Fearless

[Lovekr07]

Fearless



After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

Acts 21:1-16
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ACT.21.1-16


After Paul had his appointment with the Ephesian elders and encouraged them, he set on his voyage to Jerusalem. The disciples knew of the prophecy that he would be beaten and imprisoned and so through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go there, however they continued their journey in that direction. They were met by a prophet named Agabus from Judea who took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ The disciples and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go there, but Paul would not be dissuaded. He said that he was ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of Jesus! Wow! Now that is faithfulness and commitment. That was exactly how Jesus responded when the disciples tried to rescue Him from His calling. When the disciples realized that they could not change his mind, they gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” Then they continued on their way.

Lord, I pray that we will be courageous, zealous, and bold just like You and many of Your servants. May we not live in fear of what may happen to us as we are carrying out our assignments and sharing Your Good News. I also pray that You will prepare us and anoint us for the attacks as well.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Lord, I pray that we will be courageous, zealous, and bold just like You and many of Your servants. May we not live in fear of what may happen to us as we are carrying out our assignments and sharing Your Good News. I also pray that You will prepare us and anoint us for the attacks as well.

Amen!

What sticks out in this story to me... well, a few things, but the first is that the Holy Spirit is way ahead of us, and knows what is coming. I see this with dreams. We receive things well in advance, and sometimes so far in advance that the correct interpretation is still somewhat shrouded in time. But eventually it begins to take shape and then starts being fulfilled, and you see just how far ahead of things the Lord was.

The other thing (maybe a little more on point with the passage), is that just because the Spirit of God can sometimes prophecy negative things, that doesn't mean we should run from it or try to avoid it. Sometimes it is in keeping with the will of God that we go through things. Paul understood this and some of his friends did not. They thought it was a warning telling him NOT to go, when he in fact knew he would be going in keeping with the will of God, so it was confirmation of what he already knew, and would all the more prepare him for it when he got there.

The principle is that we are all at various places in our level of discernment, and sometimes that's the real key to either walking in obedience to the will of God or resisting it. Even a direct prophecy can be misinterpreted and misunderstood by those who are not fully in tune with what the Spirit is saying yet. And yet we all love one another and care about each other, which is the encouraging thing. Paul was probably touched by the fact that they didn't want him to die, and yet he knew his time was coming, so it becomes a lesson in how we handle our love for one another. And as you said, just like Jesus before him, Paul corrected them in love, instructing them on His will so they would not be disheartened or dismayed.

Blessings in Christ, sister, and thanks again for a wonderful devotional : )
- H