Readiness Of Paul Brought Encourgement To Others
When we read the verses 4 & 10 we can find that how Paul willingly wanted to suffer for Christ, so that he can know more of Christ, and the power of his resurrection.
On To Jerusalem
V4...“Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way.”
Paul didn’t stayed back..
V8… “Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven, Agabus a prophet took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of 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. 13Then 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."
Two times Paul was warned as we see above, but yet the question is what made Paul to go to Jerusalem?
I remember a story that happened among Native Americans Indians. Once Ludwig Von Zinzendrof, who was the founder of Bethlehem Pennsylvania, wanted to start a gospel mission among the Native Indians. After training certain missionary’s he sent them into the colonies of Native Indians. One day one missionary comes out from the colonies out with a Native Indian and gladly shows to Ludwig and says that he found a Christian among Indians. So Ludwig asks how did you became Christian, according to our report there is no Christians among Native Indians.
Then he explained to Ludwig saying that many missionaries came among us. Some came and told us to change our lives and to be like them. We responded that we are living in better harmony than them, so the missionaries left immediately. And many came and went in this manner.
But one day a missionary came and preached only about him, the savior. Due to the tiresome journey and preaching he just laid down in the midst of the men who were with bows, arrows, and spears and slept. He was so peaceful and had no fear of death. That is how they out found that there is something in this God who made this man sleep peacefully in midst of terror. And this way many Native Indians people were saved.
Same way Paul went to Jerusalem only because he loved Christ, that he would not mind by laying is life or to be bound.
And as he says:-
1. I’m ready to be bound v13
2. I’m ready to die (v13; 2 Tim 4:6)
3. I’m ready to preach (Rom 1:15)
4. I’m ready to minister (2 Cor 12:14)
We know what happened at Jerusalem; he was bound in chains and then sent to Rome for trials. But as he says in Philippians 1:14 “ because of my chains, most of the brothers in the lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.