Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders [Part 2]

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It’s the 25th day of January— MONDAY— Happy Birthday to Kuya Hercules Castillo

Previously right here at “The Message” we looked at the first part apostle Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians elders whom we met in Miletus. He decided to sail past Ephesus because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem— he was trying to get there by the day of the Pentecost— with Paul’s words to the Elders who came to meet him in Miletus from Ephesus, we learned:

I MUST NOT HESITATE TO PREACH PUBLICLY AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE ME TOWARDS THE COMPLETION OF MY GOD GIVEN TASKS

After being away for a week for my annual retreat— we will not resume with our verse by verse study of the book of Acts— and to pick it up from where we left off, that’s gonna be the other half of Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders— let’s see what else he said to them, and what else happened before he sailed back to Jerusalem— open your Bible to ACTS 20:25-38

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 20:25-38

BOOK

Acts 20:25–38 NIV

25 “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 any of you. 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 men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 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.

WHAT: It’s the continuation of Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders

WHERE: Miletus

WHEN: 3rd Missionary journey [ 52-57 AD]

WHO: Paul, his companions and the Elders from Ephesus

WHY: He charged them while saying his goodbyes

LOOK

THEREFORE, I DECLARE TO YOU TODAY THAT I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF ANY OF YOU

Paul states that he has completed his responsibilities to the believers in Ephesus— Ezekiel 3:18-19

KEEP WATCH OVER YOURSELVES AND ALL THE FLOCK

Keep watch— Overseers— episkopos in Greek— refers to those with leadership responsibilities over the church

BE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD

“Be shepherds” of the church which He bought with His own precious blood— Galatians 3:13

EVEN FROM YOUR OWN NUMBER MEN WILL ARISE AND DISTORT THE TRUTH

In order to draw away disciples after them—

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

Paul quoted the Lord— although this phrase was not recording in the gospels— John said Jesus did more than what is recorded— John 21:25

Let me put what we can learn from Paul’s farewell messages on simple sentences that we can quickly recall to guide our living

TOOK

KEEP WATCH OVER YOURSELVES AND BE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

SING

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