Carpe Diem: Seizing the moment wiselyActs 20:1-16

Message 2 in our 14-part series on the Acts of the Apostles.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Speaker: Nick Azzuolo

Overview

3rd missionary expedition (around 55 A.D.)

Leaving Ephesus after his longest stay in one place and planning to head for Greece via Macedonia

Final destination in this journey – Jerusalem

Return to Jerusalem delayed. Plans evolve as the Spirit leads

Sign and wonders continue to accompany Paul’s ministry (Acts 14:3)

Carpe Diem

Seizing the moment wisely

Acts 20: 1-16

Seizing the moment wisely

By:

1.Encouraging others

2.Investing in leadership

3.Setting an example for corporate worship

4.Demonstrating God’s power to restore life

Trip to Jerusalem – similarities to Jesus Like Jesus, Paul travelled to Jerusalem with a group

of his disciples (20:4)

Like Jesus, he was opposed by hostile Jews plotting against his life (20:3,9)

Like Jesus, he made or received 3 successive predictions of his passion or sufferings (20:22-23, 21:4,11) - including being handed over to the Gentiles

Like Jesus, he declared his willingness to lay down his life (20:24, 21:13)

Like Jesus, he was determined to complete his ministry and expressed his abandonment to the will of God (20:24, 21:13-14)

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.

Acts 20:1

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV)

By exhorting through God’s Word

By encouraging unity

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)

Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

1 Thess. 5; 13-15 (ESV)

Definitions of Patience

The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.

Patience is a virtue, Possess it if you can, Seldom found in woman, Never found in man.

By exhorting through God’s Word

By encouraging unity

Through visitation and prayer support

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 1:8-12 (ESV)

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

Romans 15: 30-32 (ESV)

 

Seizing the moment wisely

By:

1.Encouraging others

2.Investing in leadership

ACTS 20: 2-5

2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas.

Seizing opportunities to equip and train

Being intentional to recruit from diverse backgrounds and cultures

Training leaders to be mission focused

Modeling and encouraging teamwork

2. Investing in Leadership

Seizing the moment wisely

By:

1.Encouraging others

2.Investing in leadership

3.Setting an example for corporate worship

4.Demonstrating God’s power to restore life

Acts 20: 7-12On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

3. Setting an example for corporate worship

Met on the first day of the week

Broke bread (fellowship meal)

Meeting included a sermon (homileo v. 11) as well as a discussion (dialegomai vs. 7,9).

Follow teachings of the apostles (apostolic injunction)

4. Demonstrating God’s power to restore

Seizing the moment wisely

By:

1.Encouraging others

2.Investing in leadership

3.Setting an example for corporate worship

4.Demonstrating God’s power to restore

Application (1)

When plans ands circumstances change, do you readily seize the moment by pursuing other opportunities that might serve God’s purposes?

Application (2)

Encourage one another daily!

Application (3)

Invest yourself wholeheartedly in worship through attendance and participation.

Application (4)

Seize the day to experience God’s transforming power.

Romans 8: 5-6

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will

grow strangely dim,In the light of His glory and

grace.