From Tranquility to Captivity.
Acts 21:1
After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.
2:We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail.
3:After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.
4:Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5:But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.
6:After saying good-bye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7:We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day.
8:Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
9:He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10:After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11:Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, `In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ "
12:When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13:Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14:When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord’s will be done."
15:After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
Here we see Paul half way through his third missionary journey and heading for Jerusalem. Paul, originally named Saul, was converted after setting off to persecute the very faith that he now proclaimed. Upon his conversion he was prayed for by Ananias. God had prophesied this to Ananias concerning Paul.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
Paul had already completed two missionary journeys and had fulfilled most of this prophecy. He had faithfully spread the gospel to the Jews, and then when they wouldn’t listen, the gentiles. He had set up many churches such as Ephesus and Corinth and many had come to know Jesus through him. However Paul had yet to preach to the kings of the gentiles and had yet to preach at the heart of the gentile land, Rome. Here in chapter 21 of the book of Acts we see Paul’s transition from missionary to prisoner.
Instead of Paul’s ministry ending now that he was in captivity it blossomed. Over the next few chapters we see Paul speaking to the kings and leaders of the land, Governor Felix, Governor Festus and King Agrippa to name but three. Paul was to achieve more in prison than he did in the fifteen years that he spent as a missionary. I want to look at what Paul did which ensured he took this next step on his ministry and fulfilled the prophecy that was spoken over him.
1.Keeping the Focus.
When we read through the book of Acts we see that Paul suffered for his ministry and his obedience to his calling. He was constantly under threat of death from the Jews, he had been stoned and left for dead, and his teaching had even caused a riot. In Acts chapter 21 however when we read the first 9 verses we find that Paul was actually having a fairly tranquil time. The first few verses actually sound like something out of a holiday brochure. Paul sails to Cos, Rhodes, past Cyprus and then goes down to the beach to pray with the believers in Tyre. These would have been beautiful places just as they are today. Paul may not have been on a cruise liner, but I am pretty sure that in comparison to the things that he had had to endure, this could be classed as a time of relative tranquility and relaxation.
In these towns we find Paul finding other believers and praying with them. He and his companions enjoyed their hospitality. For once we find that Paul was the one being ministered to, and not doing the ministering. Paul was probably having a Psalm 23 moment with the Lord leading him aside for rest and to restore his soul.
However we soon find that this time of peace for Paul does not last long. A prophet, Agabus, comes to Paul and tells him that he will be tied up by the Jews and handed over to the gentiles. Just to rub it in a little, Agabus, in a similar illustrative style to which Ezekiel would have used, takes Paul’s own belt and ties his hands and feet just to show how it will happen. To be given over to the power of the enemies was usually Gods punishment for His people as in the exile of both Judah and Israel. Here, as in the case of Jesus, God was handing somebody over to their enemies through their obedience to His will. To fall into the hands of your enemies is a terrible fate. It is the sort of thing that every soldier fears in war.
How does Paul react? Is his faith knocked back, does He question Gods justice or His Will? On the contrary Paul replies, ’...I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ What gave Paul such boldness and what made him so prepared for the fight even though he had just been in a time of peace? It was because he had kept his mind focused on Gods will and purpose in the good times as well as the bad. It didn’t matter whether he was being stoned or sitting on a lovely sandy beach, he knew that his purpose was to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was ready for anything he might encounter a long the way.
When I was praying to God a few days ago, He said to me these words; ’ten to two.’ I didn’t understand what God was telling me at first. Was something going to happen at 13:50 hours? He then reminded me that when you are taught to drive, the instructor always tells you to hold the steering wheel at the ten to two position as you have maximum control of the vehicle. Often when we are driving and the weather is nice it is easy to relax and just drive one handed. We can often put our elbow on the window or have one hand on the gear stick. We have done it that often and become complacent not expecting anything to happen. However if we were to have a tyre blow out or a sudden strong side wind, if we haven’t got both hands on the steering wheel then we could be heading off the road.
Paul in the same way had both his hands firmly on the steering wheel of his spiritual life as he was driving along. It didn’t matter how nice the whether was or what distractions came his way, he was focused on what he should have been and ready for whatever obstacles came along.
2. Counting the Cost.
Paul knew the cost that he would have to pay and yet was determined throughout. We see that even the Holy Spirit warned Paul twice about the dangers of going to Jerusalem. After Agabus had given his prophecy about Paul, even Paul’s closest followers begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. The group wanted to protect the beloved apostle from harm possibly death and to keep him for themselves and for mission in the church.
They were like Peter when the officials and soldiers came to arrest Jesus. He couldn’t see Gods will and so drew his sword trying to protect Jesus. He failed to see that Jesus would achieve more in His suffering and death than He did throughout his life. In the same way Paul was only going to achieve all that God had set out for him by being willing to suffer at the hands of his enemies.
Paul was able to accept this as the Lord had already revealed it to him and he had counted the cost. When Ananias had prayed over Paul I only read half of what the Lord had told Ananias. The Lord stated that Paul was going be Gods instrument but that he would also have to suffer.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
16:I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
It must have been great to be prophesied over and be told that he is going to achieve great things for God, it is quite another thing to be told that you must also suffer. Paul had no misunderstandings about the terms of his ministry for God, but he was able to achieve what God had set for him because he had already counted the cost.
Because Paul had counted the cost he wasn’t just involved in the ministry of God, he was committed. A bacon and egg sandwich is a good example of the difference between the two, in producing it, the hen is involved where as the pig is committed. Paul was committed to his calling even if it meant death.
3.Making a Move.
After he had been prophesied doom but stated he was willing to take anything for Christ, this was not the end. It is one thing to keep focussed, and another to count the cost and decide to continue despite the consequences, yet there is still the fact that Paul has actually got to do something. Up until now Paul has been travelling by boat, he now has a sixty four mile up hill land journey to begin. Paul, despite the distance and the troubles that he was going to have to face, still began his journey.
In verse 17 we read that Paul did make it to Jerusalem and was welcomed by the Christian brothers there. Here we see Paul is not only somebody who can say the right words, or has the right attitude or intentions, but he is actually a man who does something.
When I was little there were a number of things that I said that I always wanted to do. One of those things was doing a parachute jump, which I did a few years ago. Another was to fly a plane, which to some extent I have had the opportunity to do recently through my job. Another ambition was to run a marathon. I have had all the right intentions. I have been focussed in training, I have counted the cost and spent many hours exercising. I have no doubt that I would be able complete the distance. The only thing is... I have never actually got round to doing it. Paul on the other hand is a man who put his words into actions.
Bridge.
Paul was a man who kept his focus, counted the cost, and made a move. So what happened when he reached Jerusalem. Chapter 21 tells us that Paul conducted a ceremony of purification as a demonstration that he lived in obedience the law as many had said that he had been preaching against it. However Jews from out of town stirred up trouble and wrongly accused Paul of taking Greeks into the temple area. The temple had an outer court which gentiles were allowed in to worship, but weren’t allowed past there as not to defile it. There would have been a notice on the door proclaiming death by God to anybody who broke this law and anybody who took a gentile into this place was just as guilty as the gentile himself.
The Jews dragged Paul into the temple and began to beat him. Their custom said that the temple remained defiled until the offender had been killed. They would beat the offender to death using clubs until their skull was cracked open. The prospects for Paul at this point, as he lay on the floor being beaten, weren’t very good. It was only the intervention of the Roman guard that would have saved him. The Romans had guards posted in the Antonia Fortress, a building that towered over the temple and enabled them to see what was happening inside the temple walls. Paul was bound with chains and handed over to the gentiles just as Agabus had predicted.
For many people, this situation would have been the end of their ministry. As we read on this only took Paul’s ministry into new realms of effectiveness. God has a habit of making sure that people are at their most effectiveness when they are physically and mentally at their lowest. The picture is the same when we look at Jesus on the cross. It is at this point where Paul would have to rely on Gods strength and not his own.
Conclusion and Application.
For Believers:
It is easy to relax when the pressure is off. When we have been fighting personal battles in our lives and all of a sudden the waves of adversity calm, it is easy to become complacent. If you are in times like this then it is important to keep focus and to keep both of your hands on the steering wheel. When times are easy it is easy to become distracted and take our mind of God. Sometimes those distractions can be necessary, such as changing gear, but we need to put our hand straight back to where they should be. In the same way there are necessary distractions in life such as work and family, but we need to keep our focus on God throughout.
When Paul went down to the beach with the believers he didn’t laze in the sun or make idle chit chat. He knelt down and prayed. If you can keep your focus on Gods plan and will for you when the pressure is off, then you will be better equipped to deal with the problems that come along. If you only dedicate yourself to God fully when their are problems in your life, then to keep you with him God might have to keep sending those problems along. It is better to face life’s struggles out of obedience than disobedience. Are you in keeping in focus?
You may have been a believer for some time. You may have been successful in your personal ministry for God. However if you want to be truly effective and make a lasting impression in this town and for His kingdom, then you have to count the cost. Revival doesn’t come easy and you may have to suffer if you want to make a difference. Are you willing to count the cost?
You may be in focus and you may have counted the cost, but you won’t achieve anything unless you make the first move. Vision will simply become an unfulfilled ambition unless you are willing to get up and do something. It may mean beginning with getting up extra early to pray or to read scripture. It may mean starting that project that has been on the drawing board for years. Are you on the move?
For Unbelievers:
You may not know Jesus Christ. You may have decided that you only need Him on your death bed. You might be somebody who prays when there is a problem or a fear in your life but doesn’t want to know when everything is going well. Even if you feel you don’t have any need for God right now, your on the beach of life under the sun, the fact is that there will come a time when you do need him. If you accept God now then will be better prepared to take anything that comes along. Focus on God now.
If you have decided that you want to know Jesus, then realise that Christianity is more then just what God can do for you. God is not looking for decisions, He is looking for disciples. If you want to follow Christ, then you have to count the cost. In Luke 14:27 Jesus tells His disciples that you can’t be a disciple unless you are willing to pick up your cross and follow Him. When Jesus picked up His cross, he died for us. If you decide to do the same, you may lose friends, it may cost you financially, you may suffer, and you could even end up dying for it. Deciding to follow Christ is more than just making a decision, are you ready to count that cost?
If you want to know Jesus tonight then you have to also realise that following Christ is not passive, it is active, you have to do something. Christianity is not just a belief it is an act of purposely following Jesus and His direction in your life. Are you willing to make that move and change your life for God.
If you are willing to take these three steps, to change you focus from the things that you want to do, on to what God wants for you, count the cost of following Him by sacrificing your own desires for His, and making that move for God then He will change your life around. The apostle Paul is remembered as one of the greatest influences in the New Testament. His writings became scripture and are still make a difference two thousand years later. If you want to have a life that is full of purpose, then give it to Jesus tonight.
