Giving Trip Gone Bad But Made Good By God

Note: Jesus Christ never wanted Paul to go to Jerusalem.
In which pursuit also traveling to Damascus with authority and power of decision from the chief priests, at midday, along the highway, O king, I and those with me saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun; shining around me. And all of us falling to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who are you, lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of what you saw, and in what I shall appear to you; delivering you from the people and the nations, to whom I now send you in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26:12-18

Note: Paul made a vow to go to Jerusalem for Pentecost.
And Paul having remained many days more, taking leave of the brothers, he sailed from there into Syria. And Priscilla and Aquila were with him. And Paul had shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. And they asking him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent but took leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that is coming in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you, God willing. And he sailed from Ephesus. And when he had landed at Caesarea and had gone up to greet the church, he went down to Antioch. Acts 18:18-22

Note: Paul asked a collection for Jerusalem church from many Gentile churches.
But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it has pleased those of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Truly it has pleased them, and they are their debtors. For if the nations have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in fleshly things. Romans 15:25-27

Note: Paul asked a collection for Jerusalem church from many Gentile churches.
And concerning the collection for the saints, as I charged the churches of Galatia, so also you do. On the first of the sabbaths let each of you put by himself, storing up whatever he is prospered, so that there may be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you shall approve by your letters, I will send them to bring your gift to Jerusalem. And if it is suitable for me to go also, they shall go with me. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Note: Paul reminded the Corinth church about giving to the Jerusalem church.
And, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given among the churches of Macedonia; that in much testing of trouble, the overflowing of their joy, and the depth of their poverty, abounded to the riches of their generosity. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability; they gave willingly; with much beseeching, begging us that they might receive of us the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints. And not as we hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God, for us to call on Titus, that even as he began before, so he would also complete this grace to you also. But even as you abound in everything, in faith, and in word, and in knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us; you should abound in this grace also. I do not speak according to command, but through the eagerness of others, and testing the trueness of your love. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, in order that you might be made rich through His poverty. And in this I give my judgment; for this is profitable for you, who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago. But now also finish the doing of it, so that, as there was a readiness to will, so also the finishing, giving out of what you have. For if the eagerness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, and not according to what one does not have. For it is not that others may have ease, but you trouble; but by equality in the present time; your abundance for their need, that their abundance also may be for your need; so that there may be equality; as it is written, "He gathering much, he had nothing left over; and he gathering little did not have less." 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
For indeed regarding the ministry to the saints, it is not necessary for me to write to you. For I know your eagerness, of which I boast to Macedonia on your behalf, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has aroused the greater number. Yet I sent the brothers, lest our boasting (which is on your behalf) should not be in vain, that, as I said, you may be ready. I say this lest perhaps Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared. We (not to say you) would then be put to shame in this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers that they would go forward to you, and make up beforehand your blessing, it having been promised that this would be ready, thus as a matter of blessing, and not as of covetousness. 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

Note: The Holy Spirit warned Paul not to return to Jerusalem.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know how I was with you at all times, from the first day I arrived in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and many tears and temptations happening to me through the plots of the Jews; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have shown you and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. Acts 20:17-23
And sighting Cyprus, and leaving it on the left, we sailed into Syria, and came down to Tyre. For the ship was to unload its cargo there. And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days; who said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:3-4
And as we stayed more days, a certain prophet from Judea named Agabus came down. And coming to us, and taking Paul's belt, and binding his hands and feet, he said, The Holy Spirit says these things: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man whose belt this is, and will deliver him into the hands of the nations. And when we heard these things, both we and those of the place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Acts 21:10-12

Note: Did James and the elders glorify God due to the Gentile money?
And we being in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. And on the next day Paul went with us to James. And all the elders were present. And having greeted them, he related one by one what things God had done among the nations by his ministry. And hearing, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, you see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous of the Law. Acts 21:17-20

Note: Was the Jerusalem church poor due to being zealous for the Law?
Therefore do this, what we say to you: We have four men who have a vow on themselves; taking them, be purified with them, and be at expense for them, so that they may shave their heads. And all may know that what they have been told about you is nothing, but you yourself also walk orderly and keep the Law. Acts 21:23-24

Note: The Jerusalem temple was a den of thieves.
And they came to Jerusalem. And entering into the temple, Jesus began to cast out those who bought and sold in the temple. And He overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow any to carry a vessel through the temple. And He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations?’ But you have made it a den of thieves.” And the scribes and the chief priests heard. And they sought how they might destroy Him. For they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His doctrine. Mark 11:15-18

Note: What was the Law according to Leviticus?
Lev 1:3 If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish.
Lev 1:10 And if his offering is of the flocks, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt offering, he shall bring a male without blemish.
Lev 1:14 And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD is out of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtle-doves or of young pigeons.
Lev 2:1 And when anyone will offer a food offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour.
Lev 2:4  And if you bring a sacrifice of a food offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.
Lev 2:11 Any food offering which you shall bring to the LORD shall not be made with leaven.
Lev 2:13 And every sacrifice of your food offering shall you season with salt.
Lev 3:1 And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers from the herd, whether it is a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.
Lev 4:1-3 And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of Jehovah concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do any one of them, if the priest who is anointed sins, resulting in guilt to the people, then he shall bring for his sin, which he has sinned, a young bull, a son of the herd without blemish, to the LORD for a sin offering.

Note: John the Baptist had declared Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice.
The next day John sees Jesus coming to him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who has been before me, for He preceded me. And I did not know Him, but that He be revealed to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water.” And John bore record, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and He abode on Him. And I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, ‘Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I saw and bore record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34

Note: Jesus Christ declared Himself the ultimate sacrifice of the New Covenant.
“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28
And He said to them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many.” Mark 14:24
In the same way He took the cup, after having dined, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is being poured out for you.” Luke 22:20

Note: Jesus Christ reminded Paul that he was going to Rome.
And the following night the Lord stood by him and said, be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem, so you also must bear witness at Rome. Acts 23:11

Note: Paul had time to write about the New Covenant back to Jerusalem.
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and not to forbid anyone of his own to minister or come to him. Acts 24:23
But when Christ had become a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once for all into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ (who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God) purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new covenant, so that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, the death of him covenanting must be offered. For a covenant is affirmed over those dead, since it never has force when The one covenanting is living. From which we see that neither was the first covenant dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you." And likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves were purified with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered into the Holy of Holies made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, even as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies every year with the blood of others (for then He must have suffered often since the foundation of the world), but now once in the end of the world He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:11-26

Note: Luke had the opportunity to write his Gospel while in Caesarea.
Since many took in hand to draw up an account concerning the matters which have been borne out among us, even as those who from the beginning delivered to us, becoming eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word, it seemed good to me also, following all things accurately from the very first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus, so that you might know the certainty of those things in which you have been instructed. Luke 1:1-4

Note: Giving should be directed toward the basic needs of food and clothing.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and it is clear that we can carry nothing out. But having food and clothing, we will be content. But they who will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which plunge men into destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all evils, of which some having lusted after, they were seduced from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10


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