In Tyre, the entire group escorted Paul to his ship. Now remember, we are talking about whether Paul missed God’s guidance regarding to his trip to Jerusalem . . . was he just being stubborn? Or . . . was he being disobedient? If he was, why first question would be why would the church commend Paul the way they were, if he was stubbornly acting in disobedience to the Spirit of God? If I knew someone was deliberately disobeying the Lord, it would be hard for me to be supportive; hugging him and slapping “high fives.”
When my wife and I moved across the state, to Ann Arbor, one brother was not supportive. In fact, he was quite offended that I would move. We were very close friends and had ministered together and began two churches together. So he did not support our decision. I tried to assure him we believed that was the direction the Lord was leading us, and his response was, “Well, I don’t sense that . . .” Although, he admitted later it was for selfish reasons. He did not want me to move, and refused to pray with me about it.
With Paul, what the Spirit revealed about the suffering that would happen to him in Jerusalem, simply confirmed what had already been revealed to Paul at his conversion:
But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” —Acts 9:15-16
Sure, it was a bummer of a calling, but that is what Jesus said from the beginning of Paul’s entrance into the faith. And the following chapters will prove that prophecy was true. It happened just as the Spirit revealed at Paul’s conversion and at the cities where Paul visited on his way to Jerusalem.
Nowhere are we told that what Paul did was wrong. The following chapters don’t indict Paul for being in error; they honor him for his faithful stewardship of the gospel. Paul presses on to Jerusalem, convinced that his suffering is the will of God for him, and that it would be done in the name of the Lord. Way too often I hear people say,”Oh, God is too loving. He would never do that . . .” Well, he did it to His own Son, and Jesus said that it would happen to Paul. Not only was Paul willing to suffer, but also to die for Christ—he is following the convictions of his own heart.
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The Book of Acts: Chapter 21 (pt 5 of 19)
In Tyre, the entire group escorted Paul to his ship. Now remember, we are talking about whether Paul missed God’s guidance regarding to his trip to Jerusalem . . . was he just being stubborn? Or . . . was he being disobedient? If he was, why first question would be why would the church commend Paul the way they were, if he was stubbornly acting in disobedience to the Spirit of God? If I knew someone was deliberately disobeying the Lord, it would be hard for me to be supportive; hugging him and slapping “high fives.”
When my wife and I moved across the state, to Ann Arbor, one brother was not supportive. In fact, he was quite offended that I would move. We were very close friends and had ministered together and began two churches together. So he did not support our decision. I tried to assure him we believed that was the direction the Lord was leading us, and his response was, “Well, I don’t sense that . . .” Although, he admitted later it was for selfish reasons. He did not want me to move, and refused to pray with me about it.
With Paul, what the Spirit revealed about the suffering that would happen to him in Jerusalem, simply confirmed what had already been revealed to Paul at his conversion:
Sure, it was a bummer of a calling, but that is what Jesus said from the beginning of Paul’s entrance into the faith. And the following chapters will prove that prophecy was true. It happened just as the Spirit revealed at Paul’s conversion and at the cities where Paul visited on his way to Jerusalem.
Nowhere are we told that what Paul did was wrong. The following chapters don’t indict Paul for being in error; they honor him for his faithful stewardship of the gospel. Paul presses on to Jerusalem, convinced that his suffering is the will of God for him, and that it would be done in the name of the Lord. Way too often I hear people say,”Oh, God is too loving. He would never do that . . .” Well, he did it to His own Son, and Jesus said that it would happen to Paul. Not only was Paul willing to suffer, but also to die for Christ—he is following the convictions of his own heart.
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The Book of Acts: Chapter 21 (pt 4 of 18)
The Book of Acts: Chapter 21 (pt 6 of 19)