198: Steve Mansfield - Exhortation: The Value of Fellowship

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:13

   Welcome to good for selfie and talks. I’m Levi and I’m Chris and I’m Brian, thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one taco week to help us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post a new episode of the start of each week with a short intro before. Hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to listen to and now let’s talk more about this week’s.

2. 0:35

   Talk this week we’re listening transportation. That was Kevin, my brother, Stephen Mansfield, back in February of 2021 at the Garden. Grove Ecclesia, in Australia. This excitation was while events are still going on with covid-19 and the lockdown. And then also was right after the events that happened in January 6th year in the United States in his excitation brother. Steve is giving us an excellent reminder of while. The amazing things about technology that gives us the ability to be connected, even though we’re far apart allowing things, like this podcast to be possible because of all the recordings that are being done.

3. 1:30

   Now even more so than they were in years past but also stressing the importance of being together as a body. Not just connected by a screen where we’re looking at each other. As we’re now in the summer and going on to the season where we go into Bible schools here I am talk reminded me about the Synergy and the energy that you can feel when you’re at your Bible school with those of like Precious Faith to be able to encourage each other in a way that is more. Fulton any virtual setting might be so well the technology that we enjoy is amazing.

4. 2:08

   Also allowed us to do some incredible things. It’s important for us. Not to lose sight of The Importance of Being physically together in the energy and the enthusiasm you can feel when you’re in a room, whether it’s seeing him just hearing the buzz of people talking after they hear a really good execution or after the conclusion of a good class. So wanted to share this, This expectation that was sent over a little bit ago, but stock, it was still a really good point. So hopefully that you will enjoy this extrication by Brother Steve Mansfield on the topic of the value of Fellowship. Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord. Jesus Christ.

5. 2:47

   What an amazing week. It’s been as we’re sort of watched the great superpower of America on a knife edge wondering, which way it’s going to go and from four years ago, where mr. Trump made his Catchphrase. Let’s make America great again. Of course, it’s spiral down into Division disunity and almost Rebellion, well, not only has this week been interesting but the whole year really has know what an amazing year for all of us are very different and distinct and remarkable year in the Life Time of all of us.

6. 3:19

   And this whole covid crisis has been very hard for us to deal with here in Australia. And of course, even worse in some of the overseas countries Europe, they tell me he’s going to hit the peak in. Aubry. So all the statistics that are coming in now are going to sort of Ascend through to February next year.

7. 3:37

   So what an amazing world and of course, right through the Middle East, they’ve been sending significant events as well with the Abraham Accord being signed off. So there are some again, some wonderful and significant events that are happening there and meanwhile governments are pouring trillions of dollars into their economies to try and prop it up and keep the world going and they say you covid doesn’t get you there. The financial crisis will.

8. 4:02

   So, you know, not much happiness ahead of us. Well, ahead of us, of course, there is the return of Jesus Christ, but for the world in general, they’re struggling with all these events and trying to come to terms with them. So, this morning, I want to talk about the value of friendship, because, of course, all of us have been impacted by covid.

9. 4:19

   And even as we greet each other at the media, we’re sort of a little bit apprehensive, as to, well, do, we do an elbow knock or a fist punch, or a kick in The Shins or we’re not quite sure what it is. But certainly, He, we need to emphasize for all this the value of Fellowship, because some of us are getting quite comforted with, not coming along to the meeting. And we’re saying, well, it’s very convenient for us to recline on the couch.

10. 4:40

    And to, you know, watch a brother from either this foreclosure overseas or anywhere give a particular talk and for us, you know, that’s quite convenient comfortable. Well, not at all brothers and sisters. We need to remind ourselves. If nothing else this impact of covid and how critical and how important physical Fellowship is for us and we’re going to see this particularly in this event of the Apostle Paul here in Acts chapter 21 and I do have to thank Brother Scott for the reading.

11. 5:12

    I did acts 21 and 22 is the reading for the day, but I noticed that the end of Acts chapter 21. The finishing word is saying, and it sort of continues on into into a chapter 22. So I thought, well, you know, that’s going to be rather long reading. So we did chop it verse 17, which is idiot because fins are finishes on a positive note and that’s really the thrust of our exaltation this morning. So we know from our readings last night that in Chapter 20, The Ephesian members the owners of the Ecclesia met with the Apostle Paul to show their respect and their love, their appreciation for his work.

12. 5:50

    That was over three years in particular, for this Ephesian grew and in chapter 20. And verse 36, we have this final scene, it’s very tender Farewell verse 36 of chapter 20 which is the introduction to our comments. This morning. It said when he had thus, this is the Apostle Paul spoken. He kneeled down and he prayed with them all. He wept saw and he knew down and he prayed with and this this wasn’t the women and the children of the Ecclesia. This was the arranging Brethren.

13. 6:26

    These were the Earl ders of the Ephesian. Ecclesia Who had traveled 80 kilometers in my calculation. That’s a walk of about twelve hours. A walk of about 12 hours to catch this final contract with the Apostle, Paul, because they would see his face no more, they wanted to have a conversation with the Apostle Paul and receive his personal spiritual advice.

14. 6:51

    I didn’t dismiss it and say, well, it’s too far to go. They wanted to connect to the Apostle Paul in these final moments and the record says, they wet saw and they fill on Paul’s Nick, they embraced and they kissed him, you know, very reminiscent. Was it between, I think the meeting between David and Jonathan.

15. 7:13

    In those final moments, first 2 Samuel, 20 verse 41, and 42, the record says, David arose, out of a place toward the South he fell on his face. To the granny bear himself, three times. And they kissed one another and wept until David exceeded, many possible. Paul knows that it’s going to be very tenuous future in his progression through to Jerusalem.

16. 7:36

    He’s been warned on many occasions. He’s a little bit tense and it’s not dissimilar to David who had been anointed as king and now he’s on the run, through the Wilderness and he meets with Jonathan, they weep together. The Friendship is split because of the circumstances and David his left exiling through through the Wilderness.

17. 7:58

    There’s a lot of tension in your both of those stories tragic situation. And it’s the same here because we get a bit of an Insight. I think into really the full dimension of the personality, the Apostle, Paul, and offer. We thinking of him as a man, that was independent. He had an iron, will he had a self determination?

18. 8:17

    He had courage to preach the gospel. Nobody was going to stop him. He’s going to do his own thing. Well, now we’re seeing the spiritual maturity of the Apostle Paul, and his love for brothers and sisters. And that personal contact that he found so necessary in the struggle, that he was going. Right?

19. 8:35

    I like to have a coloring in exercise for every X or do I do in the coloring in exercise for us all this morning. I’ll tell you the verses in the phrase is we’re going to pick out the phrases where the Apostle Paul connected with his brothers and sisters. So of course little phrase.

20. 8:51

    Is he? The first one is in 20:37, they all wept saw. Okay. This is a very inclusive phrase in which Paul Luke and the brothers that were traveling with them connected to a number of it. Clear. Asia’s, as they travel toward Jerusalem. So first 37, they all wept saw verse 38, they accompanied him.

21. 9:12

    These are all terms of Fellowship, chapter 21 and verse 1. We were gotten from them torn from them. So this an emotional context in a particular phrase, verse for finding disciple. So you can see this is building to the importance of Fellowship verse 5. They all brought us on our way. End of verse 5, we knew down on the shore.

22. 9:37

    Verse six, we taken our leave. One of another end of verse 7. We have bowed with them. End of verse 8. We Abode with him verse 10, tarried there many days you can see this terminology and then across the page verse 16 went with us. And finally, in verse 17, in verse 17, the brothers received as gladly she seen this narrative is not just simply a Personal Diary of Luke as he calculating the number of days to Pentecost because Paul want to be in Jerusalem and that time period, it’s the inclusiveness and the connectedness with which Paul received And enjoyed the company of brothers and sisters. So the narrative in verse 1 of chapter 21, says it came to pass after we were gotten from them in the King James, of course, we just gloss over that phrase, but it is quite meaningful. The Greek word.

23. 10:33

    Apostle payoh means to tear apart, or to dragged forth some translations have wheat or ourselves from them because they can understand. Now, it’s not just we, you know, we we left them got on the boat wave, goodbye. It’s we rinsed ourselves from our from our blood. There’s an assistance right from our contact with them and the same word is used in the Lord. Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane when he withdrew himself from his disciples and pride. So Luke 22 verse 41 says, and he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast.

24. 11:10

    He tore himself from those disciples. He wanted to remain within that, within the context of those men, he wanted that human companion companionship in the The turmoil and the stress of Gethsemane and Christ tore himself from those men and he went and he pried he was desperate for that fellowship and that human companionship, that all of us know are important on our journey to the kingdom and the same sense is used in Luke 24:51, when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, Luke says, going to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them and went and carried up into heaven. So Imagine that strong connection to their lord had with his, with his men with the men that he’d went journey through for the last three and a half years. He’s now being taken and received up into heaven or records.

25. 12:02

    He just started from, you know, for all of us, I guess we find goodbyes very difficult and and I remember a particular occasion in Kunming in the Ecclesia 2019 and we’ve been there for just a little bit over a weekend and done some studies I was doing the last talk. And I wanted to impart to the brothers and sisters like a final message of comfort.

26. 12:24

    We didn’t know what was ahead of us, but we’re leaving a little group on their own to survive through, very difficult, circumstances and sister Penny was translating for me and at the end of the study, I gave a sort of a final goodbye and I teared up and basically I did break down and said we’re going to miss you brothers and sisters.

27. 12:40

    We don’t know what the future holds for all of us. This 2019 we don’t know when we’ll be back and you know trembling voice and tears streaming. Just a penny say to us, you know, brother Steven you make it very hard for the translators to translate when you do that. But for all of us, you know, very difficult goodbyes and and the same here, in verse 14, the Apostle Paul as he leaves those Ephesian elders and it’s the same for us isn’t brothers and sisters when we leave this place.

28. 13:08

    Surely. Surely we love to be here with one another. We’re not out the door. At the end of the meeting. We want to want to move around and contact our brothers just as you know the Apostle Paul understands that’s the whole meaning of the Emblems. Because at the end of 1st Corinthians 11, What’s the phrase that he leaves us? It’s in the Practical outcome of what the emblems mean for us. Doesn’t he say?

29. 13:28

    So Terry one for another brothers and sisters. Our first Corinthians 11, you get to the end. So, this is the meaning of the emblems, our connection, the joy, and the importance of Fellowship, Terry one for another, And we come to this place as the Apostle Paul did with the brothers and sisters for rebuilding for reassurance, for encouragement for commitment to know that we’re all on the same journey together, despite all our personal problems and difficulties, this is where we want to be in the Kingdom together. So we notice this whole aspect is continued in verse 4 as well. The little phrase there is and finding disciples. No one was waiting on the dock for the Apostle. Paul for Luke and the Brethren there. They actually disembark from the ship and they sought out the Ecclesia.

30. 14:19

    They sought out the brothers and sisters and they enjoyed says the record seven days with them. It’s almost as though you know it’s a marking point. We had seven beautiful and lovely days with the with the brothers and sisters and of course we know since when they were to re embarked on the ship in verse 5, the record says and they all brought us on our way.

31. 14:39

    I’ve got We’re all circled here because the whole Ecclesia now goes to see the Apostle Paul off and, and Luke puts into his narrative with the women and with the children, the whole Ecclesia is there in seven days, the Ecclesia had been concentrated into one heart, and one soul. And this whole beautiful atmosphere in spirit is we want to go and see the Apostle Paul off on the boat.

32. 15:03

    So, you can just say goodbye and they prayed a final prayer, as the end of verse It says, we nude down on the shore and probably what an amazing scene out of respect, the whole, Ecclesia with women and with children assemble, and there’s the boat. There’s the harbor, and they’re all surrounding the Apostle Paul, and there’s all these goodbyes, and then they all go to their knees and they pray for a blessing on the Apostle Paul and the work, which was ahead.

33. 15:34

    What an amazing scene. The whole equation Neil together. Seven dies of Joyful Fellowship. When I was thinking about this, my mind went back to my early days in Woodville. When we used to have amazing special efforts and the spirit of the whole Ecclesia was sort of very excited with vibrant. It was real and in fact we had a number of strategies with which to excite the brothers and sisters and one of them was a with a map on the back wall was a massive mapper world map would have America over there.

34. 16:07

    Wasn’t quite as great as these days and we do Australia here. And there was about 25 dashes because we’d be having a visiting speaker from America, 25 dashes from America all the way across to Australia. And one brother was designated by the arranging Brethren to be the move of the plane and he would move one dash every week, so that half a year, would start up front with the special efforts coming and each week, we would see that plane move. One little Dash so, hanging over the Atlantic for a week or so. So would have been very interesting but you know where they’re exciting.

35. 16:44

    We’re seeing this, this plane gradually move across. So the Ecclesia is very fervent, he’s coming, he’s coming. And then, to our amazement, we would often receive a, cassette tape of the brother who’s given a little introductory talk, and on a Wednesday night, you know, some official would come down with a cassette player, put the cassette tape in and press play, and we’d all listen, and we’d hear this deep voice of a American brother and we tickle you, okay, little bit Stout, little bit overweight, short guy, you know.

36. 17:11

    Ha ha ha, and then someone like brother standees Bill to turn up, you know, six foot eight or something and you know, tall and lanky. So we got all that wrong but there was a real excitement about our special effort together. And of course, in the end of it, like this situation here, we’d all go down to the airport and we stand out the dc9 or whatever it was back in those days would start up and we’d all say goodbye to the brother and the planer turn around. You feel that blast of you know Cairo or It was coming out of the motors and we’d all say goodbye, where’s that gone brothers and sisters, you know, nowadays we probably even barely say hello to the brother.

37. 17:50

    Does the special effort? So you know this this whole aspect of excitement is is important to know those olden days have gone well and truly but we need to do our best. I think in our one-on-one conversation with each other to create their ask atmosphere here of kindness and compassion and concern and interest in one eye. This is what it is about.

38. 18:12

    Well, first six goes on. And it says, when we had taken leave one of another taken leave one another, we took ship and they went High. Alright, so there’s the disconnection there, but I don’t think the King James does Justice to what the Greek means. So in in verse 6, it says taken leave one. Another Ash Posen mayor is the Greek word. That means to end fold in the arms. Okay, so, this wasn’t just a got on the boat they left. And we went home.

39. 18:43

    No, they in folded one. Another in the arms, is the Greek. Exactly the same word in, Luke 11, verse 40, where Mary saluted Elizabeth, again, you know, the King James. You know, I love the King James. It is my, my Bible of preference because I’ve had it all my life, but saluted doesn’t quite give the connotation of, you know, saluted and and that was it. No, not at all.

40. 19:07

    I’ll be marrying. Elizabeth. Every struggling with this whole concept, you’ve been selected to be the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. As he heads down to contact Elizabeth and they in fold one another in their arms because well, they had some issues in life, they wanted to encourage one another through. And so here this the seclusion they unfold each other in their arms. Again the same reference is in verse 7. When the Apostle Paul comes to ptolemaeus which is modern-day acre or Echo, it says End of verse 7, we saluted the Brethren, same word, their to enfold in the arms and this word saluted, of course in our King James version is used mostly in Romans chapter 16 which I think is significant. If, you know, Romans chapter 16.

41. 19:54

    It’s a list of brothers and sisters for the Apostle Paul salutes. And at the end of Romans, which we know is a, an expository book Interestingly the Apostle Paul finishes it with a whole chapter on how he wants to enfold his brothers and sisters in his arms. Houston, second Corinthians, 13, verse 12 greet one, another with an holy kiss. Well, of course, really difficult for us to do that these days because there are certain restrictions. So we sort of developed this standoffish sort of guys that one another as we sort of Welcome each other. Not really always know how to handle that. And it’s very frustrating with the restrictions that we have, but I think we need to make sure that we’re here as much as possible while Can’t necessarily physically contact and welcome each other.

42. 20:48

    That we’re actually here and engaging in conversation, one-on-one, and not losing that, emotional personal connection with each other. It’s really important. And I know a lot of a treat Ecclesia struggling with this whole concept of try to get their members back. Even, although there are many seats empty and brothers and sisters fighting it convenient, you know, just to switch on the screen and switch it off whenever they they want.

43. 21:12

    So for the Apostle, Paul just was very important. Should be for us. And again, in verse 7 into verse 7, we notice that Luke puts into his narrative. He says, look, we Abode one day with them. I almost see the sense that Luke says, look, we would have loved to a stop longer than, but we just had one precious day with them. That one day was meaningful to us. And today is that day for us brothers and sisters What a privilege for us to come together around the time of the lord.

44. 21:44

    We know that there are many brothers and sisters throughout the world because of covid restrictions who cannot do that. I think the lesson. Surely that is emerging for all of us is the preciousness of fellowship and the opportunity to get together with one another.

45. 22:00

    So let’s not be apathetic about it. Let’s not find ourselves comfortable in our homes and the Apostle Paul says, do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as much as possible brothers and sisters. We want to take hold of that opportunity. Paul continues on his journey, and in verse 8, the record introduces us to a person uses. We came to seize rear-engine to the house of Philip, the Evangelist one of the seven and Abode with him, we just want to stop for a little minute.

46. 22:31

    Philip who is Philip the Evangelist? It wasn’t the Apostle Philip, it was the Evangelist. Remember his roll back in Acts 6 was to take care of the Widow’s to support those that were only and who weren’t financially able to support themselves, but Obviously, he was enthusiastic for the truth, he’s energetic. He has a fervor, he has a Zeal because he’s called the Evangelist.

47. 23:01

    It’s the first time that word occurs. You know what an evangelist means? A bringer of good news as someone who promotes the gospel and advantages are bringer of good news, he’s the only person in the Bible called by that title Philip, the Evangelist only person, the Bible, And the reason because he had such a positive love of the Gospel. So you’ll know the back in the book of Acts Philip was sent down to preach to the Ethiopian eunuch. Remember, he’s on a chariot, Philip goes down their acts, 8 verse. 39 is the final finish of that story and You Know How It Ends, the Ethiopian eunuch went on his way. Rejoicing.

48. 23:46

    And I think that beautifully crystallizes the whole personality of Philip, the Evangelist here and out of that Chariot explained, Isaiah 53, and the Ethiopian eunuch left rejoicing, because he was Philip a bringer of good news, is only two other references to evangelist in the Bible. Ephesians 4 and verse 11. Where Paul says God is What it in the occlusion, some pasta, some teachers, some evangelist.

49. 24:17

    He’s talking about the different roles and attributes that we bring into the occlusion. We may not be a past, we may not be a teacher. We may be a person who imparts good positive news to people to try and lift up their heads and they go away rejoicing. Maybe that’s who we are and the other one is second Timothy 4 and verse 5 where Paul says, watch all things do the work of an evangelist and I think Brothers do this is in 2020. This is who we can become especially with the people that we mix in the world where that’s at Uni, whether it’s in our place of employment, whether it’s a mother’s group that we meet with.

50. 24:56

    There are people who are anxious about where this is all going, what it means in life and we can be the bringer of good news to say that they’re bigger better, brighter world that Jesus Christ is bringing and he’s got the solution to every single problem that all these governments and authorities are trying to handle and they’re not doing very well. We can be The bearers of good news. Well, Luke also notes, he adds this little point, one of the seven, one of the seven, So each tracking back, 20 years to an event that devastated.

51. 25:29

    Philip, And of course that event was the untimely death of Phillips best friend. It was Stephen, remember the whole, seven, Philip, and steep, they’re all grouped together. These were Brethren, who bonded and know what vibrant in, not only caring for the widows. But disseminating, a distilling, the truth of God’s message. Philip would have been if he was one of the seven affected by the untimely, death of Stephen Shattered by Who caused that he calls that debt world record, says they laid their coats at the feet of a man called saw in chapter 22 verse 20. Paul says, when the blood of Stephen was shed, I consented to his death.

52. 26:17

    So this is very interesting because now, for the first time, it appears this man saw the apart. Now, the Apostle Paul comes into the house of Philip and the value of Fellowship brothers and sisters is in repair, isn’t it reconciliation rebuilding helping supporting and here, I just see this lovely narrative by Luke where he says this was a very interesting connection with the Apostle Paul and was Philip the Evangelist where the past was forgotten and the future was, of course developed and highlighted Well, not only that but we know it’s about Philip. There’s another little addition in verse 9 says, he had four daughters.

53. 27:01

    They were prophetesses, and I think it’s a beautiful because Philip obviously is a bringer of good news but he’s not. So busy outside. The realm of his family that he didn’t passion eyes, his own family and here’s the evidence of, you know, gospel Proclamation and a beautiful form his daughters Was so enraptured with the truth.

54. 27:24

    They dedicated themselves to serving God Beyond marriage. They weren’t married. And they were devoted to the truth. I guess that’s a blessing. I’m not quite sure. I sort of picture myself, you know, the birth of the fourth daughter, and someone tells Phillip it’s another daughter. And he says, I’ve already got three, but four daughters, go over son and I’m not quite sure in family life where daughters were, the daughters are easier to bring up than Sons. I’m not quite sure.

55. 27:55

    Family. Life doesn’t always necessarily go the way we think it will go, but I just think it’s very wonderful that Philip here. The Avengers was able to involve his daughters, his family in Truth and certainly that positive spirit that he had as an individual carried through to those that were very close to him.

56. 28:13

    Well, verse 10, of course, there’s an introduction to another man. Verse 10 says, we tarry there, many days and there came from Judea a certain Prophet named agabus. Why agabus I mean this for prophetesses here but surely could have explained to the Apostle Paul what the future held for him.

57. 28:35

    And in fact, the Apostle, Paul already knew that in a sense, because if you look across the page, ship to 20 and verse 22. And 23, Paul says, behold I go Bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that before me save the Holy Spirit Witnesses in every city that bonds and afflictions are white or abide. Me and Paul already knew that.

58. 28:57

    So why send agabus here in verse 10? Well, because agabus was an old friend of the Also pulls back in Action, he’s mentioned back in Acts 11 and verse 28, ten years ago. He warned of a famine that was going to Encompass Jerusalem and obviously impact on the Widow’s. The brothers and sisters there in Jerusalem.

59. 29:19

    And the record back there, says that Paul and Barnabas who were members of the Antioch, Ecclesia came to Jerusalem because I just taken up a collection, they came down to Jerusalem and handed that over to the Jerusalem. Ecclesia that was ten years ago and Here is agabus again, and now very beautifully. Paul is bringing a large donation from all the Ecclesia as with the Brethren to the poor brothers and sisters there in Jerusalem. Paul in one sense is circling, he’s completing the task. He set himself to do.

60. 29:50

    Because in some senses, he was the instigator of perhaps, some of the issues that those widows would have had to experience in Jerusalem because Paul carted off many of the brothers In the truth prior to his conversion. So there was obviously a practical flow on of the difficulty that he created. So, cycling around here is agabus again, and Paul is coming to complete. The task that he set himself to do. Well after this as we know agabus takes his his belt and binds it and the record is that everybody was upset in verse 12. When we heard these things we and they have that place is Paul don’t go to Jerusalem.

61. 30:30

    And Paul says, in verse 13, what may need to weep and break my heart. Just think of that situation. Here’s dr. Luke here’s these Faithful Men to the traveled with the Apostle Paul for many, many weeks, encouraging talking to collecting. And now, all of them are displaying strong emotion. It’s going to pull. Don’t go Paul.

62. 30:55

    This is not a good decision. And there’s these strong emotional endearments weeping breaking my heart. There’s a lot of pressure on Paul. Basically. The brothers were saying, take it. Easy pull, take it easy.

63. 31:10

    It was almost a pattern here. We’ll there is a pattern between the the last few hours of the Lord’s life, as he began in the upper room and worked his way through to the cross. It almost parallels here. Thus this experience with the Apostle Paul and you remember it was Peter Peter, the record says it took him and he began to rebuke Jesus saying, be it far from the Lord. This shall not be up to because Jesus said he is going to Jerusalem and Peter says in the Greek Lord, take pity on yourself.

64. 31:42

    Take pity on yourself in the Lord knowing where he could go with that. Thought process, cabinet immediately and rebuked. Peter and said, no, I’m determined to go to Jerusalem. This almost an interplay of that whole circumstance here. And, in fact, verse 24, it’s almost an echo. The words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn’t verse 24 of chapter, 20, chapter 20, verse 24. Paul says, None of these things move me. I don’t count my life.

65. 32:09

    Dear unto myself, I’m going to finish my course with joy and the ministry that I’ve received the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is going to Jerusalem to finish his course with joy and was the Lord Jesus Christ and you exactly the same. He told Peter get behind me. And then in his final moment, Lord receive my spirit and that was said with joy.

66. 32:29

    It was the completion of that task there in Jerusalem. Well, you know, this causes bit of a problem because you know, was Paul being silly about this. I mean, he’s been warned in every city that this is going to happen. Well, they were warning, Paul. They were just pre-empting Paul that this would not be an easy situation.

67. 32:50

    Paul wasn’t actually forbidden of the spirit itself because I’ll give you the chapter where he was Acts 16, Verse 6. And 7 says, you remember the situation who’s going to go up into by thinner and to Asia, and the record says, he was forbidden of the spirit to preach in Asia. He has saved to gonna buy thin air, but the spirit could not allow it. So, there’s a situation where that was very, very clear, what these prophets and the message is saying, is Paul, if you continue to Jerusalem, life is going to get Difficult for you. It’s going to be very difficult.

68. 33:23

    There are saying be prepared, you know, that’s the same advice. We give young people isn’t as they set out on the course of life. And as they’re baptized, we don’t we don’t just say them what, you know, life in the truth is going to be wonderful. It’s going to be a garden of roses.

69. 33:37

    Everything will smooth out, you’ll become wealthy, you’ll have a great job. We don’t say any of that, of course, when our young people are baptized or they’re going through tradition, we say to them. Look, this is a big decision. It’s a fantastic decision. It’s a wonderful Decision but realize that you will have problems that you need to do with, and that’s exactly what is happening here. Well pull.

70. 33:59

    I guess could have retracted. He could have said look, yeah, sure enough. I’m not going to Jerusalem you guys continue on the way with the donation, but the Apostle Paul knowing the value of Fellowship, wanted to personally go to Jerusalem and give this to the Ecclesia. He was not unconnected by the personal problems that others were facing and perhaps which he originally had been a contributor So Paul’s mission in life, wasn’t just simply to preach the gospel. We might have imagined that it was also to take personal care of brothers and sisters that were struggling. I wonder whether you know, we need to do a sort of a recap on our own laws, their own attitude as to what is our level of service.

71. 34:44

    Sometimes when we hear a person is going through a difficult time. We think, you know what, I’ll do something Brave. I’ll reach for my phone and send an SMS message and that’s all we ever do. And then we say, look, you know, I find it difficult to get to the meeting. I know I can’t get into an air-conditioned car and I can’t go to an air-conditioned Hall and I can’t sit at the meeting. I’d rather recline on my couch, you know, we need to maybe recap and rethink about our lives and what our attitude is to one another.

72. 35:14

    For Paul, it was about personal commitment, was about one-on-one, was kept caring for his brothers and sisters, and you notice across the page in verse 16, His brothers went from caesarea, they were so connected to Paul. They were so supportive of all they didn’t say see you, Paul best of luck in Jerusalem. No.

73. 35:36

    Verse 16 says, they’re went with us certain of the Disciples of caesarea. That’s 100 case. It’s a 23 hour walk. So they were, they were definitely once Paul made the decision, they were coming alongside Paul and so we walk with you through this difficult time and then the record says, they conducted Paul 21.

74. 36:02

    The King James is not quite correct. It’s not brought with them. It’s they conducted Paul to one nation of Cyprus and old disciples. He came and he stopped with Nason who was in Jerusalem. Comment, there is he’s an old disciple. Different translation says one of the first disciples This is believed that since the early days Rotherham says and early disciple. So he is perhaps an original convert prior to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and brother, mate nation is still faithful.

75. 36:35

    He’s an early disciple. He’s an old disciple little phrase that I’ve got here. It says, don’t grow cold, as you grow old little bit of poetry. All right. Don’t go cold as you grow old. You know, that’s easy to do. There is someone that got old and they got cold that Solomon in First Kings 11 and verse 4, it says when Solomon was old his wives turned, his heart away to other gods and his heart wasn’t wholly devoted to Yahweh. He’s got his was David’s, got old and you know things got a little bit more.

76. 37:05

    Got to be cold. But this disciple here was a disciple of long-standing and Paul came into his house. I would imagine Paul valued very highly, the status of this older brother. Now we’ve talked about different brothers and sisters. We talked about in verse 5 those that were very supportive of the of the work that the Apostle Paul was doing. We’ve talked about those who are enthusiastic in verse 8, like Philip the Evangelist and his daughters. We’ve talked about, those are emotional and verse 13 but they’re here in this This is an older brother Who provided encouragement in his consistent and faithful example. You’ve got brothers and sisters.

77. 37:56

    The like that in your Oakley. Who I know that we spoke to Brother, David this morning. I mean, these these are our older brothers and sisters, who have gone through very difficult, times are such an encouragement for all of us. We respect and we honor them. And the Apostle Paul did exactly the same. And so we note in verse 17, when we were come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us, gladly word received dam is the Greek word to welcome with open arms.

78. 38:26

    Same word is used to Simeon in Luke 22 verse 28. When the baby Jesus came in and simply and welcome that. He’d been waiting for a lifetime to meet the Lord’s Christ and he took him in his arms. That’s that word day. They welcomed him gladly and you know, in fact that would gladly in the Greek is very interesting.

79. 38:49

    Ask me knows only one other occur. If you bethink the word, gladly occurs, right through the New Testament. Would you know, only one other occurrence Acts 2 verse 41 talking about the Ecclesia. It says then they gladly received his word were baptized 3000 in one day. What a buzz, you know, what an atmosphere there were people that receiving the truth.

80. 39:10

    Gladly And Hell reassuring for the Apostle. Paul to come all the way to Jerusalem and find that they were Brethren embracing him with gladness.

81. 39:21

    So what do you think? Brothers and sisters when you think of the word Fellowship? When you think of the word, what? We only think of the word of God is it is it that term gladness Sometimes we get weighed down with the pressures of the difficulties of life and maybe that dissipates a little bit, but I think we need to have that reassurance. That we are so glad that we have the word of God. Does nothing else out there 2020? If nothing else has proved to us that that world is vaporous and there’s nothing for us.

82. 39:54

    We are so glad that we have the word of God that we can cling to and hold onto and encourage one another in because there’s a better future that’s very, very close around a corner and how we Cheering for Paul that they were brothers that had that attitude.

83. 40:11

    And so we come to the emblems and our minds reflect on the parallel between Jesus Christ, and the Apostle Paul, our Lord was quite sorrowful in the upper room. Just as these Elders that we talked about the Elders of Ephesus wept, and they were quite sorrowful that they would see Paul’s face no more. And our Lord began a journey from the upper room that would eventually lead to his arrest and his death. And he said to the men in the upper room, he said I’ve had such desire.

84. 40:47

    This is the moment that is really important for me with desire. Have I desired to have this time with you before I suffer and that’s this time we have here Brothers. This is we don’t know what we’re going to face next week at all. And I think 2020 is made us realize that we never know what’s around the corner.

85. 41:06

    What an important moment for us to have this time together these moments of fellowship and then as we know the Lord left the upper room and he’s headed to the cross and Peter tries to stop in and dissuade him from going down that direction but the Lord’s answer was not my will but thine be done.

86. 41:28

    Exactly the same. As the words. At the end of verse 14 there, the will of the Lord be done. So, we gather this morning brothers and sisters, not knowing what the journey is ahead. But surely we’re thankful the company of each other and for the input that we have and occlusal life, the joy and the value of fellowship and together, we await that great day when we will receive the Lord in our arms.

87. 41:55

    Open Arms, arms of gladness. And joy, that finally, there is a resolution and there is a solution and an understanding to everything that we’ve gone through in life. So let us together in Fellowship, celebrate that as we eat bread and as we drink wine and may our heavenly father, be with you all in this coming week, may bring the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and then the experience of unending Joy.

88. 42:39

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89. 42:54

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90. 43:35

    God, bless and talk to you next week.