Sub: Stay Faithful To The Work

Intro: On Sunday morning October 23, 1983 terrorist struck a Marine barracks in Beirut killing 241 American servicemen. 220 marines were killed, 18 Naval personnel, and 3 Army soldiers were killed in the bombing. 60 Americans were injured in the attack. The news reports showed dazed survivors working to dig out their trapped brothers from beneath the rubble.

A few days after the attack Marine Corps Commandant Paul Kelly visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man, yet he survived. As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief not and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were but two words— “Semper Fi” which is shorthand for the Latin motto of the Marines, Semper Fidelis, which means “Always Faithful.” With those words Nashton spoke for the millions of Americans who have sacrificed life and limb for their country and those who still remain faithful.

Luke declared the continued faithfulness of Paul and his companions in the work of the Lord. Christians are not to give up in the work of the Lord, give in to temptations to quit. Are we faithful to the work of the Lord Jesus? Do we get discouraged by opposition? Are we defeated by opposition? Are we “Always Faithful” to the Lord Jesus? Christian soldiers are to be faithful to the work of the Lord. This passage gives us some facts about the faithfulness of the Christian soldiers.

This chapter records the conclusion of Paul's third missionary journey. Paul was heading for Jerusalem, intending to arrive before the Feast of Pentecost. On the way, he took time in Troas to encourage the believers, then he had a tearful farewell with the elders of the church in Ephesus. These events reveal the heart of the apostle. His speeches and actions offer a model for ministry.

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Once again, Paul had to change his plans, this time because of a Jewish plot to kill him at sea. Instead of sailing from Corinth, he traveled overland through Achaia and Macedonia, sailing from Philippi to Troas, where his “team” agreed to meet. As a person who dislikes travel and changes in plans, I admire Paul for his courage, stamina, and adaptability. In spite of the complications and delays in travel today, we have a much easier time than Paul did—and we complain! He kept going! These events reveal the heart of the apostle. His speeches and actions offer a model for ministry.

Paul expressed a fatherly concern for the communities of believers that he had been instrumental in founding.

20:1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia. NRSV This uproar was the riot in Ephesus, described at the end of chapter 19.

Paul then sent for the disciples, presumably those he had been teaching in Ephesus for two years.

The key word in this verse describing Paul's ministry is "encouraging." The Greek term is paraklesis—the same word used by Jesus for the coming Holy Spirit ( John 14:16; 15:26).

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Through Macedonia and Achaia

A riot in Ephesus sent Paul to Troas, then through Macedonia to the region of Achaia. In Achaia he went to Corinth to deal with problems there. Paul had planned to sail from C

It literally means "called alongside," and possible meanings run the spectrum from "counsel" to "encourage" to "correct." The term carries with it two general ideas: (1) communication—the teaching of truth; and (2) compassion—the exhortation or encouragement that comes from a caring, concerned "Counselor." The word will show up again in 20:2 and 20:12 where, after the events in Troas, the people were "greatly comforted." Encouragement is a major theme in Acts; it is offered by Barnabas ( 4:36; 11:23) and by Paul ( 13:15; 16:40; 20:1-2; 27:35-36). See also 13:43; 14:22; 15:31-32; 18:27; 28:15.

After saying his farewell, Paul left for Macedonia, to continue his ministry of encouragement.

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I. The Rally

The apostle Paul set out again on the last leg of his third missionary journey. This time he left Asia and headed to Macedonia. He came to Macedonia and there he encouraged the churches. Paul had two goals in mind as he visited the various churches. His main purpose was to encourage and strengthen the saints so that they might stand true to the Lord and be effective witnesses. His second purpose was to finish taking up the collection for the needy believers in Jerusalem (; ; ). The men who accompanied him () were representatives of the churches, appointed to travel with Paul and help handle the funds (). The ministry of Paul at this point was a ministry of encouragement and edification. David Jeremiah wrote, “Paul was like a coach who continues to rally his team even when things look bleak. It never occurred to Paul to do anything else. Great leaders don’t have to be told to embrace, encourage, and exhort those in the faith—it comes (super)-naturally. They have a heart for ministry.”

￫He didn’t encourage them with his presence, though they were surely glad to see him, but he encouraged them with his words.

The preaching of the word of God and then work of the Spirit of God will encourage God’s people! It wasn’t just a few words from the preacher, but it was ‘many’ words of exhortation. The churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea needed encouragement, wisdom, strength, and guidance from the Word! Churches today still need “much” encouragement from the Word. John G. Butler wrote, “Today our church programs feature ‘much’ entertainment but not ‘much’ exhortation. The emphasis in our churches is generally on fellowship around food and games, not fellowship around the Word of God.”

Luke gives a clear report about Paul’s continued work on the mission field. He came to Macedonia again with purpose and passion! His 1st time through he won people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. This time through Paul encouraged and built up the believers in the faith!

Ill. Pep Rallys at my high school East High School

I was in the marching band, jazz band, and pep band. We looked forward to game day even though we could beat nobody, we had a losing record because we got out of one class early for the pep rally. The principle would dress in school colors and the mascot would be turning flips. Everybody who had something to say would pep the whole school up believing that we would win. The team would come in to the gym with heads down from last weeks blow out but would leave the gym jumping and encouraging one another believing this week they were going to win.

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Paul had given three years of his life to the believers in Ephesus. When he left, he could have cried, "Oh, I don't understand why the Lord let this happen! He knows how much I love the leadership of Ephesus!" Paul could have complained, "Now I'll never see the Ephesian believers again. The devil has attacked me, and the door to Ephesus is permanently closed for me!" But Paul understood that crying and complaining don't change a thing. So instead, he went down the road to the seaside town of Miletus and secured a facility for a meeting. Then he called for the elders of Ephesus to meet him there! Paul figured if he couldn't go to Ephesus, why not invite the leadership to come see him? Why resign himself to defeat just because he had hit a block in the road? Paul knew that there is more than one way to accomplish a goal. So he put his brain to work and found a way to do what God wanted him to do. Why should we stop just because the devil gets in the way? If that were the case, we might as well stop everything we're doing for the Lord right now! There will never be a time that the devil just lets us do what is in our hearts. We must be determined to keep doing what we're called to do even if the devil tries to slam the door shut in our faces. So what if Satan shut the door to Ephesus? That was a good time for Paul to look for a open window! If he couldn't go to the elders, why not call them to him? Paul discovered an open window in Miletus. He called for the leaders, met with them, and finished his assignment, exactly as God had ordered him to do. Mission accomplished! You see, Paul had an attitude that would not give up. It didn't matter how much opposition was leveled against him, he had already decided he would outlive the opposition. Somehow he'd find a way to do what God had called him to do. You can do anything God calls you to do too! Determine in your heart that you will not allow Satan to do anything to stop you, prevent you, or discourage you from staying on track with the assignment God has given you. God's will for your life is where mighty and powerful things are going to happen! That is why the devil is putting up such a fuss to try to keep you from getting there. He's afraid of what will happen if you actually do what God has put in your heart to do. So dig in your heels, and determine that you are not giving in or giving up. Refuse to back up or abandon, and keep on pressing ahead. The devil may have put a block in the road before you, but that doesn't mean the show is over! If you'll listen to the Holy Spirit, He'll show you another route to get you where you need to be.

II. The Resistance

Luke tells us of the time that Paul spent in Greece. Paul left Macedonia and traveled down to Achaia and on to Greece. Paul had been here before as well. He ministered the gospel to pagan and idol worshiping Athens—with little fruit. He took the gospel to the Greek city of Corinth and there established the church in that city! The Lord saved many people in Corinth and Paul was back to encourage this church to be faithful to the Lord.

Paul would write five of his epistles to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 and 2 Corinthians were to the churches in this area. For three months Paul stayed in Greece. His first trip through Corinth he stayed 18 months according to Acts 18:11.

Luke tells us that after 3 months Paul experienced resistance again from the Jews. The first time through the Jews had apprehended Paul and charged him with teaching contrary to the law. This time Luke tells us that the Jews plotted against him when they found out that he was about to sail to Syria. Plotted: (KJV: laid wait) epiboule en-ee-boo-lay' a plan against someone, i.e. a plot-laying (lying) in wait. This word tells us that they Jews planned to do harm to Paul. He had come through one time and stirred up things and now he was back in town and the Jews were not going to take it anymore! The Jews changed their strategy this time. They didn’t apprehend him and take him to the authorities, but this time they were going to take matters into their own hands. They were not going to chance it to the ruling of a court—they wanted to rid the earth of Paul and they planned it out! They wanted to get him before he got away to Syria! Resistance to Paul was because of the life and work of Paul.

God used Paul and souls were saved and lives were changed for the glory of God! Anytime God uses us we can rest assure that Satan will attack us and try to harm us one way or the other. From Corinth Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. Although he had not yet been to Rome, believers had already started a church there ( 2:10; 18:2). Paul wrote to tell the Roman believers that he planned to visit them. The letter to the Romans is a theological essay on the meaning of faith and salvation, an explanation of the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in Christ, and a list of practical guidelines for the church.

LIFE APPLICATION

WHEN GOD SAYS NO!

A reading of the first few verses of Romans (especially ) relates Paul's passionate desire to visit Rome and the sovereign hand of God that had prevented him from getting there up to this point. The combination of these two factors—Paul's impassioned desire to go to Rome and God's sovereign "no"—resulted in his sitting down to write the letter to the Romans—the undisputed "Magna Carta" or “The Charter” of the Christian faith. Perhaps there are some "no's" in our lives that God is planning to use greatly, if we would just faithfully do what lies directly ahead of us instead of worrying about why we didn't get our way.

In these verses we seen the rally, the resistance, and we also learn about:

III. The Rerouting

The plot of the Jews became known to Paul—do you think God had something to do with that? Amen! This wasn’t the first time that the Jews plans and be uncovered or their hopes had been dashed! Paul had been kept from certain harm before because the plots against him had been uncovered! Homer Kent wrote, “When Paul was ready to leave by ship for Syrian Antioch, a plot against him was discovered. They were either going to throw him overboard or else kill him someplace on the dock. Paul immediately changed his plans and fled back into Macedonia. Therefore, he changed his route to an overland trip back through Macedonia.”

Paul wasn’t running for his life—he wasn’t intimidated or scarred. He had come publicly to Corinth and he ministered faithfully in Corinth! Just as when he left Ephesus after the riot. Paul trusted the Lord Jesus and the Lord directed his steps. In ministry all of Paul’s plans were not unchangable.

￫There were times he had to readjust his schedule and travel.

There were times he had to recalculate—change directions—or take a different route. The GPS system would have been busy recalculating Paul’s journey! Instead of sailing from Greece to Syria, Paul now decided to go back north up to Macedonia where he had just come from three months earlier.

￫Paul stayed focused on the mission and he stayed faithful to the Master!

Paul Chappell wrote, “Paul traveled some 12,350 miles on his missionary journeys. He evangelized about 1,500 square miles in sixteen years. He was sick much of the time and needed the constant help of Luke, yet, he continued faithfully for God.” May we learn from and be challenged by the faithfulness of Paul to God. I pray that you and I would be found faithfully serving the Lord! “Wherever He leads we will go” and “whatever He says we will do!” The Bible tells us about the continuance of the work.

Life Application

Paul had given three years of his life to the believers in Ephesus. When he left, he could have cried, "Oh, I don't understand why the Lord let this happen! He knows how much I love the leadership of Ephesus!" Paul could have complained, "Now I'll never see the Ephesian believers again. The devil has attacked me, and the door to Ephesus is permanently closed for me!" But Paul understood that crying and complaining don't change a thing. So instead, he went down the road to the seaside town of Miletus and secured a facility for a meeting. Then he called for the elders of Ephesus to meet him there! Paul figured if he couldn't go to Ephesus, why not invite the leadership to come see him? Why resign himself to defeat just because he had hit a block in the road? Paul knew that there is more than one way to accomplish a goal. So he put his brain to work and found a way to do what God wanted him to do. Why should we stop just because the devil gets in the way? If that were the case, we might as well stop everything we're doing for the Lord right now! There will never be a time that the devil just lets us do what is in our hearts. We must be determined to keep doing what we're called to do even if the devil tries to slam the door shut in our faces. So what if Satan shut the door to Ephesus? That was a good time for Paul to look for a open window! If he couldn't go to the elders, why not call them to him? Paul discovered an open window in Miletus. He called for the leaders, met with them, and finished his assignment, exactly as God had ordered him to do. Mission accomplished! When Paul's impassioned desire to go to Rome and God's sovereign "no"—resulted in his sitting down to write the letter to the Romans. Mission accomplished! You see, Paul had an attitude that would not give up. It didn't matter how much opposition was leveled against him, he had already decided he would outlive the opposition. Somehow he'd find a way to do what God had called him to do. You can do anything God calls you to do too! Determine in your heart that you will not allow Satan to do anything to stop you, prevent you, or discourage you from staying on track with the assignment God has given you. God's will for your life is where mighty and powerful things are going to happen! That is why the devil is putting up such a fuss to try to keep you from getting there. He's afraid of what will happen if you actually do what God has put in your heart to do. So dig in your heels, and determine that you are not giving in or giving up. Refuse to back up or abandon, and keep on pressing ahead. The devil may have put a block in the road before you, but that doesn't mean the show is over! If you'll listen to the Holy Spirit, He'll show you another route to get you where you need to be.

In the words of “Ernest Blandy” I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, “Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.”

In the words of “Ernest Blandy” I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling, “Take thy cross and follow, follow Me.”

Refrain: Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, Where He leads me I will follow, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I’ll go with Him through the waters, I’ll go with Him through the waters, I’ll go with Him through the waters, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him through the garden, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I’ll go with Him to dark Calv’ry, I’ll go with Him to dark Calv’ry, I’ll go with Him to dark Calv’ry, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

I’ll go with Him to the judgment, I’ll go with Him to the judgment, I’ll go with Him to the judgment, I’ll go with Him, with Him all the way.

He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, And go with me, with me all the way.

Charles Wesley wrote like this: A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky.To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill: Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage To do my Master’s will!Arm me with jealous care, As in Thy sight to live; And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare A strict account to give!Help me to watch and pray, And on Thyself rely, Assured, if I my trust betray, I shall forever die.

But here’s the one I love:

Refrain: I am on the battlefield for my Lord, I'm on the battlefield for my Lord; And I promised him that I would serve him till I die. I am on the battlefield for my Lord.

1 I was alone and idle, I was a sinner too, I heard a voice from heaven Say there is work to do, I took the Master's hand, And I joined the Christian band, I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]

2 I left my friends and kindred Bound for the Promised Land, The grace of God upon me, The Bible in my hand, In distant lands I trod, Crying sinner come to God, I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]

3 Now when I met my Savior, I met Him with a smile, He healed my wounded Spirit, And owned me as his child, Around the throne of grace, He appoints my soul a place, I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. [Refrain]