Leadership's Divine Assurance_3 Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

3. The Leadership’s: Divine Assurance

Introductory Remarks.

1. The final lesson in this Series: “Divine Call to Leadership,” will be “The Leadership’s Divine Assurance.”

2. We will investigate the elders at Ephesus’ divine assurance. Paul concludes his assurance unto them: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which can build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified,” Acts 20:32. The beloved apostle now encourages them and grants unto them a divine assurance: an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

3. What a tremendous blessing awaits these men’s divine call to leadership. The Holy Ghost not only called them but now assures them that God will, by His grace, build them up and grant unto them “an inheritance” with all the saints. Indeed, their “labor will not be in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58. With this brief introduction, let’s consider the last lesson.

BODY OF LESSON

III THE LEADERSHIP’S: DIVINE ASSURANCE

A. Paul’s commendation: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God.” There were no more capable hands; the apostle could have placed these loving elders. He knew to commend them unto God. In their tremendous responsibility, he commends them to God. He knew the burden of leadership and whose hands he was committed to. Consider...

1. Paul wrote: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he can keep that which I have committed unto him against that day,” 2 Timothy 1:12.

2. Peter wrote: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator,” 1 Peter 4:19.

3. Jesus said: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the ages,” Matthew 28:20.

4. The Hebrew writer penned: “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,” Hebrews 13:5-6. Notice:

a. We need not fear what man can do unto us, Psalms 56:4; Psalms 118:6.

b. If God is for us:

1) No one can be against us, Romans 8:31-32.

2) No one can accuse us, Romans 8:33-34.

3) No one can alienate us, Romans 8:35-39.

c. To understand these promises more fully, obtain the lesson below.

NOTE: Download our lesson: “If God be for us,” at SermonCentral.com.

B. His source: “And to the word of His grace.” He now commits their trust in God and the word of his grace. The word will guide all their difficulties, build them up, and give them an inheritance among all the sanctified. If it is followed, they cannot stray or fail in their work and oversight of the church. Notice:

1. Paul commends them to God, to provide for them, to take care of them, and to supply all their needs, and encourages them to cast all their care upon him, with an assurance that he cared for them, 1 Peter 4:6-7. Consider...

a. First, Matthew Henry wrote: “Whatever you want, go to God, let your eye be ever towards him, and your dependence upon him, in all your straits and difficulties; and let this be your comfort, that you have a God to go to, a God all-sufficient,” Page 469.

b. Further, He continues: “I commend you to God, that is, to his providence, and to the protection and care of that. It is enough that, from whomsoever, we are separated. Still, we have God nigh unto us,” Page 469.

c. Finally, James wrote: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you,” James 4:8. God has taken the first step in reconciling us unto Himself; he sent Jesus. His love caused this gift of grace, John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10. Notice:

1) The love of Christ constraineth us, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.

2) God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

3) We have Him because He first loved us, 1 John 4:19.

2. He commends them to the word of grace, which will grant them comfort and hope through their faithfulness to the: “Gospel of the grace of God,” Acts 20:24.

a. His word is spirit and life, John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12.

b. His word is truth, John 17:17; John 18:37.

c. His word provides eternal life, John 6:66-68.

d. His word, the truth can’t be compromised, Galatians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 13:8.

e. His word, the truth shall stand forever, Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25.

3. He commends them to the word of Christ's promise, which he spoke to his disciples when he sent them forth, the commission he gave them, with the assurance that he would be with them “always to the end of the world,” Matthew 28:20.