Acts 20:25-38

                                                                     Acts 20:25-38

And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

As Paul concludes his farewell from the Ephesian elders, we can observe several things about his ministry and his heart for people.  This was a group with whom Paul had spent a significant amount of time.  We learn from this passage how he spent that time and can see what he feared the most about the future of the church.  We can learn from Paul’s examples and from his fears.  This same kind of ministry is still desperately needed today.

 

CLEAR CONSCIENCE: Paul had a clear conscience about his ministry because he never hesitated to teach the entire truth of God’s Word no matter what the consequences might be.  He was not concerned with the popularity of his message or even with his own personal security.  He worked tirelessly, night and day, and whole heartedly admonishing with tears, to impact the lives of people.  Ministries must be marked by sacrifice and hard work.  Paul’s ministry was all about building the church and not about building his own reputation.  He could have chosen to stay in any city and become a dynamic and successful leader with all the comforts and securities available at that time.  That was not his calling.  Instead, he traveled from place-to-place starting new works and encouraging those who were moving them forward.

 

CONSTANT CONCERN:  Paul’s constant concern was for the spiritual health of the church after his departure.  Satan wants nothing more than to see the church fail and he will seek to infiltrate it in any way he can.  Some of the attacks come from unbelievers and false teachers who come from the outside and seek to destroy the church.  However, there are some attacks that come from within as people who are members of the church begin to be more concerned with their own status and fame than they are about the health of the church.  The seek to promote their own agendas, gain their own followings, and distract the followers of Christ to become followers of themselves.  We must always be on the alert for false prophets as well as people who seek to promote their own good and own agenda.  We must guard our own hearts from the desire to build up our own reputation instead of that of Christ. 

 

CONSISTENT CONFIDENCE: Paul had confidence in two things.  First, in the ability of God to care for the believers no matter what happened to him.  The church does not belong to anybody and is not dependent upon anyone besides the Lord.  He is the One who is in charge of the future, and He is the One who is truly capable of protecting and providing for the church.  Second, Paul was confident in his own faithfulness in ministry.  He knew that his motives were pure and that he had been diligent in his ministry to the point that he could have confidence before his followers as well as before the Lord.  Confidence in the Lord’s abilities to carry the work of the ministry forward should never be an excuse for complacency on the part of ministers of the Gospel.  His faithfulness should always be an encouragement for us to be faithful.

 

APPLICATION: How many of can say that we have a clear conscience about our faithfulness to teach all people around us the Word of God to the best of our abilities?  We should regularly pray for the protection of the Church around the world that God would provide godly leadership and that false teachers would be exposed and rejected.  No matter how difficult things may appear, we can trust the Lord to care for His church.  Trust the Lord and work hard to build up the body of Christ.