Paul, The Good Watchman

I. Introduction

A. If someone asked you, “what is your motto for your life” what would you say?

1. “Do the best. Be the Best. Being Second is not motivating”

2. “Learn from yesterday; live for today; hope for tomorrow.”

3. Work like you don’t need the money, Love like you’ve never been hurt && Dance like nobody’s watching!

B. The apostle Paul had a motto for his life.

C. The apostle Paul was a major character in the spread of Christianity in the first century.

D. He carried the good news of Christ to the entire known pagan world. (Col. 1:23). God inspired him to write most of the New Testament.

E. In Acts 20:17-27, we are given some insight into this great apostle’s manner of life, method of life, and motto for life.

F. As we consider this man, each of us might ask ourselves, “Where do I fall in comparison to this Man of God?”

II. The Manner of Paul’s life. (Acts 20:19)

A. Paul served

1. If there was one word which how Paul viewed himself it was “servant.”

a) Five times in his epistles Paul refers to himself as a servant or bondservant.

b) Three other times he refers to himself as “serving God.”

2. One understands why Christ chose Paul for an apostleship.

a) Jesus had told his disciples previously, to be great in the kingdom one must be willing to serve (Luke 22:24-27)

B. Paul sorrowed

1. One thing which pierced the heart of Paul was the rejection of Christ by his fellow Jews.

a) In Ephesus he taught in the synagogue for three months until some of his fellow Jews began to speak evil of Christianity (Acts 19:9)

b) This pattern was repeated often by the Jews who rejected Christ (Thessalonica, Corinth, Macedonia)

2. We see that sorrow revealed in the epistle to the Romans

a) I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, (Romans 9:1-4a NKJV)

b) Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1 NKJV)

C. Paul suffered

1. Paul suffered greatly for the cause of Christ.

a) In Ephesus, the craftsmen who made silver objects used in worshiping Diana rose up against him and his fellow Christians. (Acts 19)

b) In Thessalonica, he and Silas had to flee the city by night.(Acts 17:10)

c) In Lystra he was stoned (Acts 14:19-20)

2. In 2Cor 11:23-28, Paul listed the various trials he endured for the cause of Christ.

D. Paul’s manner of life was serving, sorrowing, and suffering.

III. Paul’s method of living was to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21)

A. To whom did Paul proclaim the gospel? – anyone who would listen – testifying to both Jew and Gentile.

B. What message did he proclaim? – Everything which was helpful (advantageous).

1. Repentance toward God and faith toward Jesus Christ.

2. He wrote the Corinthians that he chose not to know anything among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1Cor 2:2).

C. How did proclaim it? Publicly and from house to house.

D. Paul’s method of living was all about preaching the gospel of Christ.

1. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, (Romans 15:20 NKJV)

2. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. (1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV)

IV. Paul’s motto for life was to be innocent of the blood of all men. (20:26-27)

A. Paul never wanted to hear at judgment someone say to him, “you never mentioned Him to me.”

1. To the Colossians Paul wrote, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:28 NKJV)

2. "So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. "Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. (Ezekiel 33:7-9 NKJV)

B. Other passages could easily be Paul’s motto for life.

1. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)

2. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NKJV)

V. Conclusion

A. Everything about the apostle Paul centered upon Jesus Christ.

1. He served Christ and suffered for his cause.

2. He sought to give everyone the opportunity to hear the gospel at least once and sorrowed when some rejected it.

3. He truly wanted to be a good watchman.

B. Isn’t it the same for you and me?

1. Isn’t Christ the center of our lives?

a) Don’t we put Him before family, friends, careers, recreation?

2. Aren’t we willing to suffer for Him? Doesn’t it sorrow us when someone rejects the gospel?

3. I know it is the same for us because we realize how good God has been to us.

4. Because we are unselfish, we hope others will receive such wonderful blessings.

5. We want to be good watchman as well.

Bauer. (n.d.). Paul, The Good Watchman.