Would you turn back to Acts chapter
21? I have entitled the message ready
to die for his name. Look what Paul said in verse
13. in response to those people who begged him not to go to Jerusalem
after Agabus said, when you go to Jerusalem, you'll be imprisoned.
He said that by way of prophecy, a gift in the early church. And
instead of submitting to it, they begged him not to go. And
I understand that, I would have done the same, you would have
done the same. And here's Paul's response. Verse 13, then Paul
answered, what mean ye to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound
only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. There are two ways to look at
this verse. First, and this is true, what
love Paul had for the Lord Jesus and his name. He was ready to be imprisoned
and to die. for the name of Christ. What
love, what courage, what zeal, what commitment, ready to die
for his name. Now, while I said that, probably
you were thinking, I'm not anywhere close to Paul. I'd like to have
his love, his zeal, his commitment, but how little I am in comparison
to him. How short I fall when compared
to Paul. Now, that's one way to look at
that. And I would not in any way bring down what Paul is. We ought to feel that way about
him. Here's another way to look at
this, and I believe this is the more correct way. I believe this
to be the way that you and I should look at this verse. I'm not taking
away our admiration for Paul, but here's the way we should
look at this verse. What glory is in the name of Jesus Christ
that would cause and necessitate such devotion. The first way emphasizes Paul's
devotion, doesn't it? And I admire Paul's devotion.
I wouldn't in any way speak against that. I admire Paul's devotion.
But the second way speaks of the excellency and the glory
of the name that will produce such devotion. The name of the Lord Jesus. He said he was willing not only
to go to prison, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus. Now, would to God that I could
speak concerning his name. The name of the Lord Jesus is
not simply something you can audibly articulate. The name
of the Lord Jesus is the person behind the name. Listen to this description of
this one. In him, in the Lord Jesus Christ,
dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead in a human body. All the fullness of holiness,
all the fullness of sovereignty, all the fullness of omnipotence,
all the fullness of wisdom, all the fullness of independence,
all the fullness of immutability, all the fullness of God dwells
in the person. of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every
attribute in its fullness dwells in his person. Listen to this
scripture, Isaiah chapter nine, verse six. Remember, we're speaking
of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor. Now, stop just a moment. This is not what we consider
a counselor, to get advice. He's not someone who gives advice,
although any advice he gave would be perfect, we know that. but
he said, I will do all my counsel. So when we speak of him being
the wonderful counselor, we're not talking about someone who
gives good advice. We're talking about him who decrees
all things. His name should be called wonderful
counselor, the mighty God, God almighty, the everlasting father,
So much so that the Lord Jesus Christ said, he that hath seen
me hath seen the Father, the Prince of Peace. Paul says that at the name of
Jesus, every knee is gonna bow. Isn't that wonderful to think
about that? You know, there's so many people
that don't know who he is, don't care anything about him. Just
fine with life without it. But one of these days, every
knee is gonna bow to this name. And every tongue is gonna confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Let me read you this description
of him from Hebrews chapter one. He is called the Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things. Everything belongs to him. You
know what that means? Nothing belongs to me or you.
It all belongs to him. He's the heir of all things,
by whom also he made the world. He's the creator, who being the
brightness of his glory and the express image of his person. He's not like God. He is God. All that God is, is who he is. The son would never, or the father
would never say of the son, he's like me. No, that would be derogatory
to his person. He's the one who upholds all
things by the word of his power. That last breath you took happened
according to his will. When he had by himself purged
our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on
high. His name, Revelation 19, his
name is the word of God. When God speaks, This is the
word he speaks. He's called in that same chapter,
the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. This is a favorite
scripture, probably to every believer in here. One of your
favorites, thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save
his people from their sins. What a name. In that same passage, they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with
us. Not God afar off, not God against
us, God with us. In Acts chapter four, verse 12,
Peter said, there's none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved. Now that name causes a must salvation
for everybody he represents. I love this verse of scripture.
I don't preach on it enough. Don't quote it enough, but listen
to this. First John 2 12, it says, your
sins are forgiven for his namesake. Not because you asked, not because
you were sorry, not because of anything you've done. Your sins
are forgiven for his name's sake. Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
you. Nevertheless, he saved them for
his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power known. John 1 12 says, but as many as
received him, as many as received him. Somebody says, well, what does
it mean to receive him? Well, here's what it means. To as many
as received them, to them gave he the power to become the sons
of God, even to them which believe on his name. 1 John 3, 23 says, and this is
his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son. Acts 1043, through his name,
whosoever believeth on him shall receive the remission of sins. John 20, 31, that believing you
might have life through his name. And you see the importance of
his name. Romans 10, 13 says, whosoever shall what? Shall call
upon the name of the Lord. Now that, I've said this many
times, that doesn't mean just verbally articulate his name.
You're calling on every attribute that he has to save you. I'm
asking him to save me by his mercy, by his power, by his wisdom,
by his grace, every attribute, by his independence, by his sovereignty.
Lord, will my salvation. That's what it is to call on
his name. We're asking all who, all he is to have mercy on us. In Luke chapter 24, verse 47,
the Lord gave his marching orders to his church that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name. Acts 5.41, they rejoiced that
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Now think about that. They were
thanking the Lord that he gave them grace to be counted worthy
to suffer shame for his name. What a name, the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 15.26, we read of men
that hazarded their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus. Now
I love this, when the Lord appeared to Ananias to tell him to bring
the gospel to Paul in his blindness, he said this, he's a chosen vessel to me, to
bear my name among the Gentiles. That's what the preaching of
the gospel is, to bear my name. among the Gentiles, for I will
show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
And he's going to count it a privilege and a gift of grace to do so. I hope that gives us some idea
of what should be emphasized when Paul said, for I am ready
in Acts 21, 13, that I am ready not to be bound only, but also
to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such
is the excellency and the glory of his name, that if I would
be thrown into prison and die for his name, it would be no
sacrifice. You see, the emphasis is not
on Paul's courage. The emphasis is on the excellency
and the glory of the name of Jesus Christ. Now let's look
what took place. Now this is the end of Paul's
third missionary journey. And this is before he is arrested
in Jerusalem and sent to Rome to be tried. But here at the
end, verse chapter 21, it came to pass that after we were gotten
from them and had launched, we came with straight course unto
Koas, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto
Pterah. This is while they're on the
way to Jerusalem. They know that. Look what he said in verse 20
of chapter, or verse 22 of chapter 20. And now behold, I go bound
in the spirit unto Jerusalem. not knowing the things that shall
befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me." Now he's on his way
to Jerusalem. Verse two, and finding a ship
sailing over into Phoenicia, we went aboard and set forth.
Now, when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand and
sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was
done later burden and finding disciples, we tarried there seven
days. You reckon those disciples enjoyed
that seven day period with the Apostle Paul? I think there's
something very special about that. Verse five, we departed and when
we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way
and they all brought us on our way with wives and children till
we were out of the city And we kneeled down on the shore and
prayed. And when we'd taken our leave one of another, we took
ship and they returned home again. And when we'd finished our course
from Tyre, we came to Ptolemus and saluted the brethren and
abode with them one day." Well, that was great to have him for
one day, wasn't it? The other people had him seven
days. They have him one day. I'm sure they're very thankful.
Verse eight, and the next day, We that were of Paul's company
departed and came again into Caesarea. And we entered into
the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven and
abode with him." Now you'll remember in Acts chapter six, there were
seven deacons chosen. Philip was one of them. And this
is the same Philip we read of in Acts chapter eight, that preached
the gospel in Gaza, that preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch,
and he's called Philip the Evangelist. And verse nine says, the same
had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Now this
has been used to show that women preach the gospel in the New
Testament. These women did, these four virgins, they were preachers
of the gospel. Now, would the Bible in the New
Testament say a woman is forbidden to preach and then say that these
women preached the gospel. The Bible would not contradict
itself in that, but in the context of this passage of scripture,
we find out what was meant by prophesying. It's talking about
telling the future. And these four daughters of Philip
did have the ability to tell the future. It's one of the gifts
of the early church, prophecy. It's not talking about preaching,
it's talking about the ability to foretell the future, just
like you could speak in tongues, In other languages, just like
you could heal people, just like they could raise the dead. And
these four daughters of Philip had the gift of prophecy. And
we see in the next verse, just what that means. Look in verse
10. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea
a certain prophet named Agabus. Now look back in chapter 11 of
Acts. Here's where he first comes up. Verse 27, Acts chapter 11. And in these days came prophets
from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them
named Agabus. And he signified by the spirit
that there should be a great Darth throughout all the world,
which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Now, what
did this prophet do? He told about something that
was going to take place in the future. Now, that's what's going
on here. This is the same man that had
this gift of prophecy, and this was the same gift that these
four daughters of Philip had. You know, there were women who
had these gifts, just like men, and these women had this gift
to prophesy. But here's what it was, this
Agabus, verse 11. And when he was coming to us,
he took Paul's girdle, bound his own hands, that's his belt,
and bound his own hands and feet and said, thus saith the Holy
Ghost. So shall the Jews of Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this
girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
When you get to Jerusalem, they're going to tie you up and they're
going to deliver you into the hands of the Roman government. You're going to be in trouble.
Now, What's the obvious response?
Verse 12, and when we heard these things, both we and they at that
place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Why go up there
if you're gonna get put in prison? What good's that gonna do us?
I can understand them doing that. You say, well, they should have
submitted to the prophet's prophecy. Well, I reckon they should have,
but they didn't. They said, we don't want you going to be bound
and sent to prison. Verse 13, then Paul answered,
what mean ye to weep? He was watching them weep over
what was going to take place and to break my heart. This is
just killing me the way you're all acting. For I am ready. I am ready. We're going to look
some at that thought. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready not to be bound only,
but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. That name we spent the first
part of this message, considering the greatness, the excellency,
the majesty of his name. Now remember this believer, if
your sins are forgiven, there's one reason they're forgiven,
for his namesake. Doesn't that make his name precious
to you? The name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 14, and when he would not be persuaded, we cease to saying
the will of the Lord be done. Now we know the will of the Lord
will be done. Don't we? We know it will, but
I would rather not just have a resignation. Well, you know,
the will of the Lord is gonna be done, but rejoice that the
will of the Lord is gonna be done. In everything give thanks
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Now, back to verse 13, I want
us to look at this statement, I am ready. Turn back or turn forward to
Romans chapter one. Paul says in verse 14, I am a
debtor. If You were given the ability to find the cure
for COVID and your cure had no side effects and it could heal
easily everybody who had it. Would you be indebted to let
everybody know about it? Sure you would. Sure you would. And it would be a great crime
for you not to, wouldn't it? If you had this cure for this
pandemic that's caused such havoc and decided, I'm not gonna let
anybody know about it, why, that would be criminal. Now, Paul
has something that's of infinitely more value than a cure for COVID. The gospel. The gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ, how God can save somebody like me or you. Now, Paul says, I'm a debtor. I'm a debtor to everybody. I
wish, I pray that God would give me and you that attitude constantly. I'm a debtor. I'm a debtor. to the Jews and to the Greeks,
I'm a debtor. I'm a debtor both to the Greeks
and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise. So as much as in me is, I am
ready to preach the gospel to you there at Rome also. And he goes on to say about this
gospel in the next verse, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, for it, the gospel, that I'm ready to bring is the power
of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. And I am ready
to preach the gospel. Turn to 2 Timothy chapter four.
We're gonna end up here. This is the last letter Paul
wrote. And he knew when he was writing
this letter, he would shortly die. You know, with regard to
knowing the future, I would want to know the future, would you?
You know, if I knew what was going to happen to me tomorrow
and you can say, I can tell you what's going to happen to you
tomorrow, I'd rather you keep it to yourself. I just do not know. Because if
it was something that I would consider bad, I'd be stressing
so much and I would just say it would just, it wouldn't do
me good. What a blessing it is to not know. But Paul knew. Look what he says in verse six.
For I am now ready to be offered. poured out as a drink offering.
He knew he would soon die as a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ. And he says, I'm ready to be
offered. And I love what he calls his
death, a departure. That's what death is for a believer.
It's a departure. I'm going somewhere a whole lot
better here. I'm departing for Emmanuel's land, where I'm going
to see the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm not going to be a sinner
anymore. I'm not going to deal with myself anymore. I'm going
to be in his presence. And what a departure that is. Don't you love the way he calls
the death of the believer a departure? Oh, when's departure time? I
don't want to know, but I'm glad it's coming. I don't want to
know particularly, I don't want to know how it's coming. I don't
want to know what kind of physical suffering I'm going to do or
what kind of sorrow. I don't want to know any of that stuff.
But I know my departure is coming at his time. And he says, I am
ready for my death. I'm ready to be poured out like
a drink offering. I'm ready to be offered. Now here's my question. What would make a man ready for
that? All of us. I think of what Peter said in
1 Peter 3, verse 15, always be ready. Always be ready, that's
the word. to give an answer to every man
that asks you a reason for the hope that's in you. Now, what
made Paul ready to die? Now, I want to have this same
attitude Paul has, don't you? I want to be ready to die. Ready. You know, it's, and the, I know
this, the older you get, the more attractive it gets. I mean,
when you're a young person, you have kids, You wanna die, but
you don't wanna die too, because you wanna raise your kids. Nobody's
gonna raise them as well as you can. And I can understand that. The older you get though, the
more you feel ready or desirous. But Paul said, I'm ready. Now, what is it that made you
ready, Paul? Let's go on reading. He said in verse seven, I fought
a good fight. I've finished my course. I've kept the faith. Now, Paul's readiness is the
readiness that every other believer has. We're going to get to this
three-fold description of fighting the good fight, finishing our
course, and keeping the faith. But first of all, if God's for
me, I'm ready. If God be for us, who can be
against us? If God really is for me, I'm ready. I'm good to go. Paul said next in that passage
I just quoted in Romans chapter eight, he that spared not his
own son, but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not
with him also freely, freely give us all things? Now, if everything
I need, he freely gives me, and there's nothing that can prevent
him from doing it, I'm ready. I'm ready. Paul went on to say, who is he
that condemneth? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Listen, if there's nothing to
be laid to my charge, if I have no sin to give an account for,
if I stand before God justified, I'm ready. It's God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It's
Christ that died. If Christ died for me, I'm as
ready as I can be. I don't need anything else. Paul's readiness is the same
readiness of every believer in this room. Now he named three things in
verse seven, facing his departure that he was ready for. I have
fought a good fight. Now, do you look over your life
and think, I fought a good fight? No, Paul didn't look at it in
that sense. He wasn't thinking, oh, I've
been a apostle. The Lord has used me. What was
this good fight he fought? He finished his course. Now what is the evidence that
your faith is real? That you persevere and finish
looking to Christ only. Now that's the good fight. The
good fight, and this is a fight that every single believer fights
and fights a good fight because they continue in the faith. When
he said I fought a good fight, he didn't talk about how excellent
his preaching was or how faithful he was or how much he'd grow. I finished my course. I've continued,
and right now, I am looking to Christ, really,
as my only ground to salvation. I don't look anywhere else. And
I am to continue in that all the way to the end. I fought
a good fight. I finished my course. What happens
when you finish your course? I've kept the faith. I've kept
the faith. I have continued all the way
to the end by the grace of God to look to Christ only. I've fought a good fight. I finished
my course. I've kept the faith. That's why
I'm now ready to be offered. And the time of my departure
is at hand. And now look what he says in
verse eight. Henceforth, because I've fought a good fight, because
I finished my course, because I've kept the faith, which means
I've been enabled to believe the gospel all the way to the
end. And if you're a believer, you're enabled to believe the
gospel all the way to the end. Now, henceforth, there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous
judge shall give me at that day. Now Paul says, I'm going to be
given a crown of righteousness. And you and I both know that
that's a reference to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That's the only
righteousness there is. And Paul says, there's going
to be given to me this crown of righteousness at that day. But look what he
says next, not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing. Now I can say this, I love his appearing. I love his appearing as my surety
before time began. when he said to his father, whatever
you require of him, look to me for. I love his appearing. I love his appearing when he
appeared on this earth. And oh, I wish I could talk about
the first 30 years of his life. There's such little information
given. Just that time when he was a 12-year-old boy, when he
said, I must be about my father's business. But I know this. For
30 years, he was about his father's business perfectly. I love to
think of his life. And I love to think of his appearing
after his Life of obscurity is baptism and the Father saying,
this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. I love to think
of His appearing in His public ministry. Oh, the miracles that
He did that lets us know that He's God. He did what only God
could do. I love His appearing on the cross
when He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. I love to think of his appearing
when he was raised from the dead. And I love to think, can you
imagine how heaven had gone through for eternity with him there? And then for this period, he's
gone. The angels had been used to beholding
his face and he's gone. How do you reckon they feel when
he appears back into glory? What an appearing. I love to
think of his appearing right now as my great high priest representing
me. And the scripture says, we know
that when he shall appear, that second appearing when he comes
back, we know that when he shall appear, we'll be like him. For we shall see him as he is. Now, Paul was ready to be bound and to die for the
name of the Lord Jesus. He was ready to preach the gospel. He was ready to be offered up.
And his readiness is the same readiness you and I have. It's not talking about some kind
of special reward. And what glory is in the name
of Jesus Christ that would make him say, I'm ready not only to
be bound, but to die for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, a name that is so glorious, so
altogether lovely, that it would make us, as you give us grace,
willing not only to be bound, but to die for that name, and
not counted a sacrifice, but a gift of grace. How we thank
you for his name. Lord, enable each person here
by your grace to believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We're so thankful for his name.
In his name we pray, amen. True, or not true.