Odyssey: "A long and adventurous journey or experience."
In 2023 & 2024 we spent the summer months on the life of the Apostle Paul and covered his first two missionary journeys as presented in the book of Acts. This summer we're looking at his 3rd missionary journey.

Last week we looked at Paul's departure from the Ephesian church in Acts chapter 20. Paul met with the leaders and elders of the Ephesian church and encouraged them one last time.

Around your tables, share someone you know that when given a task, goal, or mission, they are locked in and there is no stopping them.

Hopefully through this series you've been able to see that Paul's obedience to the will of God allowed the Lord to impact the lives of so many people through Paul. Paul put God first in his life which allowed him to be shaped and molded into the influencer that he became. It seems as if Paul has become an unstoppable force for the work of the ministry.
Our text today is found in Acts 21:1-16.

1. Paul demonstrates his confidence in God's plan for his life.
Acts 21:1-9

It wasn't easy for Paul and the others to move on from those they had spent time investing in and building relationships with. But Paul knew that leaving was God's purpose and he would be able to impact the lives of many more people. The example that Paul sets here reminds us to realign our priorities and pursue a cause greater than ourselves.

Paul was following God step by step. He didn't have the full itinerary in front of him but just followed each step the Lord set before him. We should seek the Father's will in prayer. The support system we have in our Heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ can help us avoid missing out on all that God has for us.

God is faithful to bless us with people in our life that will walk beside us. Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Who are those people that you are investing time into as you encourage, support, and equip one another?

Paul's confidence in what the Lord has called him to do allows God to use him in incredible ways. There is a difference between just knowing what we need to do and being confident in the God we serve to fulfill it through us.

2. Paul demonstrates his willingness to endure hardship to achieve his calling.
Acts 21:10-16

Again we see God bring someone into Paul's life to bring clarity to what the Holy Spirit had already been revealing to him in Acts 20:23. God has been with Paul every step of the way. Whatever difficulty we face, God is right there with us. He may use a ministry leader, an elder, or a mentor to speak into our lives.

Paul understood how faithful the Lord had been and how He would continue to be as Paul followed faithfully. We should strive to make what God has asked us to do our number one priority.

Paul had witnessed many incredible things that God had done. People coming to faith, leaders raised up, and a whole Christian movement that was started. Paul was a glass half full kind of guy.

Remember, God speaks to us through His Word, through prayer, and through the people he places in our life. If you find yourself struggling in any of these areas, let the staff or elders know. We want to come alongside you and help you take that next step.

If there is anything in your life that is getting in the way of being obedient to God's will for your life, we are going to take time to pray and offer up those things to the Lord.