Thank you for stopping by and taking to time to watch, listen, or read this week’s message, Influential Qualities.
I hope you find encouragement in your faith in Jesus, and maybe even learn something new along the way 🙂
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Paul had just experienced great opposition because of his teaching in the city of Ephesus. Once the opposition subsided, Paul pressed on in his missionary work. As he continued on, the way he went about his journey reveals some qualities that impacted his ministry. These qualities can have a great influence in our work for the Lord as well.
One quality we can develop is to…
Encourage one another (1-3a)
When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months.
Before he left Ephesus, Paul calls the disciples together and encourages them. These disciples had just experienced this great opposition. So, Paul offered encouragement to stand firm in the faith.
Paul then travels back through the regions where he had been before. As he went, he stopped by the groups that he had helped to form in those towns. These were his spiritual children. Because of this, he wanted what was best for them. He wanted to offer encouragement.
As we go from day to day, we, too, should encourage one another. How many are in desperate need of a kind word? Who are those that feel all alone and can use some encouragement? Not just encouragement, but encouragement in the faith.
How often do we think about spiritual things? When was the last time we had a spiritual conversation with others? What benefit might there be to encouraging one another in spiritual matters?
To be an encourager comes in many forms. Through phone calls, text messages, personal visits, letters, cards, etc., a little encouragement can go a long way in a person’s life. Will we choose to be the encourager so many need in their lives today?
Along with encouragement, we also need to be willing to…
Make needed adjustments (3b-6)
Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 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. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 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.
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Paul was continuing his missionary work. His travels had taken him to Greece where he stayed for three months. He was planning on traveling to Jerusalem to bring an offering to the church. However, there was a change in plans.
Some Jews were plotting against Paul. Perhaps they were making threats to his life. Paul became aware of their plot, and so he willingly adjusted his plans. Instead of setting sail, Paul and a group of disciples chose to continue their journey on land. These men went on ahead to the city of Troas where they would meet up with those who traveled by sea.
For us, we are to be doing God’s work. Part of this work includes encouraging one another. There are an unlimited number of things we can be doing for God. However, as we go about doing His work, we also need to be willing to adjust when needed.
Our plans might be altered by weather conditions, illnesses, work commitments, unexpected repairs, etc. Our plans may not look like we expected, but God will want us to make the adjustments and keep moving forward.
As we move forward doing God’s work, we need to…
Be willing to teach, and quick to care (7-12)
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. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 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. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
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Paul and his companions made the trek from Greece to Troas. He now had the opportunity to talk with the disciples in that city. Because he intended to leave the next day, he taught until midnight. He had so much to share with the people. His passion was for his Lord, and he wanted to be sure the people knew about Him.
There was a problem. This teaching took place in an upper room. The room was filled with people. There were oil lamps lighting the room. All this together would have made for warm conditions.
Because of the conditions, Eutychus had a hard time staying awake. All of us understand the heavy eyes that come in these situations. He was sitting in a window, probably the coolest place in the room. However, he still could not stay awake and ended falling to his death on the ground below.
Paul was quick to care for Eutychus. Paul went down and threw himself on Eutychus and wrapped his arms around him. Because of Paul’s compassion for this young man, and by his faith in Jesus, Eutychus was brought back to life and returned to the upstairs room. Perhaps it was the wave of adrenaline from the miracle that took place, but Paul was then able to continue to teach until morning.
Where are we at in our relationship with Jesus? Are we growing in our love and understanding of Him? If given the opportunity, would we be able and willing to talk about Him with others?
Do we have compassion for and care about those in our lives? Are we aware of the things happening around us? Will we be quick to help those in need?
As we serve the Lord with our lives, let us always…
Make plans with purpose (13-16)
We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
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Paul’s journey continued. He went to Assos, Mitylene, Chios, Samos, and Miletus. He chose to sail past Ephesus, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem. These plans were all purposeful.
Paul chose to walk to Assos instead of sailing with his other companions. We are not told why, perhaps he needed that time alone. He then joined his traveling companions at Assos and sailed with them to Miletus. Here we are told that Paul chose to sail past Ephesus. His purpose was to get to Jerusalem.
He had spent two years in Ephesus, teaching the people. If he would have stopped there, he knew that it would not be for a short visit. He would need extended time to see all the disciples in that city.
Instead, as we will see next week, he called for the Ephesian elders to come to him at Miletus. This would be a way to be mindful of his time. He had a difficult message to share with them, so the smaller group of leaders was the best option for his timeline.
We are all on a journey with the Lord. As such, we are to be purposeful when making our plans. He has plans for each one of us. How can we plan our days to be best used by Him?
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As we live for Him, serving Him every step of the way, let us…
Take time to strengthen each other in the faith.
Be willing to alter our plans to be in line with God’s plans.
When given the opportunity, instruct others in the way of faith.
Be mindful of the needs around us and attend to them when we can.
As we make plans, know the reason why we do the things we do.
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