Building Your Memorial

Acts 20:16 – 38

Acts 20:16–38 NLT

16 Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. 17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him. 18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. 25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. 28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

Introduction:

Illustration: Absolom built himself a monument, but is remembered for his rebellion agains his father, King David. (2 Sam 18:18)

2 Samuel 18:18 NLT

18 During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day.

When your life is over, how will you be remembered?

What kind of memorial will you leave behind? You are building your memorial by the way you live.

T.S.: There are some words that describe the apostle Paul, seen in his closing to the Ephesian elders, that offer a powerful witness. You and I can build a godly memorial if our lives bear the same testimony.

I- CONSISTENT (Acts 20:18 – 19)

Acts 20:18–19 NLT

18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.

A- Consistent in all places.(vs. 18-19a).

1- Paul’s consistency of life was known to all of those to whom he spoke.

2- Paul’s humble service to Christ (δουλεύων τῷ κυρίῳ μετὰ πάσης ταπεινοφροσύνης) remain the same throughout his tenure in Asia (about 4 years).

B- Consistent in all circumstances. (vs. 19b).

1- He was consistent through tears (μετὰ δακρύων) of sorrow and anxiety.

2- He was consistent through trials and persecution from the Jews (πειρασμων των συμβαντων μοι ἐν ταις ἐπιβουλαις των Ἰουδαιων).

(Philippians 1:21)

Philippians 1:21 NLT

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

II- CULTIVATOR (Acts 20:20).

Acts 20:20 NLT

20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.

Seeking to do our best to help others follow Jesus

A- By teaching God’s people what they needed to hear.

Even if it is not what they want to hear.

In Public and in Private.

(Ephesians 4:11 – 16)

Ephesians 4:11–16 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

III- CLEAR MESSAGE (Acts 20:21)

Acts 20:21 NLT

21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

A- Proclaiming a clear Gospel message that is without compromise.

(Acts 28:28 – 31)

Acts 28:28–31 NLT

28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.” 30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

IV- COMMITTED (Acts 20:22 – 24).

Acts 20:22–24 NLT

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

A- Following Christ even in uncertain circumstances. (ACTS 20:22).

Acts 20:22 NLT

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me,

1- Paul did not know exactly what the future held, yet remained faithful.

B- Following Christ even if it brings persecution. (ACTS 20:23).

Acts 20:23 NLT

23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.

1- Paul did know that all indicators pointed to difficult times ahead for him.

C- Following Christ without regard to the personal cost .(ACTS 20:24).

Acts 20:24 NLT

24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

1- Paul’s focus was on the importance of his mission.

2- The mission was more important than Paul and his life!

3- We must be willing to become living sacrifices for the sake of God’s call.

(Romans 12:1 – 2)

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

V- CONSCIENTIOUS (Acts 20:25 – 27).

Acts 20:25–27 NLT

25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

A- Paul could affirm his complete faithfulness, even though he would never see the Ephesians again.

B- He could affirm that no one would face eternal punishment because he was unfaithful in his ministry.

VI- CENTERED (Acts 20:28 – 33).

Acts 20:28–33 NLT

28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you. 32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. 33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.

I have lived with a focus on eternal values.

A- Paul warned the Ephesian leaders that some of them would adopt a temporal focus and seek to get people to follow them.

B- Paul reminded the Ephesian leaders that he had maintained an eternal focus in his care of them.

1- The emphasized that he had never served for personal gain (Acts 20:33).

C- Paul prayed for God to preserve the Ephesian Christians.

VII- COMMENDABLE (Acts 20:34 – 38).

Acts 20:34–38 NLT

34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

I have left a positive example for others to follow.

A- Paul set an example through hard work. (Acts 20:34).

Acts 20:34 NLT

34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.

B- Paul provided an example for them through his generosity. (Acts 20:35).

Acts 20:35 NLT

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

C- Paul set an example by praying with them. (Acts 20:36 – 38).

Acts 20:36–38 NLT

36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

Conclusion:

A- Summary

You and I are building our memorial as we live. This memorial will determine how we are remembered. I want to live a life that point my children, grand children, those who know me, and those who may only watch from a distance to the Lord Jesus Christ. To do that, I need to strive to live these traits:

Consistent

Cultivator

Clear Message

Committed

Conscientious

Centered

Commendable

B- Illustration:

1- Paul’s testimony, as we have studied it this morning, enabled him to be able to speak the following words to Timothy:

(2 Timothy 4:6 – 8).

2 Timothy 4:6–8 NLT

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Will you and I be able to say the same thing at the end of our journey?

C- Invitation: