Heartbeat of Paul - THE CHURCH WHICH WAS PURCHASED WITH GOD’s OWN BLOOD
Acts 20: 13-38
More often than not, when we think of the Apostle Paul, we think of him as a missionary, an evangelist, and writer of many of the books of the New Testament. Paul was all of these and more. But in a very real sense he was also a pastor.
From the Biblical accounts it can be seen that normally, in the course of his missionary travels, Paul did not stay in any city for a lengthy period of time—usually just a few weeks, or, at most, a few months.
Once a nucleus of believers had been established in the faith, he transferred the authority and pastoral ministry to someone else, usually someone he himself had trained, such as Timothy or Titus. Paul would then move on to another city or geographical area to establish yet another church.
However, the city of Ephesus was an exception to the norm. In Ephesus the great apostle spent three fruitful years, not only instructing and edifying the believers there, but also starting new churches within the city and in nearby towns.
Ephesus, the center of Diana worship and pagan idolatry, became, under Paul, the center of evangelism and church-planting throughout the western provinces of the Roman Empire. This great port city and bustling center of trade and commerce, where ships could be seen at all times in the harbor from many nations, was a natural location from which to extend and expand the embryonic church.
In Acts 20 we see the nature and effectiveness of Paul's Ephesus ministry. About to leave the region for Jerusalem, Paul called together the elders, or pastors, of the local churches in Ephesus, which he had helped found and instruct in the faith, for one last instructional conference.
After they had come together, this great "pastor of pastors" opened his heart to them.
I. Notice HIS PERSONAL LIFE (18-19)
These were men who knew Paul well. He called upon them as witnesses of his daily life and personal conduct.
They could testify to the things about Paul’s life:
A. Paul had consistency
From the very first day and during his entire stay at Ephesus they could testify to his consistency of life and ministry.
His life had been an opened book before them! They had seen how he lived. He didn’t put on a front when he was with them, but then live differently when he was away from them. He had nothing to hide.
Paul was a man of Integrity. What he was in private, he was the same as in public.
B. Paul had compassion
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears,”
Compassion makes a difference. They knew Paul cared. See verse 31.
A tombstone in Crittenden, Kentucky, has these words: "Curtis G. Loyd (date of birth) died sixty or more years thereafter. The exact number of months, days, and years that he lived nobody knows and nobody cares. Monument erected by himself, for himself, to satisfy his own vanity." I guess the question that we need to ask ourselves tonight is: do we really care for the people who are lost and broken and hurting?
C. Paul had conflicts
"With many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews." Paul's life was one of constant conflict—with Satan, with the Jews, and with other enemies of Christ. He was even burdened with the doubts and desertion of Christian brethren. Like his Lord, this mighty servant of God was despised and rejected by men.
Suffering and persecution were not isolated experiences for Paul.
II. Notice His POWERFUL LOVE (20)
As a faithful pastor, Paul took care of the flock of God. He was dedicated and determined in his witness to the unsaved. He could say to the pastors of Ephesus and also to the people to whom he had ministered.
"I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house."
All that would profit them spiritually he had freely given. He did not trim the message in order to gain acceptance or avoid opposition
He never hesitated to set before them truth that they might not like if it was what they needed. He did not seek to please men.
A. He taught them publicly
B. He taught them privately
Oftentimes the personal touch is far more effective than any other type of method in reaching souls.
Faithful Biblical teaching should take place both in formal and informal settings.
He showed them and taught them. He demonstrated and declared the truth to them.
“Your walk talks, and your talk talks; but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”
III. Note His PURPOSEFUL LIVING (22-24)
God had shown Paul from the beginning the things he must suffer for His name's sake. Paul would not be detoured by threats, personal hardships, or perils.
He knew the road would not be easy.
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).
The life of the Apostle Paul was motivated by his single-minded and single-hearted devotion to the Word and the will of God. He was the man whom nothing could stop. Of all the testings, tears, and trials, past, present, and future, none could or would cause him to veer off course.
During the Civil War one dedicated Southerner said, "I would rather die on my feet than live on my seat."
The apostle Paul shared that same conviction. He demonstrated sheer determination to go on and serve God no matter if it cost him his very own life.
2 Timothy 4:7
A. Paul was faithful to the fight.
B. Paul was faithful to the faith.
C. Paul was faithful to the finish.
D.L. Moody said, "It is better to say, 'This one thing I do,' than to say, ‘These forty things I dabble in.'" Paul was focused on one thing and that was finishing the course that was set for him.
Paul's "course" was God's plan for his life, and he wanted to complete it with rejoicing, knowing he had remained faithful.
Would to God that this same unswerving purpose motivated and activated every child of God today!
IV. Notice His PASTORAL LONGING (25-38)
Paul said that he was about to depart for Jerusalem and that his friends and fellow workers would "see [his] face no more" (Acts 20:25).
Before his departure he wanted to remind them again of his exemplary ministry. As far as the lost world was concerned, he made one of the most startling statements to be found anywhere in the Bible. He could say, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men" (vs. 26).
According to his own testimony, Paul had warned every sinner he came in contact with. Not only was he consistent in his witness to the lost, thus fulfilling the first part of Christ's great commission, but he was equally as diligent in his ministry to the saints. He also could say, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). In other words, everything the believers at Ephesus needed to know concerning the work and the Word and the will of God, Paul had faithfully taught them.
Paul concluded his message to these pastors with a some things that he longed for them to remember.
A. Longed for them to remember the dangers lurking within them (28)
Be on guard! Guard your purity and character. Watch your own heart.
Five things that can destroy any man
1. CARELESSNESS (31)
"watch and remember..."
2. SHALLOWNESS (32)
No depth in the Bible.
3. COVETOUSNESS (33)
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Watch out for the love of money.
4. LAZINESS (34)
5. SELFISHNESS (35)
B. Longed for them to remember the dogs lurking without them (29)
This is the religious racketeers who exploit others for profit and personal gain
C. Longed for them to remember the destroyers lurking with them (30)
He told them to beware of those people in the church that would destroy the church though their desire for position and power. They were to beware of those who sowed discord among the brethren.
Conclusion:
To many Paul would seemed to be a failure but to God I am certain he was a success
Independent Missionary Board of Greece
Dear Mr. Paul,
We recently received an application from you for service under our Board.
It is our policy to be as frank and open-minded as possible with all our applicants. We have made an exhaustive survey of your case. To be plain, we are surprised that you have been able to "pass" as a bonafide missionary.
We are told that you are afflicted with a severe eye-trouble. This is certain to be an insuperable handicap to an effective ministry. Our Board requires 20/20 vision.
At Antioch, we learn, you opposed Dr. Simon Peter, an esteemed home missionary and actually rebuked him publicly. You stirred up so much trouble at Antioch that a special Board meeting had to be convened in Jerusalem. We cannot condone such actions.
Do you think it seemly for a missionary to do part-time secular work? We hear that you are making tents on the side. In a letter to the church at Phillipi, you admitted that they were the only church supporting you. We wonder why.
Is it true that you have a jail record? Certain brethren report that you did two years time at Caesarea and were imprisoned at Rome.
You made so much trouble for the business men at Ephesus that they refer to you as "the man who turned the world upside down."
We know that you had a bitter quarrel with a fellow missionary named Barnabas. Harsh words do not further God's work.
You have written many letters to churches where you have formerly been pastor. In one of the letters, you accused a church member of living with his father's wife, and you caused the whole church to feel badly; and the poor fellow was expelled.
You spend too much time talking about "the second coming of Christ." Your letters to the people at Thessalonica were almost entirely devoted to this theme.
Your sermons are much too long for the times. At one place, you talked until after midnight, and a young man was so asleep that he fell out of the window and broke his neck. Nobody is saved after the first twenty minutes any way. "Stand up, speak up and then shut up," is our advice.
It has been reported that often pray half the night.. A good night's sleep will give you zest and zip so that you wake full of zing.
You wrote recently to Timothy that "you had fought a good fight." Fighting is hardly a recommendation for a missionary.
It hurts me to tell you this, Brother Paul, but in all of my twenty-five years experience, I have never met a man so opposite to the requirements of our Foreign Mission Board. If we accepted you, we would break every rule of modern missionary practice.
I hope I have prevented you from making a terrible mistake in your life.
Most Sincerely yours,
Foreign Mission Board Secretary
Sincerely yours but securely His,