Acts 20:1-6

                                                                 Acts 20:1-6

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.  These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

 

Paul’s mission to the nations was rich, productive, dangerous, and many other things, but it was never accomplished alone.  The ministry is always performed with people with the goal of reaching people.  These months of Paul’s third missionary journey are not very detailed but the reveal some interesting aspect of ministry that are instructive to us.

 

THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGMENT: It is significant that after the tumult died down in Ephesus Paul called the disciples together for a time of encouragement before taking off to travel again. The main purpose of his travels through Macedonia was to encourage the believers in those places.  One of the main functions of leadership is encouragement.  We all appreciate encouragement, but we are not all intentional about giving encouragement to others.  One of the secrets of the effectiveness of Paul’s ministry was his commitment to and practice of encouragement.  We must all seek for opportunities to emulate this ministry.

 

THE MINISTRY OF REINFORCEMENT: One of the things that stands out as we read the book of Acts is the number of people who travel with Paul from place to place.  This passage alone mentions seven people who traveled with him for the purpose of protection and making preparations prior to his arrival in a certain place.  Paul was a man who was constantly being threatened by both the Jews and the Romans.  Traveling with him was neither comfortable or secure.  The only motivation was to advance the Gospel.  Paul understood that the success of his ministry depended upon partnerships with other people.  Ministry is a team sport and should never be undertaken alone.

 

THE MINISTRY OF REFRESHMENT: Part of the job of those who traveled with Paul was to prepare a place for him to be able to arrive and provide protection along the way.  Every aspect of the mission is an important one.  Not everyone is an Apostle Paul, but he is not nearly as effective as he was without people participating with him and providing refreshment for him.  There is an idea within missions today that in order for the work to be valid, it must be on the “front line.”  This has never been the case with any military effort or a missionary effort, not even Paul’s.  Jesus made it clear in Matthew 10 that those who provide comfort and refuge will receive the same reward as those who were preaching and teaching.

 

APPLICATION: Seek to identify people who are having an impact for the Gospel and be intentional about encouraging them.  It is likely they have many people who are sources of discouragement, and they are certainly the object of spiritual warfare.  Our encouragement can make a big difference.  Seek for opportunities to help others as well as to involve others in the things we are doing. 

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