Series: Acts: We’re on a Mission from God
Message: Little Red Riding Hoods
Text: Acts 20:17-38
Date: June 13, 2021
Big Idea: The passage is sometimes referred to as Paul’s tearful farewell. Not surprisingly, Paul has what could also be described as an elder board meeting with the elders of the Ephesian church. Goodbyes have a way of making you think and Paul has some final thoughts for the church at Ephesus; most notably to beware the wolves.
INTRO
-ILLUS:Every year some of our winter visitors inform us that they’re moving back North for good meaning that it’s unlikely that we’ll ever be together again this side of heaven. Sometimes we’ll pray together, hug, and say something to effect of “See you in heaven.”
Because of Jesus we know that we’ll be reunited in heaven, but nonetheless it’s sometimes a bit solemn and such is the case recorded for us in Acts 20:17-38, often referred to as “Paul’s tearful farewell”.
He has plans of returning to Jerusalem but he wants to visit some of the churches he’s planted along the way in Berea, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth. In fact, He’s already sent Timothy and Erastmus (19:22) ahead of himself to make lodging and speaking arrangements. However, before he can say his own goodbyes a riot, led by Demetrius a silversmith of idols, breaks out. He had named Paul (19:26) as the instigator of their declining market.
So Paul calls for one last elder board meeting of the Ephesian church but it takes place 30 miles away in Miletus, a regional seaport.
ACTS 20:17-38
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia (i.e., Turkey aka Asia Minor),19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 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. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 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. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 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. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 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.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 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.
-If someone were to ask you what the meeting was about, what was it did Paul want to meet with you about that was so important you went all the way to Miletus, 30 miles away, a day’s journey, what would your answer be? The answer would be that he wanted to say good bye and to warn us about wolves.
SLIDE 1
Image of Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding hood is a European fable, folk tale, that dates back to at least the 16th century. The story revolves around a little girl wearing a red hooded cape, a hoodie, who’s walking through the woods of a forest to deliver food to her sick grandmother. However, there’s a wolf, specifically “the big bad wolf” who initially wants the food in her basket. He approaches her asks her where she’s going.
Little Red Riding Hood, naively tells him she’s delivering food to her sick grandmother. The big bad wolf suggests that she pick some flowers as a present for her grandmother, which she does. While she’s picking flowers, he goes to the grandmother's house and gains entry by pretending to be little red riding hood. He swallows the grandmother whole (he’s called the big bad wolf for a reason) and waits for the girl, disguised as the grandmother.
When Little Red Riding Hood arrives, she notices that her grandmother looks very strange. She then says, "What a deep voice you have!" ("The better to greet you with", responds the wolf), "Goodness, what big eyes you have!" ("The better to see you with", responds the wolf), "And what big hands you have!" ("The better to embrace you with", responds the wolf), and lastly, "What a big mouth you have" ("The better to eat you with!", responds the wolf), at which point the wolf jumps out of the bed and eats her too. The rest is history.
The lesson being given to children is not to trust strangers. Not a bad idea for adults either I might add.
The Bible records many warnings about “wolves” attacking the true Church. Like the classic fable wolves use distraction (go pick some flowers) and deception (disguise).
Interesting, here in his final meeting with the elders, Paul’s primary concern for the church is false teachers, wolves.
SLIDE 2
Beware the Wolves
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock (20:29)
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Mt. 7:15)
The main point, that Paul’s wants the Elder Board to know is very simple, expect and beware of wolves.
[Wolves were around during Paul’s time, they’re around now, and they will most certainly be pervasive during the end times. This is a big deal to Paul and a topic he regularly writes about in his epistles to the churches.]
As you may recall Ephesus is somewhat of the Sedona of its day yet it also has a lot of Greek philosophical influence as well. Paul had been lecturing at the hall of Tyrannus for two years.
SLIDE 3
Ephesus had become famous for its schools of philosophy, some of which would which would eventually mingle their ideas with Christianity and even adopt Christian vocabulary and then corrupt the gospel while sounding orthodox. So called teachers from other cities would arrive in Ephesus, announcing themselves as emissaries of the apostles, looking for occasions to address the church members. Paul saw them as wolves among the sheep. – Charles Swindoll, Living Insights New Testament Commentary-Acts.
Colossae is about a hundred miles away from Ephesus and in his letter to the Colossians he says, …
SLIDE 4 with map of Colossae
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8)
ILLUS: Adobe. “Don’t be taken captive”
Have you ever received an email that had the appearances of being legit but you could just tell something was off? I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. A few years ago, I was just going through my daily routine of emails and there was one stating that it was from Adobe and that I needed to update my flash player, whatever that means, and so I proceeded to do so. However, it wasn’t from Adobe. Rather it introduced a computer virus that took me about a day and a half to get rid of.
In the mid to late first century, Gnosticism was one of the rising hybrids of false religion and philosophy.
Much like a fake email that’s designed to introduce a computer virus, many of the Gnostic books would disguise their writings by falsely claiming to be the authored by one of the apostles, i.e., the gospel of Thomas. In Paul’s time the primary philosophy that was gaining ground was Gnosticism. It looked and sounded a lot like Christianity. (Due to the popularity of the DaVinci code books and movies Gnosticism was given new life.)
Paul is warning about dangerous philosophies. Philosophy can be defined as a system for guidance in practical affairs. It’s a worldview, i.e., ideas as to how one should live, what life is all about.
Some Christians and entire churches have been taken captive with the theory of evolution or the philosophy of LGBTQP and CRT.
He wrote to the church at Thessalonica to warn them about false teachings regarding the end times. In addition to the churches, Paul also wrote to Titus and Timothy about the importance of identifying and dealing with false teachers.
How to ID a Wolf
SLIDE 5
1-False Teachers contradict Biblical Doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3)
Writing to Timothy, who’s in Ephesus, Paul says,
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine (1 Tim. 1:1-3)
SLIDE 6
“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” (Romans 16:17-18)
ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE is the belief in the Bible as having final authority in issues of faith and life. God is the creator and sustainer of the earth and humanity. It’s mostly about Jesus, e.g., Incarnation: Jesus was born of a virgin, the deity of Jesus, the Trinity, Salvation is exclusively through Jesus, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the second coming of Jesus.
These are the essentials. An example of a non-essential Christian doctrine would be when Christ is going to return, i.e. pre-trib, mid-trib, or post trib. What’s essential is the belief that He’s going to return, but when exactly is non-essential. A false teacher, a heretic, would be someone who teaches something contrary to the essentials that often looks and sounds a lot like Christianity.
[
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth (1 Tim. 4:1-3)]
Cults such as JWs and Mormonism teach alternative ways to heaven besides the grace of Jesus meaning that they contradict sound doctrine. Churches may have a cross on their building or in their logo but if they don’t believe in the deity of Jesus or His bodily resurrection, they’re teaching doctrines contrary to biblical doctrine. They’re wolves.
For starters, how do you identify a wolf? The teaching of wolves contradicts the Bible. Secondly…
SLIDE 7
2-False Teachers promote immoral living
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed (2 Peter 2:2)
BEACHBOYS
In his book Good Vibrations, Mike Love-founding member of the beach boys, recounts how his cousin, Dennis Wilson (d 1983), nearly got involved with a cult. Wilson picked up two female hitchhikers on the Sunset strip who urged him to join them for a party and to meet their spiritual guru. At the time he was spiritually curious and of course it didn’t hurt that the girls were very attractive. The party was an LSD party and the spiritual guru was Charles Manson. We used to offer free coffee mugs to first time guests, but Manson orchestrated sexual partners for everyone present, especially first-time guests. Love described Dennis Wilson as the shy introverted guy in school that never really dated and that it seemed as if Manson intuitively knew this and tapped into parts of Dennis that made it all too enticing. Fortunately, for Wilson, he got into a heated argument with Manson and never went back.
Here’s the point, false teachers condone and even encourage sexual perversion and promiscuity. Look at what Paul says to Timothy…
SLIDE 8
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching (#1 contradict or deny biblical doctrine), but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
Notice that Paul points out that false teachers have an audience to those who desire to have teachings that “suit their own passions”
David Koresh – had several children by as many as 12 wives.
Jim Jones – A member of the People’s Temple, aka Jim Jones cult, who fortunately did not relocated to Guyana said,
SLIDE 9
“When I walked into the Temple, I saw Jim Jones. He was not exactly handsome – charming is the word that comes to mind. As time went on, Jim often spoke about members, both men and women, who were about to stray, and how he had helped keep them in the fold by making a personal sacrifice and having sex with them. Of course, if they were attractive, he would make the sacrifice sooner rather than later” – Laura Kohl
-You may be thinking that you’d never fall for that but there are a number of mainline Protestant denominations that condone same sex lifestyle.
Wolves, false teachers, are identified by the fact that they seek to justify their own perversions and they try to use the Bible to do it. Rather than denying the Bible completely, they craftily seek to redefine the Bible’s teaching about marriage and sexuality.
-There are a number of major mainline denominations that are redefining marriage, sexuality, and morality. I don’t care if they’re in robes or skinny jeans, if they’re promoting immoral living, that’s a wolf in drag. Run. Don’t even look back just run.
Wolves, understandably and characteristically downplay sin. Jesus referred to them as being ravenous, meaning they have an insatiable appetite…for sheep. That’s you. Wolves, by the way, generally teach that there’s no need to fear God’s judgement. They tell people who should have every reason in the world to fear God’s judgment, that they really don’t have anything to worry about. They tell people whatever their itching ears want to hear.
Their teaching contradicts biblical doctrine, they condone immorality and…
SLIDE 10
3-False Teachers use Jesus to get rich and famous.
And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words (2 Peter 2:3).
Who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit (1 Tim. 6:5).
Exploit is defined as taking advantage of someone for financial gain.
Wolves are greedy. By contrast look at Paul’s bio.
Paul said, “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.’” (Acts 20:33-35)
The prosperity gospel would’ve sounded very odd, foreign even, to someone like the apostle Paul wouldn’t it? It may sound as if false teaching is limited to cults but it’s all around us, the prosperity gospel is an example of how it’s already infiltrated evangelical Christianity.
A wolf’s version of the serenity prayer is: “Lord, give me the strength to change the things I can, the grace to accept the things I cannot, and a GREAT BIG BAG of money. In JeeeeZuss name amen.”
JOKE: By contrast I remember hearing about a pastor at a small church who after passing the offering plate noticed that it had been returned completely empty. Not a single person gave. So, he prayed, “Well Lord, thank you for the safe return of the plate.”
2,000 years ago the apostles warned us that false teachers would be recognizable by greed and selfish gain.
Peter says that in their “greed” false teachers exploit God’s people with “false words” (2 Peter 2:3), i.e. empty promises.
They’ll empty out the savings of widows without thinking twice about it. Because of their love for money and desire for fame, they will say whatever is needed to keep the seats full and increase their bottom line. Their doctrines are influenced by the highest bidder. If the only one prospering is the prosperity preacher, let that be a yellow flag.
Being wealthy in this world is not our primary goal. At the judgment seat of Christ, we will not be measured by our bank account but rather how we used our wealth, great or small, for His purposes.
Wealth is not a barometer of God’s favor upon your life.
-4 Types of People. I’ve met some wealthy people who are righteous. I’ve met some very wealthy people who are very unrighteous. I’ve met some poor people who are righteous and I’ve also met some really mean homeless people. Wealth, or lack thereof, is not a measurement of our spirituality. It’s how you use it that counts. Whether you’ve received only one talent or five, God will review us on how we stewarded whatever it was that He blessed us with.
SLIDE 11
Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
-There is just enough truth in prosperity theology to make it spiritually dangerous. False teachers are experts at using half-truths.
Truth is, God does answer prayer. He heals. He loves you. We’re told to pray for our daily bread and He regularly provides, doesn’t He? All good things are from above. Be bold in your prayers. Ask God to bless you at work and in managing your finances. He will.
We are to give, but do so for the right reason-it’s an act of worship and it recalibrates our hearts. Where your heart is there your treasure will be also.
Be alert for those who are making unbiblical promises regarding wealth and using Jesus to become rich and famous.
Some prosperity preachers teach to anyone who’ll give them an ear that God will reward him 100 times over if you’ll send money to their ministry, not the local church, phoenix rescue mission, or angel tree, but to their ministry. Some declare that if you give them $10 God would bless you with $1,000. If you give them $1,000 God will bless you with $100,000.
If that were true, why wouldn’t they be sending me money? Shouldn’t the same principle apply? If the prosperity preacher sent me just $10, shouldn’t they then receive $1000 from God?
Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and Jude all warned us that wolves were coming.
Wolf Repellent.
What can we do?
One of the best things you can do to protect yourself, family, and friends is to stay in the Bible and actively involved in a Bible believing church.
ILLUS: Bible Church. I was once at a social function and meeting some new people and of course was asked “what do you do?” The answer, pastor, is one that generally causes people to remember that they need to be somewhere else, but in this case the individual was cordial and had the conversational skills to engage with me and eventually he asked about my church. When I told him that I pastored a bible church he asked what that meant and I proceeded to explain that it meant that we were non-denominational and that we taught the bible. He had a genuine quizzical look on his face and asked, “but don’t they all teach the bible?” “You’d be surprised” I found myself saying. It just came out. Truth is, most churches today do not teach all of God’ Word. I’m not using hyperbole. Let me say it again, many of today’s churches in the United States that have church in their name do not believe in the bible much less teach it.
Rather, some approach the bible like a cafeteria, only picking out the pieces they really like, mostly dessert. Some churches even have policies against preaching against sin and/or referencing certain passages. Some have self-imposed restrictions forbidding them from teaching on evangelism, sexuality, the end times, and referencing hell.
Bible is in our middle name and I can say without hesitation that we teach the bible here. There’s nothing wrong with doing book studies by Christian authors but by and large even our bible studies are bible studies.
-One of the blessings of being a bible church is that it forces you to address topics that, given the choice, you’d normally dodge.
SLIDE 12
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 (20:20-21).
Stay in the Bible and actively involved in a Bible believing church.
Being a bible believing Christian will help keep your hands clean.
SLIDE 13
I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God (20:26-27)
If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul (Ezek. 3:18-19)
While sharing the gospel in Corinth Paul also makes reference to this phrase in Acts 18:6
Paul is saying that because he’s taught the whole counsel of God’s Word, not just the dessert, his hands are clean.
Maintaining a Biblical worldview helps in keeping your hands clean.
Beware the Wolf Virus
Teaching all of God’s Word, the good, the entertaining, the positive, the painful, the awkward, and the prophetic, helps in keeping your hands clean.
-Remember how stores ran out of hand sanitizers last summer? We all wanted to keep our hands clean so that we wouldn’t get the virus. I carried sanitizer in my car. The same is true spiritually. As you read and become familiar with God’s Word, you’ll be keeping your soul, possibly your family and friends as well, free from the wolf virus.
When I was ordained, like a wedding vow, I made a vow that I would teach all of God’s Word in season and out. There’s a lot that’s out of season in the 2020s, but by His grace and help I’m going to carry on and I want to exhort you to do so as well.
Jesus and the apostles made it clear that wolves are coming. Correct?
God forbid we should go on any witch hunts. Let’s give people the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps something was quoted out of context. But, keep your eyes open for the wolves in sheep’s clothing who are proactively teaching something that’s a contradiction of essential Christian doctrine. Keep your distance from those who endorse immoral living, and keep an eye on those who are using Jesus to become rich and famous.
As Paul said to the church in Ephesus:
CONCLUSION
SLIDE 12
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 (20:28).
Wolves are with us but unlike Little Red Riding Hood we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted nor deceived by them, nor can we afford to be taken captive by unbiblical philosophies and doctrines like so many others have.
Jesus is the only hope we have for forgiveness and everlasting life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He loves you and would love to welcome you into the kingdom of heaven today.
PRAYER
