✝ Daily Encouragement (1/8/24) "Compelled by the Spirit"

Published: Mon, 01/08/24

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Monday, January 8, 2024

Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge (Click for larger photo)

A view through the Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge here in Lancaster County.

(Click on photo for larger view.)

"Compelled by the Spirit"

Message summary: May we be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we walk in obedience to Christ! May our declaration be, "Where He Leads Me I Will Follow".

Note: Podcast not prepared today as we have flooring being installed in the room next to our office and there's lots of ambient noise! See below.

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:22-24).

When Brooksyne and I were in college we read a book that left a lasting impact on both of us. “For This Cross I'll Kill You” is an autobiography written by Bruce Olson, a young man who was compelled by the Holy Spirit to live among a primitive tribe in South America. Only 19 years old at the time he was captured by the Motilone Indians and faced disease, terror, loneliness and torture to evangelize this Stone Age tribe.

When we, like Olson, are compelled by the Holy Spirit, no troublesome circumstance or dissuading individual can deter us from following the divine will of God as He leads us.

Today’s verse was written as the Apostle Paul was concluding his third missionary journey. He is preaching what I believe to be one of his greatest sermons; his instructional and heartfelt farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38). This passage is a model passage for those in ministry who’ve had to bid farewell to a group of believers, as the Lord moved them on to other positions of service. The chapter concludes with a moving scene at the dock as Paul left.

Paul tells these Ephesian elders the reason for his departure to Jerusalem: He is "compelled by the Spirit". Many of you have experienced this kind of leading, although it’s difficult to explain to someone who has not, particularly a non-believer. Being compelled means being driven beyond our personal preference to resist the leading prompted by the Holy Spirit as He directs our lives. “If we can bring ourselves to that place of ultimate surrender, then we will be compelled and propelled by the Spirit into our destiny and into God’s divine will for our life.” (Mark E. Hardgrove)

This leading does not always make sense. Paul acknowledged that he did not know what would happen to him. He had been warned in every city by the Holy Spirit that he was to face prison and hardships. Later in his journey the disciples at Tyre through the Spirit urged him not to go (Acts 21:4) and still later a prophet at Caesarea named Agabus with great drama accurately prophesied Paul’s experience and again pleaded with Paul not to go (Acts 21:9-11). Interestingly the text reads, “We and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:12). Apparently even Luke, the writer of Acts, who was traveling with Paul, joined in the pleading!

But the Spirit compelled Paul and out of obedience he followed the leading of the Spirit. As had been prophesied he indeed faced prison and hardships as the remaining chapters of Acts record. Not only did he use each opportunity to witness for the Lord, but most of the New Testament epistles were written after this point. His greatest legacy is in his writings that are read as part of the Holy Scriptures by hundreds of millions throughout the church age. Paul summarized his response to the compelling work of the Holy Spirit: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

How is the Spirit compelling you today? Are you open to following God’s will for your life and stepping out of your comfort zone at His leading? The apostle Paul provides a positive example of a life lived well. In his final epistle to Timothy he is able to write, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Today may we be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we walk in obedience to Christ!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we pray for listening ears to hear the voice of Your Spirit. Help us to follow Your leading and align our heart's desires with Your will for our lives, for that is where true peace and contentment is found. Turn our hearts away from those things that lead away from pursuing Your purpose for our lives. We desire to be in the center of Your will. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Where He Leads Me I Will Follow/I'll Say Yes" Watch on YouTube The Brooklyn Tabernacle

"‘Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" Watch on YouTube Reawaken Hymns

After our church service yesterday we joined our friends Jim and Dorothy Schmidt for dinner at Calvary Homes. We met up with a long retired pastor who will soon turn 103 years old! Pastor Creighton served as pastor for many years of the church we attend and stays active in God's service. At a men's breakfast on Saturday a friend my age told me about the impact of Pastor Creighton's messages when he started to attend church in his twenties and came to know Christ. I was in turn able to share that story with Pastor Creighton yesterday to encourage him. I wonder if we ever stop needing encouraged?

Our home addition project is nearing completion. Today a father and son team, Ted and Joey, are installing the flooring. We know Ted since his wife works at JK Mechanical where we serve as chaplains. Joey is a college student at Grove City College but helping his dad during break. That's a wholesome looking father and son team! At the time we post this message they have the flooring laid in about 1/2 the room.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

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