Intro: Paul spent 3 yrs. @ Ephesus, leaves after a riot, travels throughout the area (3rd missionary journey)
Decides NOT to return to Ephesus! Goes instead to Miletus - 30 miles east of Ephesus.
Acts 20:16-21:1 - final words to leaders of church in Ephesus
Recap:
1) You know how I lived - during the 3 years - served with passion and humility.... in good times and bad!
2) You know I preached the WHOLE Gospel, not just the comfortable parts (not easy believe-ism!)
3) Now I go to Jerusalem ... compelled by the Holy Spirit, and NOT knowing what I'll encounter there.
4) BUT ... I do know ... the Holy Spirit warns me of hardships (on account of the Gospel) Wherever I go!! (later ... from prison - 2 Tim. 3:12)
5) Nevertheless, my mission (ministry, calling) is more important than my comfort, convenience, my safety!!
6) I know I'll never see you again..... So here are final words of Encouragement and Instruction:
7) KEEP WATCH!! (A) over yourselves (ie: your spiritual life, condition, walk) AND (B) over the flock - "that God has ENTRUSTED to your care".
AND
8) BE SHEPHERDS!!! (of God's flock, bought with Christ's blood). Look after their well-being! (feed/nurture/care for their needs)
Because
9) I Know ... Savage Wolves Will Come!! - false prophets, teachers, AND will arise (even) from within your own congregation!!
10) They will distort the truth! not with blatant lies, but doctrinal distortion; twisting, reshaping, manipulating TRUTH!!
And:
11) They will draw people after them! Typical feature..... ie: more about you follow me! than follow Jesus. Example of contrast: John the Baptist
12) So... again... BE ON GUARD! Watch out! Pay attention!!
and,
13) Remember!!! Don't forget! don't become complacent concerning doctrinal truths! (I've warned you for 3 years!)
14) Now (in my absence) I commit you to God and His Word. (you are now in His care, not mine!)
But
15) God and His Word are able to:
A) build you up (grow, edify)
B) secure your inheritance (eternal residence, rewards)
Add:
16) You know..... how I worked... (a) at my ministry AND (b) at my vocation
17) I did this to demonstrate (model) how we should WORK!!! to
(a) support ourselves (b) assist others (as instructed by Jesus Himself!)
THEN Paul prayed with them, wept with them, entrusted them to God's care, "tore himself away", went on with his work, ministry, calling
WHICH = according to God's will, God's plan
NOT according to the will of Paul or Ephesians!!
This = a RICH Passage. (is more than a historical record, includes Instructions)
IF 2 Tim. 3:16-17 is true, THEN surely we can find many truths and applications (within this passage) FOR you and ME!!
Paul said "you now how I lived"
#1) It's important to SHARE your faith AND to MODEL your faith. Ie: your daily lifestyle matters and should be compatible with your profession of faith.
Paul said "I worked hard at both my ministry AND my vocation.
#2. Your visible testimony includes how you do your job!! ie: your work effort/ ethic - (attitude/action)
Primary place of witness is in the workplace.
Paul said (paraphrase) - "I preached the Whole Gospel"
#3) We should preach the whole Gospel! ie: Emphasize God's love, grace, compassion, etc. without omitting justice, wrath, punishment, separation
To reject God's Will, Word, SON (sacrifice) leaves one in Eternal Separation from God (HELL) - we are not free to ignore the parts of the gospel story that we don't like!
Paul said "Keep Watch" ... over yourself and your (God's) Flock
#4.) Your calling starts with guarding yourself (spiritually)
#5.) Your calling ALSO includes looking out for God's flock.
IF you are a follower... THEN you are responsible for a portion of God's flock!!
So... (1) identify them
(2) care for them! (nurture, look after, "shepherd" them
(a) 1 Pet. 5:13 - context, application
(b) John 21 - "do you love ME? (then) FEED MY SHEEP"
Paul said "Holy Spirit warns me of hardship wherever I minister"
BUT (paraphrase) "my ministry is more important than my safety"
#6.) Ministry (shepherding) is not always convenient!!
On one hand, sometimes is easy, natural, enjoyable
However, OFTEN - HARD WORK! physically and emotionally exhausting (often VERY inconvenient!)
BUT
#7.) To ALL of this you are called!!
ie: to share your faith, to model your faith, preach WHOLE Gospel,, guard yourself, care for others, minister in good times and bad times, to follow God's word and Paul's example!!
To this ( and more) the Ephesian Elders were called, charged. To this you are called, charged (How are you doing?)
But add... #8) For doing this... you will be rewarded, if you do your job. 1 Pet. 5:4
So.... are you doing this? sharing your faith? living your faith ON the job? faithfully shepherding those under your care? ministering even when it's inconvenient? difficult? unpleasant?
Do you need to make adjustments? in Actions? in Attitude?
Closing Scripture: 2 Tim. 6:11-14
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