Being prepared for trouble -Being prepared for trouble -Acts 20:1-38Acts 20:1-38

What encourages & strengthens us?What encourages & strengthens us?1.1. Good examples to follow – v.17-27Good examples to follow – v.17-27 a. Faithful through trouble – v.18,19a. Faithful through trouble – v.18,19 b. Faithful in witness to Jesus – v.20,21b. Faithful in witness to Jesus – v.20,21 - as an evangelist – v.21- as an evangelist – v.21 - as a teacher – v.20,27- as a teacher – v.20,27 c. Faithful to the end – v.22-24; 2Tim.4:6,7c. Faithful to the end – v.22-24; 2Tim.4:6,7Cf. Joseph – Gen.45:4,5; 50:19,20Cf. Joseph – Gen.45:4,5; 50:19,20 Daniel’s friends – Dan.3:16-18Daniel’s friends – Dan.3:16-18

2. The Bible2. The Bible

The Bible shows us God’s great plan of The Bible shows us God’s great plan of salvationsalvation

a.a. We need to teach/read the We need to teach/read the WHOLEWHOLE Bible Bible

- we see what God has done- we see what God has done

- we see how we should respond- we see how we should respond

e.g. Wisdom literature – Job, Psalms, e.g. Wisdom literature – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of SongsProverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Wisdom literatureWisdom literature

Psalms – coming to God in prayer with all Psalms – coming to God in prayer with all our emotionsour emotions

Proverbs – everyday, normal livingProverbs – everyday, normal living

Job – living by faith in time of sufferingJob – living by faith in time of suffering

Ecclesiastes – living by faith when so much Ecclesiastes – living by faith when so much around seems meaninglessaround seems meaningless

Song of Songs – living by faith in a world Song of Songs – living by faith in a world obsessed by sex & yet demeaning itobsessed by sex & yet demeaning it

The BibleThe Bible

a.a. The whole Bible is vitalThe whole Bible is vital

b.b. Focus on God & his great salvation Focus on God & his great salvation

The Cross is the focus of the Bible – v.28The Cross is the focus of the Bible – v.28

- we are precious. God paid a great price- we are precious. God paid a great price

- he will supply all we need – Rom.8:32- he will supply all we need – Rom.8:32

- nothing can separate us from his love – - nothing can separate us from his love – Rom.8:35-39Rom.8:35-39

3. Being ready for trouble –v.28-353. Being ready for trouble –v.28-35

a. Guard your lives –v.28a. Guard your lives –v.28

- fill your minds with God’s word – his truth- fill your minds with God’s word – his truth

1. Avoid adding to the Gospel – Galatians,Col.1. Avoid adding to the Gospel – Galatians,Col.

2. Avoid subtracting from the Gospel – 2. Avoid subtracting from the Gospel – repentance, judgmentrepentance, judgment

- allowing God’s word to correct behaviour – - allowing God’s word to correct behaviour – 1Tim.4:16; 2Tim.3:16,171Tim.4:16; 2Tim.3:16,17

b. Guard God’s people –v.28-31b. Guard God’s people –v.28-31

c. Trust in God’s grace – 32-38c. Trust in God’s grace – 32-38

4. Be equipped to be faithful in 4. Be equipped to be faithful in trouble trouble

a. Follow good examples – Jesus, Paul etca. Follow good examples – Jesus, Paul etc

b. Study the Bible carefully so we:-b. Study the Bible carefully so we:-

a. Come to know his forgiving gracea. Come to know his forgiving grace

b. Experience daily his equipping graceb. Experience daily his equipping grace

c. Expect & be ready for trouble – c. Expect & be ready for trouble – 1Pet.4:12,13 1Pet.4:12,13