A Committed Heart (Part One)

We have been considering the sermon that Paul delivered to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, so that we can learn together what it means to have a heart for ministry. Today, Paul will add another piece to that puzzle.

He has already told us that a heart for ministry will be consistent in word and deed, and will be concerned for the lives of people—that they be reconciled to God. Now, once again, Paul opens his heart to us. He is a man deeply driven by a love for Christ and a love for the church that should be the norm, yet almost seems fanatical to those of us who live for the status quo. Paul’s love drives him to an intense level of commitment. The difference between a token donation and a self sacrificial commitment is in view this week, as Paul builds on the principles of consistency and concern to also tell us that a heart for ministry is “a committed heart.” We begin in v.22…

Committed to Duty

“Now, I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem…” (v.22a)

The purpose of the trip was to deliver the offerings he has collected among the gentile churches to help relieve the poverty stricken church in Jerusalem. Now, he is on the final leg of that journey, and he says he is “bound.” The word “bind” has several uses—

• Confinement- in chains, bonds, fetters (Matt. 13:30- bind the tares and the wheat; Matt.14:3- bound John the Baptist; Matt. 21:2- unbind the colt)
• Strong obligation- Rom. 7:2, the bonds of marriage
• Strong compulsion- here

As Paul described his present situation, he parallels his path to his performance of ministry—he is bound, even compelled! Notice…

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16)

Paul sees his direction as a matter of commitment and duty. To Paul, there is little concern for the options life may offer, he is committed to duty as one bought with blood who is no longer his own! He understood 1 Cor. 6:19-20…

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)

The question that remains is what binds him—his human spirit, or the Holy Spirit?

• Human Spirit- constrained by an invincible sense of duty;
• Holy Spirit- constrained by a sense of divine duty! Paul knew the Spirit’s leading in his life (cp. Lk 2:27; Matt.4:1; Acts 8:29, 10:19, 11:2, 16:6-7 especially)

Here, however, it seems it is in contrast to Acts 16, where the leading of the Spirit prohibited him from preaching in Asia, driving him to Macedonia. Here, there are no roadblocks—just the understanding of what awaits him when he gets to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit is leading him! As the Spirit leads, Paul give a model response! He doesn’t grieve (Eph. 4:30) or quench (1 Thess 5:19) the Spirit—but submits and obeys, though it puts him in great personal danger.

Why does he submit? The gifts must get to Jerusalem, because they are a tangible expression of the faith of the Gentiles and their love for the saints! Paul desires the unity of the church and sees that, perhaps, this gift can be a healing balm of love. Therefore, sensing the urgency and the compulsion of the Spirit, he goes.

KEY: In spite of uncertainty, danger, or trials that await—we must go where the Word and the Spirit direct us. If we have committed hearts, we will be committed to our duty, and it is in that commitment Paul goes. At some point, duty must override self-preservation, and obedience must be the trademark of our commitment.

This calls for another kind of commitment, which we will examine tomorrow.