INTRODUCTION
* Those God has used to accomplish his will and extend his mission are people who had courageous commitment
- commitment = completely dedicated to the task at hand
- courageous = complete the task regardless of the threat they experience
* Some examples of courageous commitment:
- Caleb and Joshua: spying out Canaan
(a) Num. 12:27-28, “We can’t do it! It can’t be done!”
(b) Num. 13:30, “Yes, we can!”
(c) Num. 14:6-9, their convictions lead to courageous commitment
- David/Saul and the Israelites: facing Goliath
(a) 1 Sam. 17:10-11, lack of courage and commitment
(b) 1 Sam. 17:32, 36-37, David is convinced
(c) 1 Sam. 17:45-46, courageous conviction causes others to “know that there is a God in Israel”
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Dan. 3:16-18)
* Accepting the plan of God requires conviction (convinced to do it), and that conviction must be so strong that it fuels a courageous conviction in our hearts.
* What’s happening with Paul in Acts 21...
- the church in Jerusalem is going through a difficult time; many pilgrims are in the church and they are facing alienation and persecution
- Paul is on a mission to deliver relief funds to this church from the Gentile churches in Asia Minor and Greece
- as he makes his way to Jerusalem, Paul was repeatedly warned about the persecution he would face when he got there (see Acts 20:22-23)
- despite these warnings, Paul is convinced that God has called him to do this, and he displays a courageous commitment in order to do what God has called him to do
* If we are to do what we are called to do, we must also possess a conviction that leads to courageous conviction
1. Courageous conviction is developed when we know our purpose (v. 1-3)
* Paul clearly understood his purpose...
- specifically: to get funds to the Jerusalem church
- generally/overall: to spread the Gospel (to extend God’s glory)
* 2 Timothy 1:11
* Paul likely knew all along that the adversity he would face in Jerusalem would provide him with opportunities to accomplish his purpose in life
* The dilemma Paul is facing (see 20:36-38): he has gotten very close to the leaders at Ephesus
* Does Paul stay where he’s comfortable and where everything is convenient, or does he leave and head to a place where he knows he’ll experience difficulty?
* Paul understood that his main purpose in life wasn’t comfort or convenience or even fellowship: he knew it was to become a servant of Christ and the Gospel
* Had Paul not understood his purpose, or if he had misunderstood it, he would not have developed the courageous commitment he needed
* Confusion today over our purpose as believers and as a church... The solution is to look to Scripture to find our purpose = 2 Cor. 5:18
* When we begin to understand and live that plan/purpose in our lives, God begins to infuse our lives with courageous commitment
2. Courageous commitment does not allow us to stray from our purpose (v. 4-6)
* Knowing his purpose wasn’t enough; Paul had to make sure he did not deviate from that purpose. His courageous commitment allowed him to stay on task.
* At one time or another, we all clearly understood our purpose. We knew that God wanted to know us and have us make him known to others.
* Somewhere along the way, we strayed from our purpose...
- some lose the fire and zeal they once had
- some lose the sense of awe at who God is and what he’s done
- some lose their focus and shift it inward instead of outward
* Satan’s strategy is to get us to put enough focus on other things so that we get away from our true purpose (both personally and as a church)
* Paul knew that staying would not be a “bad” thing per se, but he knew he couldn’t do that and fulfill his most basic purpose
* We need to ask God to continually keep us focused on the task at hand: doing what needs to be done to reconcile others to Christ
* Philippians 3:13-14
3. Courageous commitment is willing to pay the price to accomplish the purpose (v. 7-14)
* Courageous commitment cannot simply be talked about - it must be lived
* Verse 13: How Paul lived it...
* Are we willing to pay whatever price it takes to get the Gospel out of the church and into the world?
* Read stories of persecution occurring around the world = God’s use of this to accomplish his purpose
* We may never be in a situation where we have to pay a price like Paul. But are we willing to do so if that’s what it takes?
* Such commitment is needed because Satan will stop at NOTHING to keep sinners lost in sin and believers wrapped in self and apathy
4. Courageous commitment motivates others to fulfill their purpose (v. 15-16)
* Note that Paul did not verbally recruit anyone to go with him. His courageous commitment motivated others to get involved.
* We develop courageous commitment for God and God alone, but God uses it to motivate others to join his work.
* Other side is true: We can motivate others to fulfill their purpose, but we can also motivate them to stay on the sidelines.
