SERVING THE LORD WITH HUMILITY, TEARS, AND TRIALS
Holy Ground "Spirit Filled" Church
Pastor: Joe M. Garza
1-3-07 (Thursday Evening)
Text: Acts 20:17-21
INTRODUCTION:
The Book of Acts is a fast moving account of the spread of the Gospel through the Roman Empire in the first thirty years after Christ’s resurrection. But now Luke stops his fast moving story and let’s us hear a sermon. So he inspires us with the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea to
Samaria to the reaches of the empire. But he also stops to teach us what kind of doctrine and preaching and leadership was behind this wonderful advance of the kingdom
a. In Acts 18:23 Paul sets out from Antioch on his third and final missionary journey
----He travels up through Galatia and Phrygia (today’s Turkey) strengthening the disciples that he had made on his first journey
b. In Acts 19:1 he arrives in Ephesus and in verse 8 says that he spent the first three months arguing and pleading with the Jewish community about the kingdom of God
----WATCH ME! the opposition became so intense Paul moved out of the synagogue and for 2 years argued daily in the Hall of Tyranus
c. During these 2 years amazing things happened
----WATCH ME SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND! God did many miracles of healing and exorcism through Paul
----People were delivered from the occult (witchcraft) and burned books worth 50,000 pieces of silver
*Paul’s success in evangelism was so great that the siversmiths who made silver shrines for the goddess Artemis feared their business and even the temple of Artemis itself were in danger of being ruined
----in other words; they stirred up a riot
*Paul leaves town then after more than 2 years of ministry.........He calls it 3 years in Acts 20:31
*He goes up through macedonia, and down into Greece and spends three winter months probably in Corinth (20:3). Then he heads back up through Macedonia in the spring, crosses over to Troas, where he preaches all night long and Eutychus fell asleep and fell out of the window (20:9). He sails on south and passes Ephesus in the boat because he is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost (20:16)
*But he puts in at Miletus about 20 miles south of Ephesus and sends for the Elders (leaders) of the church in Ephesus (v. 17)
---this helps put Paul’s words here in the right light
----he is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost and is cutting it close
----he is in a boat well out to sea
----he seems to be in charge of the journey....(20:16-he is the one who decides to sail past Ephesus)
----he orders the captain to navigate into the Miletus harbor, sends a messenger over the 20 some miles back up to Ephesus, and waits for the elders (leaders) of the church so that he can say to them what we read in Acts 20:17-23
*WATCH ME! The fact that Paul would go to this much trouble to give this message to the elders of the church personally and the fact that Luke would pause in his story and record the words for us make them very wonderful words to me
*I am very deeply moved by this speech and they show us so much of Pauls heart as well as his theology and his view of leadership
[The ending of this message is heart wrenching as he weeps with these friends and kisses them because he will never see them again until heaven.............................]
A. NOW WHY WERE THESE WORDS SO IMPORTANT?
a. The one that we focus on today is that the future of the Ephesian church hangs on how its leaders serve the Lord
*Paul would have loved to see the whole church in Ephesus
*WATCH ME! His strength and schedule dictated that he limit himself to the one thing that was necessary
----in other words; he was talking to the elders
----if the elders go so goes the church in Ephesus
*So before Paul gives any instruction or warnings in verses 28-31 he simply reminds them how he served the Lord in those 3 years they had together
----some of us can’t even serve for 2 months because we want to be recognized first
----those that have been here since the beginning know what it is to perservere
b. Paul’s aim in reminding them about his own ministry was to instruct them about theirs
Acts 20:35 (NKJV)
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
----in other words; note "I have shown you!"
----my life has been my lesson for how to lead the flock of God
----your lessons in life is to teach those who are weak
c. So when we read verses 18-21 we ought not think that these are just interesting reminiscences
----WATCH ME! They are much more than that
----they are Paul’s way of saying, here’s how to serve the Lord for the good of the church
----here’s what you elders need to do
----here is what Holy Ground Church leaders need to be like and what the people of Holy Ground need to pray into their leaders
Hebrews 13:7 (NKJV)
remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct
[Let’s look at what Paul says about his ministry. Keep in mind that he has to be honest, because these were the men who had watched him for three years............]
*This is what we you should look for:
1. What are the marks of a good church leader?
2. What kind of leadership does the church need?
3. what does it mean to "serve the Lord" biblically?
Acts 20:18-19 (NKJV)
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, [19] serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews
*WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FREAK YOU OUT! The first thing Paul wants to say about his work is that he was serving the Lord
*Think about it for a minute "serving the Lord"
a. "SERVING" what comes to your mind?
----WATCH SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND! Doing what you are told
----lowliness
----submissiveness
----yielding to others
*Now what comes to your mind when you say, "The Lord"? Not "A Lord" or "My Lord", but "The Lord!"
----what should come to mind is Authority
----what should come to mind is Power
----what should come to mind is Rulership
----what should come to mind is Control
----what should come to mind is Majesty
*When you put these two together there is an unusual kind of leadership that is created
----WATCH ME! A leader is first a servant
*Some characteristics come from the fact that he serves "the Lord" and when the Lord tells him to say a thing or do a thing he says it and does it with amazing confidence and authority
b. Can you put those two things together?
c. Can you picture what that would look like in the leaders of the church?
*The Bible so so full of surprises and unexpected notions and strange ideas of reality that we must be very careful
*For example; right here instead of thinking that we know what serving the Lord would look like, we ought to slow down and get very serious about focusing on just what Paul says about his service
*In verse 18-21 is one sentence in the original
----This is Paul’s way of spelling out how he served the Lord
*What a shame if we were to just say, "leaders should serve the Lord," and then close our Bibles and tell stories about what that might mean in our experience
*You got people who speak about a theme and say what they are saying is biblical because the theme is biblical
----the Bible is a book of justice therefore boom, boom, boom, boom, this is what you ought to do in society
----wait a minute; let’s see what the bible says about justice, or what the Bible says about servanthood
----in other words; as we come to this text you shouldn’t be desireus that I say, "there it is serving the Lord is a biblical concept let’s shut our Bibles and let’s share ideas and talk about what serving the Lord means"...........that is totally wrong
----what we ought to do is keep the Bible open; you got it open
----you keep the Bible open and you fine 11 defining feature in these verses
[So tonight 3 and Sunday the other 3..........................................................................]
I. SERVING THE LORD MEANS LOWLINESS
Acts 20:19 (NKJV)
serving the Lord with all LOWLINESS (humility)
A. BEING A SERVANT OF THE LORD MEANS BEING HUMBLE AND LOWLY
*Lowliness or humility is first a feeling toward God that he has absolute rights over your life
----he can do with you as he pleases
----he has absolute authority to tell you what is best for you and I know that is fine with you
----it is a spirit of utter yieldness and submissiveness to the Lord as master
B. LOWLINESS MEANS FEELING INDEBTED TO ALL PEOPLE BECAUSE OF HOW GRACIOUSLY GOD HAS TREATED US
*WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FLIP YOUR WIG! It is the opposite of feeling that everybody owes you something
----in other words; you feel that someone owes you an ear to listen
----someone owes you time
----they owe me thanks
*You may feel that someone may owe you something
----in other words; the more you are driven by what others owe you; rather than by what you owe them in love and service, the less lowly you are
*WATCH ME! Lowliness says, (Romans 15)I am a debtor to Greeks and barbarians, to wise and foolish, to friend and foe
*He didn’t even know these people and to say he was indebted to them
----lowliness does not think in terms of its rights
----it empties itself and takes the form of a servant and becomes obedient unto death, even death at the cross
[The first thing that serving the Lord means is LOWLINESS........................................................................................]
II. SERVING THE LORD MEANS TEARS.
Acts 20:19 (NKJV)
Serving the Lord with all lowliness (humility), with many TEARS
---- WATCH ME! Tears can come from physical pain
----tears can come from heartrending loss
----tears can come from unbearable frustrations
----discouragements or from longing from something
----tears can come from overwhelming joy
Acts 20:19 (NKJV)
"serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews
Acts 20:31 (NKJV)
Therefore watch, and remember that for 3 years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears
a. Characteristics of the wrong kind of leadership in the church
----in other words; they were more interested in themselves than the care of the flock
----they will draw people after themselves
----people will look for quick results that require little sacrifice
----no one wants to sacrifice anything anymore
----Pauls tears were the tears of intense longing for their faith and holiness
b. What should we learn then?
*If tears were simply owing to a kind of emotional weakness in Paul, they wouldn’t have to much meaning
----WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FLIP YOUR WIG! He wouldn’t mention them as part of his credentials
----what we should learn is that SERVING THE LORD means getting so intensely involved in people’s struggles that you cry over them
*Before the time that my wife and I went into pastoring a church 2 years ago I think we could count how many times we have cried together
*Now since we have became the shepherds of this flock we cry a lot more and it does not get any less
----we pray every morning at 5:00 am for this leadership and flock
----I cry every other day as a pastor for God to lead me in the right direction to lead this church
*A text like this gives me a great deal of comfort
----I am not an apostle Paul but in verse 31 he says, "he admonished with tears day and night"
----we have some growing to do yet before that privilege will be granted
[So the second mark of service is this: Serving the Lord as a leader in the church of God will mean TEARS, because it will mean getting involved in people’s struggles for faith and hope and truth and holiness.......................................................................................]
III. SERVING THE LORD MEANS TRIALS
Acts 20:19 (NKJV)
Serving the Lord with all lowiness (humility), with many tears and TRIALS which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews
a. Now why does Paul remind the leaders (elders) about these dangers that he went through?
----WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FREAK YOU OUT! Because they were going to have to go through them too
1 Corinthians 15:32 (NKJV)
If in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die?
b. What does this mean?
*Compare Acts 20:29 (NKJV)
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock [30] also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves
*WATCH ME SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND! Paul said he had to fight with beasts in Ephesus
*He says that the Ephesian elders will have to fight with fierce wolves
*Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 10:16 when he said, "Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves
----there are people who when they hear the absolute claims of Jesus Christ they become so angry they are like animals
----WATCH ME FREAK YOU OUT! Paul even that these wolves will even come from among their own number
----in other words; even some leaders themselves in the church will become the enemies of truth and righteousness
----they will speak perverse things about the message and life of the other leaders
----they may even plot against them like Paul’s kinsmen plotted against him
----PAUL SAID THAT THIS IS A GREAT TRIAL..........................................................
CONCLUSION:
*We have seen that serving the Lord means 3 things..................
1. It means humility
2. It means tears
3. It means trials
A. HUMILITY
----be utterly yielded to the Lord
----be submissive to his absolute rights to control your life
----be a willing clay in the potter’s hand
----be a debtor to all people
----don’t dwell on what people owe you
----you need to think about how the grace of God makes you a debtor to all
B. TEARS
----if you are shedding tears; be comforted
----if not pray that God would help you see what is at stake in the battle for faith and hope and holiness
C. TRIALS
----if you ar being tried, then hear the Word of James: "Count it all joy brothers when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing
IV. SERVING THE LORD MEANS COURAGE
Acts 20:20 (NKJV)
how I kept back nothing that was helpful
Acts 20:27 (NKJV)
For I have not shunned (avoid) to declare to you the whole counsel of God
Galatians 2:12 (NKJV)
For before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision
Hebrews 10:38 (NKJV)
Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him
A. Putting vv. 20 and 27 together it seems that there are parts to the whole counsel of God that are profitable but evidently not easy to teach
----WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FLIP YOUR WIG! A good leader or elder does not decide what to teach by what is popular or easily accepted
----if it is part of God’s counsel it ought to be taught because it will be profitable
----THIS IS WHAT TAKES COURAGE
a. It also takes study and thought
Titus 1:9 (NKJV)
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict
----the teaching, belief, and testimony of those called to Christian leadership is to be grounded in the "faithful word" of the gospel that Paul has proclaimed
----If something is going to be controversial and encounter those who contradict it, then the leaders must do their homework and be able to give reasonable answers
*Not drawing back takes courage to give something less than popular and confidence that enough study and insight will provide reasonable answers to those who question it
V. SERVING THE LORD MEANS SOMETIMES PROCLAIMING
Acts 20:20 (NKJV)
How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed (declaring) it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house
*The Greek word anaggelo means something different from "teach" which follows
----WATCH ME! It is what you do when you announce or proclaim or report
----in other words; this does not fall on explaining the meaning or the implications of a passage of Scripture
----this falls on bringing news or announcing a happening or some coming event or proclaiming a victory
*There is a place and a need for both proclamation and teaching because Chrisitian truth is not just knowledge to be analyzed and understood
----it is a vision of reality to be savored and enjoyed
----as a church we need to hear a kind of announcement of the truth of Scripture that corresponds to the emotional weight of the truth
----WATCH ME! This is the difference between preaching and teaching
*Not all elders or leaders need to be good proclaimers, or preachers
----they all should have a heart to announce the good news when it is time and should have a love of having it announced as well as analyzed
VI. SERVING THE LORD MEANS LIVING FOR WHAT PROFITS THE CHURCH
Acts 20:20 (NKJV)
how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house
A. A good "proclaiming elder or leader" does not make decisions about his preaching merely on the basis of what he finds easy or familiar
*Here he has to know what profit is
a. Is it self-esteem?
b. Is it money?
c. is it soothed consciences?
*Jeremiah spoke against prophets and priests who "healed the wound of my people lightly, saying "Peace, Peace, when there was no peace" (6:14; 8:11)
----true eternal profit is the goal ot temporary peace and comfort
----in other words; what will do the people everlasting good is the constant question of the faithful leaders
----telling people lightly
VII. SERVING THE LORD MEANS BEING SUITABLE TO TEACH
A. HERE’S THE LIST OF QUIALFICATIONS FOR ELDERS (LEADERS)
1 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV)
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach
----he should have the gift of teaching
a. The reason for this is that the leader are charged with being the doctrinal guardians of the flock
----they should be able to preserve the true doctrine and defend it
----they should be able to build it into the people
Titus 1:9 (NKJV)
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict
*Teaching is different from "proclaiming" in that it takes the word proclaimed, or a portion of scripture and more or less arranges it orderly and explains it
----teaching emphasizes making the sense plain
Nehemiah 8:8 (NKJV)
So they read distinctly from the book in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading
*The Hebrew word is bin (bean) understanding
----To understand, discern, perceive, grasp, consider, regard, be perceptive, have insight
*This verb occurs more then 165 times and refers to that intelligent process of perception, discernment, and understanding
----spiritual revival will not come until the people clearly understand the text
----a strong church must be a taught church
----God wills for there to be pastors-teachers in the body of Christ
Ephesians 4:11 (NKJV)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
----2 years or more he taught the disciples as well as proclaiming to newcomers
----it takes awhile to be taught the right way
VIII. SERVING THE LORD MEANS A PUBLIC MINISTRY
Acts 20:20 (NKJV)
how I kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house
*Demosia in Greek seems to mean having to do with the population in general (Public Prison)
Acts 5:18 (NKJV)
and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison
----this is having to do with being out in the open for all to see
----in other words; they have been beaten publicly
Acts 16:37 (NKJV)
But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! let them come themselves and get us out"
*WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FLIP YOUR WIG! Paul is emphasizing that his ministry to the disciples and elders was not all private
----WATCH! It was open to everyone to see
----it was free access for everybody
*The point may be that Christian truth is public truth
----it is nothing to be ashamed of
----it is nothing to hide
----it is not like the gnostic rites then or like the Masonic rites today
----it is open and above board
----ALL ELDERS (LEADERS) ought to be that way
----no teaching that has to be kept secret
IX. SERVING THE LORD MEANS A PERSONAL MINISTRY
Acts 20:20 (NKJV)
how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house
*WATCH ME SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND! Paul was not content to always be speaking to a large public crowd where things necessarily were somewhat more impersonal
----in other words; he evidently divided the church into house groups and went to those groups
----in mya mean going to visit particular families
a. Since he is teaching, the focus is not so much on socializing, but on smaller times when the word could be more closely applied and perhaps more detailed and personal questions could be asked
----it is very important that we as leaders and as a church meet in someone’s house 1 time out of the week to get more closer to the Word
----leaders are not only to be gifted teachers but gifted int he ability to explain and apply the word personally and helpfully in a variety of personal settings
----in other words; in order to that it is very important that we get to together as a group to learn more
X. SERVING THE LORD MEANS SPIRITUAL INTENSITY
Acts 20:21 (NKJV)
testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
*The Greek word diamarturomenos sometimes means bear witness
----this is in a sense of taking an oath in court and testifying of what you know of an event
----in other words; it has come to mean charge or warn or tell with a gravity or solemnity because the matter is very serious
*So Paul’s use of the word here and in verse 24 implies that he was in dead earnest about this mater of repentance and faith
----WATCH ME! Ernestness and seriousness and spiritual intensity are crucial in the leadership of the church
----it is the opposite of a kind of official church talk that has no sense of ultimate reality in it
----leaders need to communicate the greatness of the eternal things they are dealing with in the Word of God and prayer and people’s souls
XI. SERVING THE LORD MEANS BEING IMPARTIAL (UNPREDJUDICE)
Acts 20:21 (NKJV)
testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
----WATCH ME CUZ I’M GOING TO FREAK YOU OUT! Leaders should not favor one group of people over another in the sense that he belittles one
----a leader may be assigned to give special attention to the youth or to the elderly
----a leader may be assigned to a family or to single people
----THAT OPEN AND DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT FAVORING
*A leader sho slights a group in the church because he dislikes them is contrary to Paul’s example here
----the spiritual welfare of all the people should be the concern of a Christ-like leader
XII. SERVING THE LORD MEANS URGING REPENTANCE TO GOD
XIII. SERVING THE LORD MEANS URGING FAITH IN JESUS
Acts 20:21 (NKJV)
testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
*Finally we get to the content of what Paul was proclaiming and teaching and testifying
----repentance to God and Faith in Jesus
A. BOTH ARE NECESSARY FOR SALVATION
a. Repentance
Acts 3:19
repent therefore and turn again that your sins may be forgiven
Acts 5:31
God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to israel and forgiveness of sins
Acts 8:22
Repent, therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that if possible, the intent of your ehar may be forgiven you
Acts 11:18
When they heard this they were silenced. and they glorified God, saying, then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life
Acts 17:30
the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent
Acts 26:17-20
I will appear to you delivering you fromt he people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and fromt he power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Wherefoe O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient ot the heavenly vision but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance
b. Faith
