God’s Alert in a Spirit-Directed Life Acts 21:10-11 God’s Alert in a Spirit-Directed Life

Introduction In the story of Acts: Paul otw to Jerusalem They agree on the facts. They don’t agree on how to interpret the facts to discern the will of God.

We often agree on the facts, or we know the facts We often agree on the facts, or we know the facts. But how do we interpret the facts? Aside: God’s will starts with truth not with religious hoaxes

Today’s study builds our spiritual understanding so we know how to relate truth to life. RELEVANCE!!!

Paul and the Others Agree on the Facts Acts 20 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 

Acts 20 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 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.

Words spoken otw to Jerusalem, at Asos Words spoken otw to Jerusalem, at Asos. Addressed to the Ephesian elders. Paul expects “prison and hardships.” Paul does not consider prison and harships” a reason not to go anywhere.

Acts 21 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

Happened otw to Jerusalem, at Caesarea. The prophet Agabus declared by prophetic word that Paul will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles.

The prophecy from Agabus concurs with what God has already revealed to Paul, it only specifies the content. When someone claims a prophetic message, it has to concur to revealed truth, and should be repeat what is already revealed.

Paul and the Others Disagree on the Interpretation Acts 21 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 

Acts 21 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Acts 21 15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. 

Nature of this prophecy is Descriptive, not Prescriptive. Ordinary Response: You are going to be arrested when you get to Jerusalem, so don’t go.

Paul: This prophecy does not call for change in direction, but provides specificity. It is an alert, not new orders.

This is parallel to Jesus Matthew 16 21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem,...

Matthew 16 21 and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

Matthew 16 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Matthew 16 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan Matthew 16 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Acts 8 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 

Three important lessons on the norm and the exception The norm is for us to avoid danger. The norm is not absolute. There can be exceptions. The exception does not become the norm.

Three lessons on God’s alerts God does not ordinarily alert us to the pain that lies ahead. God does not alert us because we ordinarily avoid pain. God’s alert to pain may be for us to avoid it, or it may be for us to go through it.

Aside: Do not over interpret very pain Aside: Do not over interpret very pain. Most pain in life is just the vicissitudes of life.

Summary God wants us to avoid pain/danger ordinarily. God does not want us to avoid pain/danger absolutely. God does not call us to choose pain. God calls us to choose his will even when it includes pain.

Dreams and visions in Our Day Such specific alerts from God are rare in the life of Paul. Do not expect this to be a regular occurrence in your life.

Special word from God must concur with God’s revealed will. A case in point

In seeking God’s will for your life, you will find certain fixed points. Unless you have clear indication otherwise, the fixed points remain.

CONNECTION TO NATIONAL DAY Geography of faith in Luke-Acts Jesus: Jerusalem is the nadir that leads to the apex Paul: Jerusalem is the nadir that leads to the apex

Luke 9 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. Luke 13 22 Then Jesus went … teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

Luke 17 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem… Luke 18 31 Jesus … told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem… Luke 19 11… he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem ... Luke 19 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.

Jerusalem was not portrayed in a good light in both the life of Jesus and of Paul. It was important, but it was part of God’s plan, but it was not the place of God’s final blessing.

In the OT, Prophet Jeremiah was considered unpatriotic because he prophesied the fall of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar.

True kingdom disciples are truest patriots. The case of Germany leading up to WW2.

The true disciple is also the true patriot The true disciple is also the true patriot. He works towards kingdom righteousness where God has put him. He will “Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness” because “all the other things will be added as well.”

The disciple of Jesus who truly loves Singapore is the one who seeks God’s will to be done in Singapore as it is in heaven.