Sunday, December 23, 2012

From Acts to Revelation Part 57 – Paul's Final Instruction



From Acts to Revelation
Part 57 – Paul's Final Instruction
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Last week we saw in scripture Paul traveled for a long distance, called for his next mission by the Holy Spirit. The first leg of the trip he spent alone, so he could hear from the Holy Spirit, which he did.

He knew his journey was going to bring him prison and hardship, so he wanted to speak with the Ephesian Edlers, to leave them with final instructions, and to say goodbye.

He told them that he had taught them everything they needed to know, and that if they failed, their blood would not be on his head, for he had given them everything he had.

This week, we will see Paul instruct the Elders to watch over themselves and their flocks, and they will learn that Paul has committed them to God, and with a final goodbye, he will leave them, never to see them again.


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 20:28-38
28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

I.       WATCH OVER YOURSELVES AND THE FLOCK
a.      Guard yourselves
i.       This message is not only for the Pastors (Ephesian Elder's), but to ALL Pastor's who have been called by the Holy Spirit.


b.     Guard the flock
i.       that the Holy Spirit made you overseers of

ii.    Elder's, Bishops, Overseers, Shepherds, Presbyters all mean the same thing as Pastor.


c.      Be shepherds of the church (Body of Christ – the PEOPLE)
i.       Savage Wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock
a.      a perfect description of those who merchandise the Body of Christ in whatever way.

ii.    Even from among your own number (Elders)

iii. Men will rise (not appointed by the Holy Spirit)


d.     They will distort the Truth
i.       To draw men unto them as disciples
a.      Instead of drawing men to Christ, they draw them to themselves.

ii.    False teaching will lead them astray
a.      New beliefs
b.     New religions
c.      New denominations
d.     Cults under the guise of Truth


e.      SO BE ON GUARD
i.       Spiritually diligent!
a.      Ephesians 6

ii.    For three years I (Paul) have not stopped warning you.
a.      Paul not only preached the Truth of the Word, but warned of, and pointed out false doctrine and false apostles as well.
II.    I COMMIT YOU TO GOD
a.      Commit one to God
i.       Paul is saying that he has planted enough of the Gospel in them, that they will not turn from the Lord.

ii.    Fully taught and accepted!


b.     And the Word of His Grace (which IS the cross!)
i.       It can build you up (strengthen through time & trial)

ii.    And give you an inheritance (to all who are Sanctified)


c.      The believer is Sanctified only by making the Cross the object of his faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to carry out this work within our hearts and lives; the believer cannot Sanctify himself.


d.     I have not coveted any mans silver, gold or clothing
i.       He ministered for Christ's sake, not for money, like the Savage Wolves of verse 29.


e.      You knew these hands have supplied all my needs, and the needs of my companions.
i.       We're told of one of Paul's jobs in Acts 18:3 as a "tent repair specialist".

ii.    Remember, Paul worked so as not to be a burden to the newly founded church that did not have a lot of money to take care of him and his companions he was training.

iii. So they worked and covered their own living and traveling expenses as much as they could.

f.       “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
i.       This means that Paul's life was to serve as an example of unselfish behavior.

ii.    Rather than “living off others”, he took care of himself and those around him.
a.      It IS the responsibility of the church to care 100% for a Pastor and ALL his and his family's needs...however, newly founded churches cannot do so right away, and this is to be considered by the Pastor.

iii. Helping the weak means that all we do should serve as a spiritual example to others, so that they may grow as well.


III. GOODBYE
a.      Paul then knelt and prayed with them.
i.       One of the reasons we kneel when we pray is because of this example.

ii.    Although kneeling is not necessary to speak with God, it shows reverence to Him, and submission from you as you speak to the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.


b.     They wept, embraced Paul and kissed him.


c.      However, what grieved them most of all, the fact that they would never see him again.


The Elder's accompanied Paul to the ship where they would say their final goodbye, and Paul would set off for Jerusalem.


CONCLUSION
1.      Some lessons we learned from today's scriptures.
2.      The Holy Spirit is the one who calls a person to be an Elder.
3.      Bishop, Elder, Overseer, Shepherd, Presbyter, are all the same as Pastor.
4.      We must guard ourselves and flocks (if called to serve as an Elder) from False teachers and doctrines.
5.      And if we are called, we should work hard, so as not to be a burden to a newly established church.

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

From Acts to Revelation Part 56 – Paul Says Goodbye



From Acts to Revelation
Part 56 – Paul Says Goodbye
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

This week, we will see Paul;
1)     Travel alone for time with the Lord, to hear from the Holy Spirit
2)     Discover that he is on a one way journey, led by the Holy Spirit.
3)     Say Goodbye to the Elders of Ephesus


SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Acts 20:13-27
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.






I.       PAUL TRAVELS TO MANY LANDS
a.      We see that Paul begins his journey by traveling twenty miles on foot, alone.
i.       This is more than likely so he can spend time alone with the Lord, and to hear from the Holy Spirit on what he was to do, and where he was to go.

ii.    We too, need to listen to the Holy Spirit when we have decisions to make.
a.      Paul, as many others, have to make time in their lives for the Lord

b.     Because they know, they cannot move forward without it!

iii. Paul knew, his life was not his own, and he could not make decisions without knowing what the Lord wanted from him.


b.     After his walk, he met up with Luke and the others to travel by boat.
i.       Remember, it is Luke who is recording this account.


c.      We see from the scripture that he traveled from Assos to Mitylene, then to Chios, and Samos where they rested in Trogyllium for a night. Then they traveled to Miletus, and sailed past Ephesus.
i.       We are told he did not want to spend any time in Asia (Ephesus)
a.      Paul and his companions were moving quickly from place to place.

ii.    Perhaps he did not want to see the Elder's in Ephesus because he knew how difficult it would be for him to leave again, with his journey ahead, and the troubles and tribulations he was about to face.

iii. So he passed Ephesus by 30 miles, then sent a messenger asking the Elders to come see him.


d.     The scriptures tell us in verse 16, that Paul “hasted, to be at Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost.”



II.    PAUL CALLS ON THE ELDERS OF EPHESUS
a.      It was here in Miletus, 30 miles from Ephesus, he called on the Elders in Ephesus to come see him.
i.       The Holy Spirit must have revealed to Paul, and warned him of the upcoming difficulties he will face on this trip, and it is almost as if he is in a hurry because he wants to keep from backing down because of what is to come.

ii.    Like a old bandage, knowing the pain ahead of pulling off, you jerk it as quickly as possible.

b.     When they arrive (3-4 days after sending the messenger)
i.       Paul speaks with them



III. PAUL SAYS GOODBYE TO THEM
a.      Paul Reminds them of the beginning of the church in Ephesus
i.       You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.

ii.    I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

iii. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 

iv.   I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.


b.     Paul then talks about his upcoming journey
i.       And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 

ii.    I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 

iii. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.




c.      Paul then Says goodbye to the Elders
i.       Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.

ii.    Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 


iii. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

Next week we will look at the final words and instructions that Paul leaves to the elder's before he travels to Jerusalem.





CONCLUSION

Ø  We need to spend some time alone with the Lord to see where the Holy Spirit wants to lead us.

Ø  We need to know that whatever God has planned for us, He will give us the means, strength and courage to accomplish it.



Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!