WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.960 So, good morning. You are stuck with me. 00:00:04.780 --> 00:00:09.800 I'm thankful the memo didn't get to too many people that I was preaching, otherwise the crowd would be even smaller. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:12.759 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.039 And so, I was hoping I had two more weeks to prepare, but Brigham came up and said about a minute ago or so, 00:00:38.120 --> 00:00:48.120 you are ready, and I'm thankful that I can trust in the Lord, that whatever is said this morning, He will use, and I'm thankful for that. 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:57.439 So, just to catch us up, a few things and a quick summary of Acts 19, which Clay will be preaching next week and the week after, 00:00:57.519 --> 00:00:59.219 to kind of catch us up to where we're at. 00:00:59.219 --> 00:01:06.099 So, the last time we were preaching in Acts, which was two weeks ago, we looked at the end of Acts 18, where it talked about Apollos, 00:01:06.179 --> 00:01:10.260 and he was a man who came to Ephesus, and he learned a bit from Priscilla and Aquila. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:15.739 And Nathan talked about how he serves us very well as a model of zeal in his preaching of the gospel, 00:01:16.259 --> 00:01:21.000 a model of humility and being teachable by other believers, Priscilla and Aquila there, 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:26.400 and a model of reputation as he really defended the gospel against all its opponents. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.079 So, there it says that he crushed all opponents of the gospel. 00:01:30.179 --> 00:01:32.340 Okay, so that was the end of Acts 18. 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:33.900 That's where we were at last time. 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:37.099 In Acts 19, Paul shows up in Ephesus. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:40.239 He continues to work with Apollos, disciples him a bit there. 00:01:40.739 --> 00:01:41.599 Apollos is baptized. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:43.799 The Spirit works very powerfully in him. 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:47.299 And then Paul stays in Ephesus for a while, teaching in the synagogue. 00:01:47.299 --> 00:01:56.859 And eventually a riot breaks out there because there was believers were being drawn away from worshiping all the false gods there. 00:01:56.859 --> 00:02:03.620 And so, that being said, that riot happened, and then we are brought up to Acts chapter 20. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:08.080 So, Clay will teach on all that stuff over the next couple of weeks. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:10.800 But that is what has just happened. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.420 And so, that brings us to our text this morning. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:19.539 It is, I would say, a fairly difficult text. 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:25.699 It was probably the most difficult text I have ever tried to prepare and to link together. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:36.560 So, be praying with me this morning that the Lord will be able to use this time for us to really understand this text and also to be able to apply it. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:41.659 So, go ahead and read with me verses 1 through 16 here in Acts chapter 20. 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:43.680 So, it says, 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:31.300 So, on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day. 00:03:31.860 --> 00:03:33.640 And he prolonged his speech until midnight. 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:36.679 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:42.500 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:47.259 And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.839 But Paul went down and bent over him. 00:03:50.179 --> 00:03:52.079 And taking him in his arms, said, 00:03:52.259 --> 00:03:54.219 Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him. 00:03:54.859 --> 00:04:00.079 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while until daybreak. 00:04:00.399 --> 00:04:01.219 And so he departed. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:04.419 And they took the youth away alive and were not a little comforted. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:09.280 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there. 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:12.360 For so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:16.040 When we met at Assos, we took him on board and went to Middeline. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.579 And sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. 00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:21.399 The next day we touched at Samos. 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:23.220 And the day after that, we went to Miletus. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:28.220 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he might not have to spend time in Asia. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.280 For he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. 00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:33.460 Okay. 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:40.800 So first off, I want to restate the statement that Paul makes in Timothy that we thought through a good bit last week. 00:04:41.200 --> 00:04:44.960 In verse 16 and 17 of 2 Timothy 3, it says that, 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:57.599 So what we just read is scripture. 00:04:57.979 --> 00:04:59.939 And so this statement holds true. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:05.240 So looking at this passage, that may initially be a hard thing to see. 00:05:05.339 --> 00:05:07.679 So let's look at it, break it down a little bit. 00:05:08.159 --> 00:05:10.759 So we can basically see two sections here. 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:15.680 The first one in verses 1 through 6 is a bit of like a geography lesson, 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:20.079 mentioning all these different places and telling just a lot of where Paul went. 00:05:20.219 --> 00:05:25.980 There's not much talk here in Acts 20 about why he was going to all these different places. 00:05:26.099 --> 00:05:29.879 But if we look at a lot of different cross-references from a few of his letters, 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:33.199 we can piece together what all was going on there. 00:05:34.279 --> 00:05:39.939 And the second, it really is a pretty crazy story of Paul preaching for a really, really, really long time. 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:41.800 A young man getting very sleepy. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:46.259 It was probably very stuffy in this room with a lot of people cramped into it. 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:47.560 And he fell out of a window. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:48.899 And he died. 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:50.740 And then he was raised from the dead. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:54.500 So these are two really, really awesome things. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:58.759 But if you look through this passage, there isn't really a big theological statement. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:01.060 There's not a big exhortation. 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:04.339 There's not a big spot where it's explaining some key piece of doctrine. 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:08.579 But, as we just talked about from 2 Timothy, 00:06:08.919 --> 00:06:12.039 all scripture is read that by God and profitable for teaching, 00:06:12.299 --> 00:06:15.299 for proof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:19.179 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 00:06:19.479 --> 00:06:21.079 So this is true of this passage. 00:06:21.299 --> 00:06:25.179 And it has proven true so much for me and my study. 00:06:25.239 --> 00:06:27.019 And I hope it is for you this morning. 00:06:27.019 --> 00:06:30.599 So the more I studied it and the more I looked at it, 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:35.899 I was seeing very clearly just so many ways in which Paul demonstrates his love for the church. 00:06:36.479 --> 00:06:38.680 And that was really, really encouraging for me 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:44.299 and really just a great picture of what our love should be like for those believers around us. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:47.339 And so I'm going to structure the study in this way, 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:49.659 just looking at Paul's love for the church. 00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:50.599 So if you're taking notes, 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:53.900 I'll just really have three points, 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:56.020 and they all begin with this statement. 00:06:56.900 --> 00:06:59.780 Paul demonstrates his love for the church in his. 00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:02.700 Okay, so three points. 00:07:02.820 --> 00:07:03.320 Start with that. 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:06.340 Paul demonstrates his love for the church in his. 00:07:08.600 --> 00:07:10.120 Okay, so point one. 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:12.300 Paul demonstrates his love for the church 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:14.680 and his concern for their physical needs. 00:07:15.320 --> 00:07:18.340 We can see this a lot in verses one through six, 00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:21.259 but it is not immediately apparent 00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:23.299 because we don't know exactly why, 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:24.939 just from looking at this text, 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:27.399 why he's going to all these different places. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.279 But if we look at a few of his letters, 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.019 we can really piece that together well. 00:07:32.419 --> 00:07:34.579 So if you will turn with me to Romans 15. 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:38.319 Romans 15. 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:47.839 So toward the end of Paul's letter to the Romans, 00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.899 he's talking about making a visit to them, 00:07:49.959 --> 00:07:52.399 and that's the context where we'll pick up reading. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:55.439 But he's explaining currently 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:57.879 that he is trying to get to Jerusalem, 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.239 doesn't want to visit them in Rome yet 00:08:00.239 --> 00:08:01.439 because he's trying to get there, 00:08:01.819 --> 00:08:02.879 because he's bringing support 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.439 to some poor believers that are there. 00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.739 So let's read it in Romans 15, 00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:08.479 verses 25 through 29. 00:08:09.159 --> 00:08:11.120 So he's explaining why he can't come 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.199 and visit them right then. 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:14.219 So verse 25 says, 00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:15.240 At present, however, 00:08:15.340 --> 00:08:16.440 I am going to Jerusalem, 00:08:16.780 --> 00:08:17.980 bringing aid to the saints. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:19.900 For Macedonia and Achaia 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:21.520 have been pleased to make some contribution 00:08:21.520 --> 00:08:23.240 for the poor among the saints of Jerusalem. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:25.040 For they were pleased to do it, 00:08:25.180 --> 00:08:26.400 and indeed they owe it to them. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:27.660 For if the Gentiles have come 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:29.060 to share in their spiritual blessings, 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:31.300 they ought also to be of service to them 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:32.220 in material blessings. 00:08:32.920 --> 00:08:34.600 When therefore I have completed this 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:35.720 and have delivered to them 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:36.560 what has been collected, 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:38.899 I will leave for Spain by way of you. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.919 I know that when I come to you, 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:42.100 I will come in the fullness 00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:43.539 of the blessing of Christ. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:44.439 Okay. 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:46.879 So Paul could have used his time 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:47.980 he had here on this earth 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:49.279 in ministry in any way, 00:08:49.959 --> 00:08:52.639 but he chooses to make a trip to Jerusalem 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:53.539 because he wanted to help 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:55.100 the poor brothers that were there. 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:58.340 He cared a lot about their physical needs. 00:08:58.439 --> 00:08:59.860 He cared that they were doing well. 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:04.179 So here he's really just explaining 00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:05.319 to the Romans that he needs 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.800 to make this trip to Jerusalem 00:09:06.800 --> 00:09:10.620 before that he comes and visits them. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.120 And so we can see from that 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:13.980 that that is what's going on 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:15.420 in chapter 20, 00:09:15.540 --> 00:09:17.280 is he's trying to get to that trip, 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:18.420 all these different places 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:18.940 that are mentioned, 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:20.280 that's where he's going. 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:21.680 He's heading toward Jerusalem. 00:09:22.780 --> 00:09:24.560 And because of why he's doing that 00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:26.120 is just because he cares about their needs. 00:09:26.260 --> 00:09:27.760 He wants to see them provided for. 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:30.060 Another passage that we can 00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:32.420 gain a little bit of insight on this 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:33.800 is in 1 Corinthians 16. 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:35.620 So turn there with me 00:09:35.620 --> 00:09:36.779 to 1 Corinthians 16. 00:09:42.359 --> 00:09:43.599 So there's another passage 00:09:43.599 --> 00:09:44.939 talking about the same collection 00:09:44.939 --> 00:09:45.839 that he is making 00:09:45.839 --> 00:09:47.899 for the church in Jerusalem. 00:09:51.319 --> 00:09:54.039 So we'll look at verses 1 through 4 here. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:59.459 So it says in 1 Corinthians 16, verse 1, 00:09:59.579 --> 00:10:01.599 Now concerning the collection for the saints, 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.960 as I directed the churches of Galatia, 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:05.480 so you also are to do. 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:07.580 On the first day of every week, 00:10:07.800 --> 00:10:09.340 each of you is to put something aside 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:11.040 and store it up as he may prosper. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.560 So there will be no collecting when I come. 00:10:14.040 --> 00:10:15.040 And when I arrive, 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.500 I will send those whom you credit 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:18.860 by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:21.279 If it seems advisable that I should go also, 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:22.440 they will accompany me. 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:24.940 Okay, so we can learn a couple more things 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:27.120 about this collection from this passage. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.840 The first thing is that he did not want this 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:30.919 to be spontaneous. 00:10:31.740 --> 00:10:33.620 He wanted all the collecting to happen 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:35.200 before he gets there. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:36.779 He didn't want this to be done 00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.980 out of any sense of guilt 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.940 or out of any sense of, 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.440 oh, everyone else is giving to this cause. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.179 I should too. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.519 He wanted this to be thought out. 00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:46.299 He wanted this to be planned. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:50.000 In a book I've been reading with a few guys, 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:51.120 it's about musical worship. 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:53.519 Bob Coughlin makes this statement 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:55.940 that we like to think spontaneous ramblings 00:10:55.940 --> 00:10:57.980 are more genuine than prepared thoughts, 00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.940 but that is hardly ever true. 00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:02.620 So there, Coughlin is talking about 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:06.560 actually figuring out exactly what we're going to say 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:08.700 before we're talking to a congregation 00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:10.820 so that we can make sure 00:11:10.820 --> 00:11:12.960 we're drawing people's minds to the right things. 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:14.620 This is the same concept 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:17.960 that Paul is talking about in this offering here. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:19.759 He doesn't want it to be spontaneous. 00:11:19.759 --> 00:11:21.259 He wants it to be thought through 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:24.259 of how can we serve these other believers here 00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:27.659 and what would be the right way to do that. 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:29.980 And so it's not out of any desire 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:32.399 to just guilt people into doing something 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:34.939 or out of any sense of like, 00:11:35.019 --> 00:11:36.019 everybody else is doing this, 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.059 so we need to do this. 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:40.939 It's more he wants people to have the heart 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:42.519 behind serving other people, 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.399 serving their physical needs here in this case. 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:48.240 And so this also, 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.459 this passage can also help us see a bit 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:52.279 of who all these people are back in Acts. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:55.079 Verse 4 of chapter 20 back in Acts 00:11:55.079 --> 00:11:56.139 says, 00:11:56.259 --> 00:12:08.379 So these men came with him, 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:10.579 likely to protect the collection 00:12:10.579 --> 00:12:12.439 that he was trying to get to Jerusalem from robbery, 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:16.780 and as really a bit of a layer of accountability there 00:12:16.780 --> 00:12:19.640 to show that Paul is not using the money 00:12:19.640 --> 00:12:21.300 for his own good 00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:24.460 or just trying to sneak money away somehow, 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.580 just to prove to the churches 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:28.960 that he's being faithful to what he has set out to do. 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:34.260 And so really what we can see in our passage then, 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:36.060 as he's making this trip to Jerusalem 00:12:36.060 --> 00:12:38.640 because he cares about the church's physical needs there, 00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:40.980 he's using his time really well. 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:42.920 And so that brings us to our next point. 00:12:43.779 --> 00:12:45.519 Paul demonstrates his love for the church 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.980 and his concern for their spiritual needs. 00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.980 So Paul demonstrates his love for the church 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:55.340 and his concern for their spiritual needs. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:01.420 So the first thing I want to note 00:13:01.420 --> 00:13:04.420 is all the different times in verses 1 through 6 00:13:04.420 --> 00:13:06.759 that we see that he encouraged different groups. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.259 So first off, if you look in verse 1, 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:11.379 after the uproar in Ephesus had ceased, 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.580 he encouraged those believers that were there. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.439 If you look in verse 2, 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:17.120 as he went through Macedonia, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:19.220 it says that he had given them much encouragement. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.700 Then note that he spent three months in Greece, 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.819 and he must have been faithful to preaching the gospel there 00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:28.819 because he ended up with another plot against him by the Jews, 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:32.020 and he decided to go and continue to build up the churches 00:13:32.020 --> 00:13:34.980 in Macedonia and Berea, Thessalonica, and Philippi. 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.180 Then in verse 6, 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:41.240 we see that they get to a place called Troas 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:42.440 where they stayed for a week. 00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:44.480 And in verses 7 through 12, 00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:46.160 we get a very detailed account 00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:48.400 of what that looked like there. 00:13:49.400 --> 00:13:50.760 Before we get into that account, 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.080 I think it would be helpful 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.179 to see a little bit of Paul's heart 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:58.720 in building up the church spiritually 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.840 because here we see that it's told 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:03.659 that he went and encouraged this group of believers. 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:05.159 He went and encouraged this group of believers. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:08.500 But we don't see any actual spelling out 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:10.620 of what that looked like. 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:14.139 But because we have such, such, such a wealth 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.700 of Paul's writings in the New Testament, 00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:17.299 we can see that pretty clearly 00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.500 in a lot of other places. 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:22.179 So I'd like to look at a couple of spots 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:23.700 where we can see Paul praying 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.759 for believers in different areas. 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:28.860 So first off, let's turn to Ephesians 1. 00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:36.360 So really what I'm doing with these passages 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:39.360 is trying to show us some of what Paul's heart is 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.659 in building up the church spiritually there. 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.679 So here in Ephesians 1, 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:48.399 this is a prayer of Paul's for the local church. 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:50.460 At Ephesus, the one we just, 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:53.039 in chapter 19, we'll hear about from Clay, 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.299 where the riot was and all that. 00:14:57.799 --> 00:15:00.419 Okay, so this passage will sound pretty familiar 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:02.000 to those of you that were at the wedding yesterday. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:06.259 So we're going to read verses 15 through 19 here. 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:09.639 So again, this is one of Paul's prayers 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.620 for the church at Ephesus. 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:13.240 So it says in verse 15, 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.019 And for this reason, 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:16.340 because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.399 and your love toward all the saints, 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:20.879 I do not cease to give thanks for you, 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.680 remembering you in my prayers, 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:24.899 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.039 the Father of glory, 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:28.159 may give you the spirit of wisdom 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:30.180 and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:32.379 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.940 that you may know what is the hope 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:34.919 to which he has called you, 00:15:35.299 --> 00:15:37.220 what are the riches of his glorious inheritance 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.000 in the saints, 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.000 and what is the immeasurable greatness 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.980 of his power toward us who believe 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:44.080 according to the working of his great might. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:46.139 And we'll stop right there for now. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:49.120 Here Paul writes that ever since he heard of their faith, 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:53.120 ever since he heard that they had put their faith in Christ, 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:54.279 he's given thanks for them. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:55.480 It's the first thing he mentions. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:16:00.340 Next thing is he is just list off 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:02.740 all these different things that he's praying for them. 00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:05.480 He explodes into a bit of just a big, 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:08.860 talking about all the things that the Lord has done for them. 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:09.659 Look at verse 17. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.580 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:16:12.700 --> 00:16:13.720 the Father of glory, 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:15.860 may give you the spirit of wisdom 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:18.139 and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:20.879 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 00:16:21.560 --> 00:16:23.200 that you may know what is the hope 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.259 to which he has called you, 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:26.460 what are the riches of his glorious inheritance 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.180 in the saints, 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.399 and what is the immeasurable greatness 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:31.159 of his power towards us who believe 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:33.539 according to the working of his great might. 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:36.259 And so he wants these believers at Ephesus 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:39.039 to really understand what the Lord has done for them. 00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:41.259 He wants them to understand his greatness, 00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:44.120 what he has done for them in the gospel. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.480 And so this, 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.599 we're really seeing Paul want this church 00:16:48.599 --> 00:16:50.539 to have a big knowledge of the Lord 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:53.919 and just to be encouraged by that. 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.459 He wants the Lord to grant them 00:16:55.459 --> 00:16:57.059 a spirit of wisdom and understanding 00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:58.819 in that way. 00:16:58.820 --> 00:17:00.500 So there's one spot 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.720 we can see a bit of Paul's heart 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.799 and wanting to build up the church spiritually. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.660 Let's look at one more spot. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:08.320 So turn to Colossians 1. 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:15.740 This one might even be a bit more detailed 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:20.559 of what we can see his care for for the church. 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:31.559 So looking at verses 9 through 14 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.659 here in Colossians 1. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.200 And so from the day we heard, 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:37.159 we have not ceased to pray for you, 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.759 asking that you may be filled 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.919 with the knowledge of his will 00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:42.000 and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 00:17:42.379 --> 00:17:44.779 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.099 fully pleasing to him, 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.899 bearing fruit in every good work 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:49.820 and increasing in the knowledge of God, 00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:52.180 being strengthened with all power 00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:53.700 according to his glorious might, 00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:56.740 for all endurance and patience with joy, 00:17:57.060 --> 00:17:58.160 giving thanks to the Father 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.840 who has qualified you to share 00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:01.900 in the inheritance of the saints in light. 00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:04.480 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.060 and transferred us to the kingdom 00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:07.140 of his beloved Son, 00:18:07.540 --> 00:18:08.720 in whom we have redemption, 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:10.420 the forgiveness of sins. 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:13.180 So Paul in his prayer here for the Colossians 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.960 is explaining what he wants for them even more. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:19.460 He doesn't stop here at being filled 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.680 with the knowledge of the Lord's will 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.259 and all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.279 He presses that even further 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.940 so that because of their understanding in the Lord, 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:29.200 they will walk in a manner worthy of him, 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.019 that they'll bear fruit in every good work. 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:33.960 Since he heard that they were producing 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:35.519 that preliminary good fruit 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:38.120 that was proving that they had faith in the Lord, 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.940 he wants them to do what good trees do, 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:42.120 produce more and more and more fruit. 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.859 And so that is what Paul is wanting 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:47.259 for all the churches here. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:49.299 He wants to give the Lord glory 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:50.699 and how that is done 00:18:50.699 --> 00:18:52.500 is through building up the church. 00:18:52.939 --> 00:18:54.579 It's through pouring into them 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:57.019 and then them being able to pour out to others. 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:59.139 It's in that bearing good fruit there. 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.639 And so he wants them to see them grow up 00:19:01.639 --> 00:19:02.839 not only in their knowledge, 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:04.579 but also in their acting out of that 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.599 and that bearing good fruit 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.659 and pressing on further and further. 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:10.840 And thinking about how that's done. 00:19:11.460 --> 00:19:12.960 In Romans 10, 17, 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.120 we hear that faith comes from hearing 00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:16.740 and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:20.560 Think about what Paul is doing on these journeys. 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.120 He's heading to Jerusalem, 00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:24.940 taking a very, just a monetary gift 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.940 to the church in Jerusalem. 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:28.380 But what is he doing all along the way? 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.140 He's preaching the word. 00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.460 It's exactly what he's doing. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:33.540 He's building them up spiritually. 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:36.720 And so that's what we see him doing here 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.759 in verses seven through 12. 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:41.639 We see him being very concerned 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.759 about their spiritual growth. 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.799 And so that is exactly what he's doing 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.079 all along the way. 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:47.799 We can see his heart in wanting this 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.279 for the churches to grow up 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:50.839 in their knowledge of the Lord 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:52.559 and to start acting that out 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.519 and that bearing good fruit. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:58.299 Okay, so seeing his heart in that, 00:19:58.619 --> 00:20:00.440 let's talk about this specific example 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.980 in Acts 20. 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:04.339 So that brings us to our next point. 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:08.180 Paul demonstrates his love for the church 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:10.740 in his persistence and tirelessness. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:16.299 So Paul demonstrates his love for the church 00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:18.980 in his persistence and tirelessness. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.559 So with this, we're going to focus on 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:27.160 verses seven through 12 here in Acts 20. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:30.299 So I pray none of you are sinking 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:32.180 sinking into a deep sleep at this point. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.720 And I'm very excited 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:36.460 that no one's sitting in any windowsills. 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:43.319 So it's been a good while 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:45.019 since we've read this portion of the text. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.059 Let's reread it together. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.740 Verses seven through 12 here in Acts 20. 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.079 So it says, 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.220 On the first day of the week, 00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:53.720 when we were gathered together to break bread, 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:55.379 Paul talked with them, 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:57.220 intending to depart on the next day, 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.720 and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:02.119 There were many lamps in the upper room 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:02.919 where we were gathered, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:04.740 and a young man named Eutychus, 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:05.899 sitting at the window, 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.199 sank into a deep sleep 00:21:07.199 --> 00:21:08.759 as Paul talked still longer. 00:21:09.419 --> 00:21:10.939 And being overcome by sleep, 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.559 he fell down from the third story 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.740 and was taken up dead. 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:15.460 But Paul went down 00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:16.500 and bent over him 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.880 and taking him in his arms said, 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:19.039 Do not be alarmed, 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.259 for his life is in him. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.079 And when Paul had gone up 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:23.440 and had broken bread and eaten, 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.819 he conversed with them a long while 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:27.720 until daybreak and so departed. 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.779 And they took the youth away alive 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.940 and were not a little comforted. 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.779 So first off, 00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:35.660 we can see super clearly 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.519 just from this, 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.220 he had so much persistence 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.279 with this group of believers. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:39.440 believers. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.399 We see so many times 00:21:41.399 --> 00:21:43.799 that he is talking till midnight, 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:46.180 he ends up continuing his conversation 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.660 all the way till daybreak eventually. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.119 And note here 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:50.099 that he was planning on 00:21:50.099 --> 00:21:51.119 heading out the next day. 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.779 He wanted to get to Jerusalem. 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:54.619 He was trying to make it there 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.779 by the day of Pentecost. 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.000 So it wasn't like he had 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.940 all kinds of time. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:00.079 He was trying to be on a journey there. 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.759 But Paul loves the Lord, 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.839 and because of that, 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:05.180 he loves the Lord's people. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:08.240 And so he did not just keep going 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:10.339 and keep pressing on, 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:11.420 hurrying on this journey. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:13.779 He was so available to them 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.180 and so persistent with them 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:18.440 and just tireless in his efforts here. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:21.440 And so since he loves these people, 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.059 he wants them to be built up in the Lord. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:25.359 And that is what we can see him doing. 00:22:25.460 --> 00:22:26.819 And so he preaches and he preaches 00:22:26.819 --> 00:22:28.279 and he preaches all the way until midnight. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.359 And then he keeps preaching 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:30.299 and preaching and preaching. 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:33.099 The text almost seems to make 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.180 a bit of fun of him here. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.460 So as Luke's writing, 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:38.340 he's like, yeah, Paul prolonged his speech 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.019 until midnight. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.559 And talks about the young man 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:42.660 drifting into a deep sleep 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:44.440 as Paul talked still longer. 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:47.340 To me, it sounds a bit like 00:22:47.340 --> 00:22:48.940 the old Thursday night Bible studies 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:51.539 for those of us that remember that 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:53.840 of still talking and it's 1130. 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.700 I don't know. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:57.319 So in that context, 00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.440 we see this poor guy. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.079 He's late at night. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.620 It's really stuffy in this room. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.100 All these lamps probably made it really warm. 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:06.159 And he's trying to get fresh air 00:23:06.159 --> 00:23:07.159 sitting in this window sill, 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:09.119 trying to do his best to stay awake. 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.319 But he couldn't do it. 00:23:11.859 --> 00:23:13.639 And so that being said, 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.579 he fell asleep. 00:23:14.659 --> 00:23:15.639 He's probably like this 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:17.059 and just falls asleep, 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.919 falls out the window. 00:23:19.219 --> 00:23:20.579 And how terrible that had to be, 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.639 how much of an embarrassment 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.359 that had to be 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:24.719 with this probably great preaching here. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.919 And he falls asleep 00:23:25.919 --> 00:23:27.219 and falls out the window. 00:23:27.719 --> 00:23:28.719 In verse nine there, 00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:30.579 it says he was taken up dead. 00:23:31.419 --> 00:23:32.399 If you study that word, 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.320 that literally means that he was dead. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:36.460 It does not mean that he was just injured 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.460 or knocked out or something. 00:23:37.560 --> 00:23:38.600 It means he was dead. 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.840 So, and another thing 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:43.220 that we can remember about this 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.160 is Luke wrote this. 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.160 Luke was a physician. 00:23:45.540 --> 00:23:47.060 He was very, very, very qualified 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:49.360 to determine whether he was actually dead or not. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.019 He was dead. 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:53.040 And so Paul went down 00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:54.240 and he took him up in his arms 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.320 and he was alive again. 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:57.120 The Lord raised him from the dead. 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.519 This is definitely a miracle. 00:23:58.519 --> 00:24:00.960 I believe it would be appropriate here 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.740 to talk about 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:03.859 why we see miracles like this 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:05.420 and what is going on 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.940 in scripture. 00:24:07.099 --> 00:24:08.319 And we've talked about that a lot, 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:10.139 especially when going through Mark, 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:12.000 just to restate a few things 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.680 that we talked about back then. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:15.079 They're never meant 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:16.420 to draw glory to themselves, 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.180 but they're meant 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.799 to push glory to the Lord. 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.039 John MacArthur often says 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.019 that the purpose of miracles 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:23.940 is always to increase faith. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:27.019 That's exactly what happened here. 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.859 Notice in verses 11 and 12, 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.440 they go up and eat 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:31.799 and conversed all the way 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.559 until daybreak 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.160 and were not a little comforted. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:37.200 So the miracle that the Lord did here 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.079 gave validation 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.599 to the apostle Paul's authority 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:41.480 and comforted all those 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.160 that were there. 00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:45.720 And so we see it bringing glory 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.220 to the Lord in this case. 00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:48.440 It validated the gospel. 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:50.299 It showed that Paul had the authority 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:52.500 there to be speaking these things. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:54.940 I'm sure he had their full attention 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.220 after something like that happened. 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:59.619 Um, so when they go back in, 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.759 they continued to converse 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:02.559 and, um, were comforted 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:04.400 all the way till the next morning. 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:07.660 So remember that Paul 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.759 was wanting to leave, 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.960 keep going on his journey 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:12.319 to Jerusalem this next day. 00:25:13.099 --> 00:25:14.220 And so he did. 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.319 So the next morning, 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:17.339 um, he wanted to keep 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:18.299 going on his journey 00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.420 to serve the physical needs 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.379 of the Jerusalem church. 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.980 He didn't tarry much longer. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:23.359 He just goes and starts up 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:23.879 on his journey. 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:25.640 Um, let's look at verses 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:27.080 13 through 16 with that. 00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:31.300 So in verse 13 says, 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.400 but going ahead to the ship, 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:33.660 we set sail for Assos 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:35.160 intending to take Paul 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.760 aboard there. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.120 So he had arranged 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.940 intending himself 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:38.760 to go by land. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:41.500 And when he met us at Assos, 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:42.379 we took him on board 00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:43.240 and went to Middeline. 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.579 And sailing from there, 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.720 we came the following day 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.539 opposite Chios. 00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.660 The next day, 00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.519 we touched at Samos. 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:49.759 And the day after that, 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.660 we went to Miletus. 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.119 For Paul had decided 00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:53.220 to sail past Ephesus 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.319 so that he might not 00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.539 have to spend time in Asia. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.799 For he was hastening 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.559 to be at Jerusalem, 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.400 if possible, 00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:59.700 on the day of Pentecost. 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:03.140 So, Paul on his way 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.599 to Jerusalem, 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.039 still seeing that 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.819 this whole time, 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.579 he's really been 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.639 on his way to Jerusalem, 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.659 but stopping so often 00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:11.079 and encouraging the church 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:13.220 while he's there. 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.639 And that is really 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:16.439 the biggest thing 00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:17.439 that this passage 00:26:17.439 --> 00:26:18.899 really showed me 00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:20.079 in this crazy story 00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:22.319 and in all this geography 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.639 and all these people mentioned. 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:26.480 Paul is so persistent 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.319 and he is so tireless 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:28.919 in his efforts 00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:30.619 to as he's making this journey 00:26:30.619 --> 00:26:31.599 with the intention 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.519 of getting to Jerusalem 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.599 and not wasting 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.339 a whole lot of time 00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:34.879 of getting there, 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.280 he wants to see 00:26:36.280 --> 00:26:37.160 the church built up. 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.740 He cares about God's people 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.860 and so he wants to stop 00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:42.020 every chance he gets 00:26:42.020 --> 00:26:43.100 and preach. 00:26:43.520 --> 00:26:44.440 He wants to encourage 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.660 all those along the way. 00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:49.000 And in Paul's second letter 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.240 to the Corinthians, 00:26:51.020 --> 00:26:51.780 he makes a statement 00:26:51.780 --> 00:26:52.780 that I will most gladly 00:26:52.780 --> 00:26:54.520 spend and be spent 00:26:54.520 --> 00:26:55.780 for your souls. 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.580 Makes a statement 00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:59.540 that he's going to go 00:26:59.540 --> 00:27:01.020 with everything he's got 00:27:01.020 --> 00:27:02.060 for the benefit 00:27:02.060 --> 00:27:03.280 of the church. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.799 That should be true 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.240 of us. 00:27:05.639 --> 00:27:06.440 That should be true 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.839 of all of our interactions 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.160 to serve the physical needs 00:27:09.160 --> 00:27:10.019 and even more so 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.980 the spiritual needs 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.059 of the church around us. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.319 We should want, 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.559 because they're our family, 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:15.319 because the Lord 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.740 has made us 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.720 all his people, 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.619 we should want 00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:20.079 to serve each other. 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.619 This passage 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.399 really reminded me 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.299 of Jesus' words 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.859 in Matthew 20, 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:27.619 verses 27 and 28. 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:44.179 Here Paul is spending 00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:45.719 his life for the benefit 00:27:45.719 --> 00:27:46.359 of the church. 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:48.379 Just as Christ spent 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:49.239 his life for the benefit 00:27:49.239 --> 00:27:50.139 of the church, 00:27:50.199 --> 00:27:51.219 just in different ways, 00:27:51.699 --> 00:27:53.000 the Lord gave his life 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.920 up in taking the sin 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:56.819 that we have committed 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.160 and dying the death 00:27:58.160 --> 00:27:59.279 for that there on the cross 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.859 so that for those of us 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.900 that put faith in him, 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.819 we can be free 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:04.559 from that sin, 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.480 we can have a right 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.420 standing with God. 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:08.000 Paul gave up his life 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.259 to build up the church. 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:10.440 He gave up his life 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:12.859 fully in everything he did. 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.259 He was going on a mission 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.059 to Jerusalem, 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.359 but he was stopping 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.299 and preaching the gospel 00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.240 everywhere he went. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:21.660 And so in that same way, 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:23.059 that is the same model 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:24.140 that we should be following. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.339 We should not be seeking 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:26.460 to be served 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.220 by those around us, 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.880 but to serve, 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.359 to give up our lives 00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:31.240 just as the Lord 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.640 has given up his, 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.299 to seek the interest 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:35.859 of those around us 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.720 and not our own. 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.500 And so I think 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.180 it would be fitting 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:43.079 also just to remember 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.620 what Paul, 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:47.200 what his motivation is here. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:48.480 And that's what the Lord 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.580 has done for him. 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:50.720 That's it. 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:52.120 He knew that he was a sinner 00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:53.039 and had committed sin 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:55.660 against an all-righteous 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.740 and all-holy God 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.600 that he could never pay 00:28:58.600 --> 00:28:59.819 a debt back to. 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.460 And he knows, 00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:02.920 just as he wrote 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.740 in Romans 3, 00:29:04.360 --> 00:29:05.039 that God has been 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.660 a planning God 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:07.559 and he planned to be just 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.600 and also to be the justifier 00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:11.319 of those that believe in him. 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.480 And how great that is 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:14.080 that the Lord 00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:15.720 has not compromised 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.720 his attributes 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.500 of his justice 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.220 and his holiness, 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.900 but he has made a way 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.720 for us to be reconciled 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.079 to him. 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.259 And that is not 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:27.440 done without 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.980 a huge price. 00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:29.920 That is not done 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:31.140 without, in fact, 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:32.620 without an infinite price 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.220 being paid 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.400 by Christ. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.559 And so just as Christ 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.880 gave up his life 00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.700 in that way 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:39.299 as a ransom 00:29:39.299 --> 00:29:39.960 for many, 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.039 for us, 00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:42.279 that's how we're welcomed 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.639 in to this family, 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:45.519 we should do the same. 00:29:45.619 --> 00:29:46.180 We should follow 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:47.319 in that example 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:48.139 and that the example 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.039 that Paul gave us 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.980 in his tirelessness, 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.339 his persistence 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.099 with the church 00:29:52.099 --> 00:29:54.259 for their physical needs 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:55.059 and also for their 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.639 spiritual needs. 00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.500 We should do the same. 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.599 We should follow 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.200 in that. 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.639 To be typical, 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.139 I'll end with 00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:02.879 a Spurgeon quote. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:06.500 It says, 00:30:06.780 --> 00:30:07.540 Not for yourself, 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:08.560 O church, 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:09.420 do you exist 00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:10.460 any more 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:11.860 than Christ existed 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.460 for himself. 00:30:13.800 --> 00:30:14.640 Let that be true 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.320 of us this morning. 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:15.820 Let's pray.