Hello and welcome to another
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We are so glad that you
have joined us for our study
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of the word of God.
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We're on lesson #10,
as we study and make our
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journey through Acts.
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We are on Paul's
third missionary journey
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which is really
his last journey,
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his last evangelistic
campaign as a free man.
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He will make one more
journey, his fourth journey,
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but that will be in chains
and that's for another day.
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I'm Jill Morikone and I want
to introduce to you our panel
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at this time - each
students of the word of God
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in their own right...
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To my left is Pastor
C.A. Murray, Shelley Quinn,
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Yvonne Lewis
Shelton, and John Dinzey.
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And it's a privilege to
be here with each one of you,
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and to hear what you
have studied and I'm looking
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forward to what God is
going to do here today. Amen!
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I want to encourage you
to download your own copy
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of the study guide so
you can follow along with us.
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That website is:
ABSG.Adventist.org
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That stands for: "Adult
Bible Study Guide.Adventist.org"
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or we always encourage you
to visit your local Seventh-day
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Adventist Church and
they would welcome you,
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they would give you... they
would call it a "Quarterly,"
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but they would give you
a Quarterly and welcome you
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to study the word of God
with brothers and sisters.
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Before we open up the
word of God and go any farther,
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we want to go to the
Lord in prayer and Yvonne,
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would you pray for
us? Sure... love to.
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Father God, We just
praise Your name this
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day, we thank You, Lord,
that You brought us together
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to study Your Word and we pray
for Your Holy Spirit's presence
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to enlighten us, to
illuminate this world Lord God,
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and help us to be
able to communicate it
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to the viewers.
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Thank You, Lord, for
all that You do for us,
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and all that You've
done. In Jesus name... Amen
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Amen! Amen!
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As I mentioned
previously, this is Paul's
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third missionary journey.
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His first missionary
journey was from AD 45 to 47,
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then we had the Jerusalem
Council that took place
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in Acts 15.
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The second missionary
journey is from AD 49 to 52,
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and now we begin the third
missionary journey which is
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probably from AD 53 to 58.
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I know there's a little
discrepancy on those dates,
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but that's pretty close.
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On the first journey, he
took Barnabas with him and
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John Mark and then
John Mark departed,
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and returned to Jerusalem.
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On the second journey, he took
Silas with him and when they got
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to Lystra,
Timothy joined the group,
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and they went there together.
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On this journey, the third
journey, from the Scripture
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it just says, "He
departed," but we know that
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Timothy joins him in
Ephesus, and we also know that
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Aquila and Priscilla are
with him during that time.
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We have Luke joining him
at least by Troas because
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it says, "we" at that
point and then we know many of
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the believers from
Thessalonica and Phrygia
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and some of those other
places, they journeyed with him
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on the way back as well.
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If you look at the mileage,
the first journey was about
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1,200 miles; the
second missionary journey over
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2,700 miles; the
third missionary journey
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is between 2,500 and
3,000 miles, so he traveled
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far to spread the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The last lesson, when we
did the second mission journey,
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I did a map, Pastor
C.A., with my hands here.
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Hopefully, we can do
this again for you at home.
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If you look here and you would
think this is Palestine, okay...
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Jerusalem is about here
and if you travel 300 miles
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north, you get to Antioch.
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Now Antioch is where all
three of the missionary journeys
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began from.
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If you head west, the first
missionary journey, they went
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by sea to the Island of
Cypress, then they went north
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to what we would
call modern-day Turkey,
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and they went to
Iconium and Lystra and Derbe,
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and all those cities
- preaching the gospel,
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and then they
returned back to Antioch.
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On the second journey,
they did the land route.
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They started at Antioch instead
of going by sea to Turkey,
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they went around the land
here and they visited all those
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cities, and then received the
call, "Come over to Macedonia
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and help us, and they
went over by sea from Troas,
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they went over here and
this is modern-day Greece,
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and there went to
Athens; they went to Corinth;
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they went to Berea,
Philippi, all of those places.
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On this journey, the
third missionary journey,
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they go by land again...
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So they're going to take
the journey from Antioch,
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up over by land, strengthening
the churches in here.
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Then Paul makes kind of a long
stop at Ephesus; spends quite a
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while at Ephesus; they
go over the sea from Troas
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over to Athens and Corinth
and some of those cities there
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in Greece, then they come back
through Miletus and then they go
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back to Caesarea and Jerusalem.
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So that's kind of an overview of
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the three missionary journeys.
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And on this missionary journey,
the third missionary journey
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of Paul, he wrote the Books
of first and second Corinthians
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as well as the Book of Romans.
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Let's look at our memory text,
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and then we'll jump into Sunday.
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Our memory text is
Acts 20:24, it's from the
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New Revised Standard Version
and I want to encourage you
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at home to read along with us...
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"I do not count my
life of any value to myself,
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if only I may finish my course
and the ministry that I received
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from the Lord Jesus, to
testify to the good news
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of God's grace." Amen!
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So Paul is
beginning his journey here.
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We're in Acts 18:23,
let's actually begin in
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the end of verse 22
because it shows you he begins
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this third
missionary journey from Antioch.
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At the end of 22 it says...
"He went down to Antioch."
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Verse 23... After he
had spent some time there,
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he departed and went over the
region of Galatia and Phrygia
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in order, strengthening
all the disciples."
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This was that land route he
went up and he was strengthening
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all those churches
that he had been to before.
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Now we kinda take a little
digression and what Luke is
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doing here is saying, "While
Paul is strengthening those
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believers in Galatia and
Phrygia, a gentleman by the name
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of Apollos is
actually in Ephesus...
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we see this in verse 24.
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Now a certain Jew named
"Apollos," born in Alexandria,
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an eloquent man, mighty in
the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
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This man had been instructed
in the way of the Lord,
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and being fervent in
spirit, he spoke and talked
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accurately the things
of the Lord though he knew
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only the baptism of John."
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Now this gentleman,
Apollos, was well-educated.
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He knew the Scriptures well
and he believed in Jesus Christ,
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but he only knew
the baptism of John.
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He was not fully educated.
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He didn't know
all of the truth yet.
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He was obviously a Hellenistic
Jew, having come from
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Alexandria - he was
not born in Palestine,
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and he was a Greek-speaking
Jew who became a Christian.
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Alexandria is the second largest
city of the Roman Empire,
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the first being Rome,
Alexandria being the second.
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And so, Aquila and Priscilla,
we met them last week;
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they were great
friends of the Apostle Paul.
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He had left them in Ephesus
and they took it upon themselves
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to instruct him a
little more fully, Pastor C.A.
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in the way here.
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So, we see in verse
26, "Apollos began to speak
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boldly in the synagogue."
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"When Aquila and Priscilla
heard him, they took him aside
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and explained to him the
way of God more accurately,
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and when he desired to
go to Achaia, the brethren
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wrote, exhorting the
disciples to receive him...
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this is over to Greece,
this is where Corinth is...
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and when he arrived, he
greatly helped those who had
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believed through grace;
for he vigorously refuted
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the Jews publically
showing from the Scriptures
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that Jesus is the Christ."
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So he was an able
defender, you could say...
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of the Christian
belief, of the Apostolic Church.
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In fact, he became so
well known and influential
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we get down to 1 Corinthians
1:11-13, where Paul writes...
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"There are
contentions among you.
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Now I say that each of
you says, "I am of Paul,"
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or "I am of
Apollos," or "I am of Cephas,"
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... which would be
Peter... or "I am of Christ."
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Then he says,
"Is Christ divided?
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Was Paul crucified for
you, or were you baptized
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in the name of Paul."
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So, people almost felt
like they're a follower of
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either Apollos or Paul.
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There was created some
almost a division in the early
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church because of this.
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Almost as if today we
would say, "I am of Rafferty,"
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or "I am of
Batchelor," or "I am of Murray,"
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instead of saying, "We are
all disciples of the Lord Jesus
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Christ," and God
uses different teachers.
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But we are all students
of the word we are to be
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students of the
word as the Bereans were.
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Paul says this in 1
Corinthians 3:5-6...
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"Who then is Paul
and who is Apollos,
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but ministers
through whom you believed,
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as the Lord gave to each one."
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I planted, Apollos watered,
but who gives the increase? GOD!
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GOD gives the increase!
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Now we turn over to
Paul, he arrives in Ephesus.
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We are in Acts
18... Acts 19, I'm sorry.
00:10:05.53\00:10:09.70
Acts 19:1... "And it
happened while Apollos
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was at Corinth, that Paul,
having passed through the upper
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regions, came to Ephesus.
...and he finds some disciples
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in Ephesus who believe
something similar to what
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Apollos had believed...
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And finding some disciples he
said to them, "Did you receive
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the Holy Spirit
when you believed?"
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And they said, "We have not
so much as even heard whether
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there be a Holy Spirit."
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And he said to them, "Into
what then were you baptized?"
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And they said,
"Into John's baptism."
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That was all the light
that they had at that time.
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Then Paul said, "John indeed
baptized with a baptism of
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repentance, saying to the
people that they should believe
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on Him who would come after
him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
00:10:51.75\00:10:55.18
When they heard
this, they were baptized
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in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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And when Paul had laid
hands on them, the Holy Spirit
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came upon them and they spoke
with tongues and prophesied.
00:11:04.06\00:11:07.10
Now the men
there were 12 in all."
00:11:07.13\00:11:10.33
Now in my remaining time,
I want to do four take-aways
00:11:10.37\00:11:14.20
before I pass it over
to Pastor C.A. in Ephesus.
00:11:14.24\00:11:17.17
Four take-aways from Apollos
and Paul that I get from this...
00:11:17.21\00:11:20.98
#1... Leaders can unknowingly
or unintentionally cause pride
00:11:21.01\00:11:28.15
and discord
among their followers.
00:11:28.18\00:11:31.65
Paul and Apollos almost became
so of flashpoint for people,
00:11:31.69\00:11:35.72
and they became puffed up
in favor of "I am of Paul"
00:11:35.76\00:11:38.49
or "I am of Apollos."
00:11:38.53\00:11:40.80
These two leaders almost
became the occasion for causing
00:11:40.86\00:11:44.67
a little bit of division - even
though they were not intending
00:11:44.70\00:11:47.74
that to take place.
00:11:47.77\00:11:49.34
So if that is
happening, if you're a follower,
00:11:49.37\00:11:54.58
re-adjust how
you look as leaders.
00:11:54.61\00:11:57.75
1 Corinthians 3:5...
Paul says, "Who then is Paul,
00:11:57.78\00:12:02.68
and who is Apollos,
but ministers through whom
00:12:02.72\00:12:06.65
you believed."
00:12:06.69\00:12:08.09
Now the word "ministers" there
is interesting, it's diakonos
00:12:08.12\00:12:11.73
in the Greek and it means
a servant, literally a table
00:12:11.76\00:12:17.43
waiter, so when I read
this, I see Paul saying
00:12:17.47\00:12:22.24
I'm not the head of the table,
I'm not the owner of the house,
00:12:22.27\00:12:25.37
I didn't even make the food;
all I'm doing is waiting at the
00:12:25.41\00:12:29.71
table; I am a leader,
yes, but I am a servant."
00:12:29.74\00:12:34.08
So re-adjust how you look
at leaders and understand that
00:12:35.05\00:12:38.02
they are to be
servant-leaders. Amen!
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And, if you are a leader,
re-adjust how you look at
00:12:40.66\00:12:44.19
yourself. Mark 10:45...
00:12:44.23\00:12:48.20
Jesus speaking..."For the Son
of Man came not to be served,
00:12:48.23\00:12:52.27
but to serve others."
00:12:52.97\00:12:55.47
#2... Acknowledge that
God assigns the response
00:12:55.50\00:12:59.84
in the heart...
what do I mean by that?
00:12:59.87\00:13:02.14
1 Corinthians 3
again, verses 5-6...
00:13:02.18\00:13:05.21
"Who then is Paul, who
is Apollos, but ministers
00:13:05.25\00:13:09.65
through whom you believed,
as the Lord gave to each one.
00:13:09.68\00:13:13.76
I planted, Apollos watered,
but God gave the increase."
00:13:13.79\00:13:20.20
If you detect a difference
in who responds in faith
00:13:20.23\00:13:23.53
to Paul and
Apollos, the Lord is the One
00:13:23.57\00:13:26.47
who made that difference.
00:13:26.50\00:13:27.84
What I mean by that
is, I could be saying...
00:13:27.87\00:13:30.37
"Shelley preaches and
that really ministers to me."
00:13:30.41\00:13:34.24
And someone else preaches
and that doesn't minister to me
00:13:34.28\00:13:37.65
as much," as it were.
00:13:37.68\00:13:39.01
Now what could I be
thinking in my human mind?
00:13:39.05\00:13:41.45
Well Shelley is
a better minister.
00:13:41.48\00:13:43.15
The difference is not the
speaker, it's not this speaker
00:13:43.18\00:13:45.89
or that speaker; the
difference is in God.
00:13:45.92\00:13:48.49
He is the One who gives
the faith; He is the One who
00:13:48.52\00:13:51.89
gives the response
in the believer's heart
00:13:51.93\00:13:54.83
to respond to the message.
00:13:54.83\00:13:56.83
#3... Understand your
proper relation perspective
00:13:56.90\00:14:01.40
in relationship to God.
00:14:01.44\00:14:03.61
1 Corinthians 3:7
again... "So then neither he
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.71
who plants is
anything, nor he who waters,
00:14:06.78\00:14:09.21
but God who gives the increase."
00:14:09.24\00:14:12.31
God is the One who
works, He is the One who gives
00:14:12.35\00:14:14.78
any increase, He is the
One who dispenses faith,
00:14:14.82\00:14:17.82
who effects
change and conversion.
00:14:17.85\00:14:20.16
We are just
instruments in His hands. Amen!
00:14:20.19\00:14:23.96
And finally, recognize
that all workers whether leaders
00:14:24.03\00:14:27.76
or followers -
everybody, we are all one.
00:14:27.83\00:14:32.10
1 Corinthians
3:8... "Now he who plants,
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.60
and he who waters are
one, and each one will receive
00:14:34.64\00:14:38.41
his own reward
according to his own labor."
00:14:38.44\00:14:42.61
Amen! Pastor C.A.
00:14:42.64\00:14:44.35
Beautifully
done, beautifully done!
00:14:44.38\00:14:45.95
We are centering
again our focus on Ephesus,
00:14:45.98\00:14:51.49
and Paul's methodology there.
00:14:51.52\00:14:54.92
I want to go to
Acts 19, and I'll read
00:14:54.96\00:14:58.13
just a couple of verses
8 through 10, I suspect.
00:14:58.16\00:15:01.53
Acts 19 beginning at
verse 8... "And he went into the
00:15:01.56\00:15:06.27
synagogue and spoke
boldly for three months,
00:15:06.30\00:15:10.01
reasoning and
persuading concerning the things
00:15:10.04\00:15:13.31
of the kingdom of God.
00:15:13.38\00:15:14.94
But when some were
hardened and did not believe,
00:15:14.98\00:15:19.48
but spoke evil of the Way
...this is the terminology
00:15:19.51\00:15:23.79
that they were using
at this point in time...
00:15:23.82\00:15:25.39
before the
multitude, he departed from them
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.59
and withdrew the
disciples, reasoning daily
00:15:28.62\00:15:32.06
in the school of Tyrannus."
00:15:32.09\00:15:34.83
We see a couple
of things here...
00:15:34.83\00:15:37.07
Paul is returning to
his time-worn methodology.
00:15:37.13\00:15:42.07
It was his well-established
practice to go to the synagogue,
00:15:42.10\00:15:46.21
begin there and then
sort of branch out from there.
00:15:46.24\00:15:49.48
But we are also seeing parallel
to this that when there is
00:15:49.51\00:15:56.25
a pushback or
rejection at the synagogue,
00:15:56.28\00:15:59.19
Paul quickly pivots
and then moves into the
00:15:59.22\00:16:02.49
heart of his mission.
00:16:02.52\00:16:03.86
I think he is realizing
now, of course, the Spirit is
00:16:03.89\00:16:07.13
prompting him.
00:16:07.13\00:16:09.16
The gospel has got
to go, it has to go out.
00:16:09.20\00:16:12.23
So, if you are getting pushback
resistance, even death threats,
00:16:12.27\00:16:16.47
and murder plots
among the Jewish people,
00:16:16.50\00:16:20.21
then go to the wider
group and begin to do
00:16:20.28\00:16:23.55
your work of the Lord.
00:16:23.58\00:16:24.91
But he did reason in the
synagogue for three months,
00:16:24.95\00:16:28.75
so he spent a good
amount of time there...
00:16:28.78\00:16:30.42
He didn't just come and
preach and leave, but he spent
00:16:30.49\00:16:32.65
a good amount of time there.
00:16:32.69\00:16:34.49
In Acts 19:11, well let's just
take a look at that, 11 and 12.
00:16:34.52\00:16:43.73
"Now God worked unusual miracles
00:16:43.77\00:16:46.80
at the hands of Paul,
so that even handkerchiefs
00:16:46.84\00:16:50.41
or aprons were brought
from his body to the sick
00:16:50.47\00:16:54.04
and the diseases left
them, and the evil spirits
00:16:54.08\00:16:58.18
went out from them."
00:16:58.21\00:17:00.45
This is interesting... because
God is working some things here
00:17:00.48\00:17:07.92
at Ephesus that
we don't really see
00:17:07.96\00:17:09.39
anyplace else in the
New Testament, this idea of
00:17:09.42\00:17:12.16
physical objects being used to
bless and, of course, the Lord
00:17:12.19\00:17:17.97
through the Holy Spirit
is directly empowered to
00:17:18.00\00:17:20.14
do these things, but this
is the kind of thing that is
00:17:20.17\00:17:22.57
kind of dangerous sometimes.
00:17:22.60\00:17:24.64
It can be dangerous
because those objects themselves
00:17:24.67\00:17:27.98
can become objects of worship.
00:17:28.01\00:17:30.45
But Luke is saying here
these are unusual miracles,
00:17:30.48\00:17:35.88
this is something special
for this time, for this place,
00:17:35.92\00:17:40.56
this idea of using
physical objects to be a channel
00:17:40.59\00:17:43.63
of blessing as it were
in the ministry of Paul.
00:17:43.66\00:17:47.40
Evidently, the Ephesians
were highly impressed by these
00:17:47.40\00:17:53.60
kinds of miracles and
we said this in response to
00:17:53.64\00:17:57.27
Acts 1:8 when the
disciples, the apostles were
00:17:57.51\00:18:02.91
invested with power,
dunamis power, miracle power,
00:18:02.94\00:18:06.95
physical ability
to get the job done.
00:18:06.98\00:18:09.45
We see in the different cities
and in the different places,
00:18:09.48\00:18:12.52
God is using his people
in such a way as to impress
00:18:12.55\00:18:17.56
the people that they are
trying to win to the Lord.
00:18:17.59\00:18:20.53
And whatever way they have
to nuance the gospel to meet
00:18:20.56\00:18:25.17
those conditions,
that is what they're doing.
00:18:25.20\00:18:27.77
So we see something
being done here in Ephesus
00:18:27.80\00:18:30.74
that I don't recall, ladies
and gentleman, being repeated
00:18:30.81\00:18:35.08
anyplace else in
the New Testament.
00:18:35.11\00:18:36.78
This was
something for Ephesus. Yes
00:18:36.85\00:18:38.85
And one of the things that
we don't want to do is take
00:18:38.88\00:18:41.72
something that is done in
one place and try to make that
00:18:41.75\00:18:43.79
a pattern for everywhere.
00:18:43.82\00:18:52.09
The things that
happened in Corinth,
00:18:52.13\00:18:53.60
that's not a
pattern for everywhere.
00:18:53.63\00:18:55.00
The things that
happened in Rome - not a pattern
00:18:55.03\00:18:57.37
for everywhere and
some of the other places.
00:18:57.43\00:18:58.87
But God nuances the gospel
to meet the needs of those
00:18:58.90\00:19:02.67
that He is trying
to win to the gospel,
00:19:02.70\00:19:05.37
so some extraordinary
things are being done.
00:19:05.41\00:19:09.11
The corollary of
the lesson is the woman
00:19:09.14\00:19:13.08
with the issue of
blood when she touched
00:19:13.11\00:19:14.65
Christ - the hem of His garment.
00:19:14.68\00:19:18.15
A singular event not to
be repeated anywhere else
00:19:18.19\00:19:22.96
in the New
Testament, a singular event.
00:19:22.99\00:19:24.79
What I like about this Shelley
and Yvonne, and Johnny and Jill,
00:19:24.83\00:19:29.56
is that God will give you
what you need when you need it.
00:19:29.60\00:19:32.37
If you're a sincere seeker,
God will give you the gospel
00:19:32.40\00:19:36.44
in such a way
that it will resonate
00:19:36.47\00:19:38.71
with your particular heart.
00:19:38.74\00:19:40.08
Different things
impress different people,
00:19:40.11\00:19:43.11
and that's why I was
saying, some weeks ago,
00:19:43.14\00:19:45.41
that there is a science,
Shelley, to evangelism. Yes.
00:19:45.45\00:19:50.39
Because not one size fits
all, but it has to tweaked,
00:19:50.42\00:19:53.66
dare I say, to meet
the needs of those...
00:19:53.69\00:19:56.12
These people in Ephesus were
a particular group of people
00:19:56.16\00:19:58.89
and we're going to see in just a
moment - kind of excitable also.
00:19:58.93\00:20:03.20
So God tweaked the gospel.
00:20:03.23\00:20:06.27
He put the wine in
the different wine skins
00:20:06.30\00:20:08.50
in an attempt to win
these people to the Lord.
00:20:08.54\00:20:11.47
And that's one of the
things that's so exciting about
00:20:11.51\00:20:13.34
studying the works
in the Book of Acts.
00:20:13.38\00:20:17.51
This divergence of gifts
that God employed including
00:20:17.55\00:20:24.09
tongues to get the
people to hear the gospel.
00:20:24.15\00:20:28.56
And I don't want to
lose my place here...
00:20:28.59\00:20:29.92
So, we come now to
the Demetrius controversy.
00:20:29.99\00:20:33.76
Demetrius is a silversmith
who made silver shrines.
00:20:33.80\00:20:38.57
These were little
idols that he was making
00:20:38.60\00:20:40.67
for the people to pray to.
00:20:40.70\00:20:43.94
He brought some of his
other entrepreneurs together,
00:20:43.97\00:20:47.88
and one of the things
that got Paul into hot water
00:20:47.91\00:20:51.91
was the straight
preaching of the gospel because
00:20:51.95\00:20:54.48
it cut across the financial
stability of a lot of people.
00:20:54.52\00:21:00.29
If you're making idols,
you're going to be in trouble.
00:21:00.36\00:21:03.43
If you're, you know, doing other
kinds of things... if you're
00:21:03.46\00:21:06.29
a butcher shop selling pork
you're going to be in trouble,
00:21:06.33\00:21:09.10
you know, these kinds of
things, so now we've got this
00:21:09.13\00:21:13.70
Demetrius - he's a seller
of shrines dedicated to Diana.
00:21:13.74\00:21:18.27
Paul's preaching is
cutting into his profit margin
00:21:18.31\00:21:21.01
plain and simple -
this is a financial thing.
00:21:21.04\00:21:23.81
His bottom line
is being affected.
00:21:23.85\00:21:26.78
Paul is persuading
people that gods made with hands
00:21:26.82\00:21:31.09
cannot be gods.
00:21:31.12\00:21:32.49
You know, you put something
in a furnace and it comes out
00:21:32.52\00:21:34.39
and then you would sit and
pray to that thing to help you,
00:21:34.42\00:21:37.09
you made that...
how can that help you?
00:21:37.13\00:21:39.23
And really, Paul is
saying, "These are not gods,
00:21:39.26\00:21:43.06
you made that thing,
how can that be your god?"
00:21:43.10\00:21:45.07
So Demetrius is
saying, here's our problem...
00:21:45.10\00:21:48.97
"If he's going to disparage
our little gods and shrines,
00:21:49.00\00:21:52.01
pretty soon, this big,
beautiful temple that we have
00:21:52.04\00:21:55.41
of Diana is
doing to be in ruins.
00:21:55.44\00:21:57.28
We're going to lose our money,
it's going to be disrespected,
00:21:57.31\00:22:00.05
and it's going to be destroyed."
00:22:00.12\00:22:04.12
So basically, a riot
broke out, this is Ephesus.
00:22:04.19\00:22:08.42
A riot broke out,
Gaius and Aristarchus,
00:22:08.46\00:22:12.13
Paul's companions were
seized and the people began to
00:22:12.16\00:22:17.47
shout at them and to shove them.
00:22:17.53\00:22:20.54
So for two hours there
was this shouting match going
00:22:20.60\00:22:23.51
back and forth, you know.
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.04
Alexander gets manhandled...
Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
00:22:25.07\00:22:29.21
There is a theater
where they met and, Shelley,
00:22:29.24\00:22:34.08
we've all been to Palestine;
we've seen these big theaters.
00:22:34.12\00:22:38.69
This one holds 24,000
people, it was a big theater.
00:22:38.72\00:22:41.99
And there was this
shouting and shoving going on,
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.79
and Paul wants to go
in there and address them.
00:22:44.83\00:22:47.66
And the brethren were
saying... "We don't think you
00:22:47.73\00:22:49.03
ought to do that." Laughter...
00:22:49.06\00:22:51.00
This time maybe he was
saying, these people are mad,
00:22:51.03\00:22:53.47
and they're upset and you are
cutting into their bottom line,
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.10
this is not the time for
you to go trotting in there
00:22:56.14\00:22:58.84
and trying to do it.
00:22:58.87\00:23:00.28
One of the things we
can say about Paul...
00:23:00.31\00:23:02.14
Paul was an intrepid stalwart
soldier for the Lord. Yes.
00:23:02.18\00:23:05.75
Paul didn't fear much and
he had the stripes to prove it.
00:23:05.78\00:23:09.38
He had the Pedigree to
prove it and, you know,
00:23:09.42\00:23:12.45
when you go for the Lord,
now I'm looking at my time...
00:23:12.49\00:23:16.12
you don't have to fear,
because we serve a God who
00:23:16.16\00:23:19.36
can do anything
but fail! That's right!
00:23:19.39\00:23:22.06
The one thing He
cannot do is fail.
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.53
And so, Paul was persuaded not
to go and the clerk of the town
00:23:23.57\00:23:30.17
came out and sort of
quieted the group and finally
00:23:30.21\00:23:34.58
the assembly was dismissed.
00:23:34.61\00:23:37.21
But the work in
Ephesus continued to grow.
00:23:37.25\00:23:41.08
Paul did a
wonderful work for the Lord.
00:23:41.12\00:23:43.35
I'm resisting the predilection
to leap into Shelley's area,
00:23:43.39\00:23:48.32
so I think I will stop here and
let you pick it up from here.
00:23:48.36\00:23:51.93
That sounds - I'm glad you did!
00:23:51.96\00:23:55.53
Okay, I have
Tuesday's lesson and this is
00:23:55.56\00:23:58.33
in Acts 20, we'll
be talking about Troas.
00:23:58.37\00:24:02.70
After the riot, Paul resolves
to leave Ephesus and he takes
00:24:02.74\00:24:07.08
a detour through Macedonia
and Achaia instead of going
00:24:07.11\00:24:10.85
straight to
Jerusalem, but he brings some
00:24:10.88\00:24:13.75
representatives from the
Gentile churches with him,
00:24:13.82\00:24:16.99
and they head for Troas.
00:24:17.02\00:24:18.62
In Acts 20:6, it
says, "We sailed away from
00:24:18.65\00:24:22.62
Philippi and in five
days, it later on says that he
00:24:22.66\00:24:26.43
joined them at Troas
where we stayed for seven days.
00:24:26.46\00:24:29.90
So how long are they
in Troas? Seven days.
00:24:29.93\00:24:34.00
We will be
looking at Acts 20:7-12...
00:24:35.30\00:24:40.94
But before we read that, I
want to just set something up
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.65
because this little
passage is what some people use
00:24:43.71\00:24:47.22
to try to prove that
the Sabbath of the Lord
00:24:47.28\00:24:51.09
was changed to Sunday.
00:24:51.12\00:24:52.55
First of all, the
Seventh-day Sabbath is mentioned
00:24:52.59\00:24:57.49
in the New Testament 59
times, in the New Testament.
00:24:57.53\00:25:02.93
The phrase "the first day of
the week," I mean it's not even
00:25:02.96\00:25:07.94
given a name other
than "the first day
00:25:07.97\00:25:09.77
of the week," that's Sunday.
00:25:09.80\00:25:11.14
It is only used
eight times, the phrase,
00:25:11.17\00:25:15.01
"the first day of the week."
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.51
Five of those times is in
reference to the very same
00:25:16.54\00:25:20.75
event and that is when
the women were coming to the
00:25:20.82\00:25:24.75
tomb after Christ's death.
00:25:24.79\00:25:27.99
And what happened was...
I mean, they were anxious to
00:25:28.02\00:25:31.39
anoint Him on
Friday, but they went home
00:25:31.43\00:25:33.80
and "rested,"
Luke says, in obedience
00:25:33.83\00:25:36.03
to the commandment on
Sabbath and then they come
00:25:36.06\00:25:38.47
back, so five of
those phrases are there.
00:25:38.50\00:25:40.90
Now, there's only three
more and I want to read them...
00:25:40.94\00:25:43.30
I'll give you the references:
John 20:19... This is when the
00:25:43.37\00:25:48.54
trembling disciples of
Christ, on resurrection Sunday,
00:25:48.58\00:25:53.48
are behind closed doors,
they're barred for fear of the
00:25:53.52\00:25:58.15
Jews - I mean, it says,
"The doors are barred shut
00:25:58.19\00:26:02.12
for fears of the Jews."
00:26:02.16\00:26:03.59
They didn't understand
that Jesus had resurrected,
00:26:03.66\00:26:06.49
all they're thinking of
is, "Mercy, they could come
00:26:06.53\00:26:09.16
get us," right?
00:26:09.20\00:26:10.57
So this gathering
started as a very solemn event.
00:26:10.60\00:26:16.24
There was NO evidence that
this was a worship service,
00:26:16.27\00:26:20.01
not until Christ showed up.
00:26:20.08\00:26:22.41
1 Corinthians 16:2, is the other
first day of the week phrase.
00:26:22.44\00:26:28.35
And here Paul is telling
people to lay by them something
00:26:28.38\00:26:32.75
in store for a
particular mission that he has.
00:26:32.79\00:26:39.76
He's instructing them to set
aside an offering in their home.
00:26:39.79\00:26:45.27
Now listen, the offerings,
these weren't necessarily
00:26:45.30\00:26:48.47
money - this was grain, this was
all kinds of different things.
00:26:48.50\00:26:51.64
He was going to take
them to the famine-stricken
00:26:51.67\00:26:53.74
believers in Jerusalem, right?
00:26:53.78\00:26:55.48
Where was that reference again,
please? 1 Corinthians 16:2.
00:26:55.51\00:26:58.75
And so he wanted
these contributions
00:26:58.78\00:27:02.08
ready when he arrived.
00:27:02.12\00:27:03.62
Alright, so that's
two, we've only got one more
00:27:03.65\00:27:06.89
first day of the week phrase,
and that is Acts 20:7-12...
00:27:06.92\00:27:12.06
Now here we go!
00:27:12.09\00:27:15.00
He said, Acts 20:7...
"Now on the first day of the
00:27:15.03\00:27:18.83
week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul,
00:27:18.87\00:27:22.27
ready to depart the next
day, spoke to them and continued
00:27:22.30\00:27:26.41
his message until midnight."
00:27:26.44\00:27:28.01
He's got a lot to say, huh?
00:27:28.04\00:27:30.15
The commentators are
divided, whether this was
00:27:30.18\00:27:32.45
Saturday evening
or Sunday evening.
00:27:32.48\00:27:34.98
Depends on - it would be
Saturday to use the Jewish
00:27:35.02\00:27:37.82
reckoning of time.
00:27:37.85\00:27:39.19
It would have been Sunday
evening if they were using
00:27:39.22\00:27:41.99
the Roman reckoning of time.
00:27:42.02\00:27:44.13
Some people try to make this
that's it's a worship service,
00:27:44.16\00:27:47.30
like a Sunday worship
service and this is communion...
00:27:47.40\00:27:50.63
it's possible - when it's
talking about breaking bread
00:27:50.67\00:27:53.70
it's communion, but I
want to read something...
00:27:53.74\00:27:55.10
Acts 2:44-46...
Says, "Now all who believed
00:27:55.14\00:27:59.11
were together and had
all things in common and sold
00:27:59.14\00:28:01.84
their possessions and goods,
and divided them among all
00:28:01.88\00:28:04.48
as anyone had need.
00:28:04.51\00:28:06.01
So continuing daily with
one accord in the temple,
00:28:06.05\00:28:09.82
and breaking bread
from house to house...
00:28:09.85\00:28:12.35
this is talking
about regular meals...
00:28:12.39\00:28:14.42
they ate the food with gladness
and simplicity of heart."
00:28:14.46\00:28:18.39
Have you heard
of Augustus Neander?
00:28:18.43\00:28:21.36
He was an imminent
German Bible historian.
00:28:21.40\00:28:24.43
He lived 1789-1850.
00:28:24.47\00:28:27.70
On this particular
passage... you know when people
00:28:27.74\00:28:31.17
try to make this passage
of Acts 20:7-12, that it's a
00:28:31.21\00:28:35.31
worship service -
here's what he says...
00:28:35.34\00:28:37.25
"This passage is not
entirely convincing because
00:28:37.28\00:28:40.22
of the impending departure
of the apostle may have united
00:28:40.25\00:28:44.29
the little church in
a brotherly parting meal
00:28:44.32\00:28:48.19
on occasion of which the apostle
delivered his last address,
00:28:48.22\00:28:51.66
although there was no
particular celebration of
00:28:51.69\00:28:55.06
a Sunday in this case."
00:28:55.10\00:28:56.73
So Paul had been in
Troas how many days? Seven!
00:28:56.77\00:29:00.30
He had met with the disciples,
no doubt, the believers
00:29:00.37\00:29:03.87
pretty often in those
seven days, but what's happening
00:29:03.94\00:29:08.01
the disciples are
having this farewell meeting;
00:29:08.04\00:29:10.48
Paul has got a lot he wants to
tell them before he takes off,
00:29:10.51\00:29:13.45
and Luke records it's
the first day of the week,
00:29:13.48\00:29:16.18
so that would be, I believe...
this is my personal belief,
00:29:16.22\00:29:19.89
I cannot prove it,
but since Paul was a Jew,
00:29:19.92\00:29:23.96
I believe that he was reckoning
it according to the Jewish time
00:29:23.99\00:29:28.03
because Paul referred to that
as the first day of the week
00:29:28.06\00:29:31.70
would begin on Saturday evening,
as soon as the sun went down
00:29:31.73\00:29:39.61
because the Sabbath
was from Friday evening
00:29:39.64\00:29:42.71
to Saturday evening, so
the first day of the week
00:29:42.74\00:29:45.11
actually when the sun
went down on Sabbath, Saturday,
00:29:45.15\00:29:48.92
then the first day of
the week began. I agree.
00:29:48.95\00:29:51.25
So what's happening here is...
let's get into this because
00:29:51.29\00:29:55.26
it's exciting!
00:29:55.29\00:29:56.62
Verse 8... There
were many lamps in the
00:29:56.66\00:29:59.93
upper room where they
were gathered together.
00:30:00.00\00:30:02.10
They were meeting in a private
house, on the uppermost floor,
00:30:02.13\00:30:05.87
it's the third floor and
they've got all these lamps
00:30:05.90\00:30:08.94
to illuminate,
it's smoky, it's hazy;
00:30:08.97\00:30:11.61
the air is getting thick and
stuffy, and in verse 9 it says..
00:30:11.64\00:30:15.18
"In a window sat a certain
young man named Eutychus.
00:30:15.21\00:30:18.31
I'm sure he probably got
over on that window edge because
00:30:18.35\00:30:21.52
he's probably feeling a
little ... and he wants some
00:30:21.55\00:30:25.55
fresh air, so he's
sitting on the window edge.
00:30:25.59\00:30:27.99
He was sinking
into a deep sleep.
00:30:28.02\00:30:30.19
He was overcome by sleep
and as Paul continued speaking,
00:30:30.23\00:30:33.46
he fell down - this is
Eutychus - fell down from
00:30:33.50\00:30:36.60
the third floor
and was taken up dead.
00:30:36.63\00:30:40.77
No if, and or buts
about it. This guy is dead.
00:30:40.80\00:30:43.57
So poor Eutychus had
nodded off, fallen three floors
00:30:43.64\00:30:49.34
and died, but Paul
went down, verse 10 says,
00:30:49.38\00:30:52.08
fell on him... who
does this remind you of?
00:30:52.11\00:30:55.28
Elisha and the
Shunammite woman, right?
00:30:55.32\00:30:58.05
The Shunammite
woman's son, 2 Kings 4.
00:30:58.95\00:31:01.72
So he's embracing him and
then he gets up and he says,
00:31:01.76\00:31:05.99
"Do not trouble yourselves
for his life is in him."
00:31:06.03\00:31:08.30
This parallels what
Peter did with Dorcus going
00:31:08.33\00:31:13.03
in and saying, "Tabitha,
I say to you, "Get up."
00:31:13.07\00:31:15.44
It kind of parallels
what Jesus did with the widow
00:31:15.47\00:31:21.64
of Nain's son and with
Lazarus, and Jarius, etcetera.
00:31:21.68\00:31:27.78
So many people believe
that the only reason...
00:31:27.82\00:31:33.46
the only reason that
Luke recorded this incident
00:31:33.52\00:31:36.79
is because God performed
a miracle through Paul.
00:31:36.83\00:31:43.10
He brought this
young man back to life.
00:31:43.13\00:31:46.27
So after he
brings him back to life,
00:31:46.30\00:31:48.20
verse 11 says...
"Now when he had come up,
00:31:48.24\00:31:50.44
had broken bread and
eaten, and talked a long while,
00:31:50.47\00:31:54.81
even till daybreak
he talked, he departed."
00:31:54.84\00:31:57.78
Now either if the first
reference was talking about
00:31:57.81\00:32:02.58
having communion...
we know for sure this is
00:32:02.62\00:32:04.62
beyond the Lord's
Supper, it definitely would be a
00:32:04.65\00:32:08.59
farewell meal and this
is rejuvenating Paul for
00:32:08.62\00:32:13.16
his journey, rejuvenating his
disciples and then he preaches
00:32:13.19\00:32:17.03
on early Sunday morning,
daylight and they brought
00:32:17.07\00:32:21.57
the young man in alive and
they were not just a little
00:32:21.60\00:32:25.51
comforted - they
were quite happy.
00:32:25.54\00:32:27.98
So other than references to
Christ's day of resurrection,
00:32:28.01\00:32:32.18
those five references that call
it the first day of the week,
00:32:32.21\00:32:35.52
these are the only other
three do you see any, ANY
00:32:35.55\00:32:40.42
inkling that God transferred
the Sabbath to the first day.
00:32:40.46\00:32:50.30
Here's what I want to say...
00:32:50.40\00:32:52.63
God created the Sabbath at
the end of the creation week.
00:32:52.67\00:33:00.38
It's the only reason we've
got a seven-day week cycle.
00:33:00.41\00:33:03.45
He blessed the Sabbath,
He sanctified the Sabbath,
00:33:03.48\00:33:07.05
that means He made it
Holy and only God can make
00:33:07.12\00:33:09.48
something Holy - we
can't make Holy what God
00:33:09.52\00:33:12.22
hasn't made Holy.
Right? Right. That's right.
00:33:12.25\00:33:14.29
The Bible commands us to
keep the Seventh-day Sabbath.
00:33:14.99\00:33:19.06
It is called the Sabbath of
the Lord our God, His Holy day.
00:33:19.09\00:33:23.53
You know what? If
God would have intended
00:33:23.57\00:33:26.94
to change it... I
mean here we are...
00:33:27.00\00:33:28.80
what, 70 years at least
and beyond or 40 years beyond
00:33:28.84\00:33:32.54
Christ's death - Paul is
always keeping the Sabbath.
00:33:32.57\00:33:35.78
The disciples were
keeping the Sabbath.
00:33:35.81\00:33:37.88
If God intended to
CHANGE, if Christ wanted
00:33:37.91\00:33:41.35
to change this, He
would have SHOUTED IT from the
00:33:41.38\00:33:44.29
roof top! Absolutely!
00:33:44.32\00:33:45.65
This is part of
His Ten Commandment Law
00:33:45.69\00:33:50.09
that is inseparable and
James says, "If you break one,
00:33:50.13\00:33:53.50
ya break them
all." Praise the Lord!
00:33:53.56\00:33:58.13
That was good! That was rich!
00:33:58.17\00:33:59.80
I have Wednesday's
lesson and that is "Miletus."
00:33:59.83\00:34:05.41
And it's interesting
because Paul went on a ship
00:34:05.44\00:34:11.81
decided to sail past
Ephesus and go to Miletus.
00:34:11.85\00:34:19.15
Ephesus had been where
Paul had established contacts
00:34:19.19\00:34:25.29
and connections and
relationships and he was
00:34:25.33\00:34:29.00
trying to get to Jerusalem
to get to the Day of Pentecost,
00:34:29.03\00:34:33.54
so instead of stopping at
Ephesus, he went on to Miletus;
00:34:33.60\00:34:39.67
and from there decided to invite
the elders from Ephesus to
00:34:39.71\00:34:46.58
to come and meet with him there.
00:34:46.61\00:34:49.38
So he wouldn't get hung
up, you know, in Ephesus
00:34:49.42\00:34:52.35
with all the folks he
knew and traveling issues...
00:34:52.39\00:34:55.66
and traveling issues
and all, he decided...
00:34:55.69\00:34:59.39
"No, I'll have them come to me."
00:34:59.43\00:35:01.40
So Ephesus was about 38
miles south of Miletus and so
00:35:01.43\00:35:10.21
he being almost - he
was headed toward Jerusalem,
00:35:10.24\00:35:14.38
so he decided... "I'm just
going to have them come to me."
00:35:14.41\00:35:16.58
So, the elders were summoned to
come and meet with Paul there.
00:35:16.61\00:35:22.65
And I think the highlight
of his trip to Miletus was
00:35:22.68\00:35:27.56
his meeting with the
elders and that meeting can be
00:35:27.59\00:35:32.16
characterized by five words that
all start with the letter "A."
00:35:32.19\00:35:36.53
The first one
is: "ACCOUNTABILITY"
00:35:36.56\00:35:39.27
So, he's there and he tells
the elders, "I served the Lord
00:35:39.30\00:35:45.61
and this is in Acts
20:19, from the first day,
00:35:45.64\00:35:50.25
let's go to 18... from the
first day that I came to Asia,"
00:35:50.31\00:35:53.68
he tells them, in what manner
I've always lived among you,
00:35:53.72\00:35:57.09
serving the Lord with
all humility, with many tears
00:35:57.15\00:36:00.19
and trials which happened to
me by the plotting of the Jews,
00:36:00.22\00:36:03.49
how I kept back
nothing that was helpful,
00:36:03.56\00:36:06.09
but proclaimed it to
you, and taught you publically
00:36:06.13\00:36:08.70
and from house to house..."
and then all the way down
00:36:08.73\00:36:12.43
to verse 26 and 27.
00:36:12.47\00:36:15.77
He said, "Therefore, I testify
to you this day that I am
00:36:15.80\00:36:18.74
innocent of the blood of
all men, for I have not shunned
00:36:18.77\00:36:21.68
to declare to you the
whole counsel of God."
00:36:21.71\00:36:24.61
So, when he was in Ephesus,
he didn't hold back anything.
00:36:24.65\00:36:29.48
he shared everything...
everything that God told him
00:36:29.52\00:36:32.15
to say, he said, and he
was letting them know...
00:36:32.19\00:36:35.02
"this is how I lived
when I was among you."
00:36:35.06\00:36:38.39
So, that was "accountability."
00:36:38.43\00:36:40.93
Then in verse 28, it
starts with "ADMONITION"
00:36:40.96\00:36:45.77
So he says, "Therefore take heed
to yourselves and to all the
00:36:45.80\00:36:49.67
flock among which the
Holy Spirit has made you
00:36:49.70\00:36:52.37
overseers to shepherd the
church of God which He purchased
00:36:52.41\00:36:56.58
with His own blood.
00:36:56.61\00:36:58.01
For I know this, that
after my departure, savage
00:36:58.05\00:37:02.55
wolves will come in among
you, not sparing the flock."
00:37:02.58\00:37:05.89
So first he tells them
you need to know that you are
00:37:05.92\00:37:10.09
shepherds of the flock
and shepherds, of course,
00:37:10.16\00:37:14.36
were always
threatened by wolves, right?
00:37:14.40\00:37:16.80
Because their sheep were
always being eaten by wolves.
00:37:16.87\00:37:20.54
He's saying, "Be careful
because there are some wolves
00:37:20.57\00:37:26.14
that are going to come in
and try to tear up this flock."
00:37:26.17\00:37:31.21
So now, we're looking at forces
from the outside coming in,
00:37:31.25\00:37:36.38
but there were also
internal forces that were going
00:37:36.42\00:37:40.69
to try to tear up the church.
00:37:40.76\00:37:42.36
And he says, in verse 30,
"Also from among yourselves,
00:37:42.39\00:37:48.60
men will rise up,
speaking perverse things to draw
00:37:48.63\00:37:52.60
away the
disciples after themselves."
00:37:52.63\00:37:55.17
And we know that this happened
because in 1 Timothy 1:3,
00:37:55.20\00:38:03.88
Paul wrote to Timothy, he
said, "As I urged you when I
00:38:03.91\00:38:09.92
went into Macedonia,
remain in Ephesus that you may
00:38:09.95\00:38:15.92
charge some that they
teach no other doctrine,
00:38:15.96\00:38:19.59
nor give heed to fables
and endless genealogies,
00:38:19.63\00:38:22.73
which cause disputes
rather than godly edification
00:38:22.76\00:38:26.00
which is in faith.
00:38:26.03\00:38:27.37
We're down to verse
7... "desiring to be teachers
00:38:27.44\00:38:29.70
of the law, understanding
neither what they say
00:38:29.74\00:38:33.71
nor the things
which they affirm."
00:38:33.78\00:38:35.41
So Paul was prophesying,
letting the Ephesian
00:38:35.44\00:38:42.18
elders know - there's
going to be trouble. Amen!
00:38:42.22\00:38:46.19
So, first he was "accountable,"
then he "admonished" them,
00:38:46.22\00:38:50.73
and then he "affirmed" them.
00:38:50.76\00:38:53.09
These are things
that, as Christian leaders,
00:38:53.13\00:38:57.87
everyone is a Christian
leader.. if you're a Christian,
00:38:57.90\00:39:01.17
you should be a
Christian leader.
00:39:01.20\00:39:03.04
These are things that
we should do with people
00:39:03.54\00:39:05.84
that we're dealing with.
00:39:05.87\00:39:07.24
We should show them how we're
trying to live, be accountable.
00:39:07.31\00:39:10.78
We should admonish
them, let them know
00:39:11.65\00:39:14.18
that they're going to
run into difficulties.
00:39:14.25\00:39:16.62
They're going to have
problems, but we should
00:39:16.65\00:39:19.49
also affirm them.
00:39:19.52\00:39:21.89
And so he says, in verse 32...
"So now, brethren, I commend
00:39:21.92\00:39:29.63
you to God and to the word
of His grace, which is able
00:39:29.66\00:39:32.57
to build you up and
give you an inheritance among
00:39:32.60\00:39:36.91
all those who are sanctified.
00:39:36.94\00:39:39.41
I have coveted no one's
silver or gold or apparel."
00:39:39.44\00:39:43.65
So he is letting them
know... he edifies them,
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.52
he lets them know
that he's commending them
00:39:47.55\00:39:50.59
to God and to the
word of His grace and God
00:39:50.62\00:39:53.56
is able to build them up.
00:39:53.59\00:39:55.29
He is able to sustain them
and that's what He does for us
00:39:55.32\00:39:59.79
when we're going
through a hard time,
00:39:59.83\00:40:03.20
we can know that God
sustains us and we can edify
00:40:03.23\00:40:08.27
those around us and affirm them.
00:40:08.30\00:40:10.47
And then the next
"A" is "ACTIVISIM"
00:40:10.51\00:40:14.58
Paul was a tentmaker and
when he was in these different
00:40:14.61\00:40:22.42
towns, he didn't just sit
back and wait for people to
00:40:22.45\00:40:25.25
take care of him... he
used his hands and built
00:40:25.29\00:40:28.29
tents and not only did
he take care of himself,
00:40:28.32\00:40:31.66
but he took care of others.
00:40:31.69\00:40:33.40
He says here in verse
34... "Yes, you yourselves
00:40:33.46\00:40:37.10
know that these hands have
provided for my necessities,
00:40:37.13\00:40:41.14
and for those who were with me.
00:40:41.17\00:40:43.87
I've shown you in every
way, by laboring like this,
00:40:43.94\00:40:47.31
that you must support the
weak, and remember the words
00:40:47.34\00:40:51.15
of the Lord Jesus, that He said,
"It is more blessed to give
00:40:51.18\00:40:54.88
than to receive." Amen! Amen!
00:40:54.92\00:40:57.02
And so Paul didn't
just, you know, notice that
00:40:57.05\00:41:01.16
there were others in
his midst that were in need,
00:41:01.19\00:41:04.26
he used his abilities to
help those who were in need,
00:41:04.33\00:41:09.26
to help the weak.
00:41:09.30\00:41:10.63
And so, this is a way
that Paul was an "activist."
00:41:10.67\00:41:15.24
And then finally, "AFFECTION"
00:41:15.27\00:41:18.31
Verses 36-38... "And
when he had said these
00:41:18.34\00:41:22.88
things, he knelt down
and prayed with them all.
00:41:22.91\00:41:26.45
Then they all wept
freely and fell on Paul's neck
00:41:26.48\00:41:30.95
and kissed him, sorrowing most
of all for the words which he
00:41:30.99\00:41:34.76
spoke, that they
would see his face no more."
00:41:34.79\00:41:38.63
They knew that they
weren't going to see him,
00:41:38.99\00:41:41.00
and Paul told them,
this is the last time
00:41:41.03\00:41:44.10
I'm going to see you.
00:41:44.13\00:41:46.67
This is the last time
we're going to be together.
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.10
And you can imagine
the grief that they felt.
00:41:49.14\00:41:53.74
This was their spiritual mentor.
00:41:53.81\00:41:55.51
This was their spiritual father.
00:41:55.54\00:41:58.28
Much like Pastor Murray is
a spiritual mentor to me...
00:41:58.31\00:42:02.82
and you can imagine how
they felt as he was going
00:42:02.85\00:42:08.82
first re-counting to them
what his ministry had been,
00:42:08.86\00:42:13.80
and then letting them know,
even though I'm not with you,
00:42:13.83\00:42:18.27
I'm not going to be with
you, be prepared, watch, pray,
00:42:18.30\00:42:24.31
be diligent, be vigilant
because there are savage
00:42:24.34\00:42:28.84
wolves that are getting
ready to come into your midst
00:42:28.88\00:42:31.78
and also there are
people from within your ranks
00:42:31.81\00:42:35.28
who are going to try
to pull folks away...
00:42:35.32\00:42:38.72
so be vigilant.
00:42:38.75\00:42:40.82
And then, he had to build
them up - he wanted to make
00:42:40.86\00:42:45.26
sure that he didn't leave them
feeling all sad and aggrieved
00:42:45.29\00:42:50.73
about him not
seeing them anymore.
00:42:50.80\00:42:53.37
So he edified them, he
built them up, he affirmed them.
00:42:53.40\00:42:58.04
And then he reminded them
basically to take care of the
00:42:58.07\00:43:01.61
weak among you - don't
just care for yourself and your
00:43:01.64\00:43:07.22
needs, but be concerned
about others and what they're
00:43:07.25\00:43:11.52
dealing with and
how they're dealing.
00:43:11.55\00:43:13.46
And then "affection,"
they all hugged and were just
00:43:13.49\00:43:20.50
I'm sure overwhelmed
with just missing him already.
00:43:20.53\00:43:25.83
And so, we have in
2 Corinthians 4:8...
00:43:25.87\00:43:30.07
we have... I'll
just read a few of these.
00:43:30.11\00:43:33.54
Paul said, "We are
hard-pressed on every side,
00:43:33.58\00:43:36.21
yet not crushed; we are
perplexed, but not in despair;
00:43:36.24\00:43:39.11
persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
00:43:39.15\00:43:43.39
always carrying about in
the body the dying of the Lord
00:43:43.45\00:43:46.19
Jesus, that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested
00:43:46.22\00:43:49.76
in our body."
00:43:49.79\00:43:51.13
We have... whenever
we're going through something,
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.76
we have the Lord Jesus
Christ, we are never crushed
00:43:54.96\00:43:58.57
to the point of not
being able to make it.
00:43:58.60\00:44:01.60
God is our
sustainer! Amen! Amen!
00:44:01.64\00:44:04.11
Well done! Praise the
Lord! Praise the Lord!
00:44:04.14\00:44:07.71
Marvelous! So I've
been blessed so far.
00:44:07.74\00:44:10.95
I get to listen to everybody...
00:44:10.98\00:44:12.98
Now we get to
listen to you! Laughter!
00:44:13.01\00:44:18.79
Praise the Lord!
00:44:18.82\00:44:21.49
Paul's journey, you read
the Book of Acts and you read
00:44:21.52\00:44:26.16
the writings of Paul, he
was a true missionary. Amen!
00:44:26.19\00:44:29.70
I mean, he sacrificed,
he starved, he was whipped,
00:44:29.73\00:44:33.70
he was beaten, and you
can practically say that Satan
00:44:33.74\00:44:38.37
did his best to deter him
and discourage him and some
00:44:38.41\00:44:42.98
interesting things happened
to Paul that I guess some people
00:44:43.01\00:44:46.38
say... "Man, if this is
what it is to be a Christian,
00:44:46.41\00:44:48.48
I'd rather be something else."
00:44:48.52\00:44:49.85
But Paul had been changed;
he had been transformed;
00:44:49.88\00:44:54.66
he knew that, as he
says, "There is laid up for me
00:44:54.69\00:44:59.16
a crown of life," and so
whatever temporal goodness
00:44:59.19\00:45:04.00
he could have accomplished
because Saul was in-line
00:45:04.07\00:45:08.54
to be a great man in
Israel had he continued doing
00:45:08.57\00:45:13.01
what he was doing, but the
Lord had a greater and better
00:45:13.04\00:45:17.35
mission for his life. Amen!
00:45:17.38\00:45:19.08
And so we praise the Lord
for what God did through Paul,
00:45:19.11\00:45:22.08
and Saul - converted to Paul.
00:45:22.15\00:45:24.35
I have Thursday's
lesson where we talk about
00:45:24.39\00:45:28.19
"Tyre and Caesarea"
00:45:28.26\00:45:29.59
Now, in Acts 19, it says
that Paul purposed in his heart,
00:45:29.62\00:45:35.16
purposed in the spirit to
go to Jerusalem and that's
00:45:35.20\00:45:40.97
why he's passing
through Tyre and Caesarea.
00:45:41.00\00:45:44.54
So I'd like to read to you from
Acts 21 and we're going to go
00:45:44.57\00:45:51.68
and read verses 1-6
and this is what we find...
00:45:51.71\00:45:56.48
"Now it came to pass
that when we had departed from
00:45:56.52\00:46:00.59
them and set sail, running
a straight course we came
00:46:00.62\00:46:04.46
to Cos, the following day to
Rhodes and from there to Patara.
00:46:04.49\00:46:09.13
And finding a ship
sailing over to Phoenicia,
00:46:09.16\00:46:12.20
we went aboard and set sail.
00:46:12.23\00:46:14.50
When we had sighted Cyprus,
we passed it on and then left
00:46:14.54\00:46:18.01
sailed to Syria and landed
at Tyre for there the ship was
00:46:18.04\00:46:21.81
to unload her cargo.
00:46:21.84\00:46:23.65
And finding disciples,
we stayed there seven days.
00:46:23.68\00:46:27.98
They told Paul through the
Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.
00:46:28.02\00:46:32.55
When we had come to the
end of those days, we departed
00:46:32.59\00:46:35.76
and went on our way
and they all accompanied us
00:46:35.79\00:46:38.93
with wives and children until
we were all out of the city,
00:46:38.96\00:46:41.90
and we knelt down on
the shore and prayed.
00:46:41.93\00:46:46.00
When we had taken
our leave of one another,
00:46:46.03\00:46:48.64
we boarded the ship
and they returned home."
00:46:48.67\00:46:51.51
So what happens here
is that he arrives at Tyre
00:46:51.54\00:46:53.78
and they understood
there was danger for him
00:46:53.84\00:46:58.81
to go to Jerusalem...
Well, what was in Jerusalem?
00:46:58.85\00:47:01.55
Wonderful people there!
00:47:01.58\00:47:03.75
Wonderful people there,
but among them were Christians,
00:47:03.82\00:47:07.39
and among them were
the hierarchy of the church
00:47:07.42\00:47:10.46
basically, and
Paul was a wanted man...
00:47:10.49\00:47:14.40
Hierarchy in the
synagogue. The synagogue!
00:47:14.46\00:47:18.30
And so, if they had
those days where you could put
00:47:18.33\00:47:23.41
"Wanted," you know,
Paul's name would have been
00:47:23.44\00:47:25.57
"Wanted," Dead or Alive
probably dead and with a
00:47:25.61\00:47:30.08
Reward because
what was Paul doing?
00:47:30.15\00:47:32.31
God was using him to
convert many people. Yes
00:47:33.52\00:47:36.25
He was a learned man, but
he had to un-learn some things.
00:47:36.28\00:47:40.39
And God used him mightily
to talk to Greeks and Jews,
00:47:40.46\00:47:46.06
and Gentiles mainly,
but people were coming to
00:47:46.09\00:47:48.96
Christ and they were
not happy about that...
00:47:49.00\00:47:51.20
well some of the
people in Jerusalem.
00:47:51.23\00:47:53.17
So anyway, so they tried
to discourage him from going
00:47:53.20\00:47:57.77
to Jerusalem, but Paul
felt he had a mission to go to
00:47:57.81\00:48:03.01
Jerusalem, so on he went.
00:48:03.04\00:48:05.25
And now we go to another
place that is outlined here
00:48:05.28\00:48:08.48
in Thursday and
that is that he goes to a
00:48:08.52\00:48:11.02
place called, "Caesarea."
00:48:11.05\00:48:12.99
When he arrives in Caesarea,
I want to set the background
00:48:13.02\00:48:15.66
here because in
Caesarea, he finds a gentleman
00:48:15.69\00:48:18.49
by the name of
"Agabus" who was a prophet,
00:48:18.53\00:48:21.06
and some time ago... I would
like to read this part to you.
00:48:21.10\00:48:24.63
Some time ago, he had made a
prophecy and this is found in
00:48:24.67\00:48:31.64
Acts 11:27-30, I would
like to ask Pastor C.A.
00:48:31.67\00:48:37.28
if he would help
me out, Acts 11:27-30,
00:48:37.35\00:48:42.85
and there, we find something
that God has used Agabus to do.
00:48:42.88\00:48:48.56
Acts 11:27-30, could
you read that for us please.
00:48:48.59\00:48:52.86
"And in these days, prophets
came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
00:48:52.89\00:48:57.43
Then one of them named Agabus,
stood up and showed by the
00:48:57.47\00:49:02.04
Spirit that there was
going to be a great famine
00:49:02.07\00:49:05.57
throughout all the
world, which also happened in
00:49:05.61\00:49:09.24
the days of Claudius Caesar.
00:49:09.28\00:49:13.21
Then the disciples,
each according to his ability
00:49:13.25\00:49:16.35
determined to send relief to
the brethren dwelling in Judea.
00:49:16.38\00:49:21.22
This they also did, and
sent it to the elders by the
00:49:21.26\00:49:25.86
hands of Barnabas and
Saul." Thank you so much.
00:49:25.89\00:49:29.36
So we see that this is
the background of Agabus.
00:49:29.40\00:49:31.97
He had said,
"There's going to be a famine"
00:49:32.00\00:49:33.87
and there was a famine.
00:49:33.94\00:49:36.04
Now when Agabus meets Paul,
something interesting happens
00:49:36.07\00:49:41.54
and now we go to
see what happened there.
00:49:41.58\00:49:47.62
And this is Agabus
talking in Acts 21 and I'm going
00:49:47.65\00:49:52.99
to read verses 10 and onward.
00:49:53.02\00:49:56.86
So this is what
the Bible tells us...
00:49:56.93\00:49:59.39
"And as we stayed many days,
a certain prophet named Agabus
00:49:59.43\00:50:03.63
came down from Judea
and when he had come to us,
00:50:03.67\00:50:06.84
he took Paul's belt,
bound his own hands and feet,
00:50:06.90\00:50:10.77
and said, "Thus
saith the Holy Spirit,"
00:50:10.81\00:50:13.78
"So shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man who owns
00:50:13.84\00:50:18.21
this belt and deliver him
into the hands of the Gentiles."
00:50:18.25\00:50:22.38
Well, I don't know - to some
people that would send chills
00:50:22.42\00:50:25.49
up their spine... what?
00:50:25.52\00:50:27.42
I better make some new
reservations somewhere else.
00:50:27.46\00:50:29.99
Now if Jonah had heard that,
what do you think he would do?
00:50:30.03\00:50:33.09
Laughter... no doubt.
I'll go somewhere else!
00:50:33.13\00:50:35.76
I'm going somewhere
else, but Paul was determined
00:50:35.80\00:50:39.23
to go to Jerusalem.
00:50:39.27\00:50:41.50
He understood the
Lord had a mission for him,
00:50:41.54\00:50:43.44
and that's what
he decided to do.
00:50:43.47\00:50:45.67
So in Acts 20, I'm going
to read verses 22 and onward.
00:50:45.71\00:50:51.11
"And see now, I go bound
in the Spirit to Jerusalem,
00:50:51.15\00:50:55.78
not knowing the things
that will happen to me there,
00:50:55.82\00:50:58.79
except that the Holy
Spirit testifies in every city
00:50:58.82\00:51:02.56
saying that chains
and tribulations await me.
00:51:02.59\00:51:06.56
But none of these things
move me; nor do I count my life
00:51:06.59\00:51:10.83
dear to myself, so that I
may finish my race with joy,
00:51:10.87\00:51:16.24
and the ministry which
I received from the Lord
00:51:16.27\00:51:19.07
Jesus to testify to the gospel
of the grace of God." Amen! Wow!
00:51:19.11\00:51:27.12
Now this is the man that before
was persecuting Christians.
00:51:27.18\00:51:31.99
And he was willing to go
bound, he was willing to face
00:51:32.02\00:51:35.02
whatever came his
way for Jesus Christ.
00:51:35.06\00:51:38.79
He was ready to die for
Jesus; this is the guy that was
00:51:38.83\00:51:42.06
killing Christians before.
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.43
Now he's ready to die for Jesus!
00:51:43.50\00:51:45.47
This is the change that
God has made in his life.
00:51:45.50\00:51:48.47
He wasn't interested in temporal
riches and a life of ease.
00:51:48.50\00:51:52.77
Like Moses - Moses was going
to be a great man in Egypt,
00:51:52.81\00:51:56.34
but he rather suffer affliction
with the people of God,
00:51:56.38\00:51:59.41
and when you find that there's
a greater joy, greater treasure
00:51:59.45\00:52:03.69
in heaven, you're
willing to go through anything
00:52:03.72\00:52:05.65
for the sake of the
gospel and bringing people
00:52:05.69\00:52:08.82
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:52:08.86\00:52:10.23
Now, when the people heard
all this... I'll read to you now
00:52:10.26\00:52:16.26
from Acts 21:14...
"So when he would not be
00:52:16.30\00:52:21.44
persuaded, we ceased saying,
"The will of the Lord be done."
00:52:21.47\00:52:29.51
And so, this is what
they were willing to do.
00:52:29.54\00:52:34.78
I would like to read one more
Scripture, this is Acts 21:10-14
00:52:34.82\00:52:39.32
Actually, verse 14...
verse 12, I think I've read
00:52:40.82\00:52:45.03
some other verses ahead of that.
00:52:45.06\00:52:47.50
"Now when we heard these things,
both we and those from that
00:52:47.56\00:52:50.00
place pleaded with him
not to go up to Jerusalem.
00:52:50.03\00:52:52.17
Then Paul answered, "What
do you mean by weeping and
00:52:52.20\00:52:54.77
breaking my heart? For I
am ready not only to be bound
00:52:54.80\00:52:58.41
but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of the
00:52:58.44\00:53:00.51
Lord Jesus Christ."
00:53:00.58\00:53:01.94
What was waiting
for him in Jerusalem?
00:53:01.98\00:53:03.85
Well some of the Christians
there did not understand
00:53:03.88\00:53:06.95
Paul's mission and he was
not going to be warmly received.
00:53:07.02\00:53:10.49
He was going to
have a cold reception
00:53:10.52\00:53:12.05
from some of the brethren -
not as it was in some of these
00:53:12.09\00:53:15.59
places where they
embraced them and wept and said,
00:53:15.62\00:53:17.83
"Paul don't go to
Jerusalem, please."
00:53:17.86\00:53:19.86
And so we must understand
that some day we may encounter
00:53:19.89\00:53:23.20
some difficulty and I
would like to read to you from
00:53:23.23\00:53:26.47
Ellen G. White's
writing because sometimes we may
00:53:26.50\00:53:28.90
have to face difficulties
and face them trusting in Jesus.
00:53:28.94\00:53:33.24
It says in "Testimonies
to the Church, Vol. 5, 136,"
00:53:33.27\00:53:38.85
"When the religion of
Christ is most held in contempt,
00:53:38.88\00:53:42.05
when His law is most despised,
then should our zeal be the
00:53:42.08\00:53:46.02
the warmest, and
our courage and firmness
00:53:46.05\00:53:47.96
the most unflinching.
00:53:47.99\00:53:49.99
To stand in defense of
truth and righteousness when
00:53:50.03\00:53:52.69
the majority forsake us, to
fight the battles of the Lord
00:53:52.73\00:53:56.03
when champions are few
- - this will be our test.
00:53:56.06\00:53:59.07
At this time, we must gather
warmth from the coldness of
00:53:59.10\00:54:03.04
others, courage
from their cowardice,
00:54:03.07\00:54:05.04
and loyalty from their treason."
00:54:05.07\00:54:07.41
And so we must keep our
eyes fixed on Jesus and find
00:54:07.48\00:54:11.71
strength in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
00:54:11.75\00:54:13.42
Amen! Amen! That's beautiful!
00:54:13.45\00:54:15.22
Thank you so
much Brother Johnny.
00:54:15.25\00:54:16.58
What an incredible blessing!
00:54:16.62\00:54:17.95
I have learned and have
been edified by each one of you
00:54:17.99\00:54:21.99
and what you have shared.
00:54:22.02\00:54:23.53
As I think about the
Apostle Paul, I see a man who
00:54:23.56\00:54:26.80
is obedient to God;
a man who has a passion
00:54:26.83\00:54:30.83
for souls and who
considers his converts, not his,
00:54:30.87\00:54:34.94
they are from the Lord
Jesus Christ, but those that he
00:54:34.97\00:54:37.77
has won to the Lord
Jesus Christ as his children.
00:54:37.81\00:54:41.58
He loves them
with an undying love.
00:54:41.61\00:54:44.41
We have just a few moments
left and I want to give each
00:54:44.45\00:54:47.22
person on the panel an
opportunity to either share
00:54:47.28\00:54:49.75
something about your day
or about someone else's day
00:54:49.78\00:54:53.46
if you would like... Pastor C.A.
00:54:53.52\00:54:54.86
I am so impressed with the
Spirit of God that was in Paul.
00:54:54.89\00:54:59.03
What I am given courage
is the fact that God will
00:54:59.06\00:55:04.47
take care of His own and I
think one of the great fears
00:55:04.50\00:55:07.87
of so many people
today is to step out in faith
00:55:07.90\00:55:10.91
and serve the Lord and to
witness for the Lord. Amen!
00:55:10.94\00:55:13.48
We need not fear;
you've got your personal
00:55:13.51\00:55:15.78
testimony AND
you've got the promise
00:55:15.81\00:55:17.95
that God's Word will not return
to Him void. Amen and Amen!
00:55:17.98\00:55:22.02
I think just the
take-away that I would like to
00:55:22.05\00:55:25.25
re-emphasize on my day
is... There are only eight
00:55:25.29\00:55:33.53
references in the entire
New Testament to the first day
00:55:33.60\00:55:37.43
of the week; five are about the
same event - telling about the
00:55:37.47\00:55:40.74
women going on resurrection
morning to the tomb.
00:55:40.80\00:55:43.57
The other three - one is
about the disciples who were
00:55:43.61\00:55:49.28
barred behind the
doors for fear of the Jews;
00:55:49.31\00:55:53.05
One was about a special
collection that was being
00:55:53.08\00:55:56.22
taken up and then the
farewell meeting of Paul.
00:55:56.25\00:55:59.02
And my point is - please
understand the Sabbath is
00:55:59.05\00:56:03.86
special to the Lord and
He made it for you! Amen!
00:56:03.89\00:56:07.13
God is with us through
every situation, through all
00:56:07.13\00:56:11.73
adversity we know
that we can trust Him;
00:56:11.77\00:56:14.30
we know that even when we're
00:56:14.34\00:56:16.44
cast down, we're not crushed.
00:56:16.47\00:56:18.51
We can be in despair, but
we don't have to be despondent
00:56:18.54\00:56:22.38
because we know that
God's got us! Amen! Amen!
00:56:22.41\00:56:25.95
Well I would like to say
that, you know, when Paul
00:56:25.98\00:56:28.28
was in Tyre and Caesarea
and they tried to discourage him
00:56:28.32\00:56:30.69
from going to Jerusalem,
the things that Paul said
00:56:30.72\00:56:34.82
was firmness of
faith and that helped him,
00:56:34.86\00:56:39.26
but it also
helped the people there.
00:56:39.29\00:56:41.13
Perhaps they were going to
face trials and tribulations
00:56:41.16\00:56:43.57
and as they saw Paul
WILLING to lay down his life,
00:56:43.63\00:56:47.14
that gave them
courage to go forward,
00:56:47.20\00:56:49.47
and we need to hear that
from time to time. Amen! Amen!
00:56:49.50\00:56:52.27
Thank you so much
Pastor Johnny, Yvonne, Shelley
00:56:52.31\00:56:55.18
and Pastor C.A. for
sharing from your heart
00:56:55.21\00:56:57.21
and from the Word of God.
00:56:57.25\00:56:58.75
I want to close with this
quote from "Review and Herald,
00:56:58.78\00:57:02.05
May 29, 1900,"
"Paul was a living example
00:57:02.08\00:57:06.55
of what every true
Christian should be.
00:57:06.59\00:57:09.29
He lived for God's glory.
00:57:09.32\00:57:12.36
His heart burned with a
love for souls and he gave all
00:57:12.39\00:57:15.70
of his energy for
the conversion of men.
00:57:15.73\00:57:18.60
There never lived a
more self-denying worker."
00:57:18.63\00:57:22.07
I want to encourage you to
accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:57:22.10\00:57:24.91
Give your life
in service for Him.
00:57:24.94\00:57:28.04
We will see you
next time. Bye, bye.
00:57:28.08\00:57:30.05