None of These Things Move Me
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So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Believers at Corinth Received the Holy Spirit
Paul continued teaching and Persuading there for some time
God wrought special miracles by Paul’s hands
Cast out devils in Jesus’ name
vagabond Jews were unable to do so
And so, mightily the Word of God grew
If we stick to the principles of faith
unwavering, firm until the end
disputing, persuading, healing, teaching and casting out devils
Lives will be transformed
the Word of God will prevail
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
acts19.
Paul is still on his way to Jerusalem for feast of Pentecost
evidently he also knew that he would be going to Rome (though not how)
Things don’t always work the way that we think they will, even when we know how they end
While he was in Asia there arose a huge uproar over “the way” (no small stir)
Demetrius, a Silversmith, called together the workmen who made shrines, organized an uproar against Paul and the disciples
some people are profiting from sin. They don’t want you to be saved
The whole city was filled with confusion
They caught Paul’s companions and rushed them into the theatre
Disciples prevented Paul from going in
People cried out for three hours “great is Diana of the Ephesians”
Finally, the uproar was ceased (when the town clerk had appeased the people)
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
So, Paul continues his journey
had to re-route through Macedonia because the Jews were lying in wait for him - to harm him
Please note that people who serve God with purpose do suffer persecution
So many Christians think that if they say a prayer and go to church, nothing bad is ever going to happen
then we get disappointed, bitter, discouraged, and faithless, when we are surprised by adversity
Here we see Paul, a great man of faith, one of the greatest apostles of all time, a man through whom God wrought special miracles:
Yet, he suffered persecutions
He was often hindered from doing God’s work
Often harmed, often threatened
Jesus forewarned us: In the world you will have persecutions
Peter reminds us not to think it strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you
I wonder about the Christians that have never suffered anything for their faith...
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
2cor11.
We should not be surprised when we meet resistance in our faith today
We should not be surprised when we set out to do something good and we find ourselves doing it alone (but never truly alone)
We should not be surprised when we start out on a good path, and then it costs us more than we thought it would
But if God is for you .... It will all work for your good
How sorry I am for those who are not willing to suffer any loss or persecution, and never learn of the Lord’s awesome glory!!!
Oh how He wants to bring us through it.
Don’t avoid your path!
act20.7-
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
The met on the first day of the week (Sunday)
Paul was preaching past midnight - people were hungry
Eutychus fell three floors to his death
Paul raised him from the dead-
and then kept on preaching to sunup!!
Paul at Miletus
Paul at Miletus
He traveled through a number of cities and towns
some by foot, some by sea
Meeting with Luke and others at Miletus
He skipped going to Ephesus because he was determined to make it to Jersualem by Pentecost
Apparently the elders at Ephesus were very important to Paul
So he sent from Miletus for them to meet him there.
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
None of These Things Move Me
None of These Things Move Me
Paul had a Testimony
He reminded these people that they knew the way he Lived, and had seen God working
He had already endured “many tears”
many temptations
with humility
kept back nothing, but taught publickly and privately
Jesus is Lord, , repentance toward God, faith in Jesus
And Now:
now going “bound in the Spirit”
There is an inner compelling, when we are sold out to Jesus
As though we were “bound”
You just can’t do anything else but go where He is leading
Although the Holy Spirit has revealed that “bonds and afflictions await”
God is an honest God
He warns us of the things to come
The bible does not hide the pain - but oh the Joy that outweighs it.
But None of these things moved him
I think I know a little about what he might have meant:
(personal story of call to ministry)
and now, today, I still can say: None of these things move me:
I pray that you will let none of these things move you also, though it cost you everything:
Lost fortunes
Lost
Failed expectations
trials of false friends
those who abandon you
Hard work, alone and unappreciated
Enemies of God, who lie, and even tarnish your good name
long hours, and little rest.
marital strife
physical weakness and infirmities of poor health
threats of loss, pain, lawsuits, and poverty
None of these things move me
I will Finish my Course with Joy
I will Finish my Course with Joy
I have a course to finish - you have a course to finish
God has a purpose for you -
It is not enough to endure it - I must finish it with Joy!!!
Are you still glad that God called you
that doesn’t mean that we are always laughing in our pain
But I am still glad, even in my pain, that I am on this road with Jesus
Nothing can take that joy away
We have received this ministry from the Lord Jesus!
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Paul even knew that after he left “grievous wolves”, people were going to come in and tear down what he was establishing
none of these things moved him
He knew that even some of them (among your own selves) would rise up and speak perverse things (would turn from the faith)
none of these things moved him
He knew they would draw away many of the disciples after their false teachings and beliefs
none of these things moved him
No, rather, he just continued to work with his own hands to support the ministry -
Showing others that through laboring you ought to support the weak
If you feel like you are supporting others who don’t deserve it, be glad that you are strong enough, and understand your obligation
It is more blessed to give than to receive
This is a Spiritual truth that has no limit
It is far more blessed to give - both here and in the hereafter.
God replenishes us here
But what we have here we cannot keep anyway, yet what we gain there, we cannot lose ever.