Unsecured Security
Text: Acts 21:26-36
Theme: Paul was both unsecured and secure as he went forward in God’s plan for him.
Key verses: “So Paul went to the Temple the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them. The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, ‘Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws…(For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him in the Temple.) The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple…” (v. 26-30a). “…When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. And the crowd followed behind, shouting, ‘Kill him, kill him!” (v. 32b-36).
What I believe God said to me: “Unsecured” means not protected and not free from danger or risk of loss. Security, on the other hand, has been described as a feeling of unshakable trust in predictable outcomes. Secure people know what to expect from life. They feel protected and can depend on others. Dwayne, sometimes I lead my people into clearly unsecured environments and situations. Paul knew what he was potentially exposing himself to when he went unprotected into that Temple. Notice he “publicly announced” when the men’s vows would be complete. Interesting how he probably didn’t even know these men. He had no ties or obligations to them, nor them to him. Why would he put himself in harm’s way for people he had no attachment to? And why be so vocal about his presence in the Temple? For that matter, why did he walk around town with a Gentile guy? Wasn’t that just making him look more suspect? Clearly he wasn’t trying to avoid being noticed. He had no fear for his life and was taking no precautions to prevent harm to himself. Some might see this behavior as reckless and irresponsible. After all, he was a great man of God, a leader among Christians and churches, and he carried great insights and knowledge. Wouldn’t it have been prudent to try to protect such a one from possible harm and demise? He certainly knew he could be harassed, even beaten and arrested. My Spirit had made that possibility abundantly clear to Paul in recent days in several places where he’d been. Here’s the bottom line: Paul did not count his life as valuable to himself. That’s what he told those Ephesian leaders in Miletus. He said, “I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:22-23a). Paul wasn’t acting careless or irresponsibly in Jerusalem. He simply knew I was with him. I was all the security he needed. He had no security or protection of his own. His complete reliance was on me. Paul saw himself as “in Christ.” He was literally in me; his life was hidden in mine. He knew that nothing could happen to him unless I allowed it. And since he had no regard for his own life or well-being, he simply trusted my will to be done, no matter what that might be or mean to him personally. Are you there, Dwayne? Are you that dependent on me, that secure in me? Are you that surrendered to do my will above your own? Notice the important progression in the past few chapters of Acts: 1) Paul made it clear he was determined to finish the mission he’d received from me. 2) The Holy Spirit told Paul to go to Jerusalem. The Spirit also told him he would suffer and be put in jail in “city after city” along his journey. 3) Paul said he didn’t know what might happen to him in Jerusalem, indicating I hadn’t revealed every detail to Paul. There were several unknowns that Paul had to contend with. Such unknowns could instill great fear in most people, but not Paul. 4) Godly and well-meaning people tried to talk Paul out of going. Yet, he wouldn’t be deterred. 5) Despite what he knew or didn’t know, Paul still walked directly toward danger and possible death. 6) And sure enough, what he thought might happen did happen: He was dragged out of the temple, beaten and arrested. Here’s the kicker, Dwayne: Everything Paul did, everything he went through, served only to bring more glory to me. That was Paul’s goal all along. That was his deepest desire. You see, Paul was dead to himself and alive to me. He’d been that way a long time. Paul had truly taken up his cross, denied himself, and followed me with his whole heart. I expect nothing less from you.
What I said to God: Thank You, my Lord and Savior, El Elyon, Adonai, my Lord and Master. You are the only One worth living and dying for. My life is hidden in Christ who is hidden in God the Father. You are the Vine; I am the branch. I’ve been grafted into You, so that my nourishment, strength, joy, wisdom, help and provisions all come from You and You alone. Please help me die again today to myself, denying myself and taking up my cross to follow You. You’re worthy of it all. May You be glorified through all I do and say today. As we consider whether to go to some risky countries next year to do ministry, please guide us. I don’t want us to act foolishly. If we do go, we want to do our homework and be prudent to obey the local laws and be on our guard as much as possible. Yet, at the same time, I know we must abandon concern for our own will and well-being. We must focus on how to best minister to and help those You love in those dangerous places. Please grant us direction, wisdom and courage.