LED BY THE SPIRIT
Text: Acts 19:21-22
Introduction
1. Illustration: N T Wright, the famous New Testament scholar talks about the task of Christians in the world. He says, "Many say, 'Oh yes, the Holy Spirit came in his place to live in us.' Yes, but for what purpose? The Holy Spirit came to empower us to be God's life in the world. We are to do the work of God in the world. We are to be God to the world. And we cannot do that alone. The church is God's redemptive community in the world. Without you, and without you joined with God's other children, God's work will not be done. He will not do it without us. He will not do it for us."
2. It’s important to talk about being filled with and baptized in the Holy Spirit, but if we are not willing to follow where the Holy Spirit is leading us it’s all for nothing.
3. It is essential that we are willing to go where the Spirit is leading and do what he is calling us to do.
4. Read Acts 19:21-22
Transition: Like Paul, we are…
I. Compelled By the Spirit (21).
A. Paul Felt Compelled
1. Paul had spent more than two years in Ephesus.
a. In that time, he had seen many people coming to Christ, people miraculously healed, and the Good News preached throughout the province of Asia.
b. In addition, he had seen the church there grow in numbers and in the Spirit.
2. Now it was time for him to move on. In v. 21 it says, “Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome.”
a. First, Luke tells us that Paul was “compelled by the Spirit.”
b. This, in essence, is the story of the Book of Acts. From the beginning, we see the Spirit coming on the believers in power on the day of Pentecost, and then leads them to go out and preach the gospel and make disciples.
c. Wherever Paul went from here on out, no matter what he went through, he was led and directed by the Holy Spirit.
d. The text tells us that he was compelled by the Spirit to return to Macedonia and Achaia, and then he would return to Jerusalem.
e. However, the most important thing that Paul was compelled to do was to go to Rome.
f. Wherever he went he could see the influence of Rome all around him. He could see it in the government, education, culture, and commerce.
g. At this time and place, Rome was the center of the world, and you could not escape its power.
h. Notice he says, “I must go to Rome!” If the Good News was going to go to all the world, it had to go to Rome.
i. This was not going to be easy, and the rest of the book tells us that he had to endure many hardships on the way.
j. There were fellow believers who would tell him not to go, but when you are compelled by the Spirit you need to follow his lead.
3. This reminds us of the need to get out of our comfort zones and be willing to step out in faith to go where the Spirit is leading us.
a. Remember that Paul was not a young man anymore, but he never said, “let’s take a break,” or “maybe it’s time to retire.” He kept pressing on!
b. “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Phil. 3:13-14).
c. This beloved is what we need to do. We must not give up, give out, or hang it up.
d. Like Paul, we must be the aggressors; we must go out into the world, led by the Spirit, sharing his love and his Word.
B. How Terrible for Me
1. Illustration: Love truly does compel us to go the distance for the object of our affection. Mel Gibson, playing cab driver Jerry Fletcher in “Conspiracy Theory,” said this to someone riding in his cab: “Love gives you wings! It makes you fly. I don’t even call it love—I call it Geronimo. You see, when you are in love, you’ll jump from the top of the Empire State Building, and you won’t care—screaming Geronimo all the way down!” “Then you’ll die,” objects the passenger. “You’ll squash yourself.” “Love gives you wings,” Fletcher replied.
2. If we love God enough, we will go wherever the Spirit leads us and do whatever he calls us to do.
a. “Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!” (1 Cor. 9:16).
b. Three years ago, when Tina and I came here for the first time, there were 8 people here, and we were the youth group.
c. It would have been easy for me to say, “Good Lord, not again! I’m too old for this anymore!”
d. It would have been too easy for me to walk away and say I don’t want to do this anymore!
e. But think of all the blessings we would have missed together!
f. Think of all the people who are here today that weren’t here then.
g. You see, we have to be willing to go where the Spirit leads us and calls us, because if we do, we will miss out on all the incredible blessings that God has in store for us.
h. We should be willing to do things that we think are either impossible or just too hard.
i. Instead of throwing up our hands in discouragement, we should say, “God if you will empower me and help me, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.
j. “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Is. 6:8)
Transition: But we cannot do it alone. We need to be…
II. Helped By Assistants (22).
A. Sent His Two Assistants
1. Paul knew that he couldn’t accomplish all of this on his own. So, in v. 22, Luke tells us, “He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.”
a. While Paul wanted to leave Ephesus, he still had some loose ends to tie up.
b. So, he sent two of his mentor’s, Timothy and Erastus, on to Macedonia to continue the work there.
c. It was a regular occurrence for leaders to have assistants to help them in their ministry.
d. Moses had Joshua, and Elijah had Elisha. We have been reading about Timothy for some time, and he was chosen by Paul to go with him on his journeys.
e. He would later go on to become the pastor in the church at Ephesus, and Paul wrote him several letters.
f. Erastus, on the other hand is mentioned only here and in Romans 16:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20.
g. The reference in Romans refers to him as the “city treasurer” in Corinth.
2. Every Paul needs a Timothy or an Erastus.
a. Leaders need a young believer they can lead and disciple, raising them up to be leaders in their own right.
b. On the other hand, Timothy needs a Paul.
c. Someone who is older, wiser, and experienced to lead them and show them how to be a true follower of Christ.
3. Is there someone you could disciple in the faith?
B. True Son in the Faith
1. Illustration: "Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a ‘Paul’ who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a ‘Barnabas’ who can come along side and encourage him. And he needs a ‘Timothy,’ someone that he can pour his life into." ~ Dr. Howard Hendricks
2. Who are you pouring yourself into?
a. “I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.” (1 Tim. 1:2).
b. “I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith that we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.” (Titus 1:4).
c. Paul was constantly pouring himself into other people and teaching them the way of the faith.
d. Peter poured his life into John Mark.
e. John poured himself into Gaius.
f. Jesus poured his life into the 12.
g. Are you seeing a pattern here?
h. This was God’s plan for the church.
i. “As you’re going, make disciples!”
j. Who are you pouring yourself into?
k. When Jesus returns, and asks you who you discipled, who are you going to tell him about?
Conclusion
1. As Paul left Ephesus…
a. He was compelled by the Spirit to go to Rome.
b. He was able to pass the baton to Timothy and Erastus because he had taken the time to disciple them.
2. What’s the point preacher? Will you follow where the Spirit leads you and do what he calls you to do?
