Dont Fear Hardship

Good afternoon!

Today’s service is from Beacon Baptist Church and the message is from Acts 20: 20-38

I was taking a walk around with Dave after church and stumbled over a rock and thought, this is a perfect metaphor for today’s message.

Pastor Blalock was outlining the three kinds of people in the world; sheep, wolves, and shepherds.

So I thought as I stumbled over a rock on our walk, the rocks are like wolves. They obstruct our path and try to distract us from our purpose.

A stray dog who may follow you as you’re walking is like the foolish sheep, not knowing where he belongs.

Finally, my husband, walking beside me, holding my hand is like the shepherd. He keeps me safe and protects me from falling. His hand reminds me that I am his and he is mine. He may get nervous when I stumble, but he doesn’t let go.

(He walks with me to make sure I don’t fall on my face and when he’s not there, I miss his touch, but I have a crutch, a cane I can use. Now I have a new back brace that he suggested and it’s really helping.)

Pastor Blalock compared Elders to shepherds, they watch over the flock, which is God’s people -sheep. They need food and guidance.

The wolves care nothing for the sheep. They are evil men, twisting Scripture and trying to get us to “save ourselves.” we need to stay vigilant and keep a watch out for them. Scare them off. Turn away from them.

Paul had uncertainty about his future.

20:22 -”And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”

He didn’t worry about it though. He didn’t quit. He knew sheep were messy and wolves were bloody, but he persevered to the end because that’s what God wants us to do. Believers are to die to themselves, and that’s just what Paul did.

He had to do something else too. He had a history. He did very bad things when he was Saul. But he had to let that go, fall away. We are all sinners, but Jesus died for us to take away our sins! So Paul didn’t let his past get in the way of his mission, which was to testify to the grace of God everywhere he went.

Our race is over before we know it, but it’s worth all the costs. Glory awaits! So we need to be faithful no matter the cost.

Enjoy the journey, don’t take your failures to the grave. Forget them. God already has! That is grace, people.

Don’t lose confidence in Jesus. Don’t let the wolves deter you. Jesus wants us to have our joy in eternity.

Thanks for being here! I appreciate you and your comments.

Have a blessed seed and comfortable Sunday.