Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, How do you determine the will of God in the specifics of how He wants you to serve Him, decisions in your relationships, and family, your work or what you feel is your calling and duty in the church.

What do you do when doors seems to shut, when road blocks and suffering are in the way.

Is that from God or Satan?

Many make these decisions based on path of least resistance and what gives them happiness - “Oh, that’s God’s path.”

How do you include others in your decisions?

Is it just an individual thing, discern Holy Spirit’s movement, don’t seek others input - as if gift of the Spirit is a direct pipeline to every decision in life.

What is the place of Christian fellowship in you discerning and carrying out the will of God, even if involves suffering.

What place does God’s Word have in hearing the Spirit?

Let me illustrate this with recent events of John Allen Chau vs. Jim Elliot.

Even though suffering in both - one is tragic and a waste - the other in community truly bore fruit.

Whole community of MAF - his wife, his children, reached that tribe.

Well this is is exactly the conundrum Paul found himself in, and the one which all Christian face in seeking to serve the LORD.

The book of Acts is about the ongoing work of Risen and Ascended Jesus, does that work, by the Holy Spirit, through you and I the Church.

And this morning let’d see how we are to make decisions in carrying out our portion of that work!

Key Truth: Spirit-filled people, listen to Spirit-filled Prophesy, and make responsible Spirit-Pleasing decisions in faith!

John Allen Chau vs. Jim Elliot.

John Allen Chau vs. Jim Elliot.

Let’s first get the facts of the context straight.

3rd Missionary journey, unique because strengthening of existing churches - Ephesus - 3 years, then back around to Corinth; It was here that Paul receive this prompting by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem to deliver the collection for the Jewish believers going through famine, but also as thank you, and a statement of the unity of Jew and Gentile believers.

Let’s first get the facts of the context straight.

3rd Missionary journey, unique because strengthening of existing churches - Ephesus - 3 years, then back around to Corinth; It was here that Paul receive this prompting by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem to deliver the collection for the Jewish believers going through famine, but also as thank you, and a statement of the unity of Jew and Gentile believers.

Seems to have it as special revelation, that being Apostle to the Gentiles, won’t die in Jerusalem but get to Rome!

At Corinth now another epistle - writes to them

Remember taking with him representatives who will carry that offering, but he knows that only 5 years from that Jerusalem council - no longer require Jewish ceremonial law, not just Gentile becoming Jews - but fulfillment of all that is Christianity.

He feels called by God, no matter the danger from Jews against him, nor Jewish Christians starting false teaching - and he is asking for prayer.

He knows He is called to go, but that calling doesn’t mean God will clear path so no difficulty in going.

We are not to judge by our circumstances what the will of God is, though providence will come in to play.

So remember when about to Corinth get to Jerusalem by Passover - plot of the Jews sailing on same boat undiscovered, so he decided to go over land, and try to make for feast of Pentecost, fifty days later.

Well, he gets around Aegean Sea, no time to stop in Ephesus and the ship stops, here at Miletus - beach party with the Ephesian elders.

And do you remember why they are so sad to let him go?

He says, I know I am not going to see any of you again

Now he’s come around

This could be you or me, we know by God’s special revelation we are called to some duty, we then by spiritual discernment say this how it applies in my life set out - but we don’t know all the details of how.

Making Spirit-Pleasing Decisions A. Spirit-filled People Receive God’s Special Revelation

But this is precisely where the problem comes in serving the Lord.

All though providential, it’s spring time, winter stormy season is done.

Sun is shining, favourable NW winds, blowing along most scenic shoreline, cursing through islands to Patara - shipping depot Asia - Egypt.

Board bigger ship sail through open seas 400 miles to Palestine.

Flying at two days.

Still at every step, met with Christians who say, Spirit is giving warning of all sorts of danger.

And they take the Holy Spirit warnings, as sign don’t go.

Sure in your Christian life experienced this same revelation, but people interpret it different ways.

At times it may even seems that the Spirit through these other people giving you opposite messages.

Look at first stop at Tyre cargo being loaded:

Impossible the Spirit giving mixed signals.

What is certain is a warning and prophesy of danger and hardship in Jersualem.

Now this is used by some to say Don’t do it.

But he presses on to capital and main port - Caesarea Maritina.

And this time Agabus - the prophet who years before predicted the Famine in Jersualem - he in most dramatic way - says - like OT Prophets with this belt special revelation certain arrest and deliverance into hands of Romans!

And look at the response:

Now was Paul rash and self-willed and wrong to chose suffering Messiah complex.

Or was he right and if so, how can we know , and how does Christ by the Holy Spirit direct us in our service.

The first part of our answer, is: Making Spirit-Pleasing Decisions

The first part of our answer, is:

B) Christian Fellowship (koinonia) is where We Live & Find Guidance

A) Christian Fellowship (koinonia) is where We Live, Serve & Find Guidance

In the last church I served, I asked the question in the last three months - how many times have you sought advice of another Christian in a major decision or event in your life.

How many times have you prayed with another for guidance?

Low, even with elders.

It is striking that though Paul knows Spirit has called, Him, others seeking the Spirit say teh warning means: Don’t go to Jerusalem, just send the regional reps - they can do it - don’t throw your life away need you in these church - send you to more promising fields!

Look what they did at Miletus: Before they hug and don’t want to let go, before the tears come.

Right there at the docks:

Look what they did at Miletus: Before they hug and don’t want to let go, before the tears come.

Right there at the docks:

It is the same thing emphasized on the sandy beach at Tyre: Interesting that we would say church service, bring the kids, special speaker bring the kids.

But in the middle of public place, in middle of daily life - do we include whole family, do we include Christin firends with - in prayer?

Now Paul had never been to Tyre, church planted from scattered persecution after Stephen 20 years before.

But Paul gets to Tyre with his entourage, know the ships cargoe - probably grain from Black Sea area, or wine from Italy France.

reloaded - And what does he do: a

Young people some of you are the move, do you seek out Christians - new school, new town.

Attend new church, just disappear or seek out, invest in friendship with another disciple of Christ!? Adults you have decisions you face obstacles, trying discern - do you seek out people here - not just passing ships in the night.

But they seek them out - real encouragement.

Who would you do that with.

Here is a lesson in Christian fellowship - not based on blood relationship, familiarity, simlar background, not even based on just time together.

True believers share a bond - in their friendship with Christ - practical sharing gin the Christian life - 3x koinonia used in connection with poorer saints in Jersaelm - point of bringing the collection.

But it is also used of the help and guidance Christ works through us to each other: It is a bond that binds Christians to each other to Christ and to God, Sharing and participation not only of the things of earth, but of the glory of heaven!

Two people on a boat - notice don’t speak same language but prayer, Bible - Jesus Jesus - that koinonia - is the word in the OT for how God receives his people:

Take in bring near - and live together

That’s the way we are to seek out and receive others in Christ in our lives - same generosity, same forgiveness, and acceptance, and sheer kindness!

And all along the way, these other Christian's they are Helpers/Allies in the Kingdom Work they were sent on.

That’s the second meaning of Koinonia - not just fellowship and support, friendship.

But the word in GK - mean co-worker, partners in business - Do you know what this means for how you seek out Christians to share Christian life with?

It means - can’t come here as a individual in the midst of a bunch of acquaintances and strangers.

but a member of a family.

As soldier enlisting in a campaign of Christ the King together.

Look at how the word was used in this way, in Ephesus, when new young, gifted baby Christian named Apollos came to town one day!

This is the context for living the Christian life.

Paul uses that same word: take aside, take into your life, home = welcome!

, in

There is a runaway slave, Onesimus, his former owner Philemon having trouble knowing how to do deal with it.

Both Christians .Listen to what Paul writes: Same Word - take into your Christian circle, free and full

That’s what we are to be doing with other Christians new or long time members, young or old.

Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven given diaconal duties, settled 20 years now in - and Paul and the company gets to Caesarea.

knows church but look what Philip does:

Big decision to invite someone into your home to share Christian living, even for a brief visit.

Big decision to go out for a coffee with someone her to pray to seek guidance, to serve together.

Paul parts from them and similar scene - of prayer and urging, and he just met these Christians.

But notice how Paul goes into Jerusalem.

This is going to be a big and dangerous controversial step - Gentile Missionary - accused of diluting the faith and suspect by purer Jewish Christians - and look what the disciples from Caesarea do: 2 days travel, they find a dear friend.

Not just anyone but Mnason - one of the first Hellenistic Jews to be converted, gained respect of of whole Church in Jerusalem, and they introduce him to one who would help so much.