Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Act 21:1-26
One of the regular tasks I encounter as a pastor is I am often sought out for advice or counsel from people who are in the middle of making difficult decisions. All of us have to make difficult decisions at different times in our lives. Right now, our family is in the middle of processing and making some difficult decisions. Trent, as a senior in high school, is trying to figure out where he wants to go to college. There are all kinds of factors, pros/cons that are to be considered. What a huge decision because where he goes will determine the trajectory for the rest of his life. My newly engaged daughter Ashley is trying to decide upon a wedding venue. For some reason my advice always steers her to the least expensive option. There's obviously pros and cons to each location.
As many of you are aware some time ago God placed on the hearts of me and Amy the desire downsize our home to pursue living debt free, in order that we might free up financial resources to give more funds to missions and ministry. We put an offer on a house behind the church several years ago, didn't work out; we had a contract on another house back in January, it fell through. We made an offer on another house just this week and the sellers took someone else's offer. In that process there are hundreds of little considerations and thoughts that have to be evaluated. We receive advice and council from multiple people - all of whom love God and desire our best, but often the counsel and advice is conflicting. There's different points of view from good, godly people.
So what do we do? How do we know? Should I stay or should I go? If I go there will be trouble, if I stay there will be double. So come on and let me know, should I stay or should I go. I guarantee I'm the only pastor to quote "The Clash" this morning. We'll hear some wisdom from Kenny Rogers a little later.
This morning as we return to our ongoing series through the book of Acts, we arrive at chapter 20. And in this chapter we will encounter the apostle Paul in two different episodes. In each of those episodes he receives advice and counsel from people who love him and love the gospel; these are people who both have his best interests at heart, and the best interests of the furtherance of the gospel at heart. In one episode, he rejects the advice and counsel of his friends. In the other episode he heeds the advice.
Listen, often in the Christian life, the road ahead looks unclear, Sometimes it's difficult to find your way as a Christian when the ways are many.
Now when I say the ways are many, I'm obviously not talking about the way to heaven or the way to God. We know there is only ONE way to God, and that's through his son Jesus Christ - he is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father except through him. What I mean is how do we find the way when there seem to be multiple ways you can go and still be faithful as a Christian.
How do we figure out whose advice to follow; or which counsel is wisest? Or are there even times when the consensus among all your advisors is telling you one thing, and in your heart of hearts you know you should go in the opposite direction. How do you know?
These are the sort of questions we all have in real life. And for these kinds of questions, there's not really a verse we can point to and say, "Ah, this is the answer!" Now, for some decisions we make in life, there are verses. Should I pray? Yes, there's a verse for that. Should I share my faith? Yes, there's a verse for that. Should I gather with other believers for encouragement and worship? Yes, there's a verse for that.
But what wedding venue I choose, what college should I attend, which house should I buy - there aren't really verses for those decisions, right? Now the Bible provides a foundation of wisdom and principles from which these decisions can be made, but they're not that specific. And from the onset of this message I want you to know, the Bible passage we're looking at today won't answer all those questions either. If it did, I would have preached this message a long time ago and settled it once and for all. But as we consider this inspired account of Paul's life; a passage this is given to us for our instruction and growth; what it will do is further build upon that foundation of wisdom and principle. And it will, I trust, aid and help you in this ongoing daily struggle.
We're going to read the whole passage together, so that's why you need a Bible open this morning to read along with me - Acts 21:1-26
1And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early
17When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.19After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
Here's what we're going to do in the remainder of our time together this morning. I'm going to unpack these two scenes that we just read about. The first scene is Paul declaring he's going to Jerusalem, the second scene is Paul arriving in Jerusalem. I want to unpack these two scenes and then I'll conclude with six principles drawn from the account that I trust will build upon the foundation of biblical wisdom in all of us as we seek to know the difference, should I stay or should I go.
The first scene in verses 1-14 is Paul on his way to Jerusalem. This is the very end of what is known as Paul’s Third Missionary journey. And one thing I would remind you of is that this is history – these stories are not fables or tall tales, this is actual history that happened to real people.
Paul is a missionary, preaching the gospel and it’s around 57 AD. If you were with us the last two weeks we saw the speech that he had given to the Elders of the church in Ephesus in Acts 20. In an emotional, tearful goodbye he tells them they’ll never see his face again, he gets on the boat and leaves. That’s what verse 1 is referring to - we had parted from them and set sail, Now I would point out the personal pronoun “we.” Luke, the inspired author of the book of Acts, is actually accompanying Paul on this journey, so this is a firsthand account of what’s happening here.
Luke mentions several cities and towns they traveled through – Cos, Rhodes, Patara, and then Phoenicia where they boarded a much larger vessel that would take them on the long journey – 400 miles – across the Mediterranean Sea. They sailed past the island of Cyprus, making their way to Syria and landing in the city of Tyre – a city that’s about 100 miles north of Jerusalem. Luke records that they spent seven days in the city of Tyre with fellow believers in Jesus. No doubt encouraging them, preaching to them, spurring them on in the faith. And Paul communicated to them his desire to be in Jerusalem by Passover.
But notice again in verse four, their concern about Paul going to Jerusalem: And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. We’ll come back to that in a few minutes. After only spending seven days in Tyre, all the families from this church in Tyre accompanied Luke and Paul to the beach and had another prayerful farewell, similar to what they experienced with the Ephesian elders in the previous chapter.
Luke then records they left Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais and stayed there for one day, staying with the believers who were there. The next day they went to Caesarea – a city that’s mentioned several times in the New Testament. And again in Caesarea the believers there urge Paul not to go to Jerusalem. A prophet by the name of Agabus stands up. He takes off Paul’s belt – probably not a notched strap of leather with a buckle like I’m wearing – think more of the belt around a bath robe, a long piece of cloth that ties his outer garments together. Agabus begins to act out in dramatic fashion, binding himself up, his hands and feet, and saying, “Paul, this is what’s going to happen to you if you go to Jerusalem.”
So the believers in Caesarea are all begging Paul not to go, and he says, “you’re breaking my heart! It’s hard enough to face the inevitable suffering, but I know I can’t shrink back from what God has called me to do; to what he’s appointed for me."
Now something to notice here – Paul does not say that their insights are inaccurate. He doesn’t say, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Going to Jerusalem will be a piece of cake, a vacation.” He doesn’t deny that there will be suffering. They’re looking at the same situation in the same way and determine it will come to the same result. They have the same set of facts in front of them. But that doesn’t change his mind because he’s ready to die in Jerusalem if need be.
Now you may ask, “Why is Paul so intent on going to Jerusalem?” We don’t fully know why, but if you’ve been with us you know this has been Paul’s intention for some time. Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Acts 19:21
We know he desired to go there at least in part because he wanted to celebrate Pentecost in Jerusalem: For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. Acts 20:16
So that’s the first scene in verses 1-14, now let’s examine the 2nd scene.
The second scene is in verses 15-26. This is Paul IN Jerusalem. Now in verse 17 the leaders are very happy to see Paul. They receive Paul and his companions gladly, it says. Paul begins to relate to them all the amazing things that God has done on their missionary journeys, and they are rejoicing with him in God’s good work.
So the leaders of the Jerusalem church are happy to see Paul; the rest of the Jewish Christians, not so much. Tthey’re not so sure about Paul. James begins to tell Paul about the thousands of Jews who have believed in Jesus as the Messiah. The expanse of the gospel into the Jewish communities has been overwhelming in this area. They do love Jesus, but they also keep the Jewish customs from the Mosaic Law. "And Paul, their perception of you, what they’ve been told, is that you’re telling Jewish Christians not to keep the Law. And that you as a Jew don’t care about the Law; and you’re going to come here and tell us not to keep the Law. You’ve come here from Gentile lands, and you have with you Gentiles – Luke was a Gentile physician. And the people here are just not so sure about you, Paul."
So James and the elders of the church in Jerusalem want Paul to be accommodating. Look again at verse 25 because this is very important lest we get our theology out of whack. “But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Acts 21:25
This harkens back to chapter 15 if you remember was the Jerusalem Council. This council of Apostles and Pastors met together to settle once and for all what was for them and their context a major question: is it necessary for a Gentile who becomes a Christian to submit to the requirements of the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. Do Gentile converts need to be circumcised before they can be considered true Christians?
The decision that came down was no – salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. There’s nothing you can add to the work of Christ. His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the dead is the only thing that will make you acceptable in God’s sight. Only faith in Christ’s finished work – no work you can do. So they sent the conclusion of this theological council to all the Gentile Christians by way of a letter. But also in the letter they instructed them to abstain from the pagan, idolatrous practices that many of them had participated in previously. They gave that instruction not because that would save them, but it would demonstrate their salvation to the pagan world in which they live. So what came down very clearly from the council is justification by faith alone – sola fide.
So James and the elders are not caving on that point of truth; they’re not compromising the sufficiency of the gospel. They know Gentiles do not have to become Jews in order to be saved. But is it ok for Jews who have become Christians to still act like Jews now that they are saved. The question is: can Jews observe the customs of the Law as they have always done. And Paul allows that they can, even though in his Christian freedom he understands that certain aspects of the law are no longer necessary.
So as you can imagine, the leaders of the Jerusalem church feel caught in the middle. They agree with Paul that it’s only by grace through faith that you are saved, and they rejoice in the great work that he's been doing. But they also want to reach the Jews in their own back yard. And so what they're saying is Paul, for the sake of the gospel, could you restrain from certain freedoms we all agree you have; could you accommodate those with a weaker conscience on these areas of the Jewish Law.
You see in verses 23 & 24, what they're asking him to do - it's a little confusing to us - there are four men who have committed themselves to some form of vow that was customary in Judaism. More than likely it was a Nazarite vow like Samson in the OT submitted to. Part of that vow to God was to NOT cut your hair. It's sounds strange when we read it, "Ok Paul, we want you to take these four men and go pay for them to get a haircut."
Now Paul had just come from Gentile lands and so according to Jewish Law before he could enter the temple he needed to go through purification to cleanse himself. So they're saying, would you go through the purification; and as a good act of Jewish piety, would you pay for these men who have a vow, would you pay for their sacrifice to conclude this Nazarite vow. Then as people see you submitting to our Jewish customs they'll see that you're not opposed to Jewish people observing these customs.
Those are the two scenes. Q: Now what do we see here in these two scenes that can help us as we seek wisdom, as we seek to find the right way when there are multiple ways we could go? Real quickly I'm going to give you 6 principles from these two scenes that I trust will help us. First of all...
I. PEOPLE Who Love God Reach Different CONCLUSIONS
There will be times when people you know and trust, who love God and desire the best for you will see the same set of facts, the same situation, and they will reach different conclusions. That's what happens in the first scene. Everyone sees the same set of facts but there are two completely different conclusions about what Paul should do. 12When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:12-13
Here's what Luke wants us to be clear on because he mentions it several times - they knew from the Holy Spirit that Paul was going to face harsh affliction in Jerusalem if he goes there. They knew that Paul would suffer. In Tyre they recognized it; Agabus the prophet dramatically portrayed it; and even Philip has these four daughters who prophesy - there's a consensus. There is no doubt whatsoever that Paul will suffer if he goes to Jerusalem as he determined to do. Paul knew this was an eventuality. They all saw this as being true, but where they disagreed was on how to approach this.
And here's what I want you to se: The prediction was from the Spirit, the prohibition was not. Let me say that again - the prediction of suffering in Jerusalem was from the Holy Spirit, the prohibition they applied from that was not from the Spirit. Sometimes Christians look at the same information; everyone's motivated by Godly desires; but they still do not arrive at the same conclusion.
Now obviously I'm not talking about clear points of doctrine or ethical standards, morality. I'm talking about these somewhat grey areas where the will of God is not clearly spelled out in Scripture.
The Bible doesn't give a verse for Paul, "Do I go to Jerusalem where I might die, or do I go and preach the gospel in Spain?" And sometimes good and godly people look at the same information, have the same good intentions and they come to different conclusions.
II. POPULAR Opinion Is Not Always CORRECT
You can't make all your decisions by majority opinion. Look at verse 14 again: And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:14
Not one person said to Paul, "you know what Paul, I think you SHOULD go!" Not a single person. In fact even Luke who is writing this account is involved in trying to talk him out of going to Jerusalem. There may be times when everyone else says this, and you still do that. Some times you have to look past what everyone else is saying.
There's no indication in this passage that Paul was being disobedient to God in going to Jerusalem. Conversely, there's no indication in the text that the believers who begged him to stay were motivated by sinful desires in their attempts to prevent him from going. These were sincere Christians and in this instance he had to do the very thing that would break their hearts.
Here's the point: You can't make all your decisions based on popular opinion. This is true for everybody, but I especially think younger folks need to hear this. See, when you get old you can get kind of crotchety, "URG, I don't care what anybody thinks, I'm gonna do what I wanna do!" But when you're younger, it's almost like you put your finger to the wind, "What's the latest trend, how's the cultural wind blowing, will this make me look dumb, will I stick out, will I be considered a prude or strange."
Illustration: Most of you have probably seen this picture, but it's classic. In a sea of people giving the Nazi salute to Adolph Hitler at a rally in 1936, there's one man who defiantly stands with his arms crossed. Popular opinion is not always correct - are you with me?
III. PERSONAL Preference Is Sometimes COMPLIANT
Sometimes you look past what everyone else is saying. Sometimes you have to listen to what everyone else is saying. You take your personal preference and you make it compliant to others.
It's possible to find someone who goes against the crowd and never does or says what the majority wants. It's also very easy to find someone who ALWAYS goes with the crowd.
What's difficult to find is someone who has the godly wisdom to know when to do one and when to do the other. The person who says, "Ok, nobody wants me to go to Jerusalem - I can't comply, I'm going to Jerusalem." Very next scene, "Everybody wants me to pay for the offering a observe the Jewish Law while I'm in Jerusalem - Ok, I'll do that."
Most of us are one or the other. Either we're overly compliant to what everyone wants or expects, or we're never compliant. Look again at Paul's compliance of his personal preference in verse 26: Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. Acts 21:26
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem he could have said, "You guys have no idea what I discovered in the Gentile cities. It's this amazing thing called BACON! You can wrap anything in it - chicken, lamb, beef- whatever - you wrap it in bacon, it's immediately better. You want me to tell you how to make this bland unleavened bread completely awesome? but some bacon on it!" Paul had the freedom of conscience in Christ to eat anything. But he made that personal preference compliant to the people who didn't have that freedom of conscience. He understood his purification was accomplished by Jesus on the cross. He knew it was not necessary to go through the Jewish purification process - but he did it in order to be compliant to the preferences of the Jews in Jerusalem.
Listen, it's a mark of Christian immaturity when you're always worried about what other people think. But it's also a mark of Christian immaturity when never care what other people think. If you're in either category there's some immaturity there. Sometimes we ignore what everyone else is saying, sometimes we make our personal preferences compliant to what they're saying.
IV. PAINFUL Results Could Be The CONSEQUENCE
“Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Acts 21:11
A lot of times we can try to determine God's will or purpose for our lives based on what looks easiest; based on the path of least resistance.
Whatever option is going to cause me the least amount of pain, the least amount of worry, the least amount of grief, the least amount of risk, the least amount of personal loss - that's the path I'm gonna take.
You've probably heard this saying - "The safest place is in the middle of God's will." Tell that to Paul. The will of God for him was the least safe option. So painful results could be the consequence of following God's purposes. Paul was constrained by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. It didn't matter how hard it was going to be, he had to go.
Sometimes the painful way is the right way. Sometimes the path of GREATEST resistance is exactly the way God's calling you to go. The easy way is not always the best way.
When people ask me for advice, there are times I can tell what they're really looking for a stamp of approval to do the easy thing and not the hard thing. "You're right, you should just give up on your husband. You're right, you shouldn't confront that sin in your friend's life - oh you want me to confront it! You're right, you shouldn't go apologize for those unkind things you said, that'd be really hard." Painful results could be the consequence of following God's purposes. The hard thing, the difficult thing, the painful thing could be God's path for you to follow...
V. PLIABILITY Depends On The CIRCUMSTANCE
There will be circumstances where it's better to take the easier way, where you need to bend a little, be a little more pliable. You don't ALWAYS do the hardest thing. You don't look at your available options and say, "I'm going to do whatever gives me the greatest opportunity of dying!" That's not wisdom. "I'm gonna let my 9 year old drive me home from church today because, for the glory of God, I'm always going to do the riskiest thing!" Sometimes the easy way is the best way.
You know Paul could have made a major issue over keeping the Jewish customs in Jerusalem. And in so doing he would have completely blown up the work James and the other Christians were doing there. But he knew how to bend. He knew in this circumstance pliability was the best option. In other circumstances unwavering rigidity is best. Like Kenny Rogers - you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em; you gotta know when to walk away and know when to run. That takes much wisdom.
Now look back over the first five points, particularly at the verbs I used.
Reach Different Conclusions
Is Not Always
Is Sometimes
Could Be
Depends On
There's a lot of ambiguity in all those points. And you can look over those points in this message that's supposed to be about discovering and knowing God's will in different situations and think, "Pastor, this has been the most unhelpful sermon! I'm more confused now than when you started!"
Well maybe this sixth and final point will help you. Because this is the governing principle behind all the decisions Paul made...
VI. PRIORITY One Is The Gospel CAUSE
If you're a Christian seeking to live for Jesus, this is the governing principle that determines every decision, every choice, every path, every opportunity. The only way to find your way when there is more than one way is to develop a mind of wisdom and a heart for the gospel. Priority one is the gospel cause. 19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 1 Corinthians 9:19-20
Paul lived this in Jerusalem. He became as a Jew when he was with the Jews, why? - in order to win the Jews. Priority one is the gospel cause. Sometimes rigid inflexibility furthers the gospel cause. Sometimes being bendable, pliable advances the mission. This is what was driving Paul in both of these scenes.
I think often we as Christians feel like knowing God's will in different situations ought to be like one of those magic 8-balls. Do y'all remember those? You ask the magic 8 ball a question and shake it up and a random answer appears in the little window, "Outlook not so good."
It doesn't work that way. Why? Because God wants us to develop wisdom, godly wisdom. In fact, I'll close with two verses that are side by side in the Bible's book of wisdom, the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is a collection of 31 chapters of small little bits of wisdom.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 24:4-5
Some people could say, "I never answer fools, and I've got a verse to back it up." Other people could say, "I always answer fools, and I've got a verse to back it up!" In a book in the Bible that contains all these short phrases imparting wisdom, there are these two verses side by side that in order to follow them require... Wisdom.
Here's what I've learned, especially since pastoring here at LVBC. God puts us purposefully in situations that are not simple, that are difficult to navigate. Why? Because he is changing us, he is shaping us and sanctifying us and he is growing us in wisdom. When I'm facing a situation that requires great wisdom, and I go to the Lord in prayer, claiming James 1:5, "Lord you promised, If anyone lacks wisdom, we can come to you and ask for it, believing and not doubting, and you said you'd give us wisdom liberally." What I realize is the way God answer that prayer for wisdom is by taking me through situations that will grow my wisdom!
Last Thought: Difficult circumstances that move us to GROAN for wisdom are the same circumstances God uses to GROW us in wisdom.
