Good morning!
LET US PRAY:
Our Almighty and eternal God, we bow down in worship and acknowledge you as our Lord, the one and only true God. Forgive us for the times we have gone astray and into idolatry, going after the seen and unseen things of this world. Enlighten us and bring us back to you. Keep us humble and teachable, and help us seek you with all our heart, our mind and our strength.
We pray for the many who are struggling today, around the world, because of the pandemic and other hardships, may they experience your mercy and grace. Touch the wounded and the sick with your healing grace. Strengthen the weak and hurting, let them find in you their needed refuge and strength. Help those who are worried about their future and their needs find their hope in you.
May the truth of your Word shines through and let all who are misled and lost find their way back to you. Turn their hearts back to you, Lord.
Grant us a thirst for Your Word and a desire to hear from you. Bless us with your truth today. This we pray, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
Let’s read Acts 20:1-3 FROM EPHESUS TO MACEDONIA AND GREECE
1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
After the uproar in Ephesus (Acts 19), Paul felt it was time to move on.
• He has planned to go to Jerusalem, after passing through Macedonia and Achaia (19:21).
• We can see on the MAP he went westward from Ephesus to Macedonia and Greece, revisiting the places he had covered on his second trip.
• When he finally reached Greece (Corinth), he stayed there for three months.
Luke skimmed through this part of the journey with just a few lines but we know from Paul’s letters this trip would have taken over two years.
• Along the way, Paul stayed to speak “many words of encouragement to the people” (v.2) before he ended at Corinth.
• We can understand more about the context of this trip by reading Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.
• He wrote 1 Corinthians (AD54-55) from Ephesus, and then 2 Corinthians (AD55-56) from Macedonia.
We see Paul’s dedication to the work of God. I like to highlight three aspects today:
His Undying PERSEVERANCE in the Ministry
Paul was undaunted by the many persecutions and hardships.
While he was in Macedonia, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and mentioned about the hardships that he faced in the province of Asia and Macedonia.
• 2 Cor 1:8-11 8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favour granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
• 2 Cor 7:5-7 5For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn-conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
Titus, coming from Corinth, rejoined Paul in Macedonia, possibly in Philippi, and updated him of the situation in Corinth.
• While he was in Ephesus, Paul was very concerned about the many issues that have arisen in the Corinth church and he wrote them 1 Corinthians.
• He was longing to see Titus at Troas to get an update of the situation but Titus did not come. So when they met in Philippi, Paul was very comforted.
• Titus brought the good news that the divisions and quarrels in the church have largely quieted down. This was the emotional burden that Paul carries.
• In response, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and had Titus hand-deliver it to them.
His Unwavering CONCERN for the Churches
We see Paul revisiting the churches that he has founded to encourage and strengthen them. Their well-being was his concern.
When Paul arrived at Corinth, he stayed for 3 months.
• It was here that he wrote the epistle to the Romans (AD56-57).
Paul planned to sail from Corinth back to Syria (and to Jerusalem) but he found out of a plot by some Jews to attack him on the ship. [MAP]
• Knowing of the danger, Paul decided to take the land route back to Macedonia, going through Troas.
Acts 20:4-6 RETURNING THROUGH MACEDONIA TO TROAS
4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
The author of Acts, Luke joined Paul at Philippi. The WE narrative resumed here – 20:6 “we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread…”
• We last read of him in Acts 16:40 when Paul was on his 2nd missionary journey, and Luke remained behind at Philippi.
• Now he joined Paul and they travelled to Troas to rejoined the other travelling companions who have gone ahead of them.
Luke listed the names of those who were travelling with Paul to Jerusalem and highlighted the places they came from.
• They are representatives from the various Gentile churches who are bringing their church contributions to the needy believers in Jerusalem.
• We have representatives from Macedonia (Berea, Thessalonica, Philippi, where Luke has been serving), Galatia (Derbe and Lystra, where Timothy comes from), and the province of Asia (including Ephesus). Most of the Gentile churches represented.
Paul instructed them about taking up such a collection in 1 Cor 16:1-4
1Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
We explained the reason for this collection in the letter to the Romans.
• Rom 15:25-28 25Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way.
• “Since we have been blessed spiritually, let us bless them materially, now that they were facing a great need.”
Paul was committed to seeing the Gentile church supports the Jewish church, especially so when they were culturally different.
• He taught them to take up the collections, got the church reps to come along and ensure that the contributions from the Gentile churches reach the saints in Jerusalem.
• Paul saw this practical expression of Christian love a way of unifying the Jewish and Gentile church and help to build the bond between them.
Acts 20:7-12 MINISTRY AT TROAS
7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
We have here the earliest clear indication that the church meets on the first day of the week, that is, on a Sunday instead of the Jewish Sabbath.
• The reasonable explanation is that they gather to remember Jesus on the day of His resurrection, the first day of the week, rather than the Sabbath since they are not tied to the Jewish tradition.
• They met at night, likely because in the Roman Empire Sunday is a working day for the labourers and slaves.
• They broke bread together and remembered the Lord. Paul went on to speak the Word of God.
His Unceasing PREACHING of the Word
When Paul has to opportunity, this was what he would do – preach the Word.
As Paul was going to leave the next day, he spoke for a long time. He might not get the chance to see them again.
• At Troas, this was one rare occasion that Paul was with them and they could hear from him. The teaching went on and on into the night.
An incident happened. A young man Eutychus seated by the window fell asleep and toppled out of the third storey window to his death.
• He was a young man who had likely worked all day and now seated on the window ledge trying to get some breeze (because Luke mentioned there were many lamps in the room, making it warm and stuffy inside), but he fell asleep and dropped down.
• Paul went down immediately, fell on him, embraced him, and declared him alive.
• The young man was restored to life and the people were greatly comforted.
Luke described the incident in a rather casual way. He said Paul went back upstairs again, broke bread and ate, and continued to talk to the people until daylight.
• The miracle was like a non-event. Luke sandwiched this incident between Paul’s long talk to the people, before and after.
• He talked until midnight, he talked until daylight.
• It was the Word of God that the people needed to hear. They were longing to listen to what Paul has to say. The preaching of the Word was the main event.
• We see Paul unceasing passion for the preaching of God’s truth.
CONCLUSION: Let me conclude with a recap of this exemplary life of Paul.
We see Paul’s undying perseverance in ministry, his unwavering concern for the churches, and his unceasing preaching of the truth of God’s Word.
• Despite the persecutions and hardships, Paul perseveres.
• Despite the many problems in the churches, Paul continues to encourage and teach.
• Despite the oppositions, Paul never stops preaching the Gospel of God’s grace.
We see Paul’s concern for the needs of the Gentile churches, as well as the needs of the Jewish church in Jerusalem.
• He visited the churches to encourage and strengthen the believers so that they might stand true to God, understand the truth and be effective witnesses for Christ.
Let us learn to do the same today. Let us continue to encourage and strengthen one another in the faith, that we may remain true to God and faithful to His Word.
• The news of a teen being detained for planning attacks on the mosques shows that people are deluded and confused, deceived by what they read on the internet.
We keep watch over one another and help each other stay true to God.
• Everyone needs encouragement. And everyone can be an encouragement to another.
• We don’t need a diploma or degree to encourage. We don’t need special skills or talents. We just need to have a heart of compassion.
Jesus says, Matt 10:40-42 40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
• Jesus regards the good done to a disciple as being done to Him. When we receive a servant of God, we are blessed.
• Even seemingly insignificant acts of kindness (giving a cup of cold water) performed for God’s people are remembered and rewarded by God.
Let’s encourage someone this week and strengthen him/her in the faith.
• Comfort those who are struggling and hurting, those who are weak and sick, with the love of God. Think of someone.
• They are around us; we may not be seeing them. Pray for open eyes and open hearts.
• Let us encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thess 5:11).
PRAYER:
Lord, we are blessed to have known Paul through your Word and see how You have used his life, his ministry and his writings for your purpose and glory.
May we be encouraged to be an encouragement to others too, and let your love, your grace and your truth flow through us, and touch lives that are struggling and hurting today. Give us the words to say. Lead us in the works to do. Use us to encourage those we come into contact with this week.
Use us to achieve your purpose and bring you glory.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father, and the leading and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and forevermore, AMEN.
