Partings in a Spirit-Directed Life Acts 20:22-24

Introduction Partings are inevitable and difficult Even though partings are inevitable, we choose not to plan for them Today, we examine parting within the Christian community and how that instructs other partings in our life.

The Spirit-Directed life accepts a difficult parting in obedience to the Will of God

Parting in obedience to God 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Parting in obedience to God  24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Paul’s story He was arrested in Jerusalem Chained Left to rot in prison in Caesarea (AD 58-60) Eventually tried in Rome and released

Paul’s other story While in Caesarea: proclaimed KG to 2 Roman governors, a Jewish king While a prisoner in Rome: proclaimed to the praetorian guard Proclaimed to Caesar’s court Perhaps to Caesar himself

The reality of hardship or persecution does not mean we are to avoid it even though it is our natural tendency to do so.

Not all painful partings are bad Not all painful partings are bad. Not all attempts to remain together are good. The Will of God determines the meaning of our parting.

The Spirit-Directed life lives with eventual parting in view The consciousness of eventual parting causes us to make the most of our life The time to do something is now. J Piper, “Momentary Marriage.”

Paul to the Ephesians on this matter: Ephesians 5:16 “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” NIV. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” KJV

You cannot buy back time, you can only buy time – ordinarily. You can buy back lost time through greater effectiveness.

Full understanding of Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity to the point of recovering the time you have squandered in the past.

The Holy Spirit of God leads us to an awareness that our relationships are momentary. The Holy Spirit leads us to value each person in each relationship. From there, we seize every opportunity and redeem squandered opportunities by doing God’s will effectively.

We prepare for our parting by faithful evangelism Acts 20 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you

We prepare for our parting by faithful shepherding Acts 20 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 

We prepare for our parting by faithful shepherding Acts 20 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 

We prepare for our parting by faithful shepherding Acts 20 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

We are all under-shepherds of the Great Shepherd Know the flock Feed the flock Lead the flock Protect the flock

My faithfulness to you does not consist of my being with you forever because God has willed a parting at some point in time. You are to follow Christ and not me.

Your faithfulness does not consist of being with those God has placed in your care. You will part with them at some point. They are to follow Christ and not you.

We are momentary shepherds in God’s eternal kingdom. We are flawed agents in God’s flawless plan. It is when we become willing agents that our healing becomes complete.

Conclusion A word to children about under momentary authority A word to parents about having momentary authority A word to grown-ups with older parents and a momentary responsibility

A word to powerful in this world for this momentary power. A word to the powerless in this world for this momentary powerlessness. A word to myself as an under-shepherd with a momentary privilege

A word to you as under-shepherds with a momentary privilege

A word for all of us Partings will come. Our opportunity is momentary. Seize every opportunity to make your life count for the kingdom of God and redeem every lost hour through an effective life in Christ.