Soul Must Be Anchored In the Lord
We tend to think of the Gospel being relevant at the moment of conversion and yet fail to see its significance throughout out Christian lives. Having faith like Paul comes from a commitment to the Lord and the Gospel. We too have an Anchor of the soul, one that is steadfast and sure. We can rest in the Grace and Power of the Lord when enduring the trials of life! In other words, the same Holy Ghost Power that Saved is the Same Holy Ghost Power that can –
• Keep Us
• Sustain Us
• Mature Us
• Strengthen Us
• I am talking about STAYING THE COURSE
Note what else Paul says in this Verse -- Not only does he say - “BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME” but he goes on to say -- “NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF”
– Paul had fully surrendered his life to Christ. He was no longer focused on his GOALS or ASPIRATIONS. He was literally living for Jesus.
• He was determined to go to Jerusalem, and face whatever difficulty it brought, in order to serve the Lord
• He was willing to give his life for the cause of Christ
• Paul had been transformed by the Gospel
• Let me FOOTNOTE here - God is not concerned about who will DIE for the Gospel, He wants to know who will LIVE for the Gospel
This is a term we do not hear very often in the Church today – SURRENDER - We have many that come down the isle of the Church and profess their Salvation. We have Churches full of those that are saved but never surrendered. When I was coming up you heard this term quite frequently saved and surrender went hand in hand. This is not the case today. That is why so many were not able to stay the course.
Getting saved and surrendering your life to the lord are two separate things. Nothing in the Bible says surrendering your life is necessary to be saved. In fact Paul suggest we should ‘SURRENDER” as a result of “BEING SAVED.”
• We were never told that the failure to surrender everything will result in the loss of our salvation
• Salvation is based solely on our belief that Jesus died for our sins and rose again
• Failing to surrender will keep us from living a victorious life here
• But it won’t deprive us of our guaranteed inheritance in Heaven
• Paul says – NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME - because he recognized it is never about him anyway
• His life belongs to the Lord
I WILL ADMIT THIS IS EASY PREACHING, BUT HARD LIVING. Fully surrendering our lives to the Lord is difficult. It isn’t easy to abandon the desires of the flesh in order to please another. However, that is the beauty of the Gospel. Those who are surrendered to the Lord and His will for their lives can declare like Paul that they no longer live for themselves.
• Our Lord gave His all for us and He bled and died for our sin
• Living victoriously in Christ demands that we give our all in return
• Paul Surrendered his life to the Lord
• This is why he had no difficulty – STAYING THE COURSE
Not only does he say - “BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME” and -- “NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF” - Paul goes on to say in this powerful Verse -- “SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY.” Paul was determined to finish his course with Joy, regardless of what lay ahead for him. This is interesting because Paul faced many challenges while living a life surrendered to the Lord.
• Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one
• Three times beaten with rods
• Once stoned
• Three times suffered shipwreck
• A night and day he spent in the deep
• In perils of Waters
• In perils of Robbers
• In perils by own Countrymen
• In perils by the Heathen
• In perils in the City
• In perils in the Wilderness
• In perils in the Sea
• In perils among False Brethren
• In Hunger
• In Thirst
• In Fastings often
• In Cold
• In Nakedness
• Never once did Paul consider NOT STAYING THE COURSE
• And He did it all with Joy
Our world is in desperate need of those who will endure the struggles of life in an effort to finish their course with joy. Far too many abandon the race with the first hint of difficulty. We must seek the Lord’s Grace and Power to enable us to endure. Those who live Gospel centered lives will be empowered to remain steadfast in the face of difficulty and pain. I hope we have a desire to finish our race with joy! I CORINTHIANS 15:58 – “THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE YE STEDFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.”
• When we understand it all for the Lord – We can finish with Joy
• When we get to the point these silly things no longer bother us – We can finish with Joy
• When we realize we suffer for the Lord – We can finish with Joy
Not only does he say - “BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME” and -- “NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF” - and -- “SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY” -- Paul goes on to say in this simplistic Verse -- “AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.”
• Paul knew there was a work yet to be fulfilled
• He had been saved by grace and called to proclaim the Gospel of Christ
• He was confident the Lord would enable him to preach the Gospel as long as he remained in this life
• Paul was not focused on men - he was focused on the Lord he loved and served
• His life was settled and secure in Christ
Paul was not referencing an occupation, he was acknowledging that he “RECEIVED OF THE LORD.” When you know you have received your Calling from the Lord – it becomes easy to STAY THE COURSE. This is why we are told in ST. MATTHEW 22:14 “FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.” Paul honored this calling placed upon his life –
• Not by his Mother
• Not by his Grandmother
• Not by his Pastor
• Received this Calling from the Lord Jesus
--When you Walk in the Grace of God – You can Stay The Course
--When you Walk in the Unmerited Favor of God – You Can Stay The Course
--The Apostle Paul was a man totally devoted to Christ through all SITUATIONS - SEASONS - CIRCUMSTANCES
--His life reveals his commitment to serving the Lord
--He served with HUMILITY - TEARS - MANY TRIALS
--Life has not been easy and will at times throw us a curve
--Storms will come and strong winds may blow
--But each of us must decide how we will finish our course
--We can live a life full of ANGER, BITTERNESS, UNFORGIVENESS and REGRET
--Or we can finish our course with Joy
--Real joy comes when we are not so consumed with ourselves
--But when we can make a difference in the lives of others
--I don’t know about you but – I’m Staying the Course
--No matter what comes my way – I’m Staying the Course
--Sometimes you have to walk alone but – I’m Staying the Course
--I am going to continue to run this race with Patience – I’m Staying the Course
--Church you have been here 98 years – Stay the Course
--One Hundred Years is right around the Corner – Stay the Course
--Staying the Course has some Rewards
--Well Done!
