Sunday Morning Service

Acts 20 (Click title for audio access)

"Paul The Pastor"  •  12.11.11  •  Sunday Morning Service, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- Often, we can summarize Paul's journey in this manner: "Paul came to this place, things went good, things went not so good and Paul left."

- Sometimes the cold facts of the historian leave out the things that we are able to relate to.

- Paul's third missionary journey is about to come to an end. Ephesus has been a place of wild success and just plain wildness! Before the riot in the Ephesian theater, Luke told us of Paul's plan.

- Acts 19:21 & 22 give to us Paul's itinerary of going through Macedonia and then onto Jerusalem. Chapter 20 gives us the most human portrait of Paul to date.

- The chapter naturally breaks up into two sections, the first of which I will title "Paul's Affection For The Church."

Text

•  Acts 20:1-6  :  "After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days."  : Paul says his goodbyes to the Ephesian believers that he labored amongst for over 2 years. The riot was incidental, as he had already planned to leave.

- God had richly blessed the Ephesian church with disciples who were taught and loved by Paul, as the Spirit tells us of his embrace. He grabbed these men and hugged them hard.

- It's not easy to leave. Paul wasn't a distanced man. He was a loving Pastor of Christ's sheep.

- At his next stop, Macedonia, Paul encouraged the brothers with many words. The word that Luke uses speaks to calling people to one's side. "Walk with me, let me talk with you."

- He came alongside of them, arm over their shoulders and encouraged them to remain in the Lord and remain in calling that he had taught them to obey.

- In Macedonia lay three well known churches to us: Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonica. He wrote a few books here, but I Corinthians 16:1-3 details why he was going through town.

•  I Corinthians 16:1-4  :  "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me."

- Paul was now collecting this offering for the saints in Jerusalem, as well as the delegates from these churches that would go with him.

 - He came to Greece, the final stop on his tour, and stayed for three months. As he was about to depart toward Syria, a plot against him was discovered.

- Many believe that there was a hostile Jewish contingent about to set sail back for the Jerusalem feast of the Passover.

- If Paul had gotten on that boat, they would have had ample opportunity to get rid of Paul! Paul did not want them going overboard, so he walked instead.

- Paul diverted his course, going back through Macedonia, this time, he was not alone.

- Sopater came from Berea. Aristarchus and Secundus were from Thessalonica. Gaius was from Derbe. Timothy, Tychicus and Trophimus were from Asia, all men from church Paul founded.

- These were men that had come to Christ as a result of Paul's travels on his first and second missionary journeys. These men were now assisting Paul and were delegates from their churches.

- What a blessing it was for Paul to see these men grow in their knowledge and in their love for God as they traveled together.

- Paul sent them forward into Troas and Luke joined Paul after the Feast Of Unleavened Bread, which puts this about 10 months after the riot in Ephesus, which was closer to Pentecost.

- Paul came to Troas and they all stayed together for a week, mostly because Titus was late! Troas is a city of Asia that God the Holy Spirit had forbidden Paul to go to earlier in Acts.

- Now, Paul makes it there, the Spirit allowing Paul the opportunity. I am sure that Paul kept asking if he could go. When the Spirit finally said "yes," I'm fairly certain that Paul rejoiced.

- Remember that sometimes God answers prayers by saying yes and sometimes no. That does not mean that the yes or the no is permanent! Keep praying!

•  Acts 20:7,8  :  "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together."  : This is the end of that week in Troas which brought them to the first day of the week, which in the Jewish mind, is Sunday.

- A Jewish person accounted the day as beginning from evening extending to evening.

- Technically, they likely met on Saturday evening, the begininng of Sunday, after having had to work the entire day. When they came together to worship they ate a meal known as a love feast.

- Seeing that most of the church was comprised of slaves, the love feast was the best meal of the week, especially among the early church.

- This would be Paul's last opportunity to speak to the believers, so he made sure that it counted! Whenever it is that he started, he continued well into the late hours, not wanting to stop.

- Luke mentions that there were many lamps in the room where they gathered. Many have commented that they did this so as to reveal what it was that they were doing.

- Many stories had arisen about the early church from misunderstandings regarding doctrine. For example, the church were cannibals because they ate the body and blood of Christ!

- Turning on the lights was potentially a natural corrective for that issue, but it also was problematic. They had worked all day and taken in a meal together

- Now as it got late and the room where they were meeting in was collecting heat.

•  Acts 20:9-12  :  "And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, 'Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.' Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted."  : If he was anything like me, Eutychus was looking for some fresh air! The food and the heat got the best of this man.

- To his credit, his movement toward the air and the language employed, indicates that he was fighting against it, but was finally overcome.

- Eutychus, whose name means "fortunate" kept doing what we call the "chicken neck" until finally, he completely fell asleep during Paul's message. This brings me great comfort!

- He fell down from the third story and was taken up dead, meaning that when they carried him up, he was clinically dead. He had no pulse, no heartbeat.

- At this point, I want to point out that Paul is very gracious here. I assure you that if any of you falls asleep during one of my messages and dies, that I will not resuscitate you!

 - Paul never blinks, instantly assuring everyone that Eutychus would be fine. In a move reminiscent of Elijah, Paul fell down upon the man and the man came up!

- God once again, attributing His authority to Paul and proving it by the miraculous! These people knew that Paul was the real deal.

- Eutychus got to eat a little bit and Paul went back to speaking, even into the early hours of the morning! By then, Eutychus was back in good spirits and the whole group was comforted.

•  Acts 20:13-17 :  "Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church."  : All of these cities lie along the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea and are not many miles from one another.

- Luke and the delegates went ahead of Paul by sea. Paul went by foot for that leg. It was a tradition for this group to attend to the person until arriving at his port.

- It seems that Paul chose to walk so that he could make that goodbye last a little longer! Make no mistake friends: Paul the Pastor did not just want to talk. He wanted to give of himself to them!

- Paul met his company at Assos and decided to sail past Ephesus, knowing that if he stayed that he would be delayed in getting to Jersualem, missing Pentecost entirely.

- While he would not stop in Ephesus, he did call them to himself and they made the 12 mile journey to meet him. This brings us to our second division in this chapter.

- Luke has shown us Paul's affection for the church. Now, we'll see Paul address to the church. It is the only message given to the church in Acts, so let's not have a Eutychus moment!

•  Acts 20:18-21  :  "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, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."  : What prompted this meeting? The warnings we have paint a picture for us.

- We noted in the last section just how much opposition was arising against the Way both from the Jews who were zealous for their own converts, as well as the merchants, zealous for money.

- While Paul has been gone, it seems that there have been other pressures that have come to bear upon the church, including but not limited to other teachers seeking to call the church away.

- If that was not the case by then, it would certainly be the case soon! Anytime a spiritual work begins, the logical response of the enemy will include some form of attack.

- It's been rightly said that if the enemy cannot break a church, he'll join it!

- Paul speaks to these Ephesian elders, wanting them to be reminded of what the genuine article should look like. He points them first to his example of humility.

- He came to them and served the Lord with all humility. Let's begin first with this: Anyone who comes to you, needs first to be a servant of God's.

- There is no higher place in the body of Christ than the servant's quarters! I am here to serve Him by serving you. You are here to serve Christ and each other. There is no higher place.

- The word "humility" speaks towards the view that Paul had toward himself. He lived out a slave's existence, working under the yoke, never believing himself to be worthy of something more.

- They watched him live under the authority of God. Secondly, Paul was an example of clarity. - He was also a man who had to deal with intense sorrow at the hands of the Jews who plotted or "lay in wait" against him.

- You will recall that the Ephesian synagogue had begun to blaspheme the Way when their hearts were hardened against Paul's message. Apparently, they did much more than blaspheme.

- They seem to have been a constant threat against Paul's ministry, which brought him great pain and put him through a great amount of stress.

- In spite of that pressure, Paul did not change his message. He proclaimed the full message despite the pressure to do otherwise.

- He kept nothing back that was profitable, meaning that he shared that which was necessary at all times, even when it was unpopular to do so.

- He taught these things publicly, in view of all that would listen: Repent toward God and put your faith in Christ! That was not the message that the Jews wanted to hear.

- He taught these things faithfully both to Jews and to Greeks!

•  Acts 20:22-24  :  "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."  : Paul was an example of clarity in teaching, as well as an example of clarity in action. 

- There was a determination in Paul to follow God's Spirit wherever He would lead him and through whatever awaited him.

- It was his divine duty to go to Jerusalem, knowing that trouble lay before him. Everywhere he was about to go, there was either imprisonment or testings that lay before him.

- He was not running from something in Ephesus. What lay in front of him was just as challenging and difficult. For the Apostle, there was no easy road.

- What would your attitude be? For Paul, he says "none of these things move me!" What a powerful statement.  These things will happen but I don't take account of them in my actions.

- Paul is saying that the difficult circumstances that are before him are not useful to him when it comes to what he will do. They do not persuade his actions. He takes no account of them.

- Why? Because he did not count his own life dear to himself. What a statement! Paul's own life was not precious to him.

- What he did value was the race that he was in, the ministry that he received to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.

•  Acts 20:25-31  :  "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 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. 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. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."  :  For a person who believed truly that these were his last words, we are amazed at what was important to Paul to transmit. He had preached, not a partial message, but a full message.

- In the years that he had spent among the Ephesians, he had given full and complete disclosure of the counsel of God. He was innocent of the blood of all men who had heard him.

- They could not blame Paul for speaking a flawed message before them. He had declared to them the whole counsel of God. I identify myself so much with this verse.

- In our world today, there are men who stand behind pulpits and hold Bibles in their hands, but do not communicate the heart of God. They get their topic from the Bible, but then refuse to submit.

- In this church, as long as I have breath, I will, with Paul declare the whole counsel of God to you, old and new testaments! Why? Because I do not want to be guilty of your blood!

- The whole counsel of God is found in this Word that sets our course from here to forever!

- Why is it important? Knowledge of that which is true keeps you from falling victim to that which is false! Look at what Paul says, "Therefore." Because you have this background, take heed!

- The Ephesian elders, these overseers, were to be very careful of themselves first and then to the flock. Are you careful and discerning with what enters your ears and your heart?

- It is very easy today to be led astray. We do not simply hold fast to the word for ourselves, but also for the sake of the body.

- Paul tells them that dangerous wolves would be coming their way, who would speak crooked things and kidnap the flock of God. They were to watch and remember his example to them.

•  Acts 20:32-35  :  "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. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 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.’"  : Finally, Paul provides clarity with how he lived.  "I commend you." I give you over to the Lord. I entrust you into His hands.

- Paul could do nothing more for them than that. He was moving on, but his love demanded that he give them over to God and the word of His grace.

- God wants you to live in His grace and extend His grace. Appropriately taking in the gospel is the first step toward living in a grace relationship to the Lord.

- Only that relationship will build you up and give you an inheritance. Paul had not sought an inheritance from them.

- In fact, he worked with his own hands among them to fund he and his team. He did that so they could see how to support the weak.

- He lived this way before them not because he had to. They would have given him anything that he had need of. But he lived this way because of the word of the Lord.

- "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Those that are coming your way, the false teachers, the savage wolves, their message will always be about receiving.

- The true servant of God will be about giving.

•  Acts 20:36-38  :  "And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 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."  :  What a tender moment that they shared together.

- Luke lets us see what great love was shared between the Apostle and the elders. Paul served them to the very end, praying with them right there on the dock.

- More than any other thing, they were saddened at the fact that they would not see Paul again. That was too much for them to take.

- They had treasured their time together and now it was over, a new season was to commence.

Conclusion

- Paul loved these people dearly, showing them his heart for them. You may not be a Pastor or a missionary (yet!) but you will be known by your love.

- Whoever God has given you to influence, don't deprive them of God's love for them that He has put in your heart.

- Paul loved them, but His love led him to warn them! Love without truth is not biblical love at all! Paul did not want to be guilty of anyone's blood, so he warned them.

- This week would be a good one to practice both of these principles should the Lord give an opportunity. I pray that you'll be looking for one.