Month: March 2016

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch…
Act 20:29-31

We saw last week how Paul instructed the Ephesian elders to follow his example in caring for men’s souls by giving them the whole counsel of God. Their first responsibility as shepherds of the Lord’s flock was to feed the sheep (v. 28) by providing for them “the pure milk of the word, that [they] may grow thereby”. (1Pe 2:2) It is really this ability which distinguishes pastors from other leaders in the church. When Paul set forth the two primary church offices of bishops (the same role as elders or pastors – Tit 1:5-7, Eph 4:11) and deacons in 1Ti 3, it was being “able to teach” that set the elders apart from the deacons. (v. 2) If a man drops the ball on this point by failing to give the fullness of the word of God to the people, then he has denied the gift God has provided “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12) and has become a hindrance to that assembly rather than a help.

However, moving on to our text for today, we see that teaching is not the only responsibility of an elder any more than a shepherd’s only job is to lead the sheep to green pasture. Just as the shepherd also has to protect the flock from predators, the elders of a church must watch over and protect the assembly from those who would use and abuse them. To properly watch for these souls, we must understand two crucial points: 1) Enemies WILL come against the church and 2) they will attack from outside as well as within.

The first phrase in our verses today conveys the certainty of point one. Paul says, “For I know this…” in Act 20:29. In other words, without a doubt, these attacks WILL come! A man is signing up for battle when he assumes the role of a pastor, and if he will faithfully shepherd the flock of God, he must be willing to give himself for the protection of the church. A man who runs away when trouble comes is simply a hireling and not a shepherd at all. Jesus describes such a man in Joh 10:12-13: “But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.” Why does he flee? The answer is simple. Such a man was only in it for what he could get out of it–money, esteem, etc. He didn’t really care for the flock! He was not drawn to the ministry out of a sincere love for God and His people. If he had truly loved the Lord, then he would have remained faithful to the souls entrusted to his care when difficulty arose. Remember what Peter needed to do to prove his love for the Lord? ” ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ ” (Joh 21:6)

Paul was faithful to the Ephesian elders by not only making it clear that attacks would come but by also making sure they were aware that the assailant would not always be external to the congregation. At times, the problem would arise from within! Many today will get worked up over a discussion on “the Antichrist”, but they fail to grasp what the apostle John warned of in his day, namely that “even now many antichrists have come”! (1Jo 2:18) From where do these blasphemers and enemies of the church originate? “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” (v. 19) These group of rebels will be comprised of people who were trained within the church, so those in leadership must be on guard against any dissension among the ranks!

I recently taught a series of messages on church discipline, but as I poured over the passages related to this topic, I realized I had very little personal experience in the matter. In my 40+ years of church attendance, I had never once witnessed a church excommunicating someone. And yet, the word of God is clear that we must at times deal severely with sin in the church lest the whole group be adversely affected by it. Such was the case in 1Co 5. A sin worthy of church discipline had been committed (see v. 11 for a list of such sins), and not dealing with this matter was like adding a little leaven to lump of dough. (v. 6-8) The whole lump was affected, i.e. the entire assembly was being infected by this sin! Paul’s instruction was simple concerning the man involved in this adultery: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1Co 5:4-5) It was best for the man in the sin and the church as a whole to “put away from yourselves the evil person”. (v. 13) Some people may find such an action to be harsh, but when the Corinthians obeyed the Lord’s command by the apostle in this first letter, Paul was able to encourage them in his second letter to forgive the man and welcome him back into fellowship because he had repented of his sin! (2Co 2:4-11)

Dear soul, if you are one who God has called to feed His flock, attend to that calling faithfully so that God might be honored and that His sheep may prosper in Him. Don’t just give your time–give yourself for His glory and their good! Brethren, if you are blessed to have shepherds in your congregation that care for you in this fashion, thank God for such individuals! Pray for them and encourage them because their responsibility is great. “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1Th 5:12-13) Watch alongside them, “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”. (Heb 12:15)

Jamie

 

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Acts 20:26-27

What did Paul mean when he said he was “innocent of the blood of all men”? Given the verse about declaring “the whole counsel of God” which followed Paul’s statement, it’s clear that the innocence to which he was referring was along the lines of that which the Lord spoke to Ezekiel in Eze 3:17-21. In this chapter, the Lord warned His prophet concerning an act against men in which God would hold Ezekiel accountable for their blood. God’s word to His prophet was:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: 18 When 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, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”

The lesson is simple. If Ezekiel did not give the warning concerning the consequences of sin to those over which God had given him charge , God would hold the prophet personally responsible for their souls. What a powerful and fearful thought! How many preachers today realize that truth?!! I believe seminary enrollment would go WAY down if the attendees understood that being a pastor is not just another career choice. It’s far too serious to simply list it among other options! To preach the word should be accompanied by a call of God to such service. Notice in the passage in Ezekiel, he didn’t decide to be a watchman over Israel. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.” God appointed him to that role!

Paul had the same appointment by God. He distinguished himself from the false apostles seeking to lead the Galatian church astray because God had called him as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…” (Gal 1:15-16) The apostle didn’t sign up for this service. He was drafted! When God stopped him in his tracks on the Damascus road, the Lord instructed him to, “Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do”. (Act 22:10)

Knowing God called him to this task, Paul therefore understood the weight of his responsibility. He, along with every pastor, was called to, “watch out for your souls, as those who must give account“. (Heb 13:17) He knew he would have to answer to God for the souls entrusted to his care! And so, Paul performed faithfully what everyone called to preach the word of God should do: “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God“. He held nothing back, but gave out all God gave him to say. This statement must be the goal of every pastor. Our desire should be the good of the souls to whom we’re appointed to minister. Financial success isn’t the issue. Church growth isn’t what matters. The point is to faithfully declare the word of God whether men are added to the congregation or not. Noah was faithful as “a preacher of righteousness,” yet only eight souls boarded the ark. (2Pe 2:5) He would have been branded a failure by many today, but he was diligent in declaring what God had given him to say and do. God was so pleased with his effort that He listed him among the shining examples of faith in Heb 11! (v. 7)

Lest we lay such responsibility only on the preacher, we need to understand that there are souls which the Lord has entrusted to each believer’s care. As parents, certainly our children fall in that category for we are responsible to “Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Pro 22:6) and to “bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”. (Eph 6:4) We husbands are called to love our wives “as Christ also loved the church,” which includes cleansing them “with the washing of water by the word”. (Eph 5:25-26) This responsibility may extend to a co-worker God has put on our hearts or the cashier for whom He has given us a burden because when He saved us and put His Spirit within us, the result was that we would be “witnesses to [Him]…to the end of the earth”. (Act 1:8) May we be as careful as the apostle was to give these souls everything that God gives us to say on His behalf so that we might likewise be “innocent of the blood of all men”!

Jamie

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 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.
Acts 20:22-24

When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago (by God’s mercy, nearly ten to be precise!), I was introduced to 5k races.  Such races are frequently held to raise money for various breast cancer organizations.  I had never run in races, but I was young and in shape.  How hard could it be?!!  When the thirteen-year-old son of some friends of ours ate me for lunch in my first race, I knew I wasn’t in as good of a shape as I thought!  One thing I learned early in my racing experience was that you had to pace yourself.  Too often, I would start off great, but the runners I would pass at the beginning of the race would end up passing me while I was walking and out of breath near the end.  To do well in the race, you had to understand what would be required of you and be conscious of the difficulty ahead.  That’s what Paul understood in our text above.  He was therefore well prepared for what was in store, and rather than the approaching suffering dissuading him, it made him all the more determined to run his race to the end that he might finish it with joy, affirming “none of these things move me”!

The difficulty Paul would face in Jerusalem as he followed the Lord is not unique to the apostle.  Contrary to what many preachers may say today, it is the common experience of all believers.  This teaching is so very necessary in our churches!  It was the burden of the apostle as he returned to the cities where he had previously ministered in Act 14:22.  The central theme of his message as he sought to strengthen and encourage them was, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”  Too many preachers don’t understand the benefit of such instruction and wonder how it could possibly be encouraging.  Quite simply, it encourages because it is true!  Remember, “the truth shall make you free”. (Joh 8:32) The truth doesn’t bind us; it delivers us!  Imagine the discouragement when all men are told is that everything will be smooth sailing if they follow the Lord yet the reality turns out to be quite different.

When we understand what is required as we run this race, we will be well-prepared for the endurance that is needed.  Rather than deceive and hide the hard facts, we should faithfully declare that trials undoubtedly await the Christian, but the greater truth is that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”! (Rom 8:18) Yes, as the Lord said, “In the world you will have tribulation,” but we have much reason for rejoicing.  Why?  Because He continues on to say, “I have overcome the world”! (Joh 16:33) Though there is difficulty and trial in this life, in Him we are more than conquerors. (Rom 8:37) So, hang on dear soul, and be ready for the wind and the waves.  Just remember, the Lord walked on them, and with one statement, He made them still!  As 2Ti 2:12 reminds us, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him,” so may our resolve be that of Moses: “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Heb 11:25-26)

Jamie