ACTS
Pursuing The Call – Series Conclusion
Dr. Tom Bartlett
September 8, 2019
Acts 20:17-38
OUTLINE
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: (Acts 20:17-18a)
Gaining an Eternal Focus for Life
Acts 20:18-38 (ESV)
Serve with humility
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Vs. 18-21)
Run your own race
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 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. (Vs. 22-27)
Be alert to deceivers
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. (Vs. 28-32)
Help those in need
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.’ ” (Vs. 33-35
Love people deeply
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. (VS. 36-38)
MANUSCRIPT
Good morning and welcome to Steele Creek Church. I’m Tom Bartlett and I’m one of the pastors here. We began last December and God has continued to build the team here at Eastfield and I’m so excited to be a part of it.
I’m a history buff of sorts, at least, I like to study history and read about history. I’m often amazed at what people did without modern science and modern conveniences. We live very different than our grandparents did and those who were living just 50 to 100 years ago. Think of this way, my grandfather was born in 1900. He lived to be 72, so he died in 1972. My grandfather went from horse-drawn wagons to driving cars and even owning his gas station. He was alive when man made flight a reality (1903), then all the advancements in travel because of that. He was in the navy and saw our military grow from land and sea, to land, sea and air and many advancements in technology there. Eventually in 1969 just 2 years before his death, he witnessed man walk on the moon.
Now, my grandfather is gone, but when I meet people like him, I like to ask them questions. I like to learn from those who have gone before me. I’ve sat with many folks older than me to glean all I can.
Here’s what I’ve noticed. No matter when you lived or what technology brings our way, people throughout time have struggled with the same issues and still do. Technology may affect the way we live, but it doesn’t fix the innermost issues we face.
The issue or relationships and learning to be accountable to one another and learning from what others have been through. It’s really the secret sauce of life groups.
YOU SEE WE’RE ALL IGNORANT, JUST ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS. You can learn from me, I can learn from you. That’s the beauty of people getting to know each other and “doing life together.”
Now, our series, pursuing the call comes to a completion today for this section of the book of Acts. In our text today, Acts 20:17-38, Paul is passing on to others learnings and things to watch out for. Paul knows that the people that have gathered to learn from him will never see him again. He also knew that the best thing he could do for them was to point them to an eternal view of things. To keep their eyes focused on the day that they would see The Lord and be in eternity with him and Jesus.
In the middle of all that Paul was saying to them, some encouragements for all of us to hear and learn from.
We will start in verse 17.
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: (Acts 20:17-18a)
So, Paul is about to tell them some important last time teachings. In them, he will point them to live in a way that honors the gospel and is focused on the goal of seeing Jesus.
Gaining an Eternal Focus for Life
Acts 20:18-38 (ESV)
Among many other encouragements he tells them and us to. . .
Serve with humility
Now, you might think that serving is a humble thing, but I’ve noticed in my own life that sometimes I serve so others can see me. Now, I’m just being honest, Paul is gonna tell them, serve because of your devoted to Jesus even if you’re never seen by men, God knows.
(Vs. 18-21) “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul preaches and proclaims repentance and faith. Repentance is turning away from that which is ungodly and biblical faith is trusting wholly in God.
You can see why he adds the words, “I didn’t shrink back”. These words speak of both his courage and humility.
COURAGE: He’s speaking to people who’s lives are based on philosophies completely opposed to his teaching and when going into communities there were few if any that agreed with him! That takes courage!
HUMILITY: Surely, he had to think at some point, “who am I to tell these people how to live their lives”. Yet, his life was miraculously changed and so could there’s be.
So, he’s passing wisdom, be humble yet courageous. Next he says . . .
Run your own race
Paul must have loved athletics since he uses athletic analogies a lot. In 2 Timothy he says, “I have run the race, finished the course. . .” This just before his beheading in Rome.
Here we will see him encourage them with the idea that he’s on a personal course, one set by the Lord for Him.
(Vs. 22-27) And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 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.
We each have a personal course yet we have a similar message – the power and forgiveness of God through “the gospel of God’s grace.”
Your career may take you on a different path, but your calling is like mine and Paul’s. It is the pursuit of following the Lord and telling people of the love of God for them.
If you’re a teacher – teach the best you can and live out the gospel and speak out the gospel when the time is right.
If you drive a truck or work in an office or push airplanes back, be a living example of the Gospel of grace.
THE GOSPEL OF GRACE – Is literally the Good News that God has extended to any and all a free gift called salvation.
I love to bring good news. I hate to deliver bad news. BUT, good news that’s exciting to share. When I tell you that you don’t have to live a purposeless life, and that you don’t have to spend eternity apart from God in a place of suffering, that you can accept his free grace, his “charis” his gift!
Paul says the value of his life, in his eyes is found in this wonderful opportunity of telling people god news.
Now what was the value of Paul’s life in God’s eyes? The value was what God paid for Paul. He gave His Son Jesus to die for Paul’s sins, and BTW yours too.
But Paul said, my life matters not outside this work of telling Good News because bringing people into this relationship with God is what matters most.
Run your race but remember the real goal is to pass on God’s love!
Paul continues. . .
Be alert to deceivers
I don’t care what profession you’re in, there are people out there to deceive you for whatever reason. Investments, purchases, relationships. People are prone to deceive.
BUT, you’d think well that doesn’t happen in the church, does it? IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL YOU WILL BE DECEIVED. Teachers who teach for self-gain and control are plaguing the church world.
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. (Vs. 28-32)
Paul is saying watch out, people will come in over night and twist the truth. He says, I was with you 3-years night and day investing.
They could see his way of life, his example. He lived what he preached.
LOGOS ? PATHOS ? ETHOS
NEXT. . .
Paul’s commitment was always for the underdog, the down and out the needy. BTW – God has a special place in His heart for the poor.
Help those in need
Paul came to Ephesus and started by making tents and not asking for anything. Later an offering from Macedonia came to help with his work, but he asked nothing of the people he worked among.
(Vs. 33-35) 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.’ ”
Now, this is interesting to me. No where in the gospels do we find the words Paul quotes about Jesus. What we do know is that most of what Jesus said and did could not be written down, but many of His teachings were still being remembered by the early Christians and the Apostles who lived with Jesus.
BUT, it makes me also wonder what things were revealed to Paul from Christ personally. You have to remember that the NT was available yet, because Paul was still writing it. I’m sure there was a lot of direct revelation going on for Paul, it to have been since he teaches so much about the things of God that we would not know. When it comes to communion, Paul says “I’m delivering to you what the Lord delivered to me.” In other words, this is what Jesus taught me and I’m passing this to you.
Still the bigger thing here is this act of graciousness and care for the needy. Those in hunger, pain, and distress. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
Major institutions for learning like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Duke, one and on all started by churches primarily to teach God’s word but also medicine and advancements.
When my daughter Kai was born, she was rushed to Baptist hospital in Winston Salem for a hole in her heart. Baptist was not the sponsoring agency of the hospital like at Bank of America Stadium where the Panther’s play – the Baptist Founded it. The Methodist founded the great hospital here in Charlotte.
A hallmark of a Christian is to be like Christ and the two biggest indicators are how well we
• Give (and)
• Forgive!
Paul now comes to an emotional time as he has to tell these people who have grown to know and love him so deeply that he’s leaving and that they will never see him again in this world. His example is one of love for them.
Love people deeply
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. (VS. 36-38)
When we have eternity in mind, we can let go when those we love Pursue the Call, their particular race.
We don’t when we will pass a way again. All we know is that we have this moment. Don’t wait till it’s too late to tell people and show them how much you love them.
STORY OF TONY ERB – death bed conversion.
HAITI SPECIAL OFFERING
TIME OF COMMITMENT
GIVING BACK TO GOD
