Jesus Defines You

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Context

In last week’s text, Paul began his return journey back to Jerusalem to visit and bring them a monetary offering for the suffering church. As you will remember, it was then Paul’s intent through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to go to Rome, so he took off on his journey back. Along the way though, he made planes and targeted efforts with his time to visit other churches and believers along the way to encourage them. He had however, not chosen to go back to Ephesus, because he knew that he had so many friends and people that he loved that he would not be able to leave in a good and timely manner. So, in our text today, we see that he did not simply forget about them and move on.

No, instead he strategically used his time, stopping in the town of Miletus, and the elders (meaning those who God has called to spiritually lead the church, and as you will remember this term is interchangeable with pastor/elder/overseer/bishop) that group of men came to him, and he would address them in love. In today’s text, Paul reminds them about something believers of all walks of life and maturity have to remind themselves about often and put into action. This that, You should be about Christ and His work.

That is, we should each for the sake of Christ and His kingdom, put aside our selves, our wants, our desires, our preferences, and the lies that the enemy tries to convince are what you need or good things (when they are bad) and instead see and make God’s glory our number priority when you do anything; be it on your own or as a church congregation. Often we sin filled humans in a fallen world, want to make things such as: jobs, family status, children, hobbies, personal or financial security, and even sports team allegiance, church programs and traditions, even the good ministry we do, anything other than Jesus define ourselves, but this is not how it should be.So, let’s jump in and see what Paul is teaching the Ephesian elders and us as well. Let's look and From the text, I want you to see these truths to apply to yourself because Jesus Defines You.

Message

The first truth to see and apply to yourself is that: Your life is Christ’s 17-24

17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hesitate to proclaim anything to you that was profitable and to teach you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

Paul calls in the elders from that town he had spent oh so much time with, nearly 3 years, Ephesus, to himself. He reminded them about his work that he had done with them and in their town, a place that had never ever heard the name of Jesus before his coming. He reminded them how he had always taken a stance of place of humility, care, and love for each every person even while the Jews in their town tried to kill him. During this, Paul reminds them that he never, even during the most severe pressure and situation, held any truth back about Jesus and repentance that they needed to know from anyone. He tells them, I have done all of this for, to, and with you, and now I am to go onto Jerusalem, knowing as God the Holy Spirit has warned me many times now, that I will face great difficulties there and will be arrested. As scary as this sounds, it is fine. In fact it is great, because my God and King Jesus Christ the righteous has a purpose and reason for me, and he has called me His good servant and soldier to this place and this mission for a time such as this. My life is His and in His hands, and He has called me to testify to the people the gospel of God’s Grace.

There is a story, of man who was facing great difficulty in his day to do what he was getting at doing. When he stepped out the door, he hit his foot hard the door, so hard he had a limp. When he got into his car, it didn’t want to start, but after a jump it did. At this point, a weak hearted person would consider quitting. Most would still try thought, until he drove a little way and got a flat tire, which had to be replaced. Then he had, a hurt foot, a hard time in his car, and a bad tire. He went on though, until he ran into terrible traffic, so bad he was an hour late to get to where he was going. Then, guess what happened, he got there, got out of his car, and dropped and ruined half the items he had with him. What was his task? To feed the homeless in the park. He could have stopped, but knew from yesterdays prayer that he was to be there. After much difficulty, he handed a man a sandwich and told him, “Jesus loves you.” To which the man replied, “Of course He does, I know this because you are where.” Tell me more about this Jesus. You see, even through all this difficulty to just do the simple act of handing someone a sandwich, he persevered because it was God’s will in His life, and God was honored through the reducing of another soul.

As Paul knew and as you are learning through your faith life. Your life is not about yourself. It’s not. The world wants you to believe it is, but it’s not. Seeking what you want, seeking self only ever hurts people and leaves wrath and destruction in your wake. Living your life for the sake of Christ brings peace to you and those that accept Him as Lord, Master, Savior. Your life is Christ’s. And with that knowledge, how will you believer put that into action? It’s not a question of should you, you know you should. But how, what are you going to do? There are so many ways, but I bet the Holy Spirit has been conviction you of something lately. So, do it. Take a long look at your life and what is keeping you from honoring God in the way that He has shown you He wants you to honor Him in? Look at it, repent of it believer, because your holding onto it is and has been a sin. Your life is Christ’s, so You should be about Christ and His work. So put away your false Gods, your idols, your addictions, whatever it is and don’t them define or dictate what you do in your day to day moment by moment life, but let God define you instead. Don’t let the distractions that keep you from being on alert define you, instead let Jesus define and work on you.

Another truth to see and apply to yourself is to: Always be on guard. 25-31

25 “And now I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 because I did not avoid declaring to you the whole plan of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I never stopped warning each one of you with tears.

Paul here tells all the elders in attendance, I will never see you again. So, I tell you, I am innocent of any charge anyone may have against me about not sharing the gospel of Christ with you and all of Ephesus, because the whole time I was with you, some three years, I did not stop telling you of the gospel and God’s plan of salvation. So, as I am leaving and as is your church and role elders of Ephesus, you must be on guard and are accountable before God for every soul in your charge. For every sould that was purchased by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit appointed you to oversee. Know this, and watch for this, wolves will come in amongst and from within you to destroy God’s flock that you are an shepherd of, so be on alert; and remember my example of how I never stopped and continued night and day warning each every person with all that I have and am.

This is the appropriate charge and role of a pastor/elder/overseer bishop, to take his own spiritual life very seriously and take that of his own family and the church He by the Holy Spirit's guidance is to oversee and lead closer to Christ. To do this though, an elder is to always be on guard for his flock and believer you too are to be on guard for your own self, knowing that the enemy has us completely surrounded and has powerful weapons to destroy us. Often his weapons are: alienation/separation from the rest of a flock (as a wolf or lion would do for their prey, separating one of the weakest from the heard then targeting them), lies and deceit to get us to not trust God and His undershepherds (as the serpent did with Eve), and anything he can do to keep your from growing in your spiritual maturity (as we see time and time again through those false teachers coming into the early new testament church).

Yes, you believer must always be on guard and your leaders must always be on guard for you and themselves, which means you would do well to stay near where the shepherd and sheep dog can see you. Don’t get to comfortable, don’t get to lazy in spiritual disciplines good list include: “Reading the Bible, Prayer, Worship, Evangelism, Serving, Stewardship, Fasting, Silence and Solitude, Journaling, and Learning.” Doing these will help you stay more aware and have your eyes better opened as you are on guard, which is helpful because You should be about Christ and His work.

The next truth to see and apply to yourself is to: Remember Christ’s Words 32-38

32 “And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that I worked with my own hands to support myself and those who are with me. 35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them. 37 There were many tears shed by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

In verse 32, Paul commits them to be something, to put it simply, to not be spiritual wimps or weaklings, but to build themselves up and train themselves in the word of God’s grace, which sanctifies (meaning helps us grow in holiness). In 33 and 34, he then reminds them (as they are imitating him, who is imitating Christ), to not be jealous or covet what others have, but to be content with what God has given you, and not be afraid to do the hard work and planning it takes to get there, as even Paul had to take on his other vocation of tentmaking/letherworking for a time while he was with the Ephesians to support the ministry that God had called him to and that the town/church was not yet mature enough to see they needed. He then reminds them in 35 to be generous givers and take care of the weak and helpless, remembering Christs words that it is more blessed to be a giver than it is a receiver. He then prayed over them, and they were all moved to tears because they loved this servant of God (Paul) so much, and accompanied him to his ship before he left.

Remembering something, is impossible if you never heard it or never studied it isn’t it? This week, while subbing in a high school class, I was going around making sure everyone was doing their work. Of course, it didn’t take me very long to find someone who wasn’t doing their work, that they were supposed to start the day before and finish today. He was playing on his computer and talking to a friend during the whole class, as a sub, I don’t mind that so long as they are done with their work and can show me that they are. So naturally, I went over, and asked, howyou’re your project going? To which he said, “Good.” Which I said, that’s great! Do you need any help with anything or do you want to show me you are, because I really don’t want to take your phone up on a Friday. As you would expect, he got belligerent and defensive, but seeing that I was serious, he asked the kid across from him, “what is it we are supposed to be doing? I don’t want my phone gone and you know I can’t afford another zero.”

Brothers and sisters, it goes without saying, but be more mature than that young man was! Remembering Christ’s words, doesn’t just mean you memorized them, no. It means you saw it, thought on how that applies to you and your life situations, remembered that this means you must make a change, and then do that change to the glory of God! In this particular case, Paul reminded them of Christ’s words to be: on spiritual guard, train yourself in the word, don’t be greedy/jealous/envious and afraid to do your work, and be a kind and generous giver and supporter of the weak. So, we can all take those to heart apply them, but maybe right now God is showing you something new or different to apply to your spiritual self. Can you find doing that in God’s Word, in your Bible? If so, go for it, and don’t be afraid to make adjustments to your life big or small to see it through. You should be about Christ and His work. So remember Christ’s Words because as believer Jesus is to define you.

Conclusion

Beloved, I can’t stress this to you enough, don’t be afraid to make changes and adjustments to your life as you let Jesus truly define you. Just this week, in my own self, God revealed to me three ways that I need to change. Yes, it is difficult, and I didn’t hate how my life was, but I like and you should like the good that Christ has in store for you much much better. So, remember Your life is Christ’s 17-24 he sought you and bought you with His redeeming blood, so Always be on guard. 25-31 because the enemy is all around, and Remember Christ’s Words 32-38 which is useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness so that you can be prepared for every good work. Be about Christ’s work, and let Him and not your or other people’s sin define you.

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.