Dying to Self

Text: Acts 21:17-36

Paul Reported to the Church Elders

Paul shares what God has done among the Gentiles

Paul receives the counsel of the elders regarding the

local negative opinions

Paul submits to the authority and counsel of the elders

The Undermining Influences of Zealots

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NEGATIVITY?

Faulty Focus

Woundedness / Unforgiveness

Fear

Jealousy

The true source of negativity is an

unwillingness to die to self.

Negativity is twice as likely to be shared.

Paying the Price of Peace

The price of peace with other Christians:

Humility

Paul surrendered his ego and reputation

Sacrifice

Paul gave generously of his own resources

Submission

Paul yielded to the counsel of the church elders

Paying the Price of Obedience

The price of obedience in an opposing world:

You may be identified as an enemy and rejected

You may be falsely accused and slandered

You may find yourself a victim of growing hatred

You may be persecuted, arrested, beaten, and killed

Footnotes:

John 15:18 [ Disciples’ Relation to the World ] “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

John 17:14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

The Characters of this Account

Apostle Paul: Dead to self and living for the gospel

The Zealots: Passionate about the wrong priorities

The Elders: Church leaders that are seeking peace

The World: Self-justified in opposing the gospel

With whom do you identify?

The true cost

of following Christ

is that we must first

come to the end

of our self

Footnotes:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you (Colossians 3:5)

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful

desires. (Eph 4:22)

If you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)