Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world so that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church, located in Kernersville, North Carolina. It is certainly a joy to be here tonight at Kirwana Baptist Church. I just want to thank Pastor for the opportunity that he's given me to stand here and preach God's word tonight.
And I know that Courtney and I are usually not here very often on Sunday mornings. And you know, I just want to praise God that he is using me the way that he is, and I'm thankful for a godly wife. And a son that he has blessed me with to minister with alongside me. And I'm so thankful for the goodness of God. And I just want to praise him for that tonight.
And if you would take your Bibles and turn to Acts chapter number 20. Acts chapter number 20. I want to share with you tonight. a verse that is very special to me and my wife. And that's Acts 20 verse 24.
And I want to speak on this thought: unshakable. In Acts 20, verses 22 through 24. If you would, in honor of God's word, let's stand tonight if you're able. as we honor and read his word. In Acts chapter 20, In verse number 22, I'll read three verses tonight.
And at the end of the message, you'll have to realize why this verse is so special.
So you have to endure my preaching for just a little while. That's okay. But Acts chapter 20. In verse number 22, the Bible says there, and this is Paul speaking here. He says, and now behold, I go bound.
in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there. Say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide in me. But here's the verse, verse 24. I love this verse. One of my favorite verses in the Bible.
But none of these things move me. Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy. and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Paul said, but none of these things move. me.
Let's pray tonight and ask God to bless His Word. Our Father, we thank you, Lord. just for the privilege and the opportunity it is to be in your house, Lord, to worship you. And God, I thank you for every song that's been sung tonight, Lord. And Father, I thank you for this time that we get to open your word, Lord.
But Father, I pray right now that you would use me in spite of who I am. God, empty me of self and fill me with your Spirit, Lord. I pray. Lord, speak through me what you want said tonight. It's not about me.
It's not about no singer. It's not about anyone in this room. It's all about Jesus, Lord. And I pray that he would be honored and glorified. Father, do as you see fit, and may your will be done.
We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated tonight. Thank you for standing. I believe we would all agree that we are living in a very uncertain, in a very unstable, and changing society.
Everything around us since COVID has changed, so to speak. We see that man changes, human leaders change, governments change, and we are living in a very uncertain world. And there may be some things in your life that have become shakable, or they've become uncertain. You don't know what tomorrow holds. You don't know what the future holds.
Your marriage may be shaken. Your family life may be shaken. But I'm glad in this uncertain world there is one thing we can be sure of, and that is that we serve an unchanging God tonight. The Bible says in Malachi chapter 3 and verse number 6, God says, For I am the Lord, and I change not. Therefore, ye sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Aren't you glad tonight that we serve a God who never changes? You know, we may change. People may change. People may walk out on us, but I'm thankful that we can live an unshakable Christian life because we serve a God who is unchanging. And it says in Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8, it says this, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Listen, this world may be uncertain. This world may be unreliable. And yes, it is very uncertain. It is very unreliable. We serve a God who is still the unchanging God.
And he wants us to be unshakable in this uncertain world tonight. You know, Paul was meeting here with the leaders at Ephesus, at the church at Ephesus, and he was giving them his farewell address. He was fixing to go to Jerusalem, and he wanted to give them some farewell words. And he speaks and pours out his heart. To these people here in the city of Ephesus with the leaders that he's meeting with.
And in verse 24, notice it says, but none of these things move me. All these things that I face and all these things that I'm going to face in the future, I don't know what the future holds, but none of it moves me. Notice that word move there in that verse. That word move there, it means to make one to do something. It means to cause or to bring about a change.
I want to ask us tonight, you know, Paul said, none of these things move me. I want to ask us tonight, what has moved you? What's shaking you up? What's got you fearful? What's got you so scared?
What have you allowed to move you in your Christian life? Boy, God wants us to be unshakable. He wants us to be unmovable tonight. In essence, Paul was saying, I consider all these things that I have faced as nothing, I value them as straw. But what do we allow tonight to shake us up?
I thought about a few things by way of introduction, sometimes trials. Shake yourself. Look back in verse number 22. Look at what the Bible says there in verse 22. Paul says at the end of that verse.
He says, not knowing the things. that shall fall me there, not knowing the things that shall befall me There. Paul had no idea of all the trials. and things that he would face. He'd already come through many trials.
He had been beaten, stoned. Eventually, as you read through the book of Acts, he would have faced shipwreck. He was going to face a huge storm. Paul did not even know that was going to happen. But he would soon find out.
Over in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and verses 24 through 27, we see everything that Paul went through. He says, Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes, save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods. Once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day have I been in the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, all these different apparels, and then in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, and in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Every single one of these things could have moved Paul. It could have shaken him up, but not one of these trials moved him. He said, none of these things moved me. And I thank God tonight He does not show us the trials that we will face all at one time, but instead we can follow on and walk by faith, knowing that He will be with us in the midst of that trial. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 7 that we walk by faith and not by sight.
Through whatever difficulties or trials that we endure, we are never alone. We're never forsaken tonight. And Paul was committed to not be moved. He was comforted by the knowledge that God would always be with him tonight. And Kerwin, may I encourage you tonight, whatever is shaking you up, whatever trial has come your way, know for a fact tonight that you can stay committed in the midst of that trial and be unshakable.
Trials sometimes will move us. Yes, they will. But also I thought of this. Testing sometimes moves us. Look at verse 23.
Paul said here that bonds and afflictions abide me. Bonds and afflictions. They abide me. both imprisonments and trials. Away the pole.
And we also experience testing so often. in our Christian lives. I thought about some and I wrote them down. They'll be on the screen for you, but I think about the test of loneliness. There could be someone in here tonight.
You've lost a spouse. You've lost someone close to you. And you feel lonely. You've lost a close friend. You feel like you're all alone in your situation.
But then I thought about this, the test of insecurity. That's one of the main problems that a lot of Christians face, is feeling insecure, feeling incapable of doing what God has called them to do. And they allow their insecurity to move them and to stop them from moving forward for God. I thought about this one, the test of even sickness and death. There are some people in here that's face some serious sicknesses, some serious trials.
There's people that's facing a loss of a loved one.
Sometimes that will cause us to move and become shaken. I thought about the test of marriage tonight. The boy has said in our day that the marriages that are crumbling and falling apart. Even in churches.
Sometimes marriage can shake us up. Or the test of opposition, the test of the enemy. The devil, the world, and even our flesh opposes us and does not want us to move forward. For God. The test of finances, the test of doubt and discouragement.
I could go on and on tonight, but I think you get the point. And we can get to the point in our lives where we allow these tests to move us or shake us in our witness for the Lord, in our commitment to Him. But Paul had staked it out, he had become settled with the truth that he was determined that he would not be moved. Paul was unshakable. He was unmoved.
He was undeniably committed.
Now how? How was he unshakable? First of all, we see in verse number 22 that Paul was bound. In the Spirit. Notice that in verse 22.
It says that Paul was bound in the Spirit. He says, Now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem. Notice this reference here is in combination of both a strong leading of the Holy Spirit and a strong desire of Paul's own spirit. The Holy Spirit was motivating his spirit to keep moving forward, to not be moved. Notice that word there, bound in that verse.
That word translated in the Greek is in the passive voice, which indicates that Paul did not bind himself, but another was performing the action upon him, which would be the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit was abounding in his life, saying, keep going, keep moving forward. You know why so many are shaken today? It's because we're not spirit-led. We're not spirit-controlled tonight.
We're not bound in the spirit tonight. Paul was bound in the spirit. But number two, I mentioned this, we'll get into the message tonight. Paul was burdened. By the Spirit.
He had a burden tonight. It says in verse 23, say that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city. And then, if you were to go back, I'll read it in Acts 18 and verse 5. It says this: And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit. and testified to the Jews that Jesus was.
Christ. Notice that word for est. It carries pretty much the same definition of moved. It means to be urged or to impelled, to cause one to move. In fact, there was someone.
Who was moving Paul? It was not his trials, it was not his testings, it was the Holy Spirit of God that was moving Paul. It was helping him to be unshakable so he could move forward. Paul had a burden that he wanted the world to know Jesus Christ. In spite of what he went through.
It wasn't the trials, it wasn't the testings, it was the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was urging and moving? and who shook Paul up so he could stay focused on what God had called him to do. Paul said, None of these things move me.
So, how do we stay unshakable? And then starting war.
Well, the answer is found here in God's Word in verse 24. And I want you to notice four simple truths that we find here in this one verse. about how we stay unshakable. And in certain world. In an uncertain world.
Look first, first of all, it takes a set of wife. a settled life. Look what it says. I mean, this is the heart of the message here. It says, but none of these things move me.
Paul had a settled life.
Now, how was his life settled? How was he not moved by all these things? First of all, he was settled in the gospel. You better make sure tonight that you are settled in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not the gospel, not the good news this world has to offer, not the good news that the Mormons have to offer, or the Jehovah's Witnesses have to offer.
You better be settled in the gospel of what the Bible says: the death, the burial, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was on the Damascus road where Paul became settled in the gospel. In Acts chapter 9 and verse 5, and he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Paul had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ that forever changed his life. Aren't you glad tonight, Curran, that we have a gospel that changes lives tonight? And it helps us to be unshakable. It helps our marriages to be settled tonight. It helps our church be settled on a firm foundation tonight.
Thank God for the gospel. of Jesus Christ. Paul went from a persecutor of the church to a preacher of the gospel. He went from a murderer on his way to hell to a minister for the cause of heaven tonight. What a change it was made in his life.
The gospel made a change in Paul's life. Has it made a change in your life tonight? Boy, it's going to change in my life tonight. I'm thankful that I am forever settled, forever secure, not in who I am, but in who Jesus is tonight. The gospel did not just save him from hell, but it settled Paul and gave him a new identity.
In Christ. He was no longer the Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul said over and over, I'm a bondservant, I'm a bondslave, not for the law or not in the Pharisaical system, but I'm a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel not only delivers you from the penalty of sin, But it gives you a new identity.
And I'm thankful that in who I am in Christ... I can be unshakable. that I'm settled in the gospel tonight. Our identity is settled. We don't have to worry about the pressures and the uncertainties of this world changing who we are in Christ.
And Paul knew that. And he was settled in that. Are you settled tonight in the gospel? I love these verses in Romans, in Romans chapter 1. And verses 16 through 17, I love what the Apostle Paul says here.
He says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God. Unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God. I'm revealed from faith to faith.
As it is written, the just shall live. Basket 8. We are settling the gospel tonight, first of all, because of its power. Because of the power that is in the gospel, it says that it is the power of God. The gospel is the most powerful thing in this world tonight.
It's the only thing that can take a murderer like Paul, or an alcoholic, or a drunk, or someone enslaved to sin, and deliver them out of that and settle them. in a saving faith of Jesus Christ. We are settled in the gospel because of its promise. Notice the promise that it gives at the end of verse 17. It says, For it is written, the just shall live by faith tonight.
Listen, I don't live based on my feelings. I don't live based on the uncertainties that the way this world makes me feel. I live based on the facts of who I am in Christ tonight. That I can live by faith, I can be unshakable in Him. But then, thirdly, we are seldom the gospel because of its provision, because of what it provides.
It says, it is the power of God unto salvation. To everyone that believeth. It is the power of God unto salvation. The provision that it provides. You know, he saves us from hell.
But it gives us a life. Of a new identity in Christ. Boy, I'm so thankful. that I am settled in the gospel. But Paul was also settled in this.
He was settled in the grace of God. Settled in God's grace. Paul was not only severed in the gospel, but in the grace of God. It was only by the grace of God. that Paul was able to not be moved by all these things that came his way.
And it will only be. By the good grace of God. that we remain settled in this life. I want to ask you a question tonight. Where would you be?
without the grace of God. Where would I be tonight without the grace of God? I tell you what, I wouldn't be standing right here tonight. if it wasn't for the grace of God. But I wouldn't.
be in the ministry. if it wasn't for the grace of God. We all wouldn't be here tonight. If it was not for the grace. of God.
And Jesus told this to Paul. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities at the power of Christ. May rest upon me.
You know, we are settled by God's grace, first of all, because the grace of God is sufficient. Did you notice what the Lord said there? He said, My grace is sufficient for thee. Listen tonight, Kerwin. God's grace is sufficient for whatever it is that's shaking you up tonight.
God's grace is sufficient for your marriage. It's sufficient for your family. God's grace is sufficient for whatever it is that you're going through. Your insecurities, the things you've had on the inside. God's grace can give you what you need to get through it tonight, church.
We're also settled because of the grace of God. is our strength. Notice The apostles said, That is Or Jesus said, my strength. is made perfect. in weakness.
Do you feel weak tonight? Do you feel like you can't go on? Listen, there's times I feel weak. There's times I feel like I can't go on. But that's working the strength of Christ, the strength of the grace of God.
That's where it comes in. And we are settled because that the grace of God is our strength. But then, also, I thought of this: we are settled because of the grace of God. is sovereign over all. It's sovereign over what's shaking you up.
It's sovereign over what you go through. God's grace tonight is sovereign. Paul was settled in the gospel. He was settled in the grace of God. And we, if we're going to be unshakable, we need a settled life.
But not only that, Not only that. We also need this, number two. It takes a submissive life. A submissive life. to be unshakable.
Look at the second part of verse 24. Paul said, but none of these things move me. Notice, he says, Neither count I my life dear unto myself. You see, Paul's life wasn't about his convenience, it wasn't about his comfort, Paul's life. was for a calls.
And it was for the cause of Christ. And he submitted his life. For the cause of Christ. He didn't count his life dear to himself. He wasn't in it for himself.
And a lot of times we become shaken up. Because We overvalue self. But notice Paul. He did not overvalue self. First of all, he didn't overvalue self.
That's why he had a submissive life. You know, sometimes we can be our own greatest hindrance. We can hinder ourselves in such a way that we become shaken up, we become insecure, and we feel like. that it's all on us. And we can be our own greatest.
Hendrix. We may feel like we haven't accomplished enough or that we are unworthy. We may be discouraged by the fact that others have done more, others have more of the spotlight, and perhaps the problem lies in another direction. And if anyone had the temptation to rely on self, it was the Apostle Paul. He said he was a Pharisee of the Pharisee concerning the law.
He was blameless. But Paul counted all those things. He said, I count all those things, but don't. But he said, This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto the things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. You see, Paul, out of anyone, could have relied on self.
But when you rely on self, relying on self leads to a self-controlled life and not a submissive life. A self-controlled life will become shaken when put out of its comfort zone. You see, self only wants to do what is convenient for it. Listen, I'm telling you tonight, I'm out of my comfort zone up here. Because if he was to know me back in high school, I skipped speech class because I was so scared to speak in front of people.
I am way out of my comfort zone up here tonight. But you see it's done about Who I am. It's not it's all about Jesus and the strength that he gives. A self-controlled life will become shaken, but however, a submissive life. will become unshakable even in the midst of uncertainties.
And Paul was submissive. And often the reason that we quit. is because we wanted something out of it in the first place. We was in it for self. And oftentimes, when we don't get the promotion, we don't get the pay raise, and we don't get the praise, we don't get the prestige, then we become disappointed, and eventually we give up.
Because we overvalue self. But Paul Paul did he did not overvalue self secondly He relied on the Holy Spirit. He relied on the Holy Spirit. You see, Paul received direction from the Holy Spirit. Either by direct revelation or by the predictions of inspired men that he met, but we no longer receive.
Direct revelation by the Holy Spirit, but he does use the scriptures. To bring to our remembrance certain things that will give us direction, that will help us make the right choices when we do face those uncertain things, and we can seek His wisdom. You see, first of all, tonight By relying on the Holy Spirit, He will enlighten you. The Bible says in John 14, verse 26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. I'm thankful tonight, church, that when we are.
unpsychable or we become psychable. We have the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, to help us, to guide us, to give us wisdom, to make the right decision. in the midst of the pressures and problems of life. The Holy Spirit will enlighten you, but also the Holy Spirit, He will encourage you tonight. There could be someone here tonight that needs some encouragement.
Listen, I can try my best to encourage you. Other people in this church can try their best to encourage you, but true, lasting encouragement comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself said that in John 14, verse 16. He says, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever. Listen, if you're a child of God, you've got the comforter, the Holy Spirit, living inside of you tonight.
That word comforter, it means an advocate or one who represents you, one who comes alongside of you to help you tonight. Boy, I'm glad that we have a comforter that can encourage us tonight and help us be unshakable. Then also this, the Holy Spirit will empower you. We need his help. In these uncertain times.
We need His help for our marriages. We need His help for our families. We need His help to help build this church for what God wants it to be. In Acts chapter 1, verse 8, the Bible makes that plain as day, but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. You see, God is not looking tonight for self-motivated men.
He's not looking tonight for supermen. He's not looking tonight for men who are special. Because listen to me, self-motivated men change with compromise in time. Every superman has a kryptonite tonight. And every man who thinks they're special, they will fall.
They will fail. But thank God tonight when you are spirit-led and spirit-controlled, you will be empowered with a power that can give you the strength to be unshakable tonight. But then that leads me to the third point. It takes a set of wife. A submissive life.
Thirdly, it takes a steadfast life. Notice what he says there right in the middle of the verse. He said, so that I might finish my course. with Joel. and the ministry.
so that I might finish my course. with joy. Here this reveals Paul's motive and his manner. He was steadfast to the finish. He said, I want to finish my course.
I not only want to finish it, but I want to finish it. with Joe. You see, our motive tonight, first of all, should be to finish. There's too many Christians that are failing. There's too many preachers that are failing.
There's too many ministries that are failing. Our motive should be to finish tonight. To finish and hear, well done, thou good and faithful servant. Paul said, I want to finish my course with joy. I want to ask you tonight: what motivates you?
What drives you? What keeps you going? Paul's motive. What drove Paul was to finish his course. Notice that word coarse there.
It means one's life. It means one's race, or it can mean one's career. Paul said, I want to finish the calling that God has. Oh my life. And tonight, every single one of us in this auditorium tonight would have a race to run.
We have a course that God has called us to finish. Listen, my course and Frank's course is different. But God has still put us on a course. And he wants us to finish. That course.
Some of us here have ran along some potholes and bumps along the race. and even probably some steep drop-offs.
Some of us here tonight in our course along the way, we've suffered. We face sickness. A long life's journey, we've lost loved ones. Others have failed us miserably. But can I let you in a little secret tonight?
We're all still here. That means God's not done with you yet. God still wants you to finish the course that He has for your life. Yes, you may be facing sickness. Yes, you may be suffering.
Yes, you may be facing trials. But God still has you here for a reason. And our motive should be to finish the course that God has for us tonight. And it takes a steadfast life. To do that.
Paul was not content to cross the finish line of his race and collapse and to give up and to fail. No, he wanted to run in such a way as to have something to celebrate when he was done tonight. Paul, when he wrote to Timothy, He said, I finished my course. I've ran my race. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give to me, and not to me only, but to all them who loved his appearing tonight.
So what motivates you tonight? It should be to finish. But then our manners should be definished with joy. You know, the attitude that you Carry out when you do what God's called you to do, it matters. And we ought, Christians ought to be, I say this a lot when I preach, Christians ought to be the most joyful people.
That you come across. But boy, when you walk into church, you see so many people, they got a frown. They just mosing around. What a privilege it is to serve God. He didn't have to call us, but he did.
He didn't have to save you, but he did tonight. And we ought to have joy to serve him tonight. Don't just finish. Finish with joy. Paul said that so I might finish my course with joy.
And perhaps you've heard this declaration. I think it describes Paul's life very good. And it should be what we want our lives to be. And I like what it says. It says, I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past has been redeemed.
My future is secure. I've finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, coalish dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, live by prayer, and labor by his power.
My face is set. My gall is fast. My goal is heaven and my road is narrow. My way rough, my companions few, but my God reliable and my mission clear. And my banner is clear.
Is your motive clear tonight? And is your manner one in such a way where you're carrying out your motive? With Joel. Thank you for listening today. We hope you received a blessing from our broadcast.
The Kerwin Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Road in Kernersville, North Carolina. You may also contact us by phone at 336-993-5192 or via the web. at Kerwin Baptist Church.com. Enjoy our services live and all our media on our website and church app. Thank you for listening to the Kerwin Broadcast today.
God bless you.
