The Unhindered Gospel: A word of grace that guards the church

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Introduction

Our text for today is Acts chapter 20 through chapter 21 verse 16. Last week we joined Luke the physician and author of Acts, as he began to unfold the Apostle Paul’s third missionary journey.

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So when we parted last Sunday, Paul and his companions were before a rioting mob in the city of Ephesus in modern day western Turkey. Our text our picks up with the apostle Paul leaving Ephesus and making his way through Macedonia, giving much encouragement along the way and address some concerns that he has for the churches in the region. Ultimately Paul will make his way back to Jerusalem where he will give the money that he has collected for the suffering Jerusalem Christians and then make his journey to Rome. Let’s read

Acts 20 ESV

1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. 3 There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. 13 But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. 15 And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. 17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Pause

Acts 21:1–16 ESV

1 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” 15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Pray

In chapter 20, look at verses 29 and 30. I want us to begin in the middle of our text. We will identify a problem and then see how what’s written before and after these verses inform the solution to the problem. So let’s read verses 29 and 30 again.

Acts 20:29–30 ESV

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Now zoom in even closer to the text at the last phrase in verse 30, “…to draw away the disciples after them.” This is the problem. Paul is concerned that God’s people, particularly, in Ephesus will be drawn away to serve idols, live greedy lives, gorge themselves in immorality, and even worse things, all while claiming a freedom to do so in the name of the gospel that brings freedom from sin and forgiveness of sin for all who believe. Notice a similarity with an Old Testament text from Jer. 2:2

Jeremiah 2:2 ESV

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

and what is written to the church at Ephesus in Rev. 2

Revelation 2:4 ESV

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Pause

Now that we have identified the problem let us look at the solution. Look on to verse 32.

Acts 20:32 ESV

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

In the flow of the passage this verse comes to us after Paul has given a charge to the Ephesian elders to “pay careful attention to or guard the flock.” Verse 32 is the means of guarding. “The word of his grace” is the gospel and it was to God by way of this word of grace that Paul commends these elders and their church.

Having said that I want us to observe 3 ways that we see the gospel doing this work of guarding in the text and then what the implications are for us.

The gospel creates a community of people who love the local church and her means of grace.

The gospel creates a humility in us that aids us in faithfully serving the Lord during times of trial and sorrow.

The gospel creates a people who not only love its message but seek to use it for their mutual edification.

The gospel creates a community of people who love the local church and her means of grace.

Acts 2:42 gives four means of grace that have remained integral and central to the church.

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

When we get to chapter 20 I think this same model for the early church.

Acts 20:7–11 ESV

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

We could elaborate on this model in this way for our own context in 2018 by saying that the gospel

Faithful biblical teaching. How is that worked out here at CrossWay?

Faithful preaching

Helpful care group leaders

Discipleship groups

Fostering true fellowship

Fellowship that begins on Sunday and permeates our week

Linking arms, standing shoulder to shoulder in the cause of the Gospel

The gospel treasured and regularly rehearsed in the Lord’s Supper

Affections for Christ in His person and gratitude for His completed work of redemption

The reminder that we are not alone in this life and that God has placed in a family of believers

Care for one another felt in the church’s prayer life

Regularly praying for each other stirs us up to carry burdens together in other ways

As we learn to care for each other we in turn learn how to care for the world around us, together.

Our 2nd observation is this

The gospel creates a humility in us that aids us in faithfully serving the Lord during times of trial and sorrow.

Acts 20:17–21 ESV

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

When trials come, and they will, it takes humility to submit to God’s sovereign plan for our life.

We may seek to do many good things for the kingdom of God and endure tremendous obstacles or opposition. That doesn’t mean that it is time to throw in the towel. It simply means that we press in a little more. We hold on just a little longer.

Paul says, “I did shrink from declaring to you...” This was Paul’s ministry among the churches.

In verse 24 Paul says, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Remaining faithful to your gospel ministry when your is heart is broken, when you are heavy laden with burden is not easy. But cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you.

Listen what says to Timothy near the end of his life. In 2 Tim. 4

2 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Now our third and last observation is

The gospel creates a people who not only love its message but seek to use it for their mutual edification.

Acts 20:32 ESV

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

The gospel in this text is in the phrase “…the word of his grace.” Notice how power this word of grace is.

It is able to

Build you up

Strengthen you

Sustain you

To encourage you

Give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

It brings a promised imperishable reward at the end of things

Sanctifies us so that we can receive that reward.

Beloved, the gospel of Jesus Christ is our only hope in life and in death.