Borrowed acts20

Acts 20:13-38

BORROWED BORROWED SERMONS:SERMONS:

IF I HAD JUST IF I HAD JUST ONE THING TO ONE THING TO

SAYSAY

WHAT WOULD OTHERS SAY ARE

WHAT WOULD OTHERS SAY ARE

MY MAIN PRIORITIES IN LIFE?

MY MAIN PRIORITIES IN LIFE?

-TODAY’S MESSAGE IS ABOUT PAUL’S -TODAY’S MESSAGE IS ABOUT PAUL’S FAREWELL CONVERSATION FAREWELL CONVERSATION WITH WITH FRIENDS WHO SERVED THE LORD WITH FRIENDS WHO SERVED THE LORD WITH HIM. FOLK HE IS CERTAIN TO NEVER SEE HIM. FOLK HE IS CERTAIN TO NEVER SEE AGAIN.AGAIN.

-LET’S LISTEN IN AS HE POURS OUT HIS -LET’S LISTEN IN AS HE POURS OUT HIS HEART TO THE ELDERS FROM THE HEART TO THE ELDERS FROM THE EPHESUS CHURCHES. EPHESUS CHURCHES.

IF I WERE TO GIVE ONE LAST TALK TO MY IF I WERE TO GIVE ONE LAST TALK TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WHAT WOULD THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WHAT WOULD THE

OUTLINE LOOK LIKE?OUTLINE LOOK LIKE?

Acts 20:13-38Acts 20:13-38

Acts 20:13-38 TNIVActs 20:13-38 TNIV

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.


17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.


22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

Acts 20:13-38 TNIVActs 20:13-38 TNIV25 "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of everyone. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number some will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

Acts 20:13-38 TNIVActs 20:13-38 TNIV31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 "Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "


36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

Lord, help me to get my priorities straight. I don’t know how many days of life remain for me. I want to live a life without regrets, like regretting that I never spoke my true heart to those about me. Help me, please.

● ● I have sought your best interests, I have sought your best interests, with tears and humility.with tears and humility.

● ● I didn’t hesitate to proclaim anything I didn’t hesitate to proclaim anything that would be helpful to you.that would be helpful to you.

● ● Sometimes Sometimes our meetings our meetings were in were in public; sometimes I met with you in public; sometimes I met with you in your homes.your homes.

● ● The main message was that we must The main message was that we must put our trust in God.put our trust in God.

From Day One…From Day One…

● ● I don’t know what is ahead of I don’t know what is ahead of me.me.

● ● The Holy Spirit keeps warning The Holy Spirit keeps warning me that imprisonment and me that imprisonment and hardships are just around the hardships are just around the corner.corner.

And now…And now…

● ● Actually, my main concern is not Actually, my main concern is not about living or dying about living or dying

● ● What’s on my mind is finishing my What’s on my mind is finishing my assignment and getting the message of assignment and getting the message of God’s grace broadcast everywhere.God’s grace broadcast everywhere.

● ● I am innocent of anybody’s blood…I am innocent of anybody’s blood…since I’ve not held back anything that since I’ve not held back anything that God would have me say.God would have me say.

How Do I Handle Such How Do I Handle Such Warnings?Warnings?

● ● That you have this same diligence That you have this same diligence concerning the health our your Flock.concerning the health our your Flock.

● ● This is a ministry given by the Holy This is a ministry given by the Holy Spirit…so treat it that way.Spirit…so treat it that way.

● ● The family of God was purchased The family of God was purchased by the by the blood of Jesus blood of Jesus …it is God’s …it is God’s treasure.treasure.

● ● I spent 3 years warning you all, day I spent 3 years warning you all, day and night.and night.

What Concerns Me Now…What Concerns Me Now…

RememberingRemembering the “last words” of the “last words” of Jesus at the Last Jesus at the Last Supper. Supper. RememberingRemembering

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

Jesus Gave His Life For Us!Jesus Gave His Life For Us!We Celebrate This OpportunityWe Celebrate This OpportunityOf Expressing Our Thankfulness.Of Expressing Our Thankfulness.

● ● You have the Word of God to build You have the Word of God to build you up and deliver the eternal goods.you up and deliver the eternal goods.

● ● My own example of selfless living My own example of selfless living will be a great model for your own will be a great model for your own lives of service.lives of service.

● ● Jesus’ words will keep inspiring Jesus’ words will keep inspiring you: It is more blessed to give than you: It is more blessed to give than receive.receive.

Reasons To Have ConfidenceReasons To Have Confidence

As true friends, Paul and the As true friends, Paul and the Elders kneel and pray there on Elders kneel and pray there on the beachthe beach

……saddened that they’ll never saddened that they’ll never see him again this side of see him again this side of Heaven.Heaven.

A TEARFUL FAREWELLA TEARFUL FAREWELL

● ● His priorities were clear…they His priorities were clear…they drove him and kept him on drove him and kept him on track.track.

● ● He was determined to invite He was determined to invite everyone in the region to accept everyone in the region to accept the gift of God’s love and grace.the gift of God’s love and grace.

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM PAUL’S PAUL’S FAREWELLFAREWELL ADDRESS? ADDRESS?

● ● Paul knew that the life of a Paul knew that the life of a believer is filled with dangers, believer is filled with dangers, temptations and distractions…his temptations and distractions…his relationships with people reflected relationships with people reflected this reality.this reality.

● ● We can be certain that God’s We can be certain that God’s resources are adequate to keep on resources are adequate to keep on secure…His Word, His People, His secure…His Word, His People, His Spirit and Godly Shepherds of the Spirit and Godly Shepherds of the flock.flock.

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM PAUL’SPAUL’S FAREWELL FAREWELL ADDRESS?ADDRESS?

IT’S A GOOD TIME TO ASK: IT’S A GOOD TIME TO ASK: ARE MY ARE MY PRIORITIES CLEAR ME TO ME AND PRIORITIES CLEAR ME TO ME AND OBVIOUS TO OTHERS?OBVIOUS TO OTHERS?

IF I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK

IF I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK

TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ONE LAST

TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ONE LAST

TIME, TIME, WHAT WOULD I SAY?WHAT WOULD I SAY?

PR

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&

PR

AY

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&

PR

AIS

EP

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Lord, help me to get my priorities straight. I don’t know how many days of life remain for me. I want to live a life without regrets, like regretting that I never spoke my true heart to those about me. Help me, please.

Go and bless others. Go and bless others. Because, God can do anything, far Because, God can do anything, far more than you could ever imagine more than you could ever imagine or guess or request through you or guess or request through you toward others.toward others.

Spiritual

Borrowed acts20