INTRODUCTION
Savage Wolves: PT BARNUM - THE CIRCUS SHOWMAN - He delighted in showing an exhibit: THE HAPPY FAMILY - Lions, Tigers, and a little lamb. One asked if they had problems, Barnum said “Aside from replacing the lamb from time to time, there’s no problem.”
We all know that there are predators. Not just telemarketers - those in the church - who disrupt the house of God and attack the souls of people.
WE MAY EACH FACE WOLVES - attacking the most vulnerable. Are you committed to walk with Christ? Men are you leading your families; young people are you solid? What would you do for 10,000,000?
We have seen the development in Ephesus. There are at least two kingdom principles we have observed: Opposition offers opportunity and Christ changes culture. The opposition in the synagogue led to two fruitful years of declaration and defense and demonstration of the power of the Spirit in Ephesus. This had the effect that (v 20) “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” We have also seen the early Order of the Church - they were presbyterial/elder led; and the Origins of our Worship. They met on the first day of the week to break bread. Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders.
TEXT
7 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
18 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;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
29 "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.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 "I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "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.’ "
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul’s life in Christ was a life well-lived.
In this passage we see:
PASTOR PAUL’S MANNER
PASTOR PAUL’S METHOD
PASTOR PAUL’S MESSAGE
1. PASTOR PAUL’S MANNER: CHRIST LIKENESS
REAL HUMILITY AND TEARS
REAL CONTENTMENT - CARING FOR THE WEAK/POOR
REAL AFFECTION
There is a difference between honesty, transparency, and integrity, Charles Swindoll tells a story of a man and a woman were going on a picnic. So they stopped to get some fast food chicken. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken--over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. By then, the manager was frantic.
"Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. ’I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money here.’
"Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, ’Let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local paper. You’re one of the most honest men I’ve ever heard of.’
"To which the man quickly responded, ’Oh, no! No, no, don’t do that!’ Then he leaned closer and whispered, ’You see, the woman I’m with--she’s, uh, somebody else’s wife.’
One can be honest and still not have integrity.
REAL CONTENTMENT - THERE WAS GOLD/SILVER
NOT SO WITH PAUL: 18 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;
NOT GREEDY
33 "I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.
35 "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.’ "
Build your nest upon no tree here; for you see God has sold the forest to death.
—Samuel Rutherford
Let us use worldly things as wise pilgrims do their staves and other necessaries convenient for their journey. So long as they help us forward in our way, let us make use of them, and accordingly esteem them. But if they become troublesome hindrances and cumbersome burdens, let us leave them behind us, or cast them away.
—George Downame
ILLUSTRATION: WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR ...Documented in a book by James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, (1991), Americans were asked: “What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?” Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:
§ Would abandon their entire family (25%) Would abandon their church (25%)
§ Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
§ Would give up their American citizenships (16%) Would leave their spouses (16%)
§ Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
§ Would kill a stranger (7%) Would put their children up for adoption (3%)
DEEP AFFECTION, DEEP LOVE
If one of us were to leave would there be such deep affection.
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
2. PASTOR PAUL’S METHOD: PREACHING CHRIST
We must be unified about this
PUBLIC MINISTRY OF THE WORD
PRIVATE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
3. PASTOR PAUL’S MESSAGE: CHRIST’S WHOLE WORD
THE WHOLE COUNSEL - all the Scripture, THE KINGDOM
THE WHOLE FLOCK
Shepherding is not Policing - a Barny Fife mentality. The elders would like to be able to give CITATIONS.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
HEBREWS 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another" (1Th 5:12-13)
1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The Westminster Directory says, "It is the duty of the minister not only to teach the people committed to his charge in public, but privately, and particularly to admonish, exhort, reprove, and comfort them upon all seasonable occasions, so far as his time, strength, and personal safety will permit. He is to admonish them in time of health to prepare for death. And for that purpose, they are often to confer with their minister about the estate of their souls..."
29 "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.
31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ’ These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent.
6 "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ’
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Modern church leaders have often neglected the duties of overseeing the spiritual welfare of individuals and families. Sadly, biblical pastoral oversight is set aside for more promising programs. Instead, programs, facilities, and finances are impersonally managed the way businesses manage their resources. Of course if pastors and elders fail to care for souls, they fail to obey God (1Pe 5:1-2, Acts 20:28), to the great detriment of the church. The goal of the elders and pastors of a church should be to see families and each individual grow to maturity to the glory of God. All of the ministries of a church are to become tools in the hands of skillful craftsmen who correctly diagnose the spiritual needs of individuals and families. By this, the fruit of each life can produce a great harvest in the kingdom of God. It must be the serious concern of the church to see continually “good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ” (Col 2:5).
It is not only elders and pastors who have responsibilities, members have the duty to follow (Heb 13:17) and appreciate their leaders. “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another” (1Th 5:12-13, Heb 13:17).
