Encouraged to Leave
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Encouraged to Leave
Have you ever been Encouraged to Leave?
Have you ever had a job that you want to Fred Flinstone, “Yabba Dabba Do” right out of the building?
Have you ever been that mom in the 4th or 5th store with all your kids, and you are so ready to get the heck out of Walmart? You ust keep looking at your list like, “I can survive without this. I want to go home!” Each of your kids is showcasing something you read in an abnormal psych text book. They’re done, you’re done.
How many of you are ready to get out of that house, enjoy the sun, and get back to normal?
Double Meaning
I’m sure you noticed that this statement can actually have two meanings. You can be feel encouraged when leaving somewhere or others can encourage you to get the heck out!
How many of us have ever felt, like maybe everybody else would be happy if YOU left? I’m pretty sure I’ve been that guy a few times. That can be a sobering thought.
If you feel that way, or just feel stuck I think you need some encouragement.
NAMB
In fact, NAMB sent me an email with poll results from the Barna Group. Their poll showed that 61% of pastors polled say their top priority in preaching is communicating a message of faith and hope, finding and bringing encouragement to self and others.
40 - Quarantine
I bet you’ve been stuck at home a bit longer than you’d like and maybe you want to leave and maybe others in the house wouldn’t mind it if you left either. aybe we all need a little encouragement right now. We’ve been stuck a long time!
I don’t know about you, but I remember around 7 o’clock on on March 19th Governor Newsom announcing that you and I would be on a special time out for the foreseeable future. It may be hard to imagine, but this week we are coming up on 40 days in “quarantine”
Quarantine
This week I learned that that “quarantine” was a naval term. in the 1300s it was a Venitina policy that ships from countries afflicted with the black plague would be required to wait a period of…you guessed it, 40 days. Before being able to come into port. Quaranta is Italian for forty.
Time to get up and go.
It looks like most places have seen their peak and states are or are preparing to open up business and start on the road to “normalcy”.
You and I are seeing the hope of leaving home, but before you get your sneakers on and prepare to run right out that door, there are some things I want to remind you of in God’s word as we read about God’s work in the book of Acts, chapter 20.
What I think God’s Spirit wants you and I to walk away with today is recognizing that
Sometimes it’s just time to go
Don’t run away from something, run towards something
Don’t forget the good, take it with you
Social Distancing DOESN’T MEAN Social Isolation, keep your friends close
We should be encouraged to leave and encouraged by leaving
Open you bible and get your programs as we turn to Acts chapter 20 and begin at verse one.
Title: Encouraged to Leave (vv 1-6)
Title: Encouraged to Leave (vv 1-6)
Scripture
After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia.
When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece.
And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.
We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days.
NOTES
I. When you gotta go, you gotta go (v1) Be Encouraged. Sometimes, it’s just time to go
I. When you gotta go, you gotta go (v1) Be Encouraged. Sometimes, it’s just time to go
Bad Circumstances and Good results: Paul and the Ephesians disturbance
History
Paul had been there 3 years, but now we see Paul pack up and go right after the Ephesian disturbance.
Reasons
It’s possible Paul was not able to be there anymore without causing severe disruption in Ephesian life.
The disturbance almost broke out into a riot
Roman intervention would be disastrous.
Jewish anger.
It’s possible that the Jews of Ephesus felt that Paul brought this issue on them.
Paul taught 3 mo in the synagogue of Ephesus before leaving with followers, bringing a split. Paul was already viewed as someone dangerous and troublesome.
The Jews brought Alexander forward in the theater, but the crowd recognized him as a Jew and shouted even louder.
Consider also Paul’s behavior later. For whatever reason, it seems that in the future Paul avoids going to Ephesus and only sends others to it or calls others from it.
Paul has always had a Call.
Paul always had a missionary call.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
Even though Paul seemed to settle down in Ephesus, “[Paul] looked around for fresh worlds to conquer” (FF Bruce)
Paul’s Pattern of Ministry
Set up shop, get a job, preach in the synagogue, make disciples, train leaders, move on. even his stops, he kept the same goal, the same mission.
Paul had to move on from most places due to persecution, but even when there was none, he used safe places as a base/headquarters and worked out from there to help establish and strengthen churches.
Antioch of Syria
Corinth
Ephesus
Rome
Ephesus was Paul’s longest time out (up to that point), but although he was pinned “down” he was certainly not “out”.
Imagine Your home is your Ephesus.
You’ve had all this time there, but now it’s time to get ready to hit the road again.
We have choices to make, and base them on your calling, like Paul did.
Application
Almost 40 days ago you and I had to make some hard decisions. We had to decide to leave our church building behind, for a time. Leave our small groups. Leave dinners with friends, sports events, hugs, and just being able to stand next to someone without a mask on.
Today I want us to focus on our own homes. It’s almost time to go.
Some are more ready than others, but we all know that the time to leave home will be soon. The time to leave this quarantine behind us is coming. But we need to as ourselves...
Are we ready?
How should we leave ?
It’s time for change.
II. We can Run Away or Run Towards (v2) Encourage WHO is behind, be encouraged for WHO lies ahead.
II. We can Run Away or Run Towards (v2) Encourage WHO is behind, be encouraged for WHO lies ahead.
The Meaning of 40
This week we will “celebrate” 40-days in lock down. Bob Mees shared with me this week an encouraging thought in this. The Jewish people saw these patterns and saw 40 as representing a time of probation, trial, correction and major change. 40 seems to imply that God is going something phenomenal
Creation
40 weeks of gestation
Destruction
40 days and nights flooding the earth
Moses
40 years a Prince
Prince of Egypt
40 years a Pastor
Poimen (Gk) was a shepherd, we translate the word as Pastor.
40 years a Prophet
The normative biblical model for prophets is Moses.
40 days on Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments.
40 years wandering in the wilderness to teach wayward Israel obedience and dependence on God.
Jesus
fasted for 40 days in the wilderness
40 days from resurrection to ascension
Who’s behind:
Paul prepared the Ephesian ministry to continue in His absence.
How many churches crumble when a godly established pastor leaves? They lose someone who had become invaluable and no one was taught or raised up to replace them. They get a pulpit search committee and look, maybe for over a year and choose someone they barely know to fill those shoes. Paul utilized his time there wisely as a good shepherd. He wasn’t in Ephesus to build his own kingdom, but to train other to further the Kingdom.
Paul’s Ephesian Ministry
In Paul’s time this city saw the ministry of Apollos, Priscilla, and Aquila
Paul taught 3 mo in the synagogue, and 2+ years in the school of Tyrannus. His ministry’s effects were felt for hundreds of miles around and likely farther.It wasn’t only his teaching, I imagine, but those instructed and affected by his teaching, full of the Holy Spirit, who carried the teaching far and wide.
The Ephesian Church sent people
Apollos
Apollos was an Ephesian export to Corinth.
The Ephesian church sent letters
Paul wrote books (letters) here.
1 Corinthians and possibly two other letters were penned here to the church in Corinth (many of us know what it’s like to have that one kid who needs all of our attention).
Your Ephesian Ministry
Who or what are you leaving behind?
Some of us are leaving behind empty houses. Maybe a dog or a cat. But some of us are leaving behind a spouse. Children. Roommates. Our live in mission field.
How have we been utilizing our time with them. Are they ready for ius to leave again? What have we done or are we doing to better their lives, equipping them for ministry?
Who’s behind is also who’s ahead?
Sometimes God moves us out of the way so that others can grow in ministry.
When Paul left Ephesus he commissioned Timothy
Paul wrote the letters 1st and 2nd Timothy to him while Timothy was serving as the pastor of the church at Ephesus. Seemingly at this time, Paul entrusted the pastoral ministry of the church at Ephesus to Timothy.
As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,
The apostle John likely was the founder of the Ephesian church and after Paul’s death he seems to return there and become it’s pastor/leader again.
1, 2, and 3 John were written from Ephesus as well as his gospel account
As I look at the possibility returning to normal, I wonder, have I been handling my Ephesus right?
“Have I been raising Timothy’s in my Ephesus?”
“Have I been getting my Ephesus ready for my absence?”
Our Response to God’s Change
Leaving Egypt (Looking backwards, wanting to run back)
You and I can either look backwards at what we are leaving, good or bad, and complain.
We can mope like the Israelites who left Egypt and complained about following God. They looked back and desired their slavery again. They desired their certainty and comfort. Their cages became their comfort.
The Promised Land (Looking forward in fear)
We can look at the uncertain future and fear what lay down the road. For churches, for our health.
The Way of Faith (Running forward, trusting God)
Or, we can look ahead and recognize that this came to us through the fingers of God. Francis Chan gave an encouraging message this week.
You and I were made for this.
We were made, knit together in the womb by a sovereign all powerful God who brought us into existence at this time. You could have been born before the flood. You could have been here during the black plague. But, no, God chose you to be here for Covid-19. This is comforting, not only that God allowed me to be here at all, but He made me, raised me, and loved me enough to bring me to this point. If you are drawing breath (no coronavirus pun intended) God has you here, right here, right now, even in your home, for a reason, at this very time.
Prepare your home for your departure. What do you need to do to prepare your home for you returning to work, returning to church, coming back to the social contact.
Have we been making right what God has revealed to us.
There’s a lot wrong with things today. One things is the home. Do you think it odd that we all just were made to stay home for 40 days? Maybe God wants us to draw near, listen, and work on a few things while we are there. Not just fix-it projects, but I mean our families, our marriages, our faith and walk.
Am I ready and prepared to go back?
Israel wasn’t ready for 40 years to go back to the Promised Land. Let’s hope our time at home is only 40 days and not 40 years, like it was for them.
Prepare yourself for who and what is to comes
The church is keeping up with Federal, State, and Local information to determine how best to safely resume services in or around the building. We must get ready for what’s coming. We want to be ready when we are given the green light.
Remember what you learned and prepare to continue it.
We will likely look back on this for years. To come
Like Kennedy
Do you remember when? This will be a do you remember when we were all locked up? We will remember what we did. How we coped. Losing our jobs. Being afraid. Getting angry.
How many of us can find good in this time? Carry it forward. Who can we bless who is ahead
Paul set out not to pout about his circumstances, but headed for Macedonia. He went all the way to Greece
Contact
How many os us have reached out to more people than we are used to? Don’t stop, carry it forward.
How many of us learned how to use Twitter and YouTube? Carry it forward.
How many of us are serving our neighbors and helping in ways we didn’t before? Carry it forward.
The church is now has an online presence like never before and there is indication we are reaching people we’ve never reached before and certainly people we’ve never connected with online before. Carry it forward.
Change isn’t easy.
Homemade masks
Mother in law ran into a friend whose business had shut down. She had to change it last minute and now makes designer masks.
God has allowed this and part of it is for you and I to prepare those we leave behind, and bless those who are ahead. Carry it forward.
III. Social Distancing doesn’t mean Social Isolation: Don’t isolate yourself from others when this is over.
III. Social Distancing doesn’t mean Social Isolation: Don’t isolate yourself from others when this is over.
Comfort
If you are an introvert, maybe this time has been wonderful for you. Most people need much more social interaction than they have had.
Paul, like Jesus, knew the benefit of personal quiet time, but he also knew the essential friendship and community that is required, I think, in the Christian life.
Paul set out for Macedonia
There is an indication that Paul went and waited at Troas first before carrying on into Macedonia. He was waiting for Titus
Titus was likely a disciple from Antioch of Syria and we know him as one of Paul’s travelling companions and a special pastor whom Paul could send to lead the church (Crete, Dalmatia, and Corinth)> Paul was waiting for Titus to bring word of Corinth.
Paul travelled north and then west back to Europe, encouraging the church there for some time.
There is an indication in Romans that Paul had a ministry in Illyricum, which is further north than Macedonia.
in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
After encouraging those churches, he went to visit His problem child in Corinth. In fact, as he was travelling there he wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians.
Paul stayed in Greece for three months and had to leave because of a plot from the Jews.
It’s not safe to Go Alone.
Background
Paul had been in Ephesus for three years. Ministering, witnessing, educating, and seeing a vast impact for Christ the extended to the entire region. Then he had a blowup, and he decides it’s time to leave home.
Indications of solitude:
Scripture:
After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia.
It seems that after Paul leaves the disciples, he goes alone...”he left them to go to Macedonia”.
If you continue reading the account we see....
When He had gone…he came…he decided to return
But then we read in verse four
And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.
Yay! After Paul’s departure, he meets up with friends. But wait,
But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.
Aw man! They left, but wait, who is “us”?
Remember the Luke, the physician and author of the very book we are reading is with Paul. Paul made sure to visit people and be with others for the sake of the ministry, for their sake, and for his own sake.
Sometimes we might thing that someone like Paul was aloof and maintained his own social distance from the commoners, but what do we read about him?
The Gospel was intended to be LIVED among others.
Jesus didn’t setup an academy.
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Paul lived the gospel among people. He became friends with them. There were hurts and happiness.
Consider Paul as he writes to the Corinthians while travelling there from Macedonia.
For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
We have a tendency to keep our private lives and public lives separate. I fear the the Coronavirus culture may influence some to remain isolated beyond before and never want to hug or shake a hand again. To fear community and prefer the safety of the home.
Almost everything God does is relational.
Intimacy is at the core of the Gospel. What is the good news?
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
This is what He did, but what is the reason? So that fallen man can have access to God again.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
The whole purpose is to bring people near to God, which was impossible before. In order to bring people near o God, I argue that we must also live that model and be near to them ourselves.
Therefore, we should be encouraged to leave.
IV. Encouraged to Leave
IV. Encouraged to Leave
You see, I think Paul was...
Encouraged to Leave: by other people
There were those who certainly did not want Paul staying in Ephesus and didn’t wish him to stay.
There were likley others, even friends of Paul, that perhaps thought his presence too dangerous for their Christian community.
Yet, I also believe that this was allowed and moved forward b the hands of God.
Encouraged to Leave: by God
Think of Paul’s own persecution after the death of Steven, which drove Christians out of Jeruslaem. God used Paul’s own actions, before he was a Christian, to spread Christianity all over the Mediterranean.
Now, God had other plans for Paul. Remember, Paul always had his call. A call to the gentiles. God used this to move Paul on to reach new people and strengthen those the churches.
Paul was indeed: Encouraged to Leave
As hard as things were for Paul...
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;
who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.
I believe Paul found his encouragement at this time in the Lord and serving him through reaching out to others. I hope that you and I are truly encouraged to leave home and that we walk into the ministry God has laid out for us, intimately relating to others, preparing those behind and for those ahead, and being ready to act, for the day is coming close.
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Avengers Assemble
Our day of re-assembling is close at hand, be ready.
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