Our text this morning presents a challenge; the challenge: to apply real practical application.
ACTS 20:1-3 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
Paul gets together with the disciples at Ephesus and encouraged them. After saying his goodbyes, he went off to Macedonia to encourage other disciples. Arrived in Greece and stayed 3 months.
Acts 20:4-6 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
Let’s focus for a moment on Paul’s model of discipleship. See, Paul knew that it was not all about him. He knew it was all about Jesus and that it took a team approach to carry out the great task that the Lord had called them to.
-Luke lists 7 godly men who were part of the team. We won’t stop to comment on each one, but each one was a faithful follower of Jesus and helped make the team effective. MAP When I think of these 9 Men traveling.
-So Paul approached discipleship by gathering believers together as a team and then encouraging them all along the way to spread the good news about Jesus and to honor and obey Him each day.
-None of us can be as effective alone as we can when we are part of a team effort. So, let’s rethink any independent mindset that makes us think that we don’t need to give and receive support from others in the body of Christ.
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
On the first day of the week, we came together. The first day of the week is Sunday. Here we see the shift where they no longer worship on the Sabbath, which was the last day of the week. (Remember 6 days shall you work). Why the transition from Sabbath the last day of the Week to Sunday, the First Day of the Week?:
It was early on a Sunday morning (1st day of week) that a major Shift took place.
It was on the first day of the week early in the morning Jesus rose from the dead. Rose victorious with all power and authority. Rose from the dead having defeated death. It was on the first day of the week the 2nd death died? (Hebrews 9:27)
Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Revelation 2:11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Born1 die 2
They came together to break bread. They came together for a Spiritual Purpose – to remember the Lord’s death, and to give thanks for what He did on the cross, and to glory in His resurrection.
They also came together for the same reason we gather together today. They came together for fellowship, worship, ministry, and discipleship. They realized/understood that they needed one another and they needed the ministry that would take place as they interacted together. They also knew that if they wanted to share the good news about Jesus with others through their lives during the coming week, then they needed this time of connection and encouragement. This sense of spiritual community played a huge role in developing disciples.
- We need it too! Not just Sunday morning church, but “spiritual community.”
- Spiritual Community is about acceptance and a place to belong.
- Spiritual Community is a team working together toward a common cause.
- We need to always be developing a greater sense of spiritual community so that those who follow Jesus can continue to grow and develop into what God wants them to be.
- We need a genuine spiritual community so that others will want to become disciples of Jesus.
ACTS 20:8-12 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
All the things that Paul had done – all the sacrifices he had made for the Kingdom – all that Luke could have told us about the Life and Ministry of Paul, he spends time to write these 6 verses about this boy named Eutychus.
In this church service was a young man named Eutychus who …Sat in a 3rd story window …Fell asleep…Fell out the window …Died …And was brought back to life.
Now we know that GOD has allowed at times the miracles of bringing people back to life. (Matthew 27)
I’m reminded of Elijah the prophet who raised the Widow of Zarephath’s son from the dead. (1 Kings 17) Elijah was staying in an upper room of the widow’s house during a severe drought in the land. While he was there, the widow’s son became ill and died. In her grief, the woman brought the body of her son to Elijah. Elijah took the dead boy from her arms, went to the upper room, and prayed, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”.
Elijah stretched himself out on the boy three times as he prayed, and “the Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him”. The prophet brought the boy to his mother alive and this is what she said: Vs24 “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
We know that this happened in the ministry of Jesus. (3 people)
THE WIDOW’S SON OF NAIN Luke 7:16-17 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Jairus’ daughter & Lazarus of John 11:14-15 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:41-42 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
We know that it happened with the ministry of Peter when he went and brought back to life through prayer Dorcas. Acts 9:42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
So the primary reason God raised people from the dead was to give the person and their message validity. (Were things the same after this event?)
I’m reminded of the prophet Elisha who raised the Shunammite women’s son from the dead (2 Kings 4). When her son died, she went to find Elisha.
When she found Elisha, she pleaded with him to come to Shunem. As soon as Elisha and the Shunammite woman arrived at her home, Elisha went to the upper room, shut the door, and prayed. Then he stretched out on top of the boy’s body, and the body began to warm (verse 34). Elisha arose, walked around the room, and stretched himself out on the body again. The boy then sneezed seven times and awoke from death. Elisha then delivered the boy, alive again, to his very grateful mother.
In this church service people are praising worshipping all wrapped up in listening to the preacher. They are so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t notice someone in grave danger.
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