Acts - Unstoppable: A Church On Fire! | Week 21 | 2 November 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Patience and Intentionality in Engaging God’s Word

God’s Word is holy and deserves our patient attention, not just a hurried reading to check off a plan. When we slow down and approach Scripture with reverence, we open ourselves to truly hearing what God wants to say to us. Jesus said, “Those who have ears, let them hear,” reminding us that understanding comes to those willing to set aside time and distractions. Instead of rushing through, let your heart be open and expectant, trusting that God will speak to you personally as you linger in His presence. [03:46]

Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can slow down and create space to listen for God’s voice as you read Scripture this week?

Day 2: The Holy Spirit’s Leading May Involve Hardship

The Holy Spirit sometimes leads us into difficult situations, not to harm us, but to strengthen our faith and build our character. Just as Paul was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem despite repeated warnings of hardship, and as Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, we too may find ourselves called into challenging seasons. These moments are not signs of God’s absence, but opportunities for our faith to be refined and proven genuine, more precious than gold. Trust that God’s Spirit is with you, even when the path is hard, and that He is working for your good. [15:59]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Think of a current or recent hardship—how might God be using this to strengthen your faith or shape your character?

Day 3: Resolute Obedience to God’s Call

Both Jesus and Paul set their faces like flint toward the mission God gave them, fully aware of the suffering ahead but unwavering in their obedience. This determined posture—rooted in trust that God will not put us to shame—enables us to walk boldly into God’s purposes, even when the outcome is uncertain. When we fix our eyes on what God has called us to, we can endure trials with courage, knowing that He is our help and our vindication. [26:16]

Isaiah 50:7 (ESV)
But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God calling you to greater resolve or obedience, even if it feels daunting?

Day 4: The Foundation—Loving God with All Your Heart

At the core of every calling and mission is the foundational command to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Before we pursue any specific task or ministry, our first and greatest pursuit must be wholehearted devotion to God Himself. When we set our faces on Jesus and cultivate love for Him above all else, the Holy Spirit can guide us into the unique purposes He has for us, and our actions will flow from a place of genuine relationship. [29:29]

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Reflection: How can you intentionally express your love for God today—in your thoughts, words, or actions?

Day 5: Building with Purpose—Listening to the Holy Spirit

It is easy to drift into comfort or routine, but God calls us to build our lives and ministries with intentionality, listening for the Holy Spirit’s direction. Like Paul, we each have a unique race to run, and it is not about seeking hardship for its own sake, but about faithfully following where the Spirit leads. When we align our efforts with God’s voice, we become part of something greater than ourselves, and God can accomplish more than we could ever imagine through our obedience. [28:50]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one area of your life or ministry where you need to pause and ask the Holy Spirit for fresh direction or clarity before moving forward?

Sermon Summary

This morning, the focus is on cultivating patience and intentionality as we engage with God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s easy to fall into the trap of treating spiritual disciplines—like Bible reading plans—as mere checklists, but God invites us to slow down, listen, and truly hear what He is saying. The journey through Acts, particularly Paul’s third missionary journey, highlights a life fully surrendered to the Spirit’s guidance, even when that path leads through hardship and uncertainty.

Paul’s unwavering commitment to his calling is a powerful example. Despite repeated warnings from the Holy Spirit and fellow believers about the suffering awaiting him in Jerusalem, Paul pressed on, compelled by a higher purpose. This tension—being both warned of hardship and led into it by the Spirit—mirrors the experience of Jesus, who was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, and later, resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem, knowing the suffering that awaited Him. In both cases, the Spirit’s leading was not to avoid difficulty, but to accomplish a greater purpose through it.

Hardship, when embraced under the Spirit’s direction, becomes a refining fire. Just as gold is purified by fire, our faith is proven genuine and strengthened through trials. Paul’s life demonstrates that a posture of surrender and resilience, rather than avoidance or resignation, allows God to accomplish far more than we could imagine. His willingness to lay down his own comfort resulted in the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles and the writing of much of the New Testament.

Yet, the call is not to seek out suffering for its own sake, but to faithfully follow the Spirit’s leading in our unique race. Each believer is invited to set their face like flint toward what God has called them to, beginning with loving God wholeheartedly and loving our neighbors. Intentionality and attentiveness to the Spirit ensure that our efforts are aligned with God’s purposes, rather than simply coasting on what has been built before us. In all things, the Spirit’s guidance brings us through both good and difficult times, building us up and accomplishing God’s greater plans.

Key Takeaways

1. Patience and Attentiveness in God’s Word Rushing through Scripture or spiritual disciplines can cause us to miss the depth and holiness of what God is saying. True understanding comes when we slow down, listen, and allow the Spirit to speak, rather than treating our time with God as a task to complete. This posture of patience opens us to personal revelation and transformation. [03:46]
2. The Paradox of the Spirit’s Leading The Holy Spirit sometimes leads us into situations of hardship, not to harm us, but to refine and strengthen us. Like Paul and Jesus, we may be both warned of difficulties and compelled to face them, trusting that God’s purposes are being worked out through our obedience. The Spirit’s guidance is not always comfortable, but it is always purposeful. [12:47]
3. Hardship as a Refiner of Faith Trials are not merely obstacles to be avoided; they are opportunities for our faith to be proven genuine and for our character to be shaped. Just as gold is refined by fire, so our faith is made more precious through suffering, resulting in praise, glory, and honor to God. Embracing this process with resilience leads to spiritual maturity. [15:59]
4. Intentionality in Following the Spirit Our posture—how we approach God’s calling—determines whether we build something lasting or squander our opportunities. Intentionality, rather than passivity or resignation, ensures that our efforts are aligned with the Spirit’s direction. We are called to set our faces like flint toward what God has given us, building with purpose rather than drifting. [19:51]
5. Foundations: Loving God and Neighbor Whatever specific mission or calling the Spirit gives, it must be rooted in loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. These foundational commands anchor us and guide every other pursuit, ensuring that our lives reflect the heart of Christ and the priorities of the kingdom. [29:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:03] - Opening Thoughts and Patience in God’s Word
[05:02] - Recap of Acts and Paul’s Mission
[06:54] - Paul’s Farewell and the Whole Counsel of God
[08:15] - Paul’s Purpose in Going to Jerusalem
[09:32] - The Spirit’s Compelling and Warnings
[10:51] - Friends Urge Paul Not to Go
[12:08] - Agabus’ Prophecy and the Reality of Hardship
[13:24] - The Spirit’s Leading: Jesus and Paul
[15:19] - The Purpose of Hardship and Refinement
[17:11] - Paul’s Mindset: Finishing the Race
[18:29] - Running with Purpose and Posture
[20:29] - Jesus’ Resolute Journey to Jerusalem
[21:47] - Parallels Between Paul and Jesus
[23:07] - God’s Greater Purposes Through Hardship
[25:36] - Running Our Own Race and Listening to the Spirit
[26:16] - Setting Our Faces Like Flint
[28:11] - Building with Intentionality
[29:29] - Foundations: Loving God and Neighbor
[30:48] - Embracing Both Good and Difficult Times
[31:25] - Closing and Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 20:22-24 (ESV) — > And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

- 1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
> In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

- Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)
> Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Observation Questions

What did Paul say was compelling him to go to Jerusalem, and what did he know awaited him there? (Acts 20:22-24) [[17:11]]
According to 1 Peter 1:6-7, what is the purpose of the trials believers go through? [[15:59]]
In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, what is the foundational commandment that Jesus also emphasized? [[29:29]]
How did the sermon describe the difference between the Holy Spirit leading into hardship and Satan’s intentions in hardship? [[15:19]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul was willing to continue toward Jerusalem even after repeated warnings about suffering? What does this reveal about his understanding of God’s calling? [[10:12]]
The sermon mentioned that the Holy Spirit sometimes leads us into difficult situations, not to harm us but to refine us. How does this challenge or affirm your view of God’s guidance? [[12:47]]
What does it mean to “set your face like flint” toward what God has called you to do? How is this different from stubbornness or seeking out suffering for its own sake? [[26:16]]
The foundation of loving God and loving your neighbor was highlighted as essential. Why is it important that every specific calling or mission is rooted in these two commands? [[29:29]]

Application Questions

The sermon warned against treating Bible reading and spiritual disciplines as a checklist. When was the last time you rushed through your time with God? What is one practical way you can slow down and listen more intentionally this week? [[03:46]]
Paul faced hardship because he was following the Spirit’s leading, not because he was seeking suffering. Can you think of a time when following God led you into something difficult? How did you respond, and what did you learn from it? [[12:47]]
The idea of “setting your face like flint” was emphasized. Is there an area in your life where you need to be more resolute or intentional in following God’s direction? What would it look like to take a step forward in that area this week? [[26:16]]
The sermon said that hardship can refine our faith like gold in the fire. Is there a current trial or challenge you are facing? How might God be using it to strengthen your faith or character? [[15:59]]
The foundation of loving God and loving your neighbor was described as the starting point for all callings. Who is one neighbor (literal or figurative) you can show love to this week, and what specific action can you take? [[29:29]]
The sermon mentioned the danger of “coasting” on what has been built before us. Are there areas in your spiritual life or service where you have become passive? What is one way you can build with more intentionality? [[28:11]]
Paul’s willingness to lay down his comfort resulted in the spread of the gospel. Is there a comfort or convenience you sense God might be asking you to surrender for the sake of His purposes? What would it look like to take a first step? [[17:48]]

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Acts - Unstoppable: A Church On Fire! | Week 21 | 2 November 2025 | 08:00