Paul called for the elders (pastors) from Ephesus to a pastor’s conference in Miletus.
For three years Paul had worked shoulder to shoulder
with the Ephesian pastors, helping them to establish the Churches.
So, they were more than willing to travel sixty-plus
miles by land, or almost 40 miles by sea, to see Paul again.
Did they wonder what the meeting was about? Does
Paul want us to help him start Churches in Miletus, like we did in Ephesus?
Nope.
Paul gave them a farewell address with 12 key points
that still apply to you and I.
1. YOU
ARE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE READ.
Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the
elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to
them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always
lived among you,
Since this message is to the elders, (pastors, shepherds)
of the Churches in Ephesus, let’s pretend we’re them, okay? For the rest of
this message, we’re the ministers that just traveled two or three days to see
our old friend Paul, one last time.
Look at my life, Paul says.
What manner I always lived.
Not just Sundays. Everyday. Always in all ways.
You are the only Bible some people read.
What do they read when you leave Church? How about Monday
morning when somebody grabs your favorite donut, the last one. You’re being
read, what do you spell out? What do they read when you tee off and slice into
the trees? At the beanbag court they read your response to that dirty joke. What
do they read about Christianity on Karaoke night by songs you sing? How about where
you spend Friday night, Saturday night and how you act at the red light when
pokey joe doesn’t see that it turned green. Do you honk and scream while the
folks behind read your “I love Jesus” bumper sticker?
Your life is the only Bible most people
around you read.
What do they see?
Okay, back to Paul saying, you know what manner I
lived among you...
2. SERVE
THE LORD WITH ALL HUMILITY
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears
and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
Serving the Lord with all humility.
Not the people, not the steeple, the Church, the elders...
Serving the Lord with all humility.
Did he also serve others? Yes, of course. But serving
Jesus must always be the priority.
Matt.
6:33
Seek first, the kingdom of God...
Matt.
10:37
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Humbly serve the
Lord and serving others will be a natural overflow from being with Jesus.
Once you get the hang of it, serving Jesus and serving
others becomes synonymous.
Matthew
25:40
In as much as you’ve done it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto Me
Colossians
3:17
Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Do it enough and you’ll understand that serving the
Lord and others with all humility is actually a great honor.
Matt.
18:4
Whoever will be humble like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.
1
Peter 5:6
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that in
due time, He may lift you up.
Knowing all this allows you to serve someone and then
turn around and honestly say: Thank you for the honor of serving you.
Serving the Lord with all humility is not to think less
of yourself, but simply to think of yourself, less.
Examine my life, says Paul...
3. SPEAK
THE TRUTH IN LOVE
20 how I
kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you...
Kept back nothing; in
the original text means, I did not shrink back, become a coward, shy away from
hard conversations, gave medicine needed even if it was a bitter pill, I spoke Truth
in Love, even when it hurt.
Hebrews
10:38
Now the just shall live by faith; But
if anyone draws back, (same
word for “kept back”) My soul has no pleasure in him.”.
Lord, help us to not draw back, but speak
the Truth in Love, unafraid, unashamed, unwavering, undiluted, keeping back,
nothing.
4. NO
HYPOCRISY
20... and
taught you publicly and from house to house,
I was the same in public as in private, no arrogancy, no
hypocrisy.
I was not two-faced, like wearing a mask.
The Lord despises hypocrisy.
5. NO
FAVORITISM
21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance
toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jews and Greeks: The
gospel is for everybody, no favoritism, no prejudice.
6. ACTIVE
OBEDIENT FAITH
Changed inside and out.
Repentance:
Metanoia, a change of heart and mind. Inward change.
Faith: Total committed belief
and trust resulting in corresponding action. Outward change.
Repentance and faith: Turning from sin and walking
toward Jesus.
Jesus became source of eternal salvation for all who obey
Him. Hebrews 5:9.
Faith without works is dead.
James 2:14-26.
True Soul Saving Christianity goes beyond belief,
to active obedient faith.
7. RECKLESS
ABANDON
22 And see, now I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem, not
knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that
the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations
await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count
my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy,
and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the
gospel of the grace of God.
None of these things move me, nor do I
count my life dear... Paul served the Lord with reckless
abandon, unrestrained surrender, so that he would finish
well.
Lord, we pray to make our latter days
better than our former, that we finish well and complete the ministry You’ve
given us.
When
it comes to obeying Christ, considering consequences only causes confusion.
Yeah, but, if I go to Church instead of work, I’ll
never make ends m— Forsake not the
assembling together of yourselves... Hebrews 10:25.
Seek first the Kingdom of God...
Mt. 6:33.
Yeah, but, if I forgive, they’ll think what they did
was okay, that they were ri— Forgive and you will be forgiven, but if you do
not forgive your Heavenly Father will not forgive you... Mt. 6:14-15.
I don’t think I can do that.
I don’t even know where to begin.
Start here:
Proverbs
3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in
all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
8. INNOCENT
OF THE BLOOD OF ALL
25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify
to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Paul? Innocent of the blood of all men? Isn’t he the
man that sought and slaughtered Christians? Wasn’t he the one who approved the
stoning of Stephen?
Yet, here he stands, innocent of the blood of all men.
The blood of Christ cleanses from all
unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7.
Paul was probably referring to Ezekiel 33:1-20.
As a watchman, he sounded the trumpet. He did not shun
to tell the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth, so help him God.
9. NOT
A CHERRY PICKER
27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel
of God.
Paul was able to say he was innocent of the blood of
all because he did not keep back, draw back, did not shun from delivering the
whole counsel of God.
That’s why we go book by book, chapter by chapter,
verse by verse. We address the hard to swallow, difficult to understand, un-politically
correct, whole counsel of the Word of God.
No cherry pickin’
Because:
2
Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that
the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Matthew
4:4
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from
the mouth of God.
10. TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves...
Now for the next five verses the spotlight shifts off Paul
and focuses on shepherds and wolves.
We’ve examined me, now, examine thee.
Examine yourself, take heed to yourself, remove the log
from your eye, deal with forgiveness, put the oxygen mask on your face first, recharge
your soul, get things right with you and Jesus...
Examine your life in these areas:
1. You
are the only Bible some people read
2. Serve
the Lord with all humility
3. Speak
Truth in Love
4. No
hypocrisy
5. No
favoritism
6. Active
Obedient Faith
7. Reckless
Abandon
8. Innocent
of the blood of all
9. Not
a cherry picker
10. Take heed to yourself
Now, the spotlight pans
out to include the flock.
11. SHEPHERD THE FLOCK
28... and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Take heed to yourself first, then, shepherd the flock,
care for those God’s given you.
Shepherd the
Church of God. It’s God’s Church, not Paul’s Church, not the
pastor’s Church, not the elder’s Church, not the board of directors or deacons
or denomination’s Church.
It’s God’s Church which He purchased with His own
blood.
Jesus said, I will build My Church... Matt.
16:18.
29 For I know this, that
after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the
flock.
Wolves from without.
The shepherd must protect the flock against wolves
from without and within.
About 10 years from this time, Paul was martyred,
decapitated for his faith in Christ.
All the apostles, but John, were martyred.
The Greek word for witness, is martus. So many witnesses
for Christ were killed for their faith, that our word martyr grew from
the word martus (witness).
Perhaps many of the elders in this meeting were also
martyred. Now how do you feel about agreeing to be one of the elders?
The wolves are still prowling.
Did you know more Christians were martyred in the 20th
century, than all other centuries combined?
Just within the last week or so:
Lahore, Pakistan; 12-year-old Christian girl
reportedly kidnapped, forced to convert to Islam, and married against her will
(this is all too common).
Nepal Detains 17 U.S. Citizens on Charges of
Proselytization; alleged evangelistic activities.
70 Christians were tied up in Church and decapitated, in
DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). Open Doors US reports that 95% of people in
DRC are Christian. Yet violence from the Islamic terrorist organization ADF
(Allied Democratic Forces), takes place with impunity, almost no one is held
accountable.
America beware!
If
the moral majority is silent, they'll be ruled by the immoral few.
If the moral majority is silent, the immoral few will
become a monstrous multitude.
Some politicians, judges, school board members, are wolves,
hell bent on destroying family, Christianity, our nation. Those immoral few are
screaming for the slaughtering of babies, mutilating children and traumatizing girls
in locker rooms. Demonically driven cowards they are, preying on the weak, the
innocent, the children.
Shepherds
it's your job to stand up, speak out, expose the wolves and protect the flock.
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking
perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Wolves from within.
More deadly than the wolves without are the wolves
within. They are the nice smiling, Bible toting, misquoting, wolves in sheep's
clothing.
It happened then, and it still happens today. Some so
called, “churches” in America have turned from Biblical teaching to ear
tickling.
2
Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned
unto fables.
Some years ago, right here, we had a couple of wolves
within. They wanted to start having “church” in the Clubhouse. I was writing
the newsletter for the village at the time. When they told me their plans, they
repeated over and over to make sure I put in the newsletter that they would
take up a “love offering.” Oh, and they kept insisting that I call the mister,
Pastor.
In no time at all it was obvious who they were. A tree
is known by its fruit. They were not called by God but wolves in sheep’s
clothing.
How about some Good News?
A recent poll from Barna indicated that 77% of teens
were committed to a lifetime of learning more about Jesus.
Bible sales have recently skyrocketed.
This year, 2025, Wycliffe projected having the Bible
translated into every language on earth (900 to go).
Jesus says: When this gospel is preached to every
nation, then the end will come. Matt. 24:14.
Buckle your seatbelt exciting days ahead.
31 Therefore watch,
and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and
day with tears.
Watch: be awake. Alert. Not asleep in the
Light.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
Plant the Seed, do what you can, save the savable,
then, release them to God.
Trust God to give the increase.
Now Paul swings the spotlight back on himself for his
closing.
12. NO COVETOUSNESS
33 I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34
Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and
for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like
this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
He closes alluding to the 10th commandment.
Thou shalt not covet... Exodus 20:17.
God can do great things with someone who can’t be
bought.
If Jesus is all you need, that’s all God
needs to do great things through you.
Paul preached out of obedience to his calling, not
as a means of gain, not for a love offering.
Those who heed the call of God don’t need to be paid
or prompted, it will be like a fire shut up in their bones, that needs release,
they won’t be able to stop from preaching, or singing or writing, or interceding,
or whatever God’s call.
However, we understand that for ministry to continue,
practical needs must be met.
Jesus showed us this. He often taught near the shore.
He told His disciples that a boat should be made ready due to the multitude. He
sat in the boat a little way from the shore, and taught, allowing the water to
carry the sound of His voice to the multitude.
Jesus endorsed the vehicle of Churches to spread His
message when He had John pen the seven letters to the seven Churches in the
book of Revelation.
God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to spread
His Good News. 1 Cor. 1:21.
So, Biblically, and practically speaking, practical
needs must be met for ministry to continue.
Churches need lights and sound and traveling ministers
need trucks and gas.
We're blessed above and beyond all we could ever ask
or think. What a wonderful world it would be if every Clubhouse was a Church
House.
What we do to promote and provide for the continuation
of the ministry is that when guest ministers come, we generously guarantee a
certain amount, that we know will be above and beyond any "love
offering."
All ministers have appreciated that offer of
generosity...well, all but one.
One time we told the guest minister we’d guarantee at
least $500 in the love offering (which is more than double any given “love
offering” from our small congregation).
Well, instead of the usual “God bless you, thank you
kindly” we got an earful of his expenses and were told that he’d take the $500
PLUS the love offering. God will honor you for doing that, he said.
I thought, Yeah, He will honor us, but not so sure
about you. You met our generosity with greed.
If a minister does that, they may have a heart issue,
perhaps they suppose godliness is a means of gain (1 Tim. 6:5). Or perhaps it
was a misunderstanding.
It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not called of God.
It means they’re human. It means they need to invest time with Jesus to let
their soul catch up.
They need the Church to pray for them, and for the
pastor to approach them, one on one. Extend an olive branch and an invitation
to repentance and faith.
We had a real good talk. He said, he misunderstood. I
prayed for him. Still do.
God
uses imperfect vessels to carry His perfect work.
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed
with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed
him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see
his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Goodbyes are hard.
They wept knowing they wouldn't see Paul again, in
this life.
The other day, we gathered around the hospital bed as
one by one each family member said their goodbyes.
Then, we bowed and prayed.
We walked away mostly in silence, except for Mom and
dad telling the girls that Poppy was in a better place with no sorrow, no more
pain.
When we got to the parking lot, one of the little ones
asked, "Why does God make it good for those who go and sad for those who
stay?"
Goodbyes are hard. We
weren't created for them.
Paul's companions didn't know it at the time, but a
decade later, Paul would be decapitated in Rome. He'd join a long list of the
Church's founding fathers martyred for their faith.
Today, the freedoms we enjoy in Christ, the Word we
preach and believe and hide in our hearts, was birthed and built on the blood
of the martyrs.
Jesus built and continues to build His Church, with
broken, imperfect vessels.
Somehow, by His amazing grace, these imperfect vessels
are able to carry His perfect message, with His unfailing Love, so we, scars
and all, may help one another, to finish well.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for making us one, helping
us walk in Your Love, keeping us from evil, and helping us to finish well, so that of all those You’ve given us,
none are lost.
We love You, forever, amen.
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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you
to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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