And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Let's pray.
We thank you, Father, for your precious words, dear God, for this wonderful church, for dear
brothers and sisters, and we ask that you please bless the pastor tonight as he preaches
your word.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So we look to Jerusalem, and it tells us here that he does it through, they do it through
the Spirit.
Now turnover if you work to Acts Chapter 16 you hold your place there in 21 and Acts Chapter
16, I believe that anytime we see in the Book of Acts where the Spirit is forbidding Paul
or moving Paul, really is just another way of saying that God is sending an individual
to forbid Paul through the Spirit.
Okay.
You know, obviously this can mean that well look what it says in verse 5
It says and so were the churches established in the faith and increase in number daily
Now when they had gone through Phrygian the region of Galatia and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia
After they were come to Missia they assayed to go into Bithynia
But the spirits suffered them not and they passing by Missia came down to Troas now
Obviously we understand that Paul he's an apostle
So it could very well mean that the Spirit literally came to him gave him these audible instructions to say
Hey, don't go to Asia. Don't go to through these areas
You need to make sure you don't do that that could very well be a possibility
But what I believe this is actually referring to is an individual coming to Paul
Okay, someone who is spirit-led just like we see in Acts chapter 21
Through the Spirit telling the Apostle Paul don't go right don't go to Missia
I'm excuse me. Don't go to Bithynia. Don't go to Asia. Don't go to Jerusalem
Okay, so he has someone who's actually preaching to him saying hey the Spirit told me to tell you don't do this now in previous chapters
We see just like here when someone told Paul that over in the Spirit tells him Paul obey
right
Doesn't go to Asia. You know, he's forbidden to go to Phrygian the region of Galatia. He doesn't go to those areas
He obeys the Spirit in this area, so why doesn't he do it in Acts chapter 21?
Why is it that it's so easy for him to?
Incline to obey the Spirit when it comes to Asia and Bithynia, but when it comes to Jerusalem
He just directly disobeyed that command. Why is that? Well, it could be that the Apostle Paul just has his own agenda
Okay, doesn't mean he's a bad guy doesn't mean he's wicked
It just means that he's bound in his own spirit to reach his own people in
Spite of the fact that the Spirit is telling them don't do that. Okay
Now we know
We'll see later on that, you know the Apostle Paul. He has a burden for the Jews
You know whether people like it or not
He had a heart for the Israelites according to the flesh and you know
We see that continuously in Romans chapter 9 Romans chapter 10 that he has a great burden even to the point that he would he
Would desire to count himself a curse from Christ that they might be saved
I mean, that's a strong love that he has for the Jews
But you know what God did not share that same burden with him, you know, God was not saying hey, that's a good idea
Why don't you just stick to the Jews, you know, forget the Gentiles just go reach those Israelites
That's not the same vision that he had. He wanted him to go into all the regions
You know the the Gentile regions into Greece into Asia later on and preach the Word of God there
But he had another agenda. We'll get into that just a bit. So we see the first person telling him don't go
Okay, he disobeys look at verse number five
So, by the way, I believe that this is still happening today, right where
Obviously, you know an individual is not gonna be enlightened with new revelation to give you know to someone else an instruction
But you know what I by the Spirit
Which is the Word of God can come to you and give you an instruction and say hey the Bible says you shouldn't do
That God says you should not do this. God says you should not partake of this
God says you shouldn't do that
And if I have biblical grounds for it
I threw the spirit in the sense of speaking right because the words that I speaking to you
They are spirit in their life and it's referring to the Word of God
And so this is a good principle that we can learn that hey, we need to be able to take advice
Biblical advice right now, obviously, there's certain things in life that are just black and white
Or in the Word of God that are black and white some areas are gray and in that case when something is not
100% clear
We need to go to a spiritual leader who is more mature than you are
Who knows biblical principles in order to give you those guidelines of principles that the Bible lays out to make that decision?
Right and we don't want to be the kind of Christians that we just need to make
Get advice for every single decision. We need to make in life, right?
Like what kind of tie should I wear today or something? You know, what kind of shoes should I buy or whatever?
You know, it's just like good night
Just live your own life when it comes to those decisions you make those decisions
But when it comes to major decisions you have to make yeah, it's good to get advice for that
You know what kind of spouse you're looking for. It's good to get advice, you know
Whether you're gonna move your family and just uproot your entire family to go somewhere else
It's good to get advice from a spiritual leader in that regard
Okay, so that a spiritual leader can by the Spirit by the Word of God tell you what the Bible says about that
Now look at verse number five
it says when he accomplished those days we departed and went our way and
They all brought us on our way with wives and children
Till we were out of the city when kneeled down on the shore and prayed
So often when we think about Paul's missionary journeys, we can often think well
He's just by himself or he's just with Timothy and Titus, but we see here that there's a group of people with him
I mean, there's wives. There's children. There are families there
There's a lot of people who are traveling with the Apostle Paul on these journeys
Look what it says in verse number six
And when he had taken our leave when we had taken our leave one of another we took ship and they returned home again
And when we had finished our course from Tyre
we came to Ptolemies and saluted the brethren and abode with them one day and the next day we that were of Paul's company
Departed and came into Caesarea and we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist
Which was one of the seven and abode with him and the same man had four daughters
Virgins which did prophesy now
I want to talk about this for just a minute and it doesn't really have anything to do with Paul's compromise
But this is just a good point to make
That Paul is you know, he's abiding with Philip the Evangelist, which I believe to be the evangelist in Acts chapter 8
But we see that Philip the Evangelist has has four daughters who are virgins which are prophesying. Okay?
Now lest you should think otherwise this doesn't mean that his daughters are like
You know pastors or pastorettes or whatever it is. You want to call them?
You know that they're these are the the catalyst to the Pentecostal churches and you know
They're prophesying because look folks. I've known people who try to use this verse to teach. Oh, yeah, I mean women could be pastors
Now look women can be preachers. Amen
But what's important to clarify is where that preaching is done
Women cannot be pastors
Because the very essence of first Timothy chapter 3 is the fact that it's talking to men and
Did there to be the husband of one wife?
Well that can't be done with a woman unless she's some sort of dyke and at that point obviously she she's not even saved. Amen
She's a reprobate
But the Bible does not forbid a woman to preach to prophesize what the Bible says right there. It's they're synonymously used
The Bible obviously says that a woman can preach but that's outside of these walls
outside of the pulpit in a different arena whether that's soul winning or just teaching her children the Word of God, okay, and
We have a man here who has four daughters who are doing just that now they try to use this verse to teach
Oh, yeah, they can become pastors, but nowhere to hear. Does it say that they prophesied in church?
Doesn't say they prophesied in the Sunday school class
Doesn't say they prophesied anywhere else. Where do they do this?
Well, obviously we understand according to Acts chapter 2 that they're prophesying in different regions
They're preaching the Gospels what they're doing go to Acts chapter 2 if you would Acts chapter number 2
Now if this is your only text verse to prove that women can become pastors
Then you're obviously ignoring of the vast majority of clear scriptures in the New Testament. They completely forbid it, right?
Look at Acts 2 16
It says but this is that which was spoken about the Prophet Joel and it shall come to pass in the last day saith
God I will pour out my spirits upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see
Visions and your old men shall dream dreams and all my servants and all my handmaidens
I will pour out in those days of my spirit and they shall prophesy
So look what this is referring to is the fact that there are young men and young women who are going out into the cities
into the neighborhoods highways and hedges
Preaching the gospel. Okay, so we never want to get this attitude that women can't preach at all
We obviously understand that they have a responsibility to preach the gospel
They also have the responsibility to teach the Word of God to their children
I mean think about Proverbs 31, which is a great chapter to teach a woman how to be a virtuous young lady, right?
Well doubt those were actual teachings that a man received from his mother
Right the prophesying that he received from his mom and you know what Deuteronomy chapter 6 teaches us that a man a
Mother and a father had a responsibility to teach the Word of God to their children. They shouldn't you know
Relinquish that responsibility to a Sunday school class, right?
And that's why we don't have some in school class here
Okay, you know Sunday school class though
I know many people who teach in a Sunday school class may have good intentions others of course do not
It's it's a waste of time
you know Sunday school class is typically about 50 minutes long and you know, 15 to 20 minutes of that or 30 minutes of that is
singing songs and taking blessings and eating candy and just doing nonsense and then they
Allocate about 10 minutes to preaching God's Word, but even then they're not even doing that
Sometimes they're just giving them a shallow summary summary of what they're supposed to be teaching. Okay, they're not really getting doctrine
They're not really getting taught in those Sunday school classes. And then aside from that sometimes it's a lady who's actually doing that
Okay, and you say oh man, that's kind of mean you shouldn't get on people. They're sincere
Look, my wife was a study school teacher at one time. Okay?
It's bad. I know
She knows that
We know that now, you know as we grew as we learn we're like man, this isn't biblical
This isn't right to do and look whether we're talking about Sunday school class whether it's for children or even adults
Why not just have a service?
Where a man is preaching for an hour and they get all the doctrine that they need
Why cut down the service to 30 minutes because you had Sunday school prior to that
Okay, by the way Sunday school class was made by Dio Moody, okay, who was a congregationalist who baptized babies
So he's the one who came up with the concept of Sunday school classes, and we should not pattern ourselves after
Congregationalist who you know baptized babies were Baptist. Amen
The Bible says in first Timothy chapter 2 verse 11 let the woman
Learn in silence with all subjection go to first Timothy chapter 2 so you can see it
It says
Let the woman learn in silence with all
subjection
Now look, this isn't saying that a woman can't talk in church
I've been accused of you saying well, they can't even talk and they can shut their mouths by the time they come in
You know until they leave that's not what we're saying. That's not what the Bible is saying
Bible says for them to learn in silence. Well, when is the learning taking place? Well when the pastor's preaching
So when the pastor is expounding the Word of God and
Instructing the congregation that means the woman ought to keep silence during that time
That means they shouldn't pipe up and say amen
They're not to raise holy hands, which that's not even what the Bible is talking about
This isn't a Pentecostal service
But it's it's interesting that a lot of these Pentecostals want to just just blatantly ignore this passage of the scriptures
It says for them to keep silent
Okay, look what I was gonna say, but I suffer
Not a woman to teach
Nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. I mean, he's just throwing it by just different ways here
He's saying look keep silence in the church. Don't teach don't usurp the authority of a man be in silence
He just repeats himself over and over again saying don't say anything during the preaching of God's Word
Now if that's what it says
Where in this passage of scripture does it say unless you're a pastoret
It doesn't doesn't exist and you know, you have these people who want to bring up these examples like Deborah
Well, Deborah who you preached the Word of God Deborah first and foremost wasn't even necessarily a judge
It was Barak who was the judge and if you really want to use Deborah as an example
That was that was during the time when every man did that which was right in their own eyes like you're doing
Right
Because that's the time of the judges whenever man is doing that which is right in their own eyes
The vast majority of the judges during that time were men
The only reason Deborah got up and judged the people was because men were lacking in during that time
So there was a vacuum of male leadership even though Barak was there
But if you remember Barak was the one who said oh, you know Deborah if you don't go I'm not gonna go either
You weenie. What's wrong with you?
But he was a representation of male authority during that period of time
And look it doesn't say she was a pastor
Doesn't say she was preaching in the temple
It wasn't saying she was opening the scriptures and just get you know
Gathering a group of people together to teach the Word of God. She was judging the people
What does that mean to judge?
It means people came to her and said what does God say about this and she said this is what God says about it
Okay
And look if Deborah was so, you know
Powerful and such a great example of a prophetess or of a pastorate. Why isn't she mentioned in Hebrew chapter 11?
Why is it that Barak's mentioned in Hebrew chapter 11?
You know that
Titles relinquished to Barak even though he was a weak leader
So Deborah is not a good example of you know, you trying to prove that women can be pastors. It's false
The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 14 8
But if there be no interpreter
Let him keep silence in the church and let him speak to himself into God verse 34
Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak
But they are commanded to be under their obedience as also saith the law and I believe what it's referring to is referring to the spirit
of the law
Basically says that they should keep silence within the congregation
Now people can take this overboard too though, okay and just say well women are not supposed to even laugh in church
There's just like what are you talking about? I've literally had times where people in the comments section
They're like that lady's laughing too loud or she's laughing. She needs to keep silence in the church folks
Silence is synonymous with not teaching
That's what that's referring to
Doesn't mean they can't laugh in church or during the sermon because sometimes my jokes are funny
They just they can't help themselves
You know, I
Don't blame them. Okay, but they're not getting up and saying amen. That's right
I'm in agreement what they're doing is just laughing at a joke. Okay, so don't take it to the extreme
Don't become this virtue signaling Christian or it's just like no they we need to put duct tape over their mouths
They can't say they can't do anything
Don't even let them breathe, you know
Nonsense
Silence means is in tandem with not teaching God's Word. Okay, and they shouldn't be getting up and giving a testimony
Like manly Perry allows his congregants to do right?
They get up and give testimonies and all these things, you know
They shouldn't be getting up and teaching the Word of God. They obviously shouldn't be saying amen because amen means I agree or I believe
Okay, you know the men in our church are obviously they're interacting with their pastor as I preach and when they say amen
They're saying I agree. Amen. That is true. Okay
The woman ought not to do those things because it says the woman should keep silence in the churches
So we never want to go to each extreme
One extreme says well, they should be able to get up and preach the Word of God because you know
The Spirit of God is with them. We have Deborah. We have Philip's daughters as an example, not the right examples
None of them are pastors. None of them were ordained to be a pastor an evangelist themselves. Okay, I
Notice that it says his dog
Called him the evangelist even though they're evangelizing the one ordained to be the evangelist was Philip
Okay, there were the daughters of Philip the evangelist
Just like my wife is not you know, she's not the pastorate she's the wife of the pastor
She's not the pastorate. Okay, I
But we also don't want to take it to the extreme where it's just like well
They can't just even they can't even fellowship before and after church
You know, there's people who have that ideology folks. We don't have that here, but I've known people who
Specifically say hey
They should not talk even before after service because they are to keep silence in the churches that is in tandem with with teaching
God's Word. Okay, go back to Acts chapter 21
So
Hey, we see here that Philip is actually doing a really good job
Raising his kids, right?
Because he's the evangelist and what are the daughters doing? They are prophesying there are they are also
Evangelizing themselves and they're preaching God's Word. They're out there soul winning, etc. Okay
Look at verse number 10. It says as we tarry their many days there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus
So this is Paul's second warning
Because Agabus is about to prophesy into Paul in a very
You know fancy way to tell him don't go to Jerusalem says in verse 11 when he was coming to us
he took Paul's girdle and
Bound his own hands and feet and said thus saith the Holy Ghost
So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth his girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles
So he's not only preaching to him
He's giving them a physical illustration to show this is what's gonna happen to you
And when we heard these things both we and they of that place
Beside him not to go up to Jerusalem
Then Paul answered what me need to weep and to break mine heart for I am for I am now ready
Excuse me for I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
Yeah, but here's the problem Paul. God doesn't want you to do that
Okay, yeah, it's noble that you want to go do then you're willing to do it, but God doesn't want you to do it and
When he would not be persuaded we see saying the will of the Lord be done
That's kind of like them just throwing up their hands saying well, you know all things work together for good, you know
Because obviously you're gonna mess it up and we see that this takes them on a different journey
That ultimately ends up ends up being in prison for two years
You know, this is not God's original intent, but God still worked it out together for good because Paul did love God
He loved the Lord. He loved people and God was able to kind of you know
Move the situation there where he can still win more people to Christ
But I want you to notice that this guy Agabus comes at pretty
Interesting times go to Acts chapter 11 if you would actually after 11
This guy has a reputation with the Apostles and the prophets are the the disciples of that day
Because he just comes out of nowhere kind of like a Samuel
It just delivers that message and then everyone's just like he's right
Look what it says in Acts 11 verse 27 in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch and there stood up one of them named
Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great dearth throughout all the world which came to pass in the days of
Claudius Caesar so this guy obviously has some credibility, right?
He's preaching the Word of God
But he's prophesying the future events that are gonna take place and because they actually take place he gains credibility with the people
So when he preaches to Paul not to go to Jerusalem, he gives them that illustration people are like he's right
We need to listen to to Agabus. He knows what he's talking about
now
What is the principles that we can learn from?
This particular story with with the Apostle Paul and Agabus and these men who are trying to impede him from going
What we can learn is this is that we need to be able to take correction
We need to be able to take, you know, reprovement or instruction or just any type of wisdom from an older brother in Christ
Don't be the type of Christian that just thinks you just think you know everything there is to know about the Christian life
There's nothing more
Honestly disgusting than an individual who is so prideful. They just cannot take instruction from another brother in Christ
We should be able to be humble enough to be able to take reproof. Amen
Take correction take reproof when we're when we're wrong, you know and be able to be rebuked even if we need it
an
Individual who you know just kind of resist that type of wisdom or resist that type of reproof is a proud arrogant individual
Doesn't have wisdom. Okay now obviously Paul has wisdom
But there is an older prophet Agabus who's coming to him through the spirit
Who's telling him these things and he's just like no, I'm still gonna go we obviously can say that the Paul stubborn here
He's being stubborn and look folks. Don't be the Apostle Paul in Acts chapter 21
Be the Apostle Paul anywhere else
But just not the 21 the Apostle Paul because the 21 Apostle Paul is stubborn. He's arrogant
He's not willing to listen even though multiple people are saying the same thing
Okay, and let me just say this, okay
you
Know if someone
approaches you regarding a specific character flaw for example, and you've had about five people approach you about that character flaw
Don't think the whole church is against you
Just know this huh? Maybe I do have a character flaw in that area, right?
you know, I spoke to a pastor a while back and
you know, we're we had some disagreements and
And and I and I approached him with some some of the my concerns about him, okay
and
And you know, he basically told me well, you know what so-and-so told me the same thing. It was another pastor. I
Said well, you know if so-and-so is saying it
So-and-so saying it and I'm saying it then that probably means that it's true
and
Before I could even finish that sentence. He's just like no don't try that with me
Someone's already tried that card with me not gonna work
I don't have that problem just arrogant prideful resistant of wisdom and instruction and reproof
It's nonsense
That's a proud pastor folks
Proud pastor who just cannot take correction and look I've taken correction from other pastors
Before becoming a pastor and while while I was a pastor or even an evangelist and you know what?
I when I took it I took it humbly because of the fact that I want to grow
You understand
So I'm not saying oh, yeah
I'm just the most humble person in the world
but you don't when they corrected me I try to receive it humbly because of the fact that if I don't I know it's gonna
impede my growth in the Christian life and
There's always some truth to criticisms folks
Just remember that when someone criticizes you or gets on you or trying to correct some some character flaw in you
Just know this there's often even some truth to that even when it comes from bad people sometimes
It's always some truth in each criticism
And what we need to do is take those criticisms and allow those to mold us into what God wants us to be right
To help us to do what we need to do. Don't be this like this pastor was just like no
No, I already know what you're saying
Other pastors are already told me that I'm not falling for that. Well that shows you that you have that character flaw
How can a pastor have that type of attitude and still pastor a church where he's correcting people
right
I'm constantly correcting people here. That means I should be also open to correction by my pastor friends as well
Okay, and I've been wrong. Obviously. I've been wrong because I'm a fallible man and I'm gonna make mistakes
I'm gonna make doctrinal mistakes sometimes and you know when that comes and someone approaches me and says hey that was wrong
Then I'm saying well, I messed up. Sorry, I'll correct it in the future
Yeah, I didn't know that. Sorry. I made a mistake and look I've known other pastor friends
I have pastor friends who made mistakes and then when they were approached about it, they correct them
They're like, well, I was wrong about that. You know what? I admire them so much more because of that
Because it shows that they are sincere that they love the truth
Okay
Whereas others are just like no. No, I'm not me
Don't be that kind of Christian
The Bible tells us where no counsel is the people fall but in the multitude of counselors there is safety folks
And look you have a multitude of counselors here
You know someone comes to you and says hey, I'm concerned about this specific thing in your life
I'm just approaching as a brother in Christ
Just want to let you know, you know X Y & Z and then someone else comes to you and tells you the same thing
You know allow that to show you that God cares about you that he's sending people to come and talk to you so you can change
Okay, don't resist that
Proverbs 24 verse 6 says for by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war and in multitude of counselors there is safety
I already read that sorry
Now brother Ulysses, where's brother Ulysses? Can you turn off the AC? I think the ladies are really cold in here. Is that true?
Okay, don't speak up keep silence in the church. I
Was testing you
Now
Here's the thing in Acts chapter 19 you have to turn there
It says the verse 21 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've been there. I must also see Rome
So we see that he wasn't purposed in the spirit Holy Spirit. He was purposed in his own spirit
So this is what what what could be happening with the Apostle Paul and this is something that I think has happened to all of us
You ever just determined to do something and you've already spoken about it
You've told other people about it and then after like the fifth or sixth person you talk to you
They're like, that's not a good idea. You're like why I got to do I got I got to do it now though
Because I've already told too many people
You understand what I'm saying?
It's called stubbornness
It's just like well, I'm wrong, but I'm still gonna do it
Because I've already told a bunch of people now that could work for good, but it also could work for bad, too
It could work for good in the sense that it creates accountability
Whereas it's like well now I have to do cuz I already told a bunch of people so I have to do it
But it's an in a negative way
It works in a sense of you know when it's just a bad idea and you should not go through with it
But you go through with it anyways because you've already told a bunch of people
Okay, and I think that's what's happening to the Apostle Paul here. He's told so many people I'm pressed in the spirit
You know I'm just God is leading me. I have to go to Jerusalem
He's paid his fare to go on the boats, and they're going to different places throughout Asia
I mean he's taking this trip for him to say you know what you guys are right. I'm going back to Greece
It's just like he goes back and eats crow
And everyone's like hey, I thought you're going to Jerusalem. It's like well. You know I changed my mind. I made a mistake
But you know what that would have been a lot better
Than him going to Jerusalem
understand
So I think that's what's taking place
There is is the fact that he has spoken so much about purposing in a spirit to go to Jerusalem
You know he's just like I got to do it
Now we'll say this when it comes to advice okay
My pastor used to say this pastor's position is to say unsought advice is seldom heeded and often resented
So basically like when you are not asking for advice and someone gives you advice
Often people will not listen to that advice or they'll resent that advice
Okay, so they'll not only not take heed to that advice
They'll actually resent the fact that you're coming to tell them about that right now
That's stupid obviously right because the spiritual person should take heed to it and not resent that
Because here's the thing is that someone who is wise will love the open rebuke. They'll love the reproof
But typically individuals do not okay, and that's why sometimes
I don't really go out of my way to give advice to people if they don't ask for it
You know unless I see that it's just gonna drastically affect their life
And they're just gonna destroy themselves and their family their spouse and their children
I'm like
You know I kind of just leave them alone at that
You know the family who moved from here and thank God that they did but when they moved
Before that I was trying to like plead with that person. Hey, this is not a good idea
And here's the thing I was pressed in the spirit to tell that person that
Right cuz God wanted that person to leave our church. He wanted him in his own family to get out of first-words Baptist Church
But here's the thing when I would give that advice to that individual it was not heated, and it was resenting
So this is a good principle for you to learn that you know before you dish out advice
You know a word spoken in due season. How sweet it is
And we need to often look for a specific time to give advice
When a person's heart is tender when they're ready to receive it because sometimes a
Brother offended it is it's harder to be one than a strong city and it's contentions are like the bars of a castle
Okay, so sometimes you can give good advice, but if the person is not ready to hear it
They'll get offended, and then they don't want to listen to you thereafter even though you have good intentions and good advice
Okay, now. I don't have the luxury when I'm behind the pulpit to look for good timing I
Just need to let it fly sometimes, and if you get offended you get offended
That's that's on you
You know cuz I'm sanctioned by God to preach the Word of God whether they're give you that advice whether you get offended or not
But on a one-on-one
Basis on a one-on-one case I need to be careful sometimes when I give advice to
Individuals because maybe they're not ready to receive it okay
Unless they're seeking it out now
Don't be the kind of person that seeks advice
You get the advice, and you know what I'm not gonna do. I'm still gonna do it my way
That's unwise
That's foolish. It's unwise. It's ungrateful, and you know you do that to me. I probably won't advise you thereafter
because often when people search out advice and
They don't take heed to it. It's because they're hoping you would tell them what they wanted you to say
They're hoping that you what you're gonna say was an agreement with what they wanted and because it's not
They're just not gonna listen to it. So they're not really sincerely looking for the truth
They're looking for someone to basically give their approval of what they want to do you understand
So
Don't do that
Proverbs 20 verse 18 says every purpose is established by counsel and with good advice make war
It would've been good for the Apostle Paul to have read the book of Proverbs, right?
Because he purposed in his spirit to go to Jerusalem if you would have gotten some counsel
He could establish his purpose and say well
You know what I'm gonna let James and John and Peter you let them stick stick over there in Jerusalem do that work over there
I'm gonna keep doing what God wants me to do which has reached the Gentiles
But he didn't do that and ultimately he paid the price for that now
Don't let this impede you from asking asking me for advice
Okay
But just know this if you're asking me for advice
Be sure that that's exactly what you want and now want me to say what you want to hear
Don't make me repeat that because I don't think I can restate it. You know what I mean?
Okay, if you want advice come to me and say look clean slate. This is my situation
What do you think I should do now again if it's a if it's a situation where it's really gray
I'll give you advice and then leave it in your court to make that decision
But if I feel like it's something where it's black and white where it's like, hey, I think I should divorce my spouse
What do you think and I say no because the Bible says you should not divorce. It's not biblical
You know at that point it's pretty clear
At that point you're like well God's leading me
To get divorced, right
You know, they're pressed in the spirit to do so and the reason I even give that example is because that's a very common example
In churches it happens all the time. Okay
We need to make sure that when we go to a spiritual leader or just the older brother in Christ
And by the way, I'm not the only one who can give it advice here
There's other individuals who can give advice, but you better choose wisely
Choose wisely don't don't ask advice from someone who's only been saved for like six months or a year
Hey don't get dating advice
From another single individual
Because obviously they're not succeeding in that realm
right
Don't get advice from an individual who is not an expert in that area
Or who has not succeeded in that area to a certain extent you obviously want to go to someone who is much wiser than you
In that area. Okay, and just observe the church. There's many people in our church
We have a lot of people in our church many with older children some with teenagers
Look at the ones who have been successful in the area that you're looking for and ask them for that advice, okay
All right, let me get off that
Ask me for advice afterwards. Okay, I won't stop you
So why is it that Paul kept wanting to go back to Jerusalem? Well for two reasons
I think obviously because he wanted to get Jews saved. He had a burden for Jews
We see that according to Romans 9 says I say the truth in Christ
I lie not my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart
For I could wish that myself were a curse from Christ from my brethren. My kin's been according to the flesh now
I want to make this point just get this off my chest real quick is
That you know Paul wants to be a missionary to the Jews
Even though God doesn't want him to but he's pressed in his spirit. Like he's burdened in his heart to do that
But God doesn't want him to and you know what this reminds me of it reminds me of old IFB missionary
missionaries
Who are like, you know, I want to go I'm burdened to go to China
Communist China is just like I see I get you got I understand you got that burden
But that's not what God wants you to do
No, I think God wants me to go to Iraq Afghanistan
Afghanistan
We got to go to the 1040 window I
Get that well, actually I don't get that but I get what you're saying, but that's not what God wants you to do
Now, how can I say with certainty that that's not what God wants him to do?
Well with Paul
He doesn't want him to go to Jerusalem because in his life will be at stake and then he will no longer be useful for
the work of God
So it's actually gonna impede him from doing more work
From being able to see more people saved
Paul is a valuable servant of the Lord. He's obviously very fruitful
He's doing a lot of work going to Jerusalem is gonna stop him from doing that
That's why the Spirit is telling him don't go. Oh, but he's got that burden here am I I will go I
reach that you oh
That's what he wants to do and look there's there's old IFP missionaries who want to go reach the Jews to
What's that guy named vineyard? I don't know if he died already, but this guy was so burdened for the Jews
This guy like he literally would go to Israel he believed like the Israeli army was like 144,000
He would go there and bring them Bibles and pizza and just like oh he's doing such a great work it's a waste of time I
Guarantee you those Israeli soldiers were wicked
I'm pretty sure they got blood on their hands of innocent people. Okay
It's a waste of time. And yeah, it looks noble on the missionary video presentation
Looks very touching
when you talk about how God burden your heart and how you have this burden for this for these lost people of
Who speak a language that you don't speak?
But at the end of the day, let's be realistic here
Realistically speaking. That's not where God wants you to go. You know where he wants you to go
First and foremost is right across the street
You know and there's that's another thing it's like missionaries who want to go to a country where they don't even speak the language
Under the guise of oh, I have a burden so many lost and dying
in this world today and
Then they go there. They're wasting all types of money
Over there. They're not learning the language. They bring back a prayer or they send a prayer letter pray for us
We're working with this one guy. We've been working on him for nine months. He's almost there
He's so close to getting saved
Nine months for like one person that's not a good stewardship of the mysteries of God folks
So this teaches us that sometimes we can be burdened with something that God does not is not burdened with
We can be pressed in the spirit over something that God is not pressed in the spirit about
Okay, so we need we need to be able to distinguish the two now what we want is to be pressed in the spirit
With the things that God wants us to be pressed about right to have those things in alignment to walk together
Because we want to be excited and emotional about the things that God wants us to be pressed about
Because we want to be excited and emotional emotional about the work that God has for us
But not so overly emotional that it overrides what the bible's principles are teaching us and we go somewhere. We're just completely unfruitful
You know, we're not winning anybody to christ. We're getting our heads chopped off because we're in afghanistan where they hate christians
not wise
Now look at verse 15
It says and after those days we took our care up our carriages and went up to jerusalem
And there went with us also certain of the disciples of ciceria and brought with them one of menasen of cyprus
An old disciple with whom we should lodge
It says and when we were come to jerusalem the brother received us gladly by the way, I like that it says an old disciple
I always thought that was a cool cool little phrase there
Why because this is someone who's been in the lord for a long time?
And it shows that they're in it for the long haul
You know, I hope that it can be said of me later on in my 80s or whatever
However long the lord allows me to live that I would be an old disciple
Yeah, i've been around the spiritual block for a long time, you know, and that's great that it says the old disciple
Maybe we all
Aspire to be that old disciple one day, man
And I I rejoice when I see old disciples when I see people who are still serving the lord because it can't be said of everyone
Right, you know, not everyone sticks it out. Not everyone is in it for the long haul people fizzle out
They go off doctrinally or they go back to the world, you know, they or they're just wolves in sheep's clothing or whatever, you know
But you know some people actually stick it out for the long haul and they become an old disciple
Now look at verse 18 of the day following paul went in and with us unto james and all the elders were present
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things god had wrought among the gentiles by his ministry
He's kind of boasting a little bit. He's like look look at all these people are getting saved
Look at all these churches all these churches all these people getting saved or getting baptized or following the lord
Verse 20 when they heard it, they glorify the lord and sentence him thou seest brother
How many thousands of jews there are which believe and they are all zealous of the law. So what is james doing?
He's oh, you think that's good?
Look at all these jews
Reaching all kinds of jews here. They're zealous of the law
Thou seest and they believe
You know because because he kind of it looks bad on them because paul's actually fulfilling the great commission right
He's actually getting a bunch of other people saved
Okay
verse 21
And look look what james says here and they are informed of thee brother or i'm sorry informed of thee
That thou teaches all the jews which are among the gentiles to forsake moses
So when you see all these jews getting saved by the way, hey they know you're you're teaching like weird stuff
these jews
They know that you're teaching that the people need to forsake moses. What are you talking about james?
Saying that they ought not to circumcise their children neither to walk after their customs. Oh, yeah
Because we're in the new covenant james
What is it therefore
The multitude is just like
Yeah, you're fruitful but you're teaching replacement theology
Sounds a little familiar, right?
Yeah, you guys are getting a bunch of people saying but you guys are teaching the jews and I got chosen people
No, no, no
What is it therefore the multitude must needs come together for they will hear that thou art come what
What is this a deacon run ministry or something?
He's like, hey you better come up with an answer because the multitude is going to come they want to know what's up
I thought you're the leader james
Why are you scared of the multitude?
And then two this is what you get for reaching a bunch of jews
Verse 23 do therefore this that we say to thee
Oh, man, so he's just like look but I got you though. I'll teach you to compromise just like me
We have four men which have a vow on them
them take
And purify thyself with them
And be it charges with them that they may shave their heads and all may know
That those things were if they were informed concerning thee are nothing
But that thou thyself also walkest orderly and keep us along
He's like I got a great plan
There's a couple guys here. They have a vow you just go with them
You fulfill the week of purification
You keep the law you offer the sacrifice at the end of those seven days and then they'll see that you roll with us
That you're doing it with us
He says touching the gentiles which believe we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing
Save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols and from blood and from strangle and from fornication
So again, he's reiterating this this extra teaching that he's giving the gentiles now look obviously it's not bad to abstain from fornication and idols
And things uh from blood and things strangled that's not bad
The bad thing is this is that he's given that commandment in order to make a distinction between jew and gentile
That's what's bad
There is no difference between the jew and the greek, okay
But he's making that distinction
So then Paul took the men and the next day purifying himself
With them entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification
Until then an offering should be offered for every one of them shame on james
So this kind of shows you what kind of leader james is at this time
Yeah, he's in charge. Yeah. He he's the lord's brother, which this is probably why
They regard him as being just an important individual. He's like, well, he's the lord's brother
He's there but you know what this guy's a compromiser
And he's afraid of the jews and he's making paul afraid of the jews
Okay
An equivalent to this would be like, you know an old ifb pastor, you know coming to me and saying hey
Yeah, we know you guys see a lot of people saved and you guys went to south central and all that
It's crazy. You guys are seeing all these all these black people saved
That's good, you know
It's good that you've seen all these minorities saved
Man, you guys you guys say some pretty offensive stuff about the jews, man
You know, what you need to do is just come and give a testimony
And say that there's still god shows of people
Nonsense
This is nonsense
But paul is carried away with this stuff and what happens he compromises with james, right?
Now look why does he compromise and allow himself to be carried away with this
Foolishness and nonsense because he thinks it's going to work
He thinks that if he just goes along with what james says the jews are going to be like oh, hey
Oh, you're okay, here's a shekel or whatever, you know, he's like
Is that what happens no
In fact, they still turn on him
So what happens when you compromise the people you're trying to placate they end up turning on you anyways, right?
So guess what? So what's the lesson there? Don't compromise
So better to not compromise retain your integrity
And still receive the hatred from the people you're trying to placate or that you would you would have placated or tried to have placated
Rather than give in to their wishes
Have them still hate you and attack you but now you look like a weenie
Right
Because all you do when you compromise is like look look at this foolish person this pastor who's just trying to placate the sodomites
And they're still burning his church down
They're still punking him
He thought compromising and trying to placate the faggots
Was going to help
To protect him from the sodomites doesn't even work
They still went after them, right
So what what should we do? Well, what we should do is just
Preach against the sodomites
Don't back down don't compromise and let them attack you and at least other people will respect you because you didn't move
Well, maybe you know, hey
I like your preaching it's great, but just kind of hard on the sodomites, you know
Call them all these dirty names and stuff like fag
Maybe if you just switch to gay
No
Faggot dog
sodomite
filthy animal beast
These are all appropriate
And look if I went your way
They're still going to attack me and even more because now they smell weakness
At least when I say the way god wants me to say it and just preach hard I scare them off
And it's just scared to come confront me to the face
This is the price of compromise folks
And look not only did he just violate the scriptures here by by offering a sacrifice
Which the bible clearly says that they should not now that they're in a new testament
But he's displeasing god. So he's he's getting it from the jews and you know what? He's he's living a life
That's not pleasing unto the lord
Okay
So i'm pretty much out of time but let me let me say a couple things here
You know, we're going we're in the christmas season amen, right
And if you work in the secular realm and your job offers you to come to the you know, the christmas party
But there's going to be alcohol
Don't be a compromiser
I'm like, well i'll go I just I you know if I was just not to look upon it
So maybe I just won't look at it when i'm there
But you know what if you're if you have the the
the propensity to drink in times past
If you have the inclination to give yourself over to those things, you know, don't compromise just don't go at all, right?
Better to just not go because sometimes compromise precedes the sin
Often compromise precedes the sin folks
So don't compromise and say well i'll just go there I won't enjoy the environment i'll just go and just have some eggnog
Yeah, but but here's the thing the eggnog is spiked
And then you're going to regret it right and here's the thing
Now you're like a trouble fountain
Right because now you're a christian
That you're
That you're you know, your your co-workers know you're a christian, but you're a christian that drinks now
So now now you're a bad testimony before your co-workers and you're displeasing god
So compromise never works
it never
works
you know these pastors who want to compromise and just
Make their church as liberal as the day is long bring in the rock music and the hoochie mamas
Because they want to reach in a new group of people but then what happens in the long run?
They reach a bunch of unsafe people and the church just completely goes apostate
The price that that pastor pays for compromise is just a church full of unsafe people apostasy
It's not worth it
Just do it god's way
Suffer the consequences of doing god's way and recognize that there's a greater reward. So the reward far outweighs
The consequences that the world will punish you with for not compromising
You understand hey if you're dating don't compromise amen
Well, you know a little a little naked and petty never hurt anybody
Yeah, but you know what it could lead to something else
It can lead to fornication
It can lead to a bastard baby
It can lead to heartache and ruin in the long run
And you know what it could lead you to be parents to have to tell your children that you didn't
abstain from touching before marriage
That can happen folks
so rather than just you know compromise
Well, you know a little naked and petty a little kissing a little holding a little folding of the hands to sleep
So
Why don't I got a better idea why don't you just get married
Then you could just do all those things with just a clear conscience, right
And it's like god's will for you to do those things
Right
Am I am I making sense here or just am I crazy?
Instead of compromising and cheating
during your your courtship
Why don't you just get married and then you have god's blessing
Whereas when you compromise because you can't abstain you actually damage your relationship in the long run
And folks I know people who did just that and their relationship has been damaged
I mean obviously they have the grace of god. They have the bible, but you know what?
There's certain wounds that don't heal because of things like that
And I'm not talking to those of you who maybe were in that boat i'm talking about i'm talking to those who are not yet
in that boat
Okay
Don't compromise compromise destroys your integrity, okay?
And that's what happened to paul so i'm gonna conclude it right there the latter end of the chapter 21
Actually kind of has a little overlap with chapter 22 because he gives his testimony and he starts preaching the word of god there
He gets an audience there, but we'll stop right there. Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer father
We thank you so much for your word
Lord, thank you for paul's example. Of course
He has far more positive examples in the bible than negative, but we see one here that is negative
and uh lord may we get take heed to this that
This this should teach us that we should not compromise in the smallest of areas
Because we want to placate someone or because we want immediate pleasure
Lord there's consequences to that. We know that help us to to
Keep those consequences on the forefront of our mind when we're tempted to do those things
And I pray god that you'd help us lord to retain our integrity like job did during his trial
He didn't compromise and and blame the lord
He blessed the lord and during his temptation he came forth as gold
And I pray god that you'd help us to have that same testimony. We love you so much
And we thank you pray these things in jesus name. Amen
So